Through the Glass

by Lisa J. Hobman

  “Comin’ right up.” He turned to prepare her drink order. Felicity looked toward Lia who was now grinning from ear to ear.

  “Is he cute or what?” She nudged Felicity playfully. She couldn’t deny that there was something attractive about the man. He was very muscular. His hair was tousled in that just got out of bed way and he did have a very nice smile. But she didn’t really care how good-looking he was. He wasn’t Jim.

  The two women found an empty booth and took their drinks over, claiming it as their own. Felicity was relieved to finally be getting to know someone else in the city. It was beginning to look like the start of a lonely and isolated life for her. Lia seemed nice and was only a few years younger than herself. She seemed like the type of person Felicity could be friends with, even if she did look like she had walked off a movie set or the cover of a swanky magazine.

  A true New Yorker by birth and upbringing, Lia knew all the best places to eat, the best places to visit, and the best places to meet eligible bachelors. Felicity smiled at her comments about the single men of New York and hoped that maybe one day she would be able to meet someone. But right now the idea of someone new was so far off in the future that it didn’t need to take up valuable space in her mind. Her mind was crammed full as it was.

  They chatted easily for a good couple of hours. Lia Cole was surprisingly an only child. Felicity found this strange as she just looked and acted like someone who would have lots of siblings watching her back. This was not the case. She loved art. That was clear and had studied art history at college much the same as Felicity. That was their common ground. They talked about their favourite artists for hours. Lia had a boyfriend but was quite cagey on the details. All she did ascertain was that he was quite a lot older than Lia.

  The conversation centred a lot on Felicity and her life. Surprisingly she had found it easier than normal to open up about her past with Jim. Lia had point blank decided he just wasn’t good enough for her. But she just didn’t know him. Felicity had to change the subject.

  “So tell me, Lia, what happened to Chester?” The former manager of the art gallery had allegedly had some sort of break down, but Felicity had met him several times whilst working for Franco and he always seemed so together.

  Lia shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Oh, you know, work pressures…he let things get on top of him.” Felicity thought she noticed her cheeks colour as she spoke. Perhaps she felt somehow responsible? Poor Lia.

  “But he was so…controlled. I find it hard to believe he just gave up.”

  “Yeah well, he just got so wound up about…stuff, that something had to give. I guess it was his health and sanity or his job.” Lia shrugged but didn’t make eye contact. There was something in the way she spoke that just didn’t ring true. They sat in silence for a few moments whilst Felicity mulled things over. Eventually she put it down to the alcohol.

  “So, Felicity, are you going to date whilst you’re here?” Lia quickly changed the subject back to Felicity’s single status again.

  “I seriously doubt it for the moment. I really want to get a place to rent and get the gallery organised and…maybe in a few months…who knows.” Felicity stirred the ice around her glass.

  “That’s a shame…there’s a gorgeous guy at the bar who is totally checking you out.” Lia giggled.

  Felicity felt the heat rise in her cheeks again as she slowly shifted her gaze and looked over to where the man sat. He smiled and raised his glass to her. She turned away abruptly.

  Lia leaned over the table toward her. “What’s wrong, Felicity? He’s a good-looking guy. Just relax and have some fun with it.”

  Steve from behind the bar came over to their table with two more drinks. “Ladies…Compliments of the mafia type sitting at the bar.” Steve smirked as he placed the drinks down in front of the two women.

  Felicity shook her head. “Oh. No, no, thank you but please tell him I don’t accept drinks from strange men.”

  Lia snorted with laughter. “What are you five? He’s not some pervert offering you sweeties, little girl.” She mocked and Felicity felt sure she was crimson by now.

  “Hey, it’s okay, British. Poured them myself. He never got to lay a hand on them, so they’re good,” Steve informed her.

  Feeling somewhat cajoled into the situation, Flick accepted the drink. “Well tell him thank you.” She glanced over to where the man sat again. He was very attractive. Clean shaven, short, dark almost black hair, and olive skin. He looked Italian. He looked stunning.

  “Back in a sec,” Lia announced rising from the table.

