by Jenny Lane
“I don’t like the portrait, Letitia. I don’t want there to be any bad feeling and would be more than happy to give it to Tina - whether or not it was hers.”
“I wouldn’t do that for the moment, Rhianna, if I were you,” Letitia advised her. “I’d hold on to it. Keep it safe and don’t say where it is. Tina can be rather impetuous. Sometimes she says things in the heat of the moment that are - well a little exaggerated.”
“Yes I see.” Rhianna decided not to say any more about the portrait.
“I took a lot of photographs of the exhibition. I’ll print them out and bring them to show you next time I visit.”
It wasn’t until her grandmother had rung off, that it suddenly dawned on Rhianna what she’d said about the engagement ring Tina had been wearing. Letitia had said it had belonged to Anna Soames. Who exactly had Anna been engaged to, she wondered. There was so much to think about that her head was whirling.
Rhianna took another look at Lawrence’s paintings, loving the serene feeling of the landscapes. He’d encapsulated the tranquillity of Brookhurst.
She sighed. She didn’t know what to believe about his relationship with Christina Soames. She desperately hoped that her grandmother was right, when she said she didn’t think they were back together again. She so wanted to believe it, but somehow, she wasn’t convinced.
Fiona burst into the gallery just then and Rhianna knew she’d have to stop moping and put on a cheerful face for her friend’s sake.
*
The engagement party was in full swing. There was no sign of Laurie, and Rhianna, chatting to Lucy and her other friends, wondered if he’d decided to stay away. Her emotions were in such turmoil that she didn’t know whether to be relieved or sorry.
“So where’s this gorgeous hunk, Fiona’s telling us you’re going out with?” Lucy asked her now.
“Laurie might be gorgeous; he might be a hunk, but I’m not going out with him. We’re just friends because he knows my grandmother - that’s all. As for knowing where he is, I haven’t got the remotest idea.”
“He’s here,” said a voice behind her and a grinning Laurie came to stand beside her. Everyone laughed and she was forced to join in.
“Sorry I got held up - the traffic was horrendous.”
After a few minutes, the group moved off in search of refreshments. Lawrence took her arm.
“I thought we were more than just friends, Rhia. You and I have got some serious talking to do.”
“What more is left to be said?” she demanded, shaking off his arm impatiently. “You’ve made it clear that you’re back with Tina Soames and I don’t go in for threesomes.”
He stared at her. “I think you’ve got the wrong end of the stick…”
He put a casual arm about her waist and led her outside the hall into the bar which was less crowded.
“I could do with a drink and I’m sure you could.”
They took their drinks to a table in a corner. She knew she had to face up to whatever he was going to tell her and there was no escape.
“Rhianna, Tina and I parted company over two years ago. I received a very puzzling phone call from Tish - after she’d spoken with you this morning. Something to do with an engagement ring Tina was wearing.”
“I thought - that’s to say that Tina led me to believe…”
“Rhia, I am not about to get re-engaged to Tina. She, no doubt, flogged the ring I gave her. The one she was wearing was definitely her mother’s. The problem with Tina is that she loves to play games. I’m afraid to say she can be both calculating and manipulative.”
He saw the uncertainty in her eyes.
“Rhianna, you mustn’t allow Tina to get to you. Looking at things from her angle for a moment, it’s understandable she’s going to find it difficult to get her head round the situation. After all, until recently, she was the only one in Letitia’s family and now you’ve turned up.”
Rhianna nodded, but she found it hard to feel any sympathy for Tina.
“Now, I’ve met her and spoken with her - I’m almost certain it was her who phoned me that time. I challenged her with it and, of course, she denied it. I’m sorry, Laurie, but just for a minute - seeing you together - I thought you were back together again.”
He sighed, wishing he could find some way of convincing her.
“Oh, Rhia - when are you going to learn to trust me? Until you do, how can our relationship progress?”
“The problem is, Laurie…” She met his green gaze steadily.
“Yes?” His jade eyes had a dangerous glint in them.
