by K. L. Slater
‘And I confess… I’ve been watching this place.’
‘Watching it?’ The back of my neck prickled. Contrary to what I’d told Jack, it would be a few hours before Jim returned to the office, and here I was, alone with a strange man who, despite being very attractive, could very possibly be someone who wanted to do me harm.
‘Sorry, let me rephrase that.’ He closed his eyes briefly and shook his head. ‘I didn’t mean it to sound like I’m a stalker or anything. When my uncle told me about this place, I walked past a couple of times. I saw you, and the man I assume is your boss, arrive yesterday morning. You both walked round the back and then the lights came on in the shop.’
‘I see.’ He was resourceful, if nothing else. ‘So that’s why you came to the back door.’
‘Sorry.’ He hung his head. ‘It’s just that I had to give myself this chance. You never know, right?’
‘I guess.’ I shrugged my shoulders and looked down at his portfolio. ‘Your work is in there, I’m guessing.’
‘I came prepared.’ He grinned and then bit his bottom lip. ‘I don’t suppose you’d have time to have a quick look yourself?’
‘Sure.’ I nodded. ‘I’d love to see your work, but the final decision—’
‘I know, I know. The final decision doesn’t belong to you.’
‘Right.’ I could have kicked myself for using the phrase. I’d had it said to me enough times when I’d tried to get work exhibited. ‘Bring it through to the gallery, where the light’s better.’
‘I really appreciate this, Alice. More than you know,’ he said, picking up the case and following me through.
He stood in the middle of the gallery space and looked up at the ceiling, letting out a low whistle.
‘Fabulous, isn’t it?’ I grinned. ‘It’s going to look stunning once we get it fitted out properly next week.’
‘I love it. The light, the space… And it’s got such a great vibe, too.’
I knew what he meant. The place just had a nice energy about it.
‘Anyway, let’s have a look at your work and then I’ll have to get on. Sorry.’
‘Please don’t apologise,’ he said, crouching down to unzip the portfolio. ‘I’m more grateful than you could possibly know just to have someone like you take an interest.’
I felt a frisson of pleasure to think that someone as cool and attractive as Jack obviously viewed me as a person of influence.
He slid out a couple of paintings and laid them out on the pristine white tiles, side by side.
‘Wow,’ I breathed.
I hadn’t been sure what to expect, but this… this I most definitely did not expect. I stared at the unframed canvases, mesmerised by the swirls of pastel colours fading and deepening in various places, pulling the eye in and then distracting it all at once.
Jack walked to the front windows and sat on the low sill to give me some time to appraise his work.
As I stared, my mind started to make sense of the picture before me. I caught the movement of water, the rustling of soft green leaves and—
‘It’s the River Trent. At the Victoria Embankment in the spring,’ Jack called out in a soft voice. ‘Just in case you don’t see it.’
‘I see it.’ I smiled at him. ‘It’s beautiful. And this one…’
I took a sideways step to view the second painting. This time I saw sky, birds and something fluttering in the sky. ‘A kite!’ I said, delighted.
‘You got it!’ He bounded back over. ‘My grandad used to take me to the arboretum to fly my kite. It’s one of my fondest childhood memories. Thanks for taking the time to look. I’m so chuffed you saw through the swirling mess… That’s what the guy at the Brushstrokes gallery in Derby called it.’
I knew this particular brand of low self-esteem well. I’d felt exactly the same about my own work in the past, felt the fear that another person wouldn’t get it, the meaning I’d wanted to convey through colour and texture.
‘I did a history of art degree at Nottingham Trent,’ Jack told me. ‘Graduated eight years ago. It sounds naïve, but I honestly thought I’d be a full-time artist by now.’
‘Believe me, I know how tough it is,’ I sympathised.
‘My dream is still alive.’ Jack shrugged. ‘Just. I’ve spent the last eight years in dead-end part-time jobs, working as a waiter, a shop assistant… Stuff just to keep the wolf from the door and to give me time for my painting. So I’ve no career to speak of. All I’ve got is this.’
He nodded to the artwork.
‘I’m sure it would look even better displayed on the wall over there.’ I smiled at him.
‘Don’t, I can’t handle the thought of it!’ He laughed and took a step closer to me.
I shivered involuntarily. He wasn’t in my space and I certainly didn’t feel threatened, but he was now close enough that I could smell his aftershave: a woody, subtle and very masculine scent. I was aware of his height, the breadth of his shoulders, his clean, even teeth showing through slightly open generous lips…
‘Seriously, though, even if this doesn’t come to anything, the fact that you’ve given me the time of day means the world.’
Our eyes met just for a second or two. I could imagine his hand lifting and touching my cheek, him moving closer and—
‘Don’t mention it!’ I heard myself say brightly as I took a step back. ‘Can you leave your work with me for a day or so? Give me time to show it to Jim.’
He clamped his hand to his forehead. ‘Alice, I can’t thank you enough, I—’
‘It’s fine, honestly.’ I fought to get back in control and my tone was a little curt. These feelings had come out of nowhere and were ridiculous. I didn’t know the guy and I was supposed to be representing The Art Box… I had to be professional. ‘I’m happy to show him your work.’
