Draw Me A Picture (48 page)

“Indeed. I had no idea this was even going on,” William admitted. “However, I am a bit leery of dragging you around a convention center stuffed with furniture all night.”

“No dragging necessary, William,” Michelle told him. “I’d love to learn more about your passion for carpentry. The beautiful things you’ve made speak volumes about how much it means to you.”

William stood still for a moment in the office corridor and looked into Michelle’s eyes; she seemed perfectly in earnest.

“I appreciate your interest, love,” he said, sincerely. “I promise to make it as riveting as possible.” Michelle laughed, softly; she gave William a slightly playful look. They started walking towards the elevators, still looking at each other.

“Perhaps you can tell me right where the craftsman threw a fit about not getting his lunch,” Michelle suggested, getting a smile from her fiancé.

“Minx,” he said, looking at the tickets again. “It’s at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Nice place. Ever been there?” He glanced at Michelle; she nodded.

“Yes. CPA convention, believe it or not; right after I was first hired,” she said, smiling. “It’s such a
striking building, like a stack of glass cubes, all hollowed out. I don’t remember anyone I met there, or anything I saw… I just walked around staring at the ceiling the whole time.” William laughed.
 

“Architecture that dramatic does make it difficult to concentrate on the displays,” he said, smiling at her. They slipped into a waiting elevator; as the doors closed, Michelle smiled at the floor, thinking how nice it was to simply be in William’s company, even without conversation; the silences between them was just as intimate as laughter.

The cab left William and Michelle a block from Luca’s café; they walked hand in hand through the chilly air as the weak November sun struggled to break through the clouds overhead.

“You know, I have yet to see your wood shop,” Michelle said; the smile in her voice matched the one on her face. William glanced at her sideways.

“It’s just a bunch of tools and sawdust, love,” he said, smiling. “Bits of wood ends around, cans of stain...”

“A workshop with tools and sawdust?” Michelle said, pretending to be shocked. “You don’t say?”

“You little minx...” William said, narrowing his eyes at her; he could not keep a grin from his face. Michelle peered at him from under her hand.

“I love the smell of fresh cut wood,” she said, putting her hand down. “The idea of making a functioning piece of furniture out of a few planks of wood is fascinating to me, let alone making a beautiful work of art as well.”

William chuckled.

“Well if you put it that way,” he said, squeezing her arm a little. “My favorite part is staining the finished piece; it makes all the facets of a given project visually come together.” Michelle nodded.

“I’m glad you’re partial to cherry stain,” she said, sighing. “I like its warm hue.” She walked next to William, imagining sitting next to him in his workshop, watching him rub stain over a newly crafted table or chair. It was a small idyllic scene; she could almost smell the fresh-cut wood and even almost see the little flecks of stain on William’s strong hands. The imaginary scene left her face with a dreamy expression.

As they strolled towards the café, William watched his fiancée’s face, wondering at the happy look he saw there. He thought back to their meeting in the gallery and how she noticed his calloused hand. She had seemed genuinely interested in his hobby, even then.

“She is so sincere,” he mused, silently.  
“It's positively endearing. Is it possible this girl was made especially for me to find?”
The idea had merit; what else could explain how they fit so well together?
 

At that moment, Michelle looked up at him; William’s eyes appeared to reflect her own tender thoughts. Her fiancé gave her the smile she had first drawn.

“I like your smile,” she said. “It’s what made me first think romantic thoughts about you.” The last part she slipped out without really meaning to. A delicate pink color shaded her face and she looked ahead again. She felt William’s warm breath on her ear and her flushed face deepened its hue.

“I would very much like to know all about said romantic thoughts,” he said, quietly. “If you don’t tell me voluntarily, I’ll be forced to coax it out of you.” Michelle had no answer to that; when they reached the café door, she yet blushed.

As he opened the café door for Michelle, William immediately spied Luca. The man sat at a small bistro table with Mr. Maclane’s assistant, Laurel. They were talking and laughing in a friendly fashion; William was surprised at the lack of the usual heavy flirtation in Luca’s manner. He grinned down at Michelle; she returned it with mutual acknowledgment of the scene.

“I think we may have to attend another wedding soon, love,” William whispered to his ladylove. Michele grinned and nodded.