“You shouldn’t be such a gorgeous hunk!”
He burst out laughing and leaning across, kissed her swiftly on the mouth.
“That was to seal our friendship and more besides,” he said softly.
Rhianna kissed him back, her heart beating wildly, and he caught her hands between his. The contact was electric.
He gave her a devastating smile. “You’re looking very lovely tonight. That colour really suits you.”
She smiled back, pleased that she’d chosen to wear the silky, peach-coloured dress. It was a favourite of hers and it suddenly didn’t matter that she’d bought it for a date with Marcus. Tonight she was with Lawrence.
“So, have we straightened it all out?” he asked, his fingers gently encircling her wrist.
“There is still the question of the portrait,” Rhianna told him. “Tina feels it’s hers and, in a way, I agree with her. I think I might know why my father took it when he left Brookhurst, but I don’t want to go there just now.”
“No, you’re dealing with far too much as it is. Tish mentioned the picture - it’s something that obviously bothers her. Be patient, for a while longer, Rhia. Keep hold of it for the time-being and I’m sure that - in a short while - we’ll both learn all there is to know about it… Now, shall we go and join the party?”
It was a good party and Rhianna suddenly realised she was glad she’d come.
Lawrence proved to be a very sociable person and got on well with her friends and Fiona’s family. He and Dave struck up an immediate rapport. He rose to Fiona’s challenge of a dance and twirled her round the floor, matching his steps to hers in a series of complicated movements - much to everyone’s admiration.
“I think you’ve been holding out on us,” Lucy told Rhianna when she caught up with her over the refreshments. “I’ve been watching you two and I can’t believe you’re just friends. Ah-ha you’re blushing!”
“OK,” Rhianna admitted, “We’d had a bit of a misunderstanding involving his ex- fiancée - who turned up at the exhibition yesterday. We’ve sorted it out, but, it’s early days yet and, after Marcus, I’ve no intention of getting too serious, too soon, so I’m taking things very slowly.”
“Well, don’t hang about too much or you’ll give him the impression you’re not interested and lose him,” Lucy advised. “Why don’t you bring him to my wedding next Saturday?”
“Oh, Lucy, I’m not sure…”
“Tell, you what – I’ll ask him. Keep your fingers crossed that he’s free.”
*
“Guess what,” Lawrence said presently, as he whirled Rhianna round the dance floor. “Your friend, Lucy, has just invited me to accompany you to her wedding next Saturday.”
“She told me she was going to ask you - so can you…?”
“Absolutely, if that’s OK with you, Rhia?”
“I’d like that,” she told him with a delighted smile and she knew that she meant it.
The evening went by on wings, until glancing at his watch, Lawrence said, “Regretfully, I’ve got to be making a move. I’ve promised to collect our neighbours from the airport in the wee small hours. My father had completely forgotten he’d agreed to do it, until after he’d arranged to go to my brother’s this week-end, so I’ve offered to step in.”
Rhianna realised what a lovely man he was - so caring and thoughtful. She wished he could have stayed, knew that every minute she spent wit
h him was precious, but it had been a lovely evening and she hoped there would be many more.
As they parted company, he caught her in a passionate embrace that left her senses reeling.
She stood on the hall steps waving him goodbye and felt a warm glow of contentment spreading through her. She knew now, without a shadow of doubt, that she was in love with Lawrence and, suddenly, her world seemed a brighter place.
*
Rhianna felt a little nervous at the prospect of meeting Lawrence’s parents. They had arranged to visit the gallery on Thursday morning. She needn’t have worried; they were a delightful couple in their sixties. Ralph Lorimer was like an older edition of his son. Mary Lorimer was a friendly, talkative lady with neat brown hair and a warm smile.
They took a long time wandering round the gallery chatting to both Rhianna and Fiona. Rhianna could tell that they were proud of their son and had a good rapport with him.
As they sat over coffee, Rhianna felt completely at ease.
