Page 106 of Love, Magic and Misfortune
Inside, she caught her breath and briefly took in the lovely space. This museum was small, but unlike the local library, it had been remodeled and updated with a creamy marble floor, glass walls separating each gallery and a bright, hand-blown glass sculpture hanging from the ceiling. It was stunning—like a burst of color and chaos. Loops and swirls interwoven and reflecting against the skylights.
She stepped up to the woman behind the front desk, gave her name, and was escorted down a narrow hallway and into a cozy conference room.
“Would you like some water? Tea?” the redhead asked, smiling.
“Earl Grey would be wonderful,” Violet said, setting her bags down in a chair at the large table. Everything was so modern and bright. Even the outer wall of the conference room was glass: showcasing a small garden atrium full of green, leafy plants and a stone fountain, all covered in fresh rainwater from the day’s weather.
“Of course,” the woman said. “I’ll be right back. I must tell you, the director is very excited about you. She saw your paintings hanging in Le Petit Sweet and was awestruck. We can’t believe you’re local. Where have you been hiding?”
Violet laughed, flattered but awkward. She still wasn’t used to these compliments—people fussing over her work. “I don’t know… within myself, maybe?” She shrugged. It was the truth.
“Well, we’re so glad you’re here. She’ll be with you in a few moments and I’ll be right back with the tea.”
Once the woman was gone, Violet pulled her tablet from her bag, set it on the table and then fluffed out her hair before sitting down. She was nervous and excited and had no idea what to expect. How was she here? In this stunning museum, having a meeting with the director about an art exhibition. Forherart. It was baffling.
In the end, Jasper had helped her put together a clean-looking website full of her artwork. There were multiple sections with clickable links in the menu: watercolor on canvas, acrylic, gouache and charcoal. Landscapes, still-life and portraits. He’d set up a website for himself at the very start of his book business, but Violet was completely useless in this area. Between the two of them, they’d made a stunning online portfolio that helped showcase Violet’s work, with the option to expand upon it later when needed.
She took a deep breath and exhaled, staring at the rain falling within the green atrium in front of her. Five months ago, she’d felt bewildered. Hating her job, distraught at the loss of Gloria and painfully, perpetually confused over the disappearance of her childhood friend. Even though the gaping hole in her chest was still there (she didn’t think it would ever go away), she felt a strange peace within it and around it. A loving warmth, even.
Somehow, miraculously, she was living the life she wanted. And wasn’t that what her gram had told her to do? Something in that comforted Violet, knowing that Gloria would be proud of her—that she’d approve of all of this and was maybe even cheering her on from somewhere Violet couldn’t see, but could definitely feel.
She was doing it now: charging forward and living her own colorful life.
Violet stood when a woman in a fashionable and creamy taupe dress sauntered into the conference room, wrangling two cups of tea as she entered. Violet hurried around the table to meet her, helping by taking one off her hands. They smiled and exchanged warm greetings, then sat with their tea. Even though they had been strangers before this meeting, within a few moments, they were talking and laughing as if they were very old friends.
* * *
Later that afternoon,when Violet unlocked the door to the cottage, a wash of warm, savory air greeted her. She beamed, closing the door and shimmying out of her black-and-white chevron rain jacket. “Jas?”
“Kitchen!”
She moved quickly, feeling as if her feet had sprouted wings and she had ascended from walking to floating. In the kitchen, Jasper was busy at the counter, but he turned when she entered, smiling brightly. “How did it go?”
She walked past the table to meet him, her heart thumping in her chest at the warmth and smells and his presence. He’d gotten his hair cut again and he looked neat and clean in a patterned gray sweater. “I didn’t know you’d be here,” she said.
“That’s the key element of a surprise.” He leaned down as she stepped into him, clenching his sweater in her fists and lifting to her toes to reach his mouth.
“You cooked for me…” she whispered against his lips. “You know my favorite thing is walking into a house and smelling food already cooked.”
“I know. You look beautiful.”
She batted her eyes. “Thank you.”
He pressed into her—a good, firm kiss—before raising his head. “Tell me how it went at the gallery. What did the director say?”
Violet stepped back and leaned against the counter, placing her palms atop the surface and lifting her chin. “Ihave an art exhibition scheduled for August.”
“That’s incredible. Iknewit.” He threaded his arms tightly around her waist. She hugged his shoulders, squeezing him and loving him for being here at this moment. To help her celebrate this unbelievable opportunity.
Jasper rested his forehead against hers and she smiled at the clean earthy scent of him. Like rain and sandalwood. “Five months ago, you didn’t even know what you wanted to do. Look at you now, Vi. You’re an artist.”
She rubbed her nose against him, scrunching her face. “I’m an artist.”
“Will you create new pieces for the exhibition? Or use the ones you already have? You’re going to need to hire an assistant to manage your online sales—officially.”
“Bah. I don’t want to think about that right now…” She grabbed his wrist at her waist and guided it down slowly along the curve of her hip, brushing the silky material of her dress. “I’m on this high and what I really want is for the foxy man standing in my kitchen to use his long, beautiful, writer-chef fingers to do something dirty to me…” Violet guided his hand even lower until he grazed the skin of her naked thigh.
Jasper huffed in a quiet laugh, his cheeks shifting to the familiar rosy color. “I… Well, now’s not a good time, Vi.”