He looked taken aback and I knew exactly why. In five seconds flat I’d gone from looking at him starry-eyed to taking all the warmth out of my words. It couldn’t be helped. I had to cool off, get some distance between us.
‘I just want to say thanks, that’s all. Just let me know when you need me to come and pick it up. It doesn’t matter about the outcome, I’m forever grateful you’ve tried to help me.’
* * *
After Jack left, I discovered that my good mood had somehow evaporated. I sat down at the desk and revisited the list of potential local exhibitors.
My earlier enthusiasm seemed to have faded away. Jack had been so amicable, so grateful. But there had been something else there… something dangerous that had both excited and repelled me.
It almost felt like he was making a great effort to appear a star-struck debutant artist when in actual fact he was confident and entitled. Looking at Jack was like looking at the surface of a calm and beautiful stream and unexpectedly catching a shadowy movement undulating beneath the surface.
I shook my head and tried to renew my focus on the local artists’ shortlist.
My imagination was both a blessing and a curse. Why couldn’t I just allow myself to be happy for once?
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
LOUISE
Ten years earlier
Three months later, Martyn still hadn’t paid her back his share of the deposit and the rent.
In fact, her inheritance was fast depleting, as he also hadn’t been able to contribute anything to ongoing expenses due to sinking all funds into his new business venture.
Louise had grown tired of sitting on a deckchair in front of the television.
‘What happened to the furniture at the duplex apartment?’ she asked him. ‘I know you said it came furnished, but you must’ve owned some bits… And where are all your suits?’
‘I told you.’ He scowled. ‘I wanted a completely fresh start. You should be pleased I want to forget the past. I wish you’d stop banging on about it.’
She’d worked very hard at forgetting the stuff she’d seen online, and she’d kept her promise and done no further digging.
; She had tried a couple of times to get him talking about some of the people in his past, but it always put him in a bad mood if she alluded to it in any way.
He told her all his close family were dead and had made it crystal clear that was as much as he wanted to say.
Eventually she’d managed to get the lounge looking nice enough on a shoestring. Her mum had given her some bits they didn’t use in the house: a coffee table, a few cushions, and curtains that didn’t look too dated for a modern apartment.
Admittedly, none of the stuff was really to Louise’s taste, but she was grateful for it all the same.
She threw caution to the wind and splashed out on a bed, a black faux-leather three-piece suite and a small dining table and four chairs on a finance deal: buy now, pay later.
‘Looks great in here now,’ Martyn told her when he got home one day at eight p.m. She’d noticed, without comment, that gradually his working days were getting longer.
‘I’d like to get the rest of the flat furnished properly,’ she said, keeping her voice level. ‘We’ve been in here a while now.’
‘You don’t need to tell me that,’ he said irritably. ‘I’ve got some good news, anyway.’
‘Oh?’ She felt immediately brighter.
‘Yeah, the franchise deal is really close now. We’re talking a week or two, maybe less.’ He produced a bottle of fizz from behind his back.
‘That’s amazing!’ She hugged him, the weight on her shoulders lifting by the second. ‘At last. I’m so pleased for you… and for us.’
Martyn walked over to their open-plan kitchen and got the only two wine glasses they owned from the cupboard.
‘There’s just one final stage to get through, but my lawyer says that’s just a formality, that there’s no risk now that the deal won’t go through.’ He popped the cork and Louise let out an excited little squeal. ‘On that basis, I thought we were safe to celebrate our success right now.’
‘Sounds perfect.’
He handed her a drink and they clinked glasses.
‘To your success and our future,’ Louise said, inexplicably feeling a little teary. ‘You’ve worked really hard on this deal, Martyn. I’m so proud of you.’
‘Aww.’ He looked bashful for once. ‘I couldn’t have done it without you, gorgeous. In fact…’ He took a sip of fizz and placed his glass on the coffee table. ‘I wanted to ask you something. You’ve not got through all your dad’s inheritance yet, have you?’
‘No, but I don’t want you to feel bad about that. It’s helped us through the lean time, and now the good times are here.’ She held her glass up again but he seemed distracted.
‘How much have you got left… of the money, I mean?’
Louise thought for a moment. ‘About seven thousand.’
Martyn nodded and reached for her hand. ‘It kills me to do this, but there’s just one final payment to make so all the legal stuff can be completed. Is there any way you can lend me that seven thou just until the end of next week?’
A dull thudding started in her temples.
‘We’ve already got five people ready to take on the first franchises around the country, Lou. The money is going to be pouring in in a matter of days and the first thing I’ll be doing is replenishing your account.’
She cleared her throat. ‘No problem. I’ll transfer it right now.’
She picked up her phone and logged in to her online banking while Martyn watched. Afterwards, they made love and she felt like everything was coming right in her world at last.
With the business deal tied up, they could begin planning their wedding, and life as she’d imagined it would finally begin.
But her heart was growing steadily heavier and her chest felt tight. Why would she feel like this when she was about to get everything she’d ever wanted?
She swallowed hard and pushed the unwelcome feelings away as Martyn pulled her closer.
