There were also food booths selling lots of different organic types of vegetables and herbs, as well as yogurts, sausages, and even pizzas. As we were reaching the end, we saw Gretchen’s booth. Everyone was busy and we said hello as we looked at what they already put out. Her collection was colorful as well as earthy. She had beautiful crystals, jewelry, stained glass, and intricate wood carvings in oak that Patrick made. The young man was an extraordinary talent, I had to admit. There was one carving I could not take my eyes away from. It was of a single rose in a simple carved base that had a butterfly sitting on one of its petals. Though there was no color, the detail was so intricate in the petals of the rose and in the fine lines in the wings of the butterfly that he had somehow given it life.
“Sebastian! You have to see this.”
“That’s gorgeous. Not just the detail, but the luster of the wood. How soft it appears. I’m guessing this is Patrick’s work.” He looked around. “Gretchen!” She stopped what she was doing and looked over. “I want this. Don’t sell it to anyone else.”
She came over and looked at us. “Oh, it’s a nice piece. Isn’t it amazing how delicate it looks? Patrick has such a fine eye for detail. It’s yours. I’ll put it in a box for you to take home later.”
“Thank you. Isaac do you want to tell her the news?”
I didn’t want to take away his thunder. “No, you arranged it, so go ahead.”
“The landlord has agreed to changing the locks. We will meet the locksmith at the store at eleven. Also, Patrick can spend the night at the store with your things, but with the locks changed I don’t think that’s necessary.”
She grabbed Sebastian in a big hug and kissed him on the cheek before giving me the same. "You guys are so sweet. We can’t thank you enough."
Sebastian was beet red, and I could feel my face flush as well. “We’ll be back later after we get the new keys. Then we’ll give you guys a break so you can have lunch. Come on, Sebastian.” I grabbed his hand as we waved to everyone. I could see how it would have been crowded with two more bodies in that cramped booth.
“Wait!” Gretchen was waving at us. “You forgot your package!”
We headed back to the table and Sebastian pulled out his wallet. Gretchen motioned for him to put it away. “You have done so much for us. This is the least we can do. Please, take it in appreciation for all your help.”
"Um. All right. But we’ll take it later. When we head back home." Sebastian once again blushed and waved, unable to think of anything else to say. Once we were a block away, he turned. "Let them think the landlord paid for the locks to be changed."
I squeezed his hand. “Not a word.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Letting Go of the Past
Sebastian
Bless Isaac's heart for letting me sleep in. Everyone was tired last night when they got in, and Isaac and I turned in early and read. When I walked into the kitchen for breakfast, Abby was enjoying one of her brownies and coffee while telling Isaac about Andy's idea of asking Patrick to sit for him.
"Good morning." Abby greeted me. "Everyone's already gone to the fair to open up. We were talking about Andy wanting to paint Patrick. He picked two spots in Golden Gate Park. One is that cute portico with the bench in front in the small garden. The other is beneath a large oak tree with him carving a piece of wood. I think that one would be a more natural fit for Patrick, especially if he wore his leather vest and boots. Much more rustic and in character with his natural beauty."
Isaac looked up and smiled at me.
"I heard. I'm surprised Andy hasn't said anything to us. Has he spoken to you about what he wants to do now? School, or some kind of apprenticeship?"
Abby took a bite of her brownie and then a sip of her coffee. "I think the boy is enjoying his freedom now. You can't blame him. Plus, you know he is enamored with Patrick, and the feeling is mutual. When Andy and I have been out he has met several of my friends that are respected artists in oils. Several of them have seen his work in my studio and have been impressed enough by what they saw to take an interest in working with him. Give him a little time."
Isaac and I looked at each other in shock. The look on his face and the way his body tensed put me on guard and I squeezed his arm. "Abby, how many of his paintings do you have upstairs?"
"Well, he has been painting for a long time." She looked at me, holding her coffee.
This made little sense. "Why haven't we seen them?"
"You haven't seen them because Andy did not want you to see them. I had to respect his privacy. They are personal to him and very revealing. He wasn't ready to share them with you yet."
We sat there in silence, looking at her. She set down her coffee and took both of our hands in hers. "Boys, what you see in the painting in your living room is the love you share with him. The paintings in my studio are different. Those paintings reflect the pain he suffered before he met you; the ugliness he suffered on the streets, and from being disowned by his family because of who he is. He's not ready to share that with you yet. The people he has let see it, other than me, aren't close to him. Not like you both. He doesn't want to bring that ugliness into his home. Not yet. Give him time. When he's ready, he'll show you."