“I think they make a good match,” she whispered back. “But, Laurel’s a nice girl; I hope he won’t break her heart.” William nodded, sobering; he hoped the same. Though his instinct was to slap a warning label on Luca’s forehead, the fact that he worked hard at this café and lived in one of the tiny apartments above lent the man a little more character than previously supposed.

Michelle looked at the pair and saw a look pass between them that she recognized; she’d exchanged similar ones with William… looks that spoke of vulnerability yet permeated by an unspoken relaxation that really could not be explained. Attraction itself was a mystery, but even deeper still was the interest spawned of that certain person, that one… a phenomena which drives both people to want to know more of the other; to find out what makes them who they are.

Luca saw William and Michelle and raised his hand in greeting. Laurel blushed and stood up; Michelle smiled at her as they walked over. William stepped away to speak to Luca.

“Did he like the pictures?” Laurel asked, looking at William. Michelle nodded.

“Very much,” she said, smiling. “I need to send Mr. Torville a note of gratitude; do you have his address?” Laurel nodded, writing something down on the back of a business card; she handed it to Michelle. Luca and William laughed, discussing something amongst themselves. Michelle discreetly studied Laurel’s face; the young woman couldn’t help looking over at the darkly handsome man she had come to fancy. Michelle laughed, softly.

“Has he offered to carry you off yet?” she asked the young woman by her side. Laurel blushed but shook her head.

“No,” she said. “He’s been very nice.” Michelle smiled.

“He must like you then,” she said.

“I hope so,” Laurel said, wistfully. “I haven’t been on a date in a long, long time.”

“You don’t want just a date, do you?” Michelle inquired, quietly. Laurel looked askance.

“Heck no,” she said, with conviction. “I’m not a frickin’ teenager.” Michelle chuckled at her friend's words. Laurel looked over at Luca again. “He’s just so gorgeous. Why would he want to ask me out?”

“You give yourself far too little credit, Laurel the-assistant-of-the-year,” Michelle said; she got a small smile from the blond young woman. “You’re just what he needs. I think his mother would love you.” Laurel looked at her.

“You know his mom?” she asked, timidly. “She’d not a snob is she?” Michelle smiled at her.

“Sophie is the antithesis of snob,” she said. “She's wonderful.” Laurel looked relieved at this information.

William and Luca walked over to the girls.

“I was just asking Luca if he’s planning on showing up at our wedding,” William said, linking arms with Michelle again.

“Were it any other wedding, I would brave all my mother’s disparagement and work my shift here,” Luca put in. “Sunday is our biggest day.” William chuckled.

“Sorry old boy,” he said. “I don’t want to put off marrying Michelle for even one more day.” Michelle gave him a smile that said she agreed with him.

Luca looked down at Laurel.

“Now I just have to find a lovely girl to bring to your celebration,” he said, smiling. Laurel pretended to be interested in her clipboard; her cheeks looked pink. William cleared his throat.

“We should eat; I have to get back to work in forty-four minutes.” He turned to Luca. “What does the owner recommend?”

“The tortellini salad,” Luca said, smirking. William grimaced.

“Preferably something with meat in it,” he returned, leading Michelle over to a table.

It turned out that the café did have something with meat in it; a light, fresh lasagna with an interesting side-salad comprised of seasonal vegetables in a walnut vinaigrette. The café was surprisingly popular; it seemed Luca had hit the area’s market just right with a foreign, health-oriented menu. Luca walked around sporting a short white bistro apron taking orders, smiling and talking with the customers. Laurel watched his every step, though mostly from behind her clipboard.

“That girl’s got it bad,” William observed, quietly, to Michelle. She smiled, nodding in agreement. Looking at William, Michelle bit her lip and arranged her fork on her empty plate.

“I, um... I look at you also, when you’re not looking,” she said, softly. William grinned at her.

“I know,” he said. He leaned forward, kissing Michelle’s cheek. “No complaints here, my lady.”

Though she didn’t want to, Michelle said goodbye to William a few minutes later.

“I’ll see you at my office then, at five?” said he. “We’ll get a bite to eat and then go look at furniture all
evening.” Michelle nodded, looking at her adoringly.
 