She couldn’t quite believe that better times were finally around the corner. That was all it was.
CHAPTER FORTY
ALICE
Three years earlier
Jim loved Jack’s artwork.
‘It’s fresh, different… has an almost kinetic quality,’ he said thoughtfully.
It was true, Jack’s work did seem to have a kind of movement to it, a trick he’d played on the eye.
Still, I smiled to myself. Jim’s typically convoluted language when describing paintings was the exact thing I wanted to step away from when speaking to people visiting the shop.
‘I’ll have to run it past Finn before we make a decision,’ he continued. ‘But I think he’ll love it.’
For some reason, I felt pleased at Jim’s reaction, as if his approval of Jack’s work was somehow a reflection on me. Having only just met him, I wasn’t sure I should overly care if Jack got a display spot or not.
But I did care. I wanted to help him. I genuinely loved his work, and if I was honest, I wanted to see him again.
He’d said he would call back to collect his art in a couple of days, and I would dearly love to be able to give him good news.
* * *
Jack was allocated a small space in the local artists’ corner of the gallery.
‘I can’t thank you enough,’ he told me when he emerged from Jim’s office with his official offer and the terms and conditions of any sales made. ‘I’d like to take you for a drink, if you’ll come. I haven’t really got anyone else to celebrate with.’
‘So you’ve had to settle for me,’ I said with a straight face.
‘No! Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that, I…’ He shook his head as my stern expression dissolved into a wide grin. ‘You had me there. I thought I’d offended you.’
‘Course not. And thank you, I’d love to come for a drink.’
We went to a bar in the Lace Market that had been converted from a church to a drinking establishment. It was located very close to the gallery.
‘Seemed appropriate.’ Jack indicated the majesty of the interior and the original stained-glass windows. ‘I reckon the big man upstairs was looking down on me that day I came into the gallery…’
‘Please don’t use that line on me… “and He sent one of his angels down to earth”.’
We both laughed.
‘You obviously know all my best lines,’ he said, pouting.
We had a great night, felt as if we’d known each other for years. When it was time to leave, Jack asked me out the next evening and I accepted.
And so it went on, until two weeks later, when we were sitting in an intimate Thai restaurant in the centre of the city and Jack reached for my hand across the table.
‘Can we make this dating thing official? Can we, like, say we’re in a proper relationship?’
‘What, you mean changing our Facebook status from “single” to “in a relationship”… as serious as that?’ I quipped.
‘As serious as that.’ Jack nodded. ‘We could even opt for “it’s complicated”.’
I burst out laughing as he squeezed my hand, and my heart, too. I felt light and warm and alive.
I fleetingly thought about my sister’s pledge to keep away from men. It wasn’t something I wanted to join her in.
I no longer felt alone. Jack and I were officially a pair.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Louise informs me she won’t be dropping Archie off in the morning.
It feels like my heartbeat is pounding in my throat instead of my chest. I immediately wonder if she’s heard that I called in to school to speak to Mrs Booth.
‘Any reason why?’ I ask, trying to affect a casual tone.
‘Just that I haven’t got an early meeting scheduled for once,’ Louise explains, her voice flat and uninterested. ‘So I might as well take him in.’
Her eyeliner looks a little smudged, and for once, her lipstick hasn’t been freshly applied. The pink has faded to a mere outline around her mouth.
‘Hard day at work?’ I ask her.
‘
You could say that, but then again, every day sucks right now.’ She sighs. ‘If I’m honest, I’m beginning to wish I’d never taken this new job.’
I wonder if Darren’s suspicions are right and she has been seeing someone. Perhaps this new, subdued demeanour signals that things have started to fizzle out.
Despite my disapproval, I can’t help but feel for her. I know what she’s been through in the past and I do want her to be happy.
But I’m also disappointed that I won’t see Archie. We’ve become so much closer in the last couple of weeks, both of us benefiting from each other’s company, I’d like to think. Plus, until I get to the bottom of what’s bothering him, I feel better checking he’s OK.
‘If you want to talk, you know where I am,’ I say.
Louise doesn’t appreciate the gesture. Instead, she laughs. ‘Thanks for the offer, but I think your doctor would have to prescribe a stronger sedative if you knew the half of what was happening in my life.’
I hate the way she always manages to make me sound so flaky in a few well-chosen words. It’s unfair for her to judge me on the medical advice I sought back then.
‘Why not risk it?’ I say quickly. ‘You never know, I might not faint from shock.’
Her expression grows serious, and for a moment or two she actually seems to be considering my offer.
‘If I’m honest, you seem a bit troubled.’ I reach out to touch her, to try and reassure her, but she frowns and steps back. Within seconds, an indignant look settles over her features again like a veil. Her body stiffens and I prepare to receive her wrath with both barrels.
‘Yes, well I suppose it would look like that to you, wouldn’t it? You’ve no idea how it feels to try and keep all the balls in the air all of the time, the pressure of having to—’
‘I’m trying to help you!’ I startle myself as much as her and instantly drop my voice, mindful of Archie watching TV in the other room. ‘I’m just trying to help, Louise. Why is your first thought always to assume everyone is trying to get one over on you?’