Turning to Isaac, he was crying. I put my arms around him.
She looked at Isaac, reaching out to pat his knee, and then back to me. "This is why he didn't want you to see them. He's not ashamed. He wants to talk to you about it when he feels the time is right and then show you his work."
Isaac wiped his eyes and nodded his head towards Abby. "I understand now. Let me wash my face and then let's head to the fair."
*****
It was a glorious day outside, with the bright blue sky and wisps of clouds, and it lifted our spirits after our recent conversation. The early morning chill was burning off and it was warming up. As we approached the entrance to the fair, it was already in full swing. The fair had evolved beyond the original arts and crafts. Besides the bandstand there were also roving musicians and acts for kids. As we approached, we could see a juggler on enormous stilts walking through the crowd, stopping to toss candy to children whenever they gathered around him. As we made our way through the crowd, it parted a block ahead and we saw Jesus Christ Satan, one of our local celebrities holding out his brightly colored robes as he flowed through the parted throngs, his glittery makeup only outdone by his vibrant personality. Few people, myself included, knew his exact story. His other title was Crown Prince of Arcadia. He seemed to appear at every parade, festival, and gathering. He was harmless, and everybody indulged him.
Several storefronts played music over loudspeakers, and there were delicious smells wafting from various restaurants with their open windows and outside stands. I felt my stomach grumble as we walked. "Maybe we should grab a quick bite?"
Abby looked at us and grinned. She had the munchies, knowing her. "Why don't we grab a pizza before we stop at the booth and we can have it while we cover for everyone?"
Isaac looked at me and shrugged. "Makes sense."
I gave him a slight elbow and smiled. "There's the pizza place half a block from the booth. You can run over and get one when we get to the booth."
"No anchovies. They're gross." Abby made a face.
Isaac grinned, "Agreed."
We walked at a leisurely pace and admired some beautiful suede clothing and hand-crafted rugs. Abby stopped at a rather large booth that held an assortment of metal sculptures, from simple wind chimes to a statue around five feet high. The piece caught your attention, and you admired it even though it was rather abstract in design. There was a beauty that drew you in. Then you realized it was an angel with hands that extended towards heaven. It wasn't a casting, but was fabricated from pieces of metal bent into shapes to represent the different elements of the angel. From the feathers in the wings, the long windswept hair, flowing robe, the agony in its face, to the grace of his long fingers. The piece was beautiful.
An older man with a dee
p tan, neatly trimmed gray beard, and pony tail, wearing a flannel shirt and jeans approached Abby and she looked up at him. "Is this yours?"
"Yes. It is."
Abby ran her hand along the fingers of the piece. "You are very talented."
"I have been doing this for years. I have a studio in Santa Cruz. You should come and see it some time. I think you would appreciate it." The low sultry voice from the man was seductive, and I waited.
"I think I might find a reason to drive down to Santa Cruz. I have a friend I haven't seen in ages. She lives in Aptos, close to there."
Watching the scene unfold I nudged Isaac, and we stared as the flirtation grew. "Do you see what I see?"
Isaac leaned in close. "Shall we look at some of his other work?"
While they talked, we admired some of his other pieces until she called us over. "Sebastian, Isaac, this is Gregor. He is an artist who emigrated from Czechoslovakia. He has a studio in Santa Cruz."
We shook hands and Abby asked what we thought of the piece.
I couldn't hold back my praise. "It's exquisite. It draws you in. First, because it is a puzzle. You're not sure what it is. Then, when you discover what it is, you notice the detail and the emotion. There is pain in the face, and the way the angel is reaching out to heaven, as if pleading. It is very beautiful."
Isaac slipped his arm around me, giving me a kiss on the cheek. "I couldn't have said it any better. Could this be placed outside?"
Gregor looked surprised and then grinned. "Why, yes! I made him to be put outside on display."
"Sebastian, I think it would be fantastic in our front garden."
"Do you really like it? I mean I'd love to have it. I think it would look great there."
"Gregor, I think the boys have decided." Abby patted him on the shoulder.
We sorted out the details. Gregor had a friend who could deliver the piece in his truck. He only asked if he could keep it until the fair closed so he could use it as a display of his work. We thought his request was reasonable. It was a beautiful representation of the quality of his work.
*****
After a few more stops we made it to the booth and found Gretchen and Patrick entertaining customers while Andy was unpacking several items I assumed were for display. He was grinning and having a wonderful time. When Patrick was free, he turned and ran his hand along Andy's shoulder and helped him. They looked so natural together I couldn't help but let out a little sigh of satisfaction. Abby had already stepped around and into the booth while I waved to Patrick and called out to Gretchen. "What can I do?"