“She must love you, my friend,” Luca said, sauntering up to them. “If I was her I’d be bored out of my mind looking at tables and chairs all night.” Michelle wanted to say something scathing in reply to this, but bit it back. William saw his fiancée’s inner conflict and smiled down at her. He liked her consideration of others, though it caused her to be a little less confrontational than she should be. In his world, she’d have stand up for herself a great deal, especially among the societal women. There was time to work on such things later, he reasoned. William remembered her bantering with Luca at Sophie’s dinner party and chuckled; she certainly had no trouble defending herself against lustful advances. He gave Michelle a quick kiss on the cheek; her loving expression made him want to give her a proper goodbye.

“See you at five,” Michelle said; she stood on tip-toe and kissed her fiancé’s face. Smiling, she deliberately walked over to Laurel and Daniels by the door and waved at William. He shot her a narrow look; it was accompanied by a warm grin. Blushing, Michelle made for the car.

“You two seem to be getting along extraordinarily well,” Luca remarked, standing next to William by the front windows. “There is a thing between you… like fun that will not die.” William grinned, watching as his fiancée got into the car outside. Even flustered, she moved with grace and delicate little motions. She looked back as if she couldn’t help it and blew William a kiss, her lips curved in smile.

“She’s my soul mate,” William told him, looking after the car as it drove off. “You only get one.”

“You were lucky to find yours,” Luca said, with conviction. William turned to look at him.

“I see you fancy my employer’s assistant, eh?” he remarked. Luca sighed.

“I don’t know,” he said. “She is very pretty and sweet... but I want a wife; Laurel is married to her career right now, I think.”

William felt as if he could be knocked over with a feather. He stared at the Italian man in disbelief.

“You want a what?” he inquired. Luca laughed.

“Do you think it is so incredible?” The Italian’s phrase was not really spoken as a question. “You are not the only one who wants a family, my friend.” William felt impressed.

“Now I’ll have to take back a few more things I have said to you, old boy,” he said with admiration. Luca shrugged.

“Everyone must grow up someday,” he said. “I just hope Laurel would not mind sharing my life with me. We could have very beautiful children.” The man appeared to think on this point with some depth of feeling; a sly smile crept over his face. William cleared his throat; he didn’t want to know.

“I have to get going,” he said, putting on his coat. “I must admit your café is quite a success. The food’s not bad either.” Luca looked at him narrowly.

“High praise,” he scoffed, folding his arms. “Come back again if you like it so much.” William smiled.

“I will,” he said. “Just don’t break Laurel’s heart. She seems to be a nice girl and Michelle thinks very highly of her.” Luca's eyebrows rose a little.

“I do not break the hearts of ladies,” he said, plaintively. “She is--as you say--very nice. I would like to ask her to your wedding.”

“Surprised you haven’t already,” William remarked, grinning. “Asking a girl out should be second nature to you.” Luca let out an exasperated breath.

“But this girl, she is not the same,” he said, running his hand through his hair in a gesture William recognized. “I do not wish to scare her away.”

William gave an amused snort.

“No chance of that,” he said, chuckling. “The girl’s stuck on you. If she said 'no' I’d be astonished.” Luca appeared genuinely relieved at this information.

“Thank you, my friend. Good day to you.”

“Same here, old boy,” William returned. They shook hands briefly before William left the café.

As the cafe door shut, Luca turned to clean off the table he and Laurel had sat at; as he wiped it down, Luca saw a little, white card on the chair seat, as if it had dropped accidentally. Turning it over, Luca smiled. It was a blank business card; the face held nothing but a hastily scrawled phone number and the letter “L”.

“Perhaps she is lonely, too,” Luca said to himself. He tucked the card into his pocket and continued his work; he smiled and thought fondly of a young woman with bouncy, golden curls and laughing eyes.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Michelle did not think the day would ever come, but it did. William actually ate at a hot dog cart. The event occurred just outside his employer’s building; Michelle walked with him out the doors into the cold, twilight air. The fading sunset colored the very edges of the clouds with park pink tones and purple-gray hues. People swarmed the sidewalk. They hastily moved in a body away from the realm of Work, eagerly seeking various paths homeward. Nearby, a hot dog cart handed out steaming all-beef dogs on seeded rolls. The good, greasy smell of it permeated the air.