“This is just as you’ve described it, Laurie. I’m so glad we came,” Mary Lorimer said. “And it’s lovely to meet the pair of you. We’ve heard so much about you. Katie can’t wait to come here again. She’s told everyone at school she’s got an uncle who’s an artist.”
Lawrence laughed. “Well, I must admit I was surprised to see I’d sold a couple of paintings.”
“It’s great to see you exhibiting again.” His father told him. “You’re building up quite a collection again.”
“Laurie’s quite a find,” Fiona said. “It was fortuitous for us when he came into the gallery that day.”
“We couldn’t believe it when he told us Letitia had discovered she had a long lost grand-daughter,” Mary Lorimer said. “It’s all very mysterious, isn’t it?”
Rhianna nodded. “So much so that we had a reporter here wanting to get a story out of it, would you believe.”
“And you’ve still no idea what caused your father to estrange himself from his parents?”
Lawrence shot his mother a warning glance.
“None whatsoever.” But, even as Rhianna spoke the words, she had a feeling that there might be one very good reason why he would have done just that.
“I realise Letitia knows and I’m sure she’ll tell me all in her own good time. She needed to get to know me first.”
Mary nodded, “Yes, of course, best to take things slowly…Do you think you’ll persuade her to come here? I’m sure she’d love to see this place.”
“I hope so, one day, but, in the meantime, I’m taking lots of photographs for her to see.”
“I love your display of Brookhurst. It’s such a pretty village, isn’t it? Laurie’s intent on moving back there.”
“It could take some time,” Lawrence said. “There isn’t too much out there at the moment, but I’m not in any particular rush.”
“Mary’s made him too comfortable at home,” Ralph joked.
Fiona collected up the empty mugs. “Would you like to take a look upstairs? One day soon, we hope to expand, but it would mean creating more storage space elsewhere.”
“Fiona’s fiancé is a carpenter and he’s going to help us when the time comes. He knows lots of people in the building trade,” Rhianna explained.
They went upstairs and stood gazing about them. There wasn’t a lot to see - just several rooms with original fireplaces, empty apart from a stack of cardboard boxes, art materials, easels and a couple of tables where they did their work, but there was a wonderful view from the window, overlooking the street and the church.
“This certainly has a lot of potential. It isn’t a listed building, is it?” Ralph asked, studying the wooden beams.
“Fortunately, no. That would make it impossible. We don’t need too much structural work doing - just a bit of modernisation to make it more viable.”
“Well, then, I don’t foresee any problem. Did Lawrence tell you I’m a retired architect? If I can be of any assistance…”
“That’s a great offer. We’ll certainly call on you for advice,” Fiona told him. “Good. Please feel free.” Ralph consulted his watch. “We’d like to take you girls out to lunch.”
“That would be delightful,” Fiona answered for them both. “We could close for an hour or so, couldn’t we, Rhia?”
They went to a nearby pub that served traditional fare and, over lunch, Rhianna warmed to Lawrence’s parents. Both she and Fiona were included fully in the conversation. Mary asked Fiona about her wedding plans and Rhianna about the exhibition they were planning to have in Brookhurst. Rhianna and Fiona also learnt a lot more about Lawrence.
“Don’t give away all my secrets,” he protested at one point, when his mother relayed an amusing anecdote from when he was a teenager. He’d managed to get his foot in a bucket of wallpaper paste when his father was decorating. Fiona and Rhia laughed so much that the tears ran down their cheeks.
After coffee, Ralph Lorimer said, “Your mother noticed a couple of interesting shops along this street, Laurie, so perhaps we could join you back at the gallery in about half an hour or so.”
*
“I’m glad I’ve got the opportunity to speak to the pair of you on your own, because I wanted to run something else by you,” Lawrence told them as they walked back to the gallery.
“I know - you’ve got a mate who wants to exhibit an enormous sculpture that’s taking up too much space in his front room,” Fiona suggested.