  Felicity panicked. “Where are you going? You can’t leave me!”

  “I’m going to the bathroom. You have to stay here in case someone takes our booth. It’s getting busy in here. I won’t be long.” She walked away.

  Felicity looked up to see the handsome man walking toward her. God, he was not only gorgeous, but ridiculously tall and well-built too. Oh shitty, shitty, shit. Why did this stereotypical, Italian hunk want to hit on her, for goodness sake?

  “Good evening, I wanted to say thank you for accepting the drink I sent over. It’s not something I usually do and I could see that you hesitated. I don’t blame you cara mia. You are very sensible and I apologise if I offended you or worried you in any way.” Yup…Italian…and gorgeous…and nice. Dammit! Guilt washed over her as the man turned to walk away.

  “Wait.” She spoke before thinking. The man stopped and turned back to her. “Erm…I should thank you…for the drink, I mean.”

  “You are most welcome cara mia. I was watching you and felt…drawn to you. Forgive me.” It was a cheesy line but, boy, close up he was rather stunning, as she had presumed he would be. He held out his hand. “I am Vitale De Luca…and you are?”

  “Felicity Johnston-Hart. Pleased to meet you, Vitale.”

  “The pleasure is all mine I can assure you. Are you here on holiday with your…husband?” the rather beautiful man enquired. Felicity caught herself looking at his lips and inadvertently licked her own. He smiled as if he saw.

  “N-no…I’m working here at the Nilsson-Perkins gallery. It’s a new role and I haven’t been here long.” She gulped as the man slid into the booth opposite her, never taking his gaze from hers.

  “I thought as much. If I had seen you before I would have remembered. Sei un gioello.”

  Oh God, and now he is talking in Italian… I’m done for.

  “I’m s-sorry, I don’t speak much Italian.” Idiot, you don’t speak any sodding Italian!

  Vitale smiled wider this time, revealing a set of perfect white teeth. Not perfect in that fake veneer type of way. No, these were his own, perfect white teeth, sitting in his own delicious mouth, behind those full luscious lips…

  “It means you are a jewel…a gemstone.” He cringed and shook his head. “I must sound like a…what do you call it? Cheese monster?” He bowed his head and his self-deprecation was sweet.

  Felicity couldn’t help but smile. “Not at all. I’ve never been called a jewel before.” She realised she was twisting her hair around her fingers. Oh for goodness, sake woman get a grip. She released the strand and straightened.

  “I would very much like to take you to dinner. Would you consider this maybe?” Vitale asked, looking hopeful and smiling at her reactions.

  “Oh…I don’t know…I’m not looking for—”

  Vitale’s smile faded. “No, no. That’s fine. I pounced on you the moment your friend left. You are new here and this is the last thing you need. Cheese monsters coming on to you…I understand.” He stood to leave just as Lia returned.

  “The offer was very sweet.” Stupid, stupid, stupid woman. She was mentally beating herself up as guilt washed over her. “I don’t mean to offend you.”

  Vitale reached and took Felicity’s hand. “Not possible cara mia. You have brightened my evening simply by speaking to me. I give you my card.” He released her hand. “Maybe once you are settled you can give me a call and I can cook
for you? Not Italian though. I will not betray my mother’s memory. My Italian cooking is terrible! No, I will cook for you the best Paella you have ever tasted. I don’t know any Spanish people I could offend by doing so.” He laughed and she couldn’t help but laugh, too, at his admission.

  “That would be lovely,” she replied. As she took his card from his hand he held her fingers in his.

  “Until next time.” He smiled warmly, his dark eyes sparkling. “Have a wonderful evening ladies.” He turned and walked away.

  “Wowee, lady! He was so freaking hot I thought my panties would melt!” Lia fanned herself. “Are you going on a date?” She tapped her fingers together giddily.

  Felicity shook her head. “No, he asked and I declined.” Again, stupid!

  “Seriously? Are you crazy?” Lia’s wide-eyed expression told Felicity all she needed to know.

  “Yes…I think it’s official.” She said putting the card away without looking at it.

