Alone (8 page)

I sat down and eyed him curiously. I was trying to gauge his mood, figure out what his intentions were for meeting me here. He seemed calm and his expression didn't expose anything I could clearly read.

“
Can I get you something to drink?” I hadn't realized the hostess was still standing next to the table.

“
Uh, just water for me thanks,” I said. I wasn't going to be here long and didn't want even a drink of mine to be added to the bill for the insane man sitting across from me. It was a little difficult to think so negatively about him now that I was sitting across from him. I was stubborn though, so I wasn't ready to give up my plan on a quick exit.

Jace ordered his drink and then returned his attention to me. “I'm so glad you decided to meet me. I wasn't so sure you would.”

“
I only came to return this to you,” I said handing him the envelope. He took it but just set it on the table between us.

“
I've paid for your paintings Willow,” he said disappointed. I guessed that he knew where my end of the conversation was headed and he was reevaluating his strategy.

“
You paid way too much. Way beyond the asking price,” I stood up and reached my hand out to say goodbye. He took my hand but not in a manner to shake it goodbye.

“
Please stay,” he said weakly. It almost sounded like a beg and it took me by surprise. “Please.”

I sat down again, at this point I was curious what made him so desperate to speak with me. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing to sit and listen to what he had to say. Also the thought of sharing a meal with him greatly appealed to me now. Not to mention, I felt like I could look at his eyes for eternity. The color was something I had never seen before a darker green that had some lighter green flecks. Beautiful, but even more so, mysterious. I was startled when he spoke again but maintained composure.

“
I'll make you a deal,” he said, obviously pleased that I had rooted myself in the seat again. “Have dinner with me. Listen to what I have to say. If you don't like the proposal I have for you, we shall part ways with no hurt feelings. All you'll have lost is an hour of your time but at least you'll leave with a full stomach,” he said smiling while waiting for my answer.

I nodded in agreement and just then the waitress returned with our drinks. She took our order, I decided on the chicken linguine and Mr. Patterson ordered the spinach ravioli.

“
I know I paid over what was asked,” I looked away nervously. “Willow, I paid what you are worth.”

I reluctantly looked back to him. His green eyes seemed to be piercing into my soul rather than simply looking at my plain face. I realized I couldn't speak. My thoughts had somehow lost connection with my voice.

“
Willow, you must know you have an amazing talent. Your work exceeds anything I've seen in several years.”

I could feel my cheeks getting red. I couldn't look anywhere but my hands which were at this moment tracing the edge of my water glass mindlessly. I took a deep breath in knowing this conversation was going to continue to make me extremely uncomfortable. I looked at him again putting myself back into the conversation.

“
Thank you, Mr. Patterson. I appreciate the vote of confidence but the money is completely unnecessary. The fact that someone like you, with so much knowledge in the art community, would so much as look at my work is an amazing compliment.”

“
Willow, please call me Jace. I'd really like to be on a first name basis with you if you don't mind. Let's ignore the money involved for just a moment. I have a proposition for you.” He took a drink of his red wine. The discussion was interrupted when the waitress returned with our food. I could tell he was deep in thought about how to proceed. It gave me time to form the one question I had for him.

“
Jace.” I hesitated as I let his name melt from my mouth. “Why me? I mean you say I have all this talent, but what brought you here to New Jollie? Miss Morgan said you specifically came here in search of my paintings. Why?”

“
You are more curious about that than my proposition?” he asked honestly surprised. “That's kind of shocking considering you know how influential I can be in the art world.” Somehow his smug response didn't sound conceited, just honest.

“
I know. I guess I would just like to know where your intent originated, before I hear your proposal. As long as you don't mind.”

“
okay. Well, uh, it was about two months ago. I went to a friend's house for dinner. I noticed a painting in his study where we had our pre-dinner drinks. I asked him where he acquired it. He mentioned your name and New Jollie and I made a mental note to visit New Jollie's gallery during the next break in my schedule.”

“
What was the name of it?” I asked trying to remember each piece of art I had done over the last few months.

“
Oh, uh,” My question caught him off guard. “I don't remember exactly. I think it was Morning something...or something Morning.”

“
Morning Serenity,” I said longingly, remembering the painting clearly now. It was a view of a sunrise from an alleyway. Inspired by the mornings I woke up wanting so much for my Serenity to be real. One of my more personal pieces.

“
It really brought on a lot of emotions in me and I wasn't sure why. I decided that I had to go to New Jollie to see if that painting was the only one so magnificent.” He looked deep into my eyes. “Art has one hit wonders all the time, Willow. Imagine my surprise when I came here and saw for myself that this was not the case for you. Each one in the gallery brought a different emotion to me but each with the same intensity.”

“
Thank you. I mean, I've always wondered if I properly conveyed my feelings in my work, or if I had missed the mark in that aspect.”

“
Now, my proposal,” his voice was more business like now. “As you know, I've already spoken to Miss Morgan. She's agreed to my request so long as it's something you want. It was interesting talking to her. It was almost like she was expecting a visit like mine.”

I couldn't help but to let out a small laugh. “Miss Morgan has always been my number one supporter,” I said further explaining my chuckle.

“
Yes. That is understandable. Anyway,” Jace said getting back on track. “What I am requesting is a featured art show. A collection of work by you at the gallery. A few of my colleagues would be there as well as me and whomever you wanted to invite.”

“
Jace, what would be the purpose of the show?” I wasn't quite sure where he was going at all.

