Finding Kylie (13 page)

             
As he came up front to the counter with her ticket, she thought he looked like someone, who would be stuck in a library studying.   His black-rimmed glasses were too big for his head, and his hair suffered from an interminable cowlick.

             
“Thanks.  I will let her know.  She told me to look them over before I dropped them by.”  Anne unwrapped the paper from the frames.  “She said there are three pieces in each series, and a total of five series to sell, right?”

             
He nodded, waiting expectantly for her to discover what lie underneath.  As she peeled away the bubble wrap, exposing first set, her eyes lit up.

             
“Wow, these are amazing.” She saw a father and daughter bonding in intimate scenes, and understood why Chastity didn’t want them anymore.

             
She had always thought Chastity was an extremely talented artist, but also knew her friend took the safe route and produced what would sell versus creating from within.  Chastity’s style would vary depending on the part of town she displayed her work, but she produced a lot of abstracts and impressionistic pieces.  In looking at these, however, Anne discovered the most impressive work Chastity had ever done.

             
The first piece in the set was of a father’s finger being grabbed by a little chubby hand.  In knowing Chastity, she knew that her friend had drawn what she wished she could have experienced as a toddler.

             
The second showed the back of a man, who had his arms raised up, lifting his laughing daughter toward the sky.  The emotion that was captured on the child’s face was mesmerizing.

             
The final piece showed a variety of the two of them hugging and twirling around.  Their faces weren’t distinct, but it was obvious that the three pieces told the story of a powerful love.  Anne’s heart melted, as these originals truly touched her within.

             
She’s showing true depth with these
.

             
She was really proud of Chastity for letting go of something so personal, and couldn’t wait to encourage her to display more pieces like these in the future. 

             
“These really pull you in.”  Anne ran her finger along the side of the frame, not wanting to let them go.  She knew if they pulled at her heartstrings this much, they would at the exhibit as well.  “They reach out a grab you.  Don’t they?” She looked into his knowing eyes. 

             
He nodded in agreement, and reached across the counter to wrap them back up, before walking Anne to the door. 

             
“Maybe this will be the push she needs to continue digging down deep to show others how talented she really is.”  Eddy helped Anne load her car with Chastity’s treasures.

             
He is so into her
.  Anne smiled at him, as she dug for her keys.

             
“Please tell her that I chose muted plums and ash mattes with black frames to compliment the art.  I hope she likes them.” Eddy nodded and awkwardly ducked his head forward. 

             
“I am sure she’ll appreciate it.  Thanks again.”  She placed the artwork by the dry cleaning in the backseat, got in her car, and drove off.

             
“Poor guy.” She looked to her review mirror, where Eddy was still waiving goodbye.  “He doesn’t have a chance.”

Chapter 17

              Conversation bubbled over and almost drowned out the concerto that filled the air.  The sound of the champagne cork popping kicked off the exhibit with an official introduction of the artist. 

             
“Please join me in welcoming Chastity Wayne, the newest talent to our area.  I hope you enjoy her artwork and drink some champagne ... lots of it.” 

             
Laughter echoed through the room in response to the gallery owner’s speech.

             
Chastity’s stomach was rolling.  She wasn’t used to being the center of attention, and wasn’t sure how to react to everyone’s stares.  She was forcing a smile, which made her lips shake. 

             
I hope I look okay. 

             
She checked her reflection in the mirror and saw there was lipstick on her teeth.  With the crowd’s attention focused on her work instead of her, she quickly rubbed her finger across her front teeth, and stood back to look the room over. 

             
She never felt more vulnerable than she did right now, as her innermost thoughts and dreams were exposed on the walls around her.  She prayed the patrons would like her work.
             
Chastity had asked Anne’s advice on everything from her little red dress to the music that filtered through the room.  However, Julia, the gallery owner, insisted on the finer details, like what brand of champagne and what types of hors d’oeuvres were served.

             
“I know what my clients like and the more expensive the champagne, the more money they’ll spend on your artwork.”

             
As on of the most successful gallery owners in the area, her words were reassuring, especially as she looked at the large crowd before her.

             
Julia, by chance, walked in Anne’s café for lunch a few months back.  Once she saw Chastity’s work displayed on the walls, she gave her card to Anne to pass along to the artist … and the rest fell into place.             

             
Julia snuck up behind Chastity, placed both hands on her shoulders, and squeezed.

             
“It seems to be going fairly well.  Most of your abstracts have sold, but the real buzz is about your charcoals and your pen and ink drawings.  They sold immediately and people are asking for more my dear.  I certainly hope you have some.”  Julia gently pushed her from behind. “Go mingle.  People are asking to meet the artist.  I have told them that she’s the priceless one in the red dress.”  She laughed seductively. “I actually had an older gentleman - and I use that term loosely - ask how much you were going for.” 

