A Portrait of Emily (4 page)

“A thousand dollars, but I have a car payment in a week’s time.”

“Call your landlord. Ask him if two or three months rent will do it for the time being”

“Thank you, Jeff.”

“And for God’s sake, cut out the game playing.”

“Oh, you used to love the games we played…
remember
?”

“That was different.”

Joey looked at him through half closed eyes, a little smile playing about his lips. “Not so different, really.” He took a step closer. “If you would just relax and let me in again.”

Jeff gazed into Joey’s beautiful eyes and, despite himself, he felt a tremor somewhere in the pit of his stomach. He stood up quickly. “Let me have your phone number, Joey.” His voice sounded thick in his own ears.

“Sure, here’s my card.” Joey was looking at him, a small smile of triumph on his face.

Jeff studied the card. “How did you raise the money for the studio in the first place?”

“A—a
friend
wanted to put me up in business. He gave me the capital to put it together.”

“And this friend can’t help you out now?”

“He bailed on me after a year.”

“Whatever…” Jeff didn’t want to hear the details. “By the way, if you call the house again, be sure to leave your
name.
Anonymous phone calls are pretty childish.”

“I didn’t want to upset Blondie.”

“Stop calling him that. Peter isn’t exactly the type to get upset over an
ex
-friend of mine calling to talk to me. Besides, he knows all about you.”

“If he really knows all about me, he
should
get upset.”

“Don’t flatter yourself, Joey. Even
your
charm is fallible.” Jeff stood up, signaling their conversation was over. “Call me after you speak to you landlord.”

Joey attempted a grateful look. “Thanks, Jeff.”

Jeff did not move to give him the hug he obviously expected, so he shrugged slightly and turned to go. “Oh, and give
Peter
my regards please,” he added, unable to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.

For a long moment Jeff stood looking at the closed door. He could not quite believe what had just happened. Joey was back in his life—and, oh God, how he wished he was not!

CHAPTER FOUR

Gloria’s house stood within a gate-guarded community in Corona del Mar. Jeff showed his invitation to the young security guard at the gate who gave him the directions to the house.

“Enjoy your evening sirs.”

Jeff glanced at Peter as he pulled away from the security gate. “Before we go inside I want to say thank you again.”

“For what?”

“For being so understanding.”

“What brought that on?”

“I was just thinking about the Joey situation and how well you took it when I told you he came to my office the other day and what he wanted.”

“Oh, that.” Peter covered Jeff’s hand with his own. “Don’t sweat it. I don’t think an old boyfriend coming back on the scene can threaten what we have.”

“And you’re not upset I’m going to help him out?”

Peter grinned at him. “Just don’t make a habit of it.”

“No chance. And you know, once Joey gets what he wants, I’ll probably never hear from him again.”

They got out of the car and walked up the driveway toward the house. Jeff put his arm around Peter’s shoulders. “You’re the best.” He pulled Peter closer and kissed his forehead.

Peter chuckled. “Anymore of that and we’ll have to skip this party.”

The spacious entry to Gloria and Johnny’s house was filled with flowers and balloons. A smiling young woman greeted Peter and Jeff at the door then ushered them into the crowded living room. Gloria spotted them immediately and rushed over to greet them.

“Darlings! Thank God you two are here.” She guided them out on to the patio where a bar had been set up. “What’ll it be?” She appeared already quite tipsy, her eyes sparkling with mischief and merriment. “I’m so glad now you’re here to liven things up a bit.”

“I’m sure you’ve been keeping everyone on their toes all by yourself Gloria.” Peter hugged her. “You don’t need anyone else to liven up your shindigs.”

“Oh, Johnny invited some of his partners and their wives—and they’re so
boring
.” Gloria’s stage whisper brought a smile to Peter’s lips. “I’ve been standing glassy eyed for the last half hour, listening to them prattling on about their tea parties and charity drives and,” She shuddered dramatically. “They’re trying to get me to
volunteer.
Can you believe it?” She glanced toward the French doors as a young couple stepped out on to the patio. “Emily…Jerry…Now all my favorite people are here.” She dragged the couple over to where Peter and Jeff stood by the bar. “This is my cousin Emily and her
fiancé
, Jerry. And this is Peter, the
artist
I told you about…and his partner, Jeff.