Lawrence laughed. “No, I promise you it’s nothing like that - although I suppose you could say it had got something to do with space. You see I was wondering if you’d consider allowing me to work at the gallery on my paintings - when I can fit it in. It isn’t really possible at home. I could pay you some rent.”
“Wow,” Rhianna said. “An artist in residence! Well, there’s certainly plenty of space upstairs, as you saw for yourself, but I’m afraid you’d have to put up with all those cardboard boxes, which are pretty much a feature, because of the online business.”
He smiled. “Oh, I reckon I could cope with that - so is that a yes? What about you, Fiona?”
“Absolutely, we’d love to have you round the place,” Fiona told him with a grin. “You’d add to the ambience - a bona fide artist. Of course, you’d have to look the part - wear a black beret and smock.”
“Won’t you find it a bit far to travel?” Rhianna wanted to know when the laughter had subsided.
“Not if I designated one day in the week - rather than a few hours here and there. Unfortunately, it couldn’t always be the same day, due to the nature of my work. Might be two days a fortnight even - if that’s viable.”
They’d reached the gallery and Fiona unlocked the door.
“Oh, we’d work round it, apart from Wednesdays, which are always a bit manic because of the online business,” she told him. “Let’s take another look upstairs and decide where you’d like to have a working space. I’m afraid Rhia and I have already got our own areas, but we don’t use them all of the time.”
Rhianna felt ecstatic that Lawrence wanted to work at the gallery. Her fears had abated and life had suddenly taken on a new meaning.
After a moment or two the gallery door rattled and Fiona went downstairs.
“It’s probably my parents…Rhia, I’ll have to go soon - much as I’d like to stay. I’ll give you a ring to make arrangements for Saturday.”
He held her close and gave her a blissfully, satisfying kiss. They drew apart as his father called up the stairs that he was ready to leave, to avoid the heavy traffic on the way home.
Lawrence gave her a final hug. “See you Saturday. I’ll be in touch.”
She followed him back down the stairs and said her goodbyes to his parents.
Fiona turned to her the minute they’d gone.
“Aren’t they nice? Well, he must be serious - bringing his parents here, and asking about a space for him to paint. I think you’ve fallen on your feet, my friend.”
Rhianna’s eyes were shi
ning as she replied, “I really hope so, Fi.”
Chapter Thirteen
Lawrence was in the midst of sorting out a computer problem for a financial company, when his mobile rang. He was taken aback to discover it was Tina.
“How did you get this number?” he asked abruptly.
“Oh, I have ways and means, darling - don’t be cross. Do you know what day it is today?”
“Thursday all day - so far as I’m aware.”
“Y-yes, but what else?” she prompted.
He suddenly remembered the date.
“Oh, it’s your birthday. Happy birthday, Tina.”
“My friends are holding a party for me on Saturday - can you come?”
“ ’fraid not, Tina. I’m going to a wedding,” he informed her; inwardly relieved that he had such a good excuse.
“Whose wedding?” she demanded, as he’d known she would do.
“No-one you know… I am rather busy just now.”
“Can’t you find time in your busy schedule to buy me a birthday drink, darling, seeing as you’ve forgotten to send me a card?”
“Tina, I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
There was a slight pause. “Actually, Laurie, there is something else. I need to talk to you about Letitia. It’s a bit worrying.”
He hesitated for a moment. “Well, just a quick drink then - tell me where to meet you and when.”
Tina’s smiled as she told him. It hadn’t taken much persuasion on her part to arrange this meeting. Anything to do with Letitia was certain to capture his attention.
Lawrence was unhappy about meeting up with Tina, but he knew there were things they needed to discuss. The problem was one drink was likely to turn into a meal, and he was anxious to avoid that.
Tina was looking extremely glamorous that evening, but Lawrence couldn’t help comparing her to Rhianna who didn’t need so much make-up to look a million dollars. Tina greeted him with a kiss.
“Now, I thought we might as well eat, so I’ve booked a table for eight o’clock.” She put a finger on his lips as he made to protest. “Don’t be tiresome, darling; it is my birthday, after all.”