Come Fly With Me (78 page)

Allison
made
the
introductions
and
spotted
the
reporter
and
photographer
from
New York
.
She
took
a
deep
breath
and
walked
over
in
welcome,
praying
that
she
wouldn't
come
off
as
a
complete
fool.

"Mr.
Saltz,
I'm
Allison
Ross,"
she
said
as
she
extended
her
hand.

He
shook
her
hand
and
turned
back
to
view
the
paintings,
occasionally
checking
to
see
if
she
was
still
there
and
shake
his
head.
She
stood
by
silently
while
she
awaited
her
sentence.

"Hmm,
a
bold
statement,
launching
a
show
in
which
you
feature
prominently.
This
is
the
first
time
I've
ever
seen
this,"
he
said.

"It
isn't
about
me,
Mr.
Saltz,
it's
about
pain
and
loss
and
the
frailty
of
life.
You
see,
over
here
in
this
one,"
she
pointed
at
the
canvas
of
her
at
the
beach.
"The
woman
is
leaning
on
the
boardwalk
railing
and
looking
pensively
out
into
the
unfathomable
ocean.
The
sand
is
strewn
with
the
remains
of
shells
and
seaweed
and
washed-up
debris.
Yet,
in
the
background,
you
see
the
suggestion
of
a
Ferris
wheel
and
the
fun
and
merriment
usually
associated
with
a
day
at
the
beach.
Vince
wanted
to
work
on
a
series
that
spoke
of
life
and
he
made
up
a
woman
whose
features
were
a
composite
of
all
the
women
in
his
life.
If
his
sister
were
standing
here,
you'd
think
this
show
was
about
her."

"That
sounds
a
little
far-fetched,
but
in
any
case,
that
doesn't
make
his
work
any
less
compelling
or
provocative.
Ms.
Ross,
I
congratulate
you
on
your
keen
eye.
Now,
if
you
could
introduce
me
to
Vince
and
your
mother,
Vivienne
Ross,
I'll
be
on
my
way.
I
have
two
more
openings
to
attend
this
evening."

"Of
course,"
Allison
breathed
a
sigh
of
relief.

After
the
introductions
Allison
took
a
quick
look
around
the
room
to
make
sure
all
the
guest
were
enjoying
themselves
and
mingling
nicely.
Now
came
the
delicate
part
of
trying
to
sell
the
paintings.
It
seemed
so
self-indulgent;
she
didn't
know
where
to
begin.
But,
it
had
to
be
done—the
evening
could
not
be
called
a
success
if
all
the
paintings
remained
unsold.
She
spotted
the
real
estate
agent
she'd
purchased
her
apartment
from
and
was
about
to
head
over
to
him
to
talk
him
into
a
purchase
when
Jeremy
came
through
the
door.

She
smiled
and
waved,
"I
thought
you
couldn't
get
off
tonight?"
she
asked.

"I
can't.
You
don't
see
me.
I
ran
out,
and
if
a
patient
codes
while
I'm
here
I'm
in
deep
shit."
He
looked
around,
"Wow,
this
place
is
packed—you
sure
can
draw
a
crowd.
Point
me
in
Mom's
direction,
please.
I
left
the
cab
meter
running,
and
I
have
only
a
minute
to
congratulate
her
on
her
big
night."

Allison
walked
him
over
to
where
their
mother
was
standing
and
turned
back
as
Michael
Essex
came
into
view.

"Allison,
the
show
is
spectacular.
I
had
no
idea
you
had
such
a
talented
and
beautiful
mother,"
Michael
said.

"Yes,
she's
an
amazing
woman."

"She
fairly
lights
up
the
room.
It's
been
a
long
time
since
I've
met
a
confident
woman
who
isn't
self-absorbed.
She's
graceful
and
charming
without
even
trying,"
he
smiled.

Something
in
his
tone
made
her
look
at
him
sharply,
"Besides
being
so
talented,
she's
an
incredible
mother—
my
incredible
mother."

"Indeed."

He
seemed
distracted
and
she
followed
his
line
of
vision,
which
was
focused
with
pinpoint
precision
on
her
mother.
He
didn't
seem
to
have
heard
a
word
she'd
said.

"Sorry,
I
got
lost
for
a
moment.
I
purchased
the
beach
scene
for
Kaitlin's
birthday
present.
I
thought
it
might
appeal
to
her.
Speaking
of
Kaitlin,
I
almost
forgot.
Here,
she
made
me
promise
not
to
forget
to
give
you
these."

He
handed
her
an
envelope
and
disappeared
into
the
crowd.
She
stood
paralyzed
for
a
second
until
Kenyon
came
up
to
her
and
gave
her
a
slight
shake,
"Hey
you,
it's
all
working
out
spectacularly."

She
nodded
her
agreement,
her
gaze
set
firmly
on
her
mother
and
Michael
Essex—flirting.