  Chapter 19

  February 2012 – Three Years After the Break-up

  Jim looked after the rental car as it disappeared into the distance. He waved one last time to his brother. Seeing Euan and Tara together had made him realise just what he had been missing with Flick. A smile spread across his face at the thought of his plans for the exhibition. She had to realise she was meant to paint after this, surely? Shivering, he went inside and closed the door to the sub-zero temperature that had set in once again overnight.

  He scratched Jasper’s head. “Come on, boy. I need a cup of Joe after that cold out there.” He walked through the cosy lounge where the fire was just about dying down and into the kitchen.

  Today was going to be a pretty major step on the technology front. He needed the boost of caffeine for what would, no doubt, be one hell of a confusing experience. Ram and processor speed, broadband router this, that, and the other. It was all Greek to Jim, but he had decided that Edgar’s book needed to be finished using the most up to date equipment if he was going to do it justice at all.

  After two cups of fresh coffee, he donned his warm fleece and waterproof walking coat and climbed into the Landy. He set off for the nearest retail park—which wasn’t actually that near—in search of a laptop computer. Oh…and a printer…of course I’ll need a printer…and some paper…and something to keep it all in…bloody hell this is going to be expensive!

  After being bombarded with overly complicated information and looking at a gazillion different laptops—that actually all looked pretty much identical until they all blurred into one—he exited the store weighed down with boxes and bags galore. The young male sales assistant clearly knew his stuff, which highlighted the exact opposite about Jim as he was bamboozled with memory sizes, running speeds, and graphics cards.

  The young guy—oddly called Guy—had assured him that, in this day and age, it was a crime to not have Internet access. The teenager had gaped at Jim for what felt like an hour when confronted with the news that he had just never had the Internet installed. He had only now acquiesced to its installation, deciding that Flick would probably want to have this…if she moved in…no, no, when she moved in. Stay positive, MacDuff. It may be temporary whilst they figured things out, a kind of trial period, a holiday if you will, but he was determined to do everything in his power to ensure that she had no reasons to not move in.

  Guy had given detailed instructions as to how to set everything up when he arrived home and that he needed to call his telephone provider to set up the Internet connection. He had thrust a business card into Jim’s hand, telling him to call if he got stuck, and then he had given him a look of sympathy. Jim felt ancient and about two inches tall, but had to admit the information was a jumble in his mind. On arriving back at the cottage, he unloaded his purchases, rolled up his sleeves, and set about the arduous task of joining the 21st century.

