Page 132 of A Christmas Celebration
‘And you, Brodie?’ I asked, even though there was no doubting his reaction.
‘Absolutely not,’ he said, shoving his hands through his hair.
‘Brodie…’ Albert began.
‘No,’ he said, cutting him off. ‘No way. I’ve only just started painting again and I’ve been working my nuts off to try and complete this commission Angus wants in time for Christmas. That’s what he said he wanted me to do, what he pressured me to do and that’s what I’ve done. Why he has to keep moving the goalposts, I have no idea.’
‘He keeps moving them,’ Albert said mildly, ‘because he sees real talent in you and he wants you to succeed.’
‘And he probably didn’t think the idea would be all that much of a leap for you,’ I added, ‘because you’ve displayed your work before.’
Brodie raked his hands through his hair again.
‘You gave up everything to do this with your life,’ I reminded him. ‘And you’ve been through a truly difficult and transformative time as a result…’
‘Exactly,’ he huffed, cutting me off. ‘So, why can’t I now be left to do it in peace?’
‘Because you’ve come through it,’ I reiterated. ‘It’s done. The time for peace is over and it’s time to forge ahead. Make up for the lost months and start the new year with a different sort of exhibition under your belt and with your work sittingside by side with the man who has helped you break through your block and embrace your brushes again.’
I stopped to draw breath and received a nod of approval from Albert. I was rather proud of my speech, but it didn’t have any impact on making Brodie change his mind.
‘I can’t,’ he said, standing up.
‘You can,’ said Albert, ‘and you should. Opportunities like this don’t come along every day and just because you’re young and probably think there’ll be others, that doesn’t mean you should waste this one. Life’s too short to waste moments like these.’
Brodie looked at Albert and then at me.
‘I can’t do it,’ he said again, slamming the door behind him as he strode out.
I made to go after him, but Albert stopped me.
‘Leave him,’ he softly said. ‘He’s simmering right now and you won’t get anywhere with him while he’s coming to the boil.’
I sat back again.
‘I daresay you’re right,’ I said, feeling awful. ‘I’ve ruined moving day, haven’t I?’
‘You’ve certainly stirred it up a bit,’ Albert chuckled.
‘I thought you were going to be the tricky one,’ I told him, only then noticing he had splashes of red paint in his hair. ‘I expected you to be the one shouting and storming out.’
‘If only I could move that fast,’ he said wistfully, which made us both smile.
I would like to have waited to see which way the windblew when Brodie finally came out of the studio, but with so much happening at the hall the next day, I had to leave.
‘You get off and tell Angus to put some display boards up,’ Albert said, which reminded me that I now had other artists to invite and boards to source to hang their work on. ‘And leave boy wonder to me. I’ll bring him round.’
Albert sounded very sure of himself, but having seen and heard Brodie’s reaction to the idea, I couldn’t in all honesty say that I thought he would succeed.
Chapter 31
Angus was both absolutely thrilledandsurprised when I told him that I thought we should invite more artists and that Albert had very happily agreed to take part. I winced as I relayed Brodie’s reaction to the idea, but it was then my turn to feel surprised, because my godfather wasn’t fazed at all.
‘That’s wonderful news, Paige,’ he said, pulling on his coat and indicating that I should do the same. ‘I told you you’d have no trouble getting Albert onside, didn’t I?’
‘You did,’ I said, ‘but his decision was nothing to do with me. He said yes as soon as I’d finished explaining what you had in mind, whereas Brodie…’
‘Will come round.’ Angus shrugged, literally waving my concern away. ‘Now come outside and tell me what you think of these boards. I think they’ll be ideal to hang the paintings on.’