“Now tell the nice bartender what you’d like to drink, darlings. I’ll go rescue Johnny from those boring old farts and bring him out here.” She swept off, teetering slightly on her heels.

Emily giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. Peter smiled at her, admiring the long dark hair that hung around her shoulders in shiny waves. He noticed her large blue eyes, still sparkling with amusement.

“Johnny’s going to have his hands full tonight,” Jeff remarked.

Jerry chuckled. “I think he’s probably quite used to it.”

“You two are engaged?” Peter asked. “When’s the happy day?”

“We haven’t quite settled on that yet,” Emily said after a quick look at Jerry. “We only got engaged last week.”

Jerry slid his arm around her waist. “We have to let the folks at home get used to the idea first.”

Jeff handed Peter a glass of champagne. “They don’t approve?”

“
Mine
do, but Emily’s father…”

“Oh, he’ll come around.” Emily slipped her hand inside Jerry’s. “Besides, we’re both over twenty-one.”

Gloria re-appeared with Johnny in tow. Hanging on to her husband’s arm, she beckoned them over. “Come on. Time for everyone to see me in all my splendor…courtesy of the greatest artist in the world.”

“Gloria…”

Peter’s protest was waved away by the lady. “Don’t go getting modest on me, Peter Brandon. I know you better than that.”

Jeff took Peter’s arm. “Better get it over with.”

Peter grimaced and let himself be steered towards the waiting crowd in the living room. Champagne was being poured for the birthday toast and all eyes were on the covered portrait now hanging over the fireplace.

“Ta-da!” Gloria cried. “I know you all can’t wait to see it, so Johnny, expose me!”

Johnny dutifully pulled on the silk cloth hiding the portrait Peter had recently completed and revealed Gloria’s seductive smile to the assembled crowd.

“Wow…” Jerry, standing near Peter and Jeff, exclaimed. “That’s really something.”

“It’s beautiful,” Emily murmured her agreement.

Peter turned and met Emily’s eyes. Behind that attractive smile he sensed something else—a sadness perhaps? A secret knowledge she was keeping from everyone else. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but looking into her eyes, the feeling grew stronger in him, and he touched her arm as though to comfort her.

Then, for a moment, it seemed as if they were alone together in the room. The
sounds of laughter and conversation faded away. A connection had been m
ade, a feeling shared by two people who had both known anguish and suffering
.

Peter was suddenly aware that Jeff was looking at him strangely and he stepped back, breaking the invisible thread that had bound he and Emily together for that brief moment. People were now surrounding them, congratulating Peter on his work.

“Are you all right?”

Peter nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’ll tell you later.” He squeezed Jeff’s hand gratefully, then forced a fixed smile on his face as a large woman in a pink dress gushed at him about how he had captured the unique planes of Gloria’s face and how the flesh tones were ‘just right’ and how on earth had he managed to make her eyes so alive?

Peter answered politely, but from the corner of his eye he saw Emily and Jerry engaged in what looked like an argument with an older man. The man was tall and imperious with iron gray hair. He might have been handsome once, but from the look of his flushed and florid face, too much alcohol had left its mark. It was obvious he’d been drinking and his voice carried over to where Peter stood as he tried to concentrate on what the lady in pink was saying.

“I don’t give a damn what you think…” Peter heard him say, then the rest was lost as a group of people, headed by Gloria, descended on him and the gushing lady in pink.

“Everyone
loves
my portrait, darling,” Gloria said, swaying slightly in front of him. Peter made his excuses to the pink lady then took Gloria’s hand and led her off to a quiet corner.

“Who’s the guy talking to Emily and Jerry over there?”

Gloria followed his glance and frowned. “Oh, that’s Emily’s father, my Uncle Charlie.” Unable to hide her dislike, she said, “I had to invite him and my Aunt Patricia, though I can’t
stand
either one of them. Look, he’s drunk
and
they arrived late. Absolutely no class. I don’t know how Emily can stand living in the same house with them after what she’s been through.”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh—oh nothing, sweetie.” Gloria appeared strangely flustered. “I’m just rambling. Too much of the bubbly. Look, there’s Johnny and Jeff hiding in the corner. Let’s join them.” She whisked Peter across the room to where the two men stood talking. She flung herself into her husband’s arms. “Oh, thank you so much for my lovely gift, Johnny. It’s just so wonderful.”

