Page 141 of A Christmas Celebration
‘Right,’ he then loudly said, drawing everyone’s attention again. ‘I would now like to introduce you to another unsung artist I’ve recently discovered living not all that far from here and this fortuitous introduction was all down to my wonderful goddaughter, Paige.’
I hadn’t expected a mention and willed him to move quickly on, which thankfully, he did. The unveiling of Albert’s paintings caused as big a stir as Brodie’s. In fact, the sudden surge forward from the gallery owner Angus had invited, along with a journalist he knew who worked on the arts and culture section of a popular broadsheet,suggested it was even bigger. For a moment, Albert looked quite overwhelmed, but I stepped up to take his hand and he soon recovered.
Everyone wanted a piece of my two wonderful men that afternoon and their work was much admired. The other artists, who were similarly swamped, were fascinated by the paintings, some of the guests were clamouring for commissions, the journalist wanted to set up an interview and take photos and the gallery owner had plans to host a joint exhibition.
‘It’s going well, I think,’ Angus said to me as the afternoon swiftly turned to twilight and no one showed any sign of wanting to leave.
‘Extremely well,’ I said, giving him a hug. ‘This was inspired, Angus.’
He looked delighted.
‘Albert has taken to it like a duck to water,’ he chuckled. ‘He’s refusing to be interviewed at home or grant anyone access to the studio which of course is adding to the intrigue and creating even more interest and demand.’
‘I love that,’ I said, watching my friend hold court from a seat which had been positioned next to his stand.
‘The journalist is fascinated by Albert and Brodie’s friendship as much as anything, so Catherine has suggested they could be interviewed here when we hang Brodie’s paintings, alongside one of Albert’s, of course.’
‘That’s wonderful.’ I smiled, thinking how lovely it would be to see the two friends living, workingandbeing displayed side by side.
Albert’s paintings were nothing like Brodie’s. They were abstract in form like Bec’s and, even though I knew little about artistic interpretation, I could appreciate their strong sense of place. Seeing his and Brodie’s work together would be incredibly striking.
The celebration went on far longer than anyone expected and ended with everyone gathered around the huge hall fire enjoying more of Dorothy’s mouth-watering mince pies and savoury snacks and Angus’s trademark mulled wine.
‘Do you think he’ll let me set him up with an Insta account now?’ Jack asked me with a nod in Brodie’s direction.
It was the first chance we’d had to talk all afternoon but I had noticed he was there, looking extremely proud of his big brother and happily holding hands with Tilly.
‘I doubt it,’ I laughed.
‘You’re probably right,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘What an end to the year you’ve gifted him, Paige.’
I shook my head at that.
‘He’s done it himself,’ I tried to say, but Jack wouldn’t allow it. ‘A collab then,’ I settled on. ‘Brodie, Albert and I have all gifted each other a wonderful end to the year.’
Jack did accept that and as he went off to cheekily negotiate a price for a canvas for the Brambles reception area, Lizzie from The Cherry Tree stepped forward.
‘Oh, Paige,’ she said, looking delighted, ‘that journalist guy is going to come to the gallery. He wants to interview the other artists in the new year as well as Brodie and Albert.’
‘That’s fantastic,’ I told her, wondering if Hayley would be seeing her name in newsprint. ‘Angus will be thrilled.’
‘And I hope you are too,’ she said. ‘You’ve played a part in making this happen. I’ve even got Albert to promise to teach a few classes alongside Brodie next year, once the dust has settled.’
My face must have been a picture, because she laughed at whatever expression I had pulled.
‘I know,’ she said. ‘I was surprised too.’
‘I thought Brodie hated…’ I began, but my words trailed off as I realized he probably didn’t want Lizzie knowing how much he had struggled to teach when she had been kind enough to offer him the work.
‘I know he hated it,’ she said perceptively anyway, ‘but he told me earlier that now he’s painting, he wants to give it another go and with Albert by his side, I’m sure the lessons will be a huge hit.’
‘Well, that is wonderful,’ I was happy to say.
After singing a couple of carols, led by Angus who was wearing his Santa hat again, the guests began to slowly drift away and the artists dismantled their stands.
‘Angus has said we’re just going to move mine and Albert’s booths to the side of the hall,’ Brodie told me as he bounded over looking quite transformed. ‘That way, he and Catherine can decide at their leisure which work they want. What?’ he then asked.
‘You,’ I laughed. ‘I’ve never seen you so… bouncy.’