             
Chastity’s eyes became as large as quarters.  “What did you tell him?”

             
“I was just checking to see if you were listening.”  She clamped her mouth, to keep from laughing.  She thought Chastity looked to be ready to jump out of her skin.  “Just smile and relax.  Here, have a glass.” She handed Chastity some champagne.    “It’ll help you with your nerves.”

             
“Did my drawings really sell that fast?” Chastity took a small sip.  She was torn – as she wanted them gone, but now that they were, she felt like a part of her were too. 

             
Julia nodded. “They were the first to go.” 

             
As they walked back to the main room of the gallery, a slim man, who was wearing a pair of faded khaki’s and a baggy turtleneck, approached them.  Julia made the introductions. 

             
“Nigel, this is the budding artist, Chastity.  Chastity, this is Nigel.  He was the first to discover your work this evening and has paid handsomely.” 

             
He smiled warmly at her and shook her hand.  It was a loose handshake, which felt like a dead fish. 

             
Everything about him is sagging.
Chastity observed how hard it was for him to fill up his clothes, and couldn’t wait to withdraw her hand. 

             
“Thank you.  It is very nice to meet you.  I appreciate you coming tonight.”

             
“Oh the pleasure is all mine.”  His eyes gleamed, as he looked her over. “You’re very talented
Ms.
Wayne.”

             
His smile sent shivers up her spine, and not the good kind. She pulled back as politely as she could.  

             
I should have worn my black dress.  It covered more of me up. 

             
Chastity gave him a halfhearted smile, and pulled her shawl in to cover her exposed cleavage.

             
As if on cue, Anne snuck up behind her, giving her the excuse she needed. 

             
“Will you pardon me?  I have to make more introductions to the artist.”  Anne nodded to the limp hand shaker, as she whisked Chastity away. 

             
“Thank you.”  Chastity exhaled, with relief.

             
“Hey, I told you if you wore that dress you’d need to bring your white hanky for a signal.” 

             
Chastity laughed and defended herself.  “You’re the one who made me wear this!”

             
“You’re right I did, and you look stunning.  So go mingle and be thankful you got that creep out of the way.  It’s bottoms up from here.”  She nudged Chastity toward two women, who were discussing her sketches. 

             
“That would make a fabulous fathers day gift.”  The first of the two women commented. 

             
“I couldn’t agree more.  That’s exactly what I had in mind when I sat down to create the series.”  Chastity stepped in behind them, to join the conversation.

             
The older of the two women had on a black designer dress, and was wearing at least a five-karat ring.  Chastity noticed that she wore expertly put on make-up, which accompanied the most perfect smile she had ever seen. Chastity looked
to the woman’s collagen filled lips,
wondering how many procedures she’d had
.
             

The woman opened her
pouty lips to speak once more. 

             
“Are you planning to sell more like these?  They’re just what I need for my office.”   She turned to admire them again. 

             
Chastity repeated what she’d told most people that night.               

             
“I have a lot more where this came from.  Julia has booked another showing in a few months.”  She took her card out of her handbag and handed it over.  “Thank you for coming tonight.” 

             
Her newest fan took her hand in hers and squeezed it.

             
“I bought three of the abstracts across the room too, for my home.  I love your work, Ms. Wayne.” 

             
She smiled.  “Please, call me Chaz.” 

             
As she wove her way through the crowd, she overheard many comments that made her proud of her work.  She looked the room over, and decided never to prejudge which art would sell best. 

             
Anne told me to be different; no I think she said to be refreshingly different. She was right. 

             
Chastity looked for her friend through the mass of people, where she and Julia raised their glasses toward her, in a silent toast.

             
She caught her eye and waved from across the room.  Her cheery friend beamed at her and gave her the thumbs up sign. If it weren’t for her Anne’s connections, she wouldn’t be here tonight.

             
Chastity lifted her own champagne glass and mouthed the words, ‘Thank you’.

Chapter 18

              Every morning after she awoke, Chastity would grab her iPad, read the daily news, and drink her coffee.  This morning, however, she was a little apprehensive to start her daily routine.  At last night’s exhibit she met an art critic who was covering the event for the local paper. 
   

             
Okay, here goes! 
Chastity took a sip of caffeine courage, searched Google for his column.

             
She quickly scanned her tablet, to find that he called her exhibit ‘nothing more than average’.   Her face fell.  She was more than disappointed.  Chastity assumed with all the positive comments she heard last night, that his review would have reflected them.