Johnny looked ruefully over her head at Peter and Jeff as he held his wife close. “You’re welcome, honey. Now slow down on the champagne or you’re not going to last the night.”

“I’m not as drunk as old Uncle Charlie over there. Look at him giving those two kids such a bad time. He really is a creep…I’ve a good mind to go over there and tell him to shut up.”

“You will not.” Johnny restrained his wife with a firm grasp on her arm.

“But
look
how he’s upsetting Emily.”

“Okay. We’ll just wander over there and break it up like we don’t know they’re having a problem—and be
diplomatic
.”

Peter watched as their hosts approached Emily and her parents. Johnny, all smiles, shook Charles Hastings by the hand then kissed Emily’s mother on the cheek. Peter couldn’t quite make out what was being said, but he saw Emily and Jerry relax a little at the obvious change of subject. Gloria turned and beckoned Peter and Jeff over to the group. Somewhat reluctantly, they walked over to join them.

“I’d like you to meet my uncle and aunt, Charles and Patricia Hastingsh.” Gloria was deliberately slurring her syllables, and the effect was hilarious. Emily giggled involuntarily as Gloria, leaning on her husband, continued, “This ish Peter and hish friend Jeff…”

Emily and Jerry were convulsed by silent laughter as Peter, trying to keep a straight face, shook hands with the grim pair. He only just managed to control the laughter building inside him as Charles Hastings glowered at Gloria.

“You’d better have that speech impediment looked at young lady.” There was not a trace of humor in his voice. He turned his attention to Peter. “So, you’re the one who paints. Patricia, my wife here, has always had a yen to have her portrait painted. Probably should have had it done years ago, though.”

His wife’s face took on a pained expression at the implied insult, but said nothing.

“Well, let’s take a closer look at the work of art.” He grabbed his wife’s arm, leading her away from the rest of the group who let out an almost simultaneous sigh of relief.

“I’ll get us another drink,” Jeff headed for the bar outside.

Peter watched him go for a moment then turned to Emily and Jerry. “You two all right?”

“Oh, yeah. Thanks to Gloria’s performance. She certainly broke up the tirade we were getting from Emily’s old man.”

“Jerry…don’t.” Emily gave Peter an apologetic look. “We don’t want to air our family problems at a party.”

Once again as their eyes met, Peter could feel some form of connection with her. Instinctively, he knew there was more, but he also knew he would not get the answer here.

“Did I piss my Uncle Charlie off, do you think?” Gloria was hanging on to Johnny’s arm for support.

Johnny kissed the top of her head. “Come on beautiful. I’m taking you out for a breath of air.”

Emily smiled as Johnny led her cousin outside. “She is so funny when she’s had one too many.”

“A happy drunk,” Jerry agreed.

When Jeff returned, drinks in hand, Jerry suggested they find somewhere to sit.

“There’s some room in the den, I think.” They followed him as he led the way into a comfortable room off the living area. After they sat down he said, “Peter, I’d like you to paint a portrait of Emily if you would.” He smiled at his fiancée. “It would be my engagement gift to you, darling.”

“Oh Jerry, that’s so sweet.” Emily took his hand. “But I think Peter is very busy, and I’m such a fidget when it comes to sitting still, even for a photograph.”

But Jerry was adamant. “You would find time for her, wouldn’t you Peter?”

“Of course. And don’t worry, I don’t believe in lengthy sittings.”

“Peter has a photographic memory,” Jeff interjected. “It’s come in quite handy a couple of times.”

“Really?”

“Did you know he was in a coma for three years?”

Jerry nodded. “Yes, Gloria and Johnny told us about your ordeal, Peter. That must have been hellish.”

“When he started to regain some of his memory of the attack, he was able to draw a sketch of one of the perpetrators.”

“Wow,” Jerry exclaimed. “That’s some memory—three years down the road.”

“Well…” Peter set his glass down on a nearby table. “Remember, it didn’t seem like three years to me. Time was like,
kaleidoscoped
for me into a much shorter time frame. Anyway, Jeff’s right. I could paint you now from just the time we’ve been together. What I like the sittings for are to more or less talk to my subject, get a feel for their personality, the way they smile, move, that kind of thing. Something I can use to make them a real individual, not just a flat image on canvas.”