Page 16 of Auction Time
The only person whom I’d ever showed that painting to was Mom. It currently resided with me in my bachelor pad on Redondo Beach. Along with all the others.
As I thought of it now, I knew what I would paint. Tonight, though, Vanessa would be wearing clothes.
If she ever saw that first painting, she would probably call the police on me, or call me a perv. All this bravado, and I actually didn’t know how I was going to break down that wall of hers.
It wasn’t even about the stupid bet anymore. The last few days had fanned the flames of something that had already been alight. My plan was to butter her up. I’d do that and see where it got me.
I started painting, and we worked in silence until I finished doing Vanessa’s face.
“Her again?” Mom asked, sounding intrigued.
I glanced over to her, surprised at her comment. “What’s that, Mom?”
She laughed and pointed to my canvas. “Who is she?”
“Just a girl from my mind,” I lied.
“Of course, I forget the Buchanan men lack emotion. I was hoping some part of me rubbed off on you.”
I motioned to all around me. “I’d say it did. Here I am, doing my second love in life.”
“Second?” She gave me a pointed stare. “Boy, you can paint with your eyes closed. It comes easier than playing football, and I wish you’d share your talent instead of hiding it. So, that doesn’t count. I share my talents.”
I laughed. “Mom, I have an image I want to preserve. Plus, some things are for you to enjoy.” I steadied my hand and ran the brush over the canvas, creating the delicate structure of Vanessa’s neck.
It was graceful and elegant, just like the rest of her.
“Like her?” Mom intoned after watching me for a while.
I glanced over at her. “Just my imagination, Mom.”
“You’re being precise, like you memorized the fine details of how she looks.” She chuckled. “Can’t fool an artist, son.”
I narrowed my gaze at her. “How can you tell?”
“Your hands. They give you away boy. It’s okay. I’m sure you’ll let me know who she is when you’re ready. I take it this is someone you’ve seen recently since coming home. Would be nice to be introduced to an actual girlfriend instead of the…” She pulled in a breath and pressed her lips together with disapproval. “The groupies.”
Now the way she said that was exactly the way I expected her to sound when she talked about Dad. The disapproval. She didn’t have to worry about me like that. I was a lot like him in many ways, but I was the perpetual bachelor who loved beautiful women and having fun. That was me, and that would be what I’d do when I got my hands on Vanessa.
Unlike Dad, I wouldn’t be getting married or having any children. Nobody who could be affected in any way by my frivolous lifestyle.
“Don’t worry about me, Mom.”
“I do. You’re twenty-eight, Cole. Time to calm down a little and not be so wild.”
I laughed. “Mom, please, people like me wild.”
“Not everyone is going to like wild,” she cautioned.
And that proved she was absolutely from another time entirely. Women loved wild.
“Women love nice guys who have the ability to be deep and meaningful. I went with wild when I picked your father.” She looked away from me and continued painting. “Nice would have been…nice.”
Nice.
She gave me an idea as I contemplated her words.
Vanessa liked nice. Maybe that was the way to reach her. Play nice.