“
My colleagues come from some of the largest, well known galleries in the country, Willow,” his voice was suddenly very intense. “There would undoubtedly be at least one person there who would want your work in their gallery on a full time basis. What I am proposing is an opportunity to leave this small town and go to a place where your art could get the recognition it deserves.” He spoke so sure of himself.

“
I um, I don't really know what to say.” A life out of New Jollie. How terrifying! I couldn't do it. It was the big fish moving from the small pond to the big ocean complex that was overwhelming me now. Absolute certainty of failure away from here.

“
Willow, there's absolutely nothing to fear in what I'm requesting. Even if I'm wrong, which is almost never the case,” he added smugly “Even if no one wanted to take you on in their gallery, it gives you an opportunity to make money. Of course the work displayed would be for sale unless you noted otherwise. Also, if you did go to another gallery and it wasn't what you wanted, you know Miss Morgan would welcome you back with open arms.” He was very convincing and the fact that I could come back anytime I wanted, put me at ease.

“
When would this happen?” I asked.

“
The first week of January. I'm hoping you'd be able to come up with a significant amount of work to show by then.”

“
How many pieces?”

“
I will leave that up to you. However, I am hoping for at least twenty.”

“
Twenty?” Not completely impossible in a little over two months.

“
More if you could manage.”

I smiled coolly. “Okay, I'll do it.”

“
Really?” Jace asked surprised.

“
Yes. Mostly because I owe it to Miss Morgan for everything she has done for me, and also because I want to know if I really do have the potential to make it out of New Jollie.” I hadn't realized how true that was until I had spoken the words. Even if it didn't work out in my favor, at least I would know I made the right choice to stay in New Jollie.

“
Very good,” he said obviously pleased with my acceptance. “This will be a good thing Willow, you'll see.”

“
I hope so.”

“
Now, about this,” he said lifting the envelope from the table, “Let's not consider this payment for those paintings. Let's consider it a payment for the supplies you'll need over the next two months for the event.”

“
I can't take it. I'm sorry.”

“
No argument Willow. Take it and use it for whatever you'll need,” I could tell by the tone of his voice the subject was closed so I took the envelope and thanked him again.

The rest of the meeting, we discussed specifics for the art show. He was sending invitations to several galleries around the country. He was hoping for a variety of representatives in hopes that I could choose where I wanted to go. It was an out of body experience the whole time we spoke. Completely unbelievable that this stranger was so determined to have me on display. At least Miss Morgan would be happy with the outcome of the meeting.

I got home a little after eight, completely exhausted. I put the key in the door and walked in. I nearly dropped my keys when I saw a person sitting on my couch.

“
The door was unlocked, I hope you don't mind,” Sara said smiling at me.

CHAPTER 6: SWEET SARA

I sat next to her on the couch, my heart pounding wildly. I couldn't believe she was sitting there on my couch. Had I really left the door unlocked? That wasn't like me, but I was in a hurry when I left earlier. I must have skipped locking my door, how else would Sara have gotten in?

“
I'm sorry. I was just going to wait for you outside but your door was unlocked and I was getting cold,” Sara said.

“
It's fine, I'm just surprised to see you. Where did you go this morning?”

“
I didn't want to distract you from your plans for the day, so I just left before you got up.”

“
You didn't have to do that,” I said thinking about how her leaving was quite the distraction this morning. I didn't mention it though. I didn't want to make her feel guilty. “You're looking better,” I commented, noticing the bruises on her face had faded a bit.

“
I'm getting stronger every day now. It feels good.”

“
I'm glad,” I smiled.

“
What did you do today?” Sara asked.

I went into a monologue about my meeting with Jace and what I had in store for me over the next couple of months. I emphasized how much work it was going to be. There was no excitement in my voice though; it was like it was just another job, without life altering possibilities. That was how I saw the art show, although I knew it wasn't entirely true. Looking at the show as just another job was less nerve wracking.

“
That's really exciting,” Sara said enthusiastically.

“
I know. It should be interesting.”

“
You know what I think? I think you should try some new paths. I mean you said you mostly paint and you do some sculptures, but what about something completely different? Give the people that go to the show some variety.”

A very intriguing idea. “Like what?” I asked.

“
Photography? Or maybe watercolor? Something completely outside of what you usually do.”

“
I don't think I have enough time to take up a new genre and work on everything else as well. It takes a long time to perfect something new.”

“
It might be easier than you think. You do everything so well, I'm sure if you take up something new, you'd be a natural.”

I know she meant what she said as a vote of confidence in my work, but it felt like added pressure. I certainly wasn't good at everything I'd tried, but she was right about showing a range of art genres. “It's definitely a good idea to give them some variety. I'll think about it.”

“
I hope you do more than think about it.” She was looking at the paintings of herself still in the living room on the easels.

“
I did that this morning,” I said referring to the color painting.

“
Do I really look that bad?” she asked sadly.

“
You're looking better Sara. But, yes, your face is pretty bruised up. Haven't you seen it in a mirror?”

“
I avoid mirrors as much as possible.”

“
You are still beautiful though. I don't know how you manage to stay so happy even though you have obviously been through a lot.”

“
I have always been naturally happy. That's why I've been pushed away so much. I think my happiness and optimism was more aggravating than inviting in the past.”

“
How can that be? Seeing you so happy, makes me happy.”

“
Yeah, now it does.” Obviously, she was thinking that her happiness was going to ware me down somehow. I just didn't see how that was possible, her personality was magnetic.