  Firing up the laptop was quite exciting. Of course he had used computers before, but had always favoured the old fashioned way. There was something soothing about the click, click of a typewriter and burrr-ing of the winder that made him smile. But here he was tapping away at the keyboard of his flashy new laptop, feeling quite proud of himself for succeeding.

  ~~~~~

  The manuscript pages sent to him by Edgar were wonderful. Jim had always loved the gentle flow of Edgar’s prose and having this opportunity to write and be published whilst being able to remain in the background was just mind-blowing. He had gone through Edgar’s myriad notes with a fine-tooth comb and felt well equipped to do the work justice. It would keep him occupied whilst Julian put everything in place over in Glasgow. He made a start as soon as things were set up and gave himself a pat on the back for getting it all to work first time. In your face, Guy. He mentally stuck two fingers up at the barely-out-of-nappies-patronising-to-the-core sales assistant.

  Julian rang later on that day. “Jim, mate! How’s it going? You started writing that book yet?”

  “Hi, Jules, yeah. I made a start today when I’d finished setting up my new laptop.” Jim couldn’t help but smile to himself with pride again.

  “Ooh, get you joining the techno-age. You’ll be Tweeting next.” Julian chuckled. Oh no I bloody won’t. “Great, great stuff. Anyway, I’m glad you took him up on it. It’ll do you good to be writing again. Look, just a quick update. The guy I mentioned at the gallery, Jean-Paul Fabron? Remember? He absolutely loves the paintings and he has agreed to a three month exhibition!” The excitement in Julian’s voice took it up an octave.

  His enthusiasm was contagious, and Jim felt giddiness bubbling up from his boots. “What? Really?” He sat up straight, silently fist bumping the air and mouthing the words, Get in! “That’s fantastic news! Thank you so much, Jules. Thank you.”

  “Hey, it’s no problem, mate. She’s so talented it’s worth it to see her get the notoriety she deserves. Now, I need to talk to you about getting her to come over.” Julian’s voice became serious. “I have to be honest, I think I need to be the one to go over to New York, Jim.”

  Disappointment washed over Jim, his mood plummeted. “You? How come? I…I wanted to go see her.”

  “I know, I know. But I think we need to keep it anonymous right up to the point where she walks in and sees it. I can go over there and pretend to have an amazing find for her. She’d go for that.”

  “Aye, I know but—”

  “What would you say if you went? That you loved her and had taken her most private works and slapped them all over Glasgow to show her just how much? Think about it. What if she’s angry? She could be. I think that me getting her here is the best idea. Once she sees the exhibition she will be bowled over mate. She couldn’t possibly be angry when she sees them up there.”

  Jim acquiesced. After all it did make more sense. But he couldn’t help the heaviness he felt over it. “Aye, okay. So what’s the plan?”

  “Right, so here’s what I’m thinking. I go over and tell her I’ve made this amazing discovery, but that I’m keeping it anonymous so that no one else can see the work before Nilsson-Perkins. She’ll go for that. I’ll tell her to book a flight and come over so that she thinks she’s coming on business. You’ll be hiding in the wings, so to speak, when she arrives for her private showing. Et voila! She adores you once she finds out how amazing the paintings look and that you have been instrumental in arranging it all!”

  Jim thought for a few moments, his heart already pounding at the plan. “Okay, so when are you going out?”

  “I think next month. The exhibition will start in April, and so she’ll have a month to make arrangements and get herself over here. Sorted.”

  “And what if she refuses?”

  “Not a chance, Jim. I know Felicity of old, mate. She’s like a dog with a bone when she sniffs new talent. I only have to think back to how she was with me. Talk about bloody tenacious. She wouldn’t leave me alone until I’d agreed to work with her. She’s bloody good at her job, Jim, even if she should be painting instead. And I think that I can la
y it on thick enough to make her completely intrigued.”

  “Okay. Great. Keep me posted, eh?” Jim didn’t like how much he had been manipulated in one day but had to agree that in Julian’s case, he was right.

  The call ended and Jim went back to Edgar’s book. Thanks to his new link to the World Wide Web, he had been able to do his own research for the book and it was coming along well even though he hadn’t really been working on it long. He made a call to Edgar’s editor to let him know he had taken up the challenge. Geoffrey Haddington had been a long-time friend of Edgar’s and was delighted to receive Jim’s call.

  “I’m so glad you decided to do it, Jim. Edgar thought the world of you and he was so hopeful that you would take it on, but I was under strict instructions not to bother you if you chose not to. Bless you for doing this.”

  “Oh no, don’t thank me. It really is an honour. And I thought the world of him, too. I miss hearing from him. But I feel closer to him whilst I’m working on his book, if that makes sense.” Jim felt his cheeks heat at his sentimental admission.

  “Perfect sense, Jim. And thanks to you Edgar will live on through this final work. I can tell you with all honesty that he would be so very proud of you. He often spoke of you and how much he missed you being around. I’m sure you know this but…he thought of you as a dear son. And he knew that you would do a good job. Again, thank you.”

  The older man’s words brought a lump to Jim’s throat but he felt good when the call was over. If he had been in any doubt over completing the book, those doubts had melted away completely now.

  Chapter 20

  February 2012 – Three Years After the Break-up

  At the end of their evening, Felicity and Lia made their way out of the bar and hailed a yellow cab. Lia was dropped off at her apartment block that looked nothing like the one inhabited by Monica and Rachel on Friends. Felicity couldn’t help smirking at her own naiveté. She really was going to have to readjust to the real New York and stop living in the imaginary version she had learned from TV. She had been to The Big Apple on business on several occasions but living here and seeing where real people lived…well, it was a different thing entirely.