She gave us a run through of the inventory and cash box and then Abby shooed her off. "Dear, you know I've done this before. Now you three have lunch." Gretchen thanked us and Patrick and Andy waved goodbye. When they took off, Abby looked at me and shook her head and chuckled. "She acts like I've never done this before. I've worked fund raisers, carnivals, and festivals. If you get stuck, just ask me."
She looked around at the jewelry and grabbed a necklace, slipping it around her neck. She was wearing a simple orange blouse with tan jeans and picked out a simple silver chain adorned with several pieces of polished turquoise. "What do you think?"
The blouse made the turquoise stand out. "The necklace looks great on you."
"Wonderful! The best way to sell jewelry is to make people notice it. Now, let's find something for you. Get that silly dress shirt off. You have that nice gray T-shirt on. The weather is nice so show it. You have a good body, and that gray shirt would look wonderful with silver."
I felt self-conscience but did as she said.
She looked through another display and pulled out a Cuban link chain and hung it around my neck. "Now, that stands out perfect against your shirt."
After about fifteen minutes I heard a wolf whistle and turned to see Isaac waving his fingers at me as he held a pizza. Abby caught his antics and laughed as she helped a customer. Isaac walked around to the back of the booth and set down the pizza on a stack of boxes before wrapping his arms around my neck and pulling me in for a kiss.
"I like the new look, stud."
"It's a makeover by Abby."
Looking over at her, he gave her a wink. "Abby, I approve."
I blushed and buried my head in his shoulder, mumbling, "Fine. I'll try to do it more often. Now, can we eat?"
Abby finished with her customer and slid the cash box under the counter. "Wonderful! I'm starving. Step aside, boys." Elbowing Isaac aside she grabbed a slice, took a huge bite and groaned in satisfaction. "Watch the counter while I eat."
I shrugged my shoulders and stepped to the front of the booth. Isaac joined me and whispered in my ear. "You should wear T-shirts more often. If I had my way, you'd wear them all the time and not just when I can twist your arm. You have that slim, sexy body that looks great in them."
An older gentleman, about fifty, came up to the booth with another man about the same age just as a woman came up at the other end for Isaac to help. The men were looking at the jewelry, and the first guy noticed my necklace. I took it off and handed it to him. He gave it to the other guy, and he rolled it between his fingers. "I like it. I think it would look great on you. Let me buy it for you." The man smiled and nodded yes.
After the transaction was completed Abby came up to me. "I told you modeling the jewelry was a good idea. I also said you were a good model." She bumped me with her hip. "I'm going to have another slice. Now grab another necklace and put it on."
When Gretchen and the boys came back we chatted for a while and then Isaac and I decided to head home and relax. We asked Andy if he wanted to join us. I knew he would turn us down, but I was dying to see what he would say. He wanted to stay just in case it got busy and they needed him. Patrick asked his mom if Andy could stay just in case, and she smiled and agreed, giving us a wink and then she came over to us. "Is it all right with you two?"
Before I could say a word, Isaac grabbed her hand. "It's fine, Gretchen. We'll have dinner ready to warm up when you get home. Abby, you coming?"
"I'll catch you boys later. I think I'll hang around for a while."
Leaning close to him I whispered, "How much you want to bet she stops by Gregor's booth again?"
*****
We stopped at that home style restaurant we enjoyed and ordered fried chicken and sides to go. I asked if they had the dish Andy and Patrick liked with the sausage and grits but it wasn't available. It was a chore to carry it all home, but we made it. Snacking on a few pieces of chicken and some mashed potatoes and coleslaw in the kitchen we set the rest aside for our guests. Happy for the easy cleanup, we retired to the living room and put some Gershwin on the stereo, curling up on the sofa. "Isaac, you impressed me with what you said to Gretchen. Thank you."
"I watched the two of them today. Whether or not it works, it is real for both of them. You were right, as was everyone else who told me the same thing. It has to run its course. Now, how about you stretch out and put your head in my lap? By the way, you, forgot your dress shirt at the booth."
I grinned up at him. "I know."
The evening was cozy and romantic on the sofa with just the two of us. I melted into the warmth of his lap as one of my favorite pieces of music by George Gershwin came on, Rhapsody in Blue, before the sound of Gretchen's pickup truck parking in front of the house interrupted it. Andy came in and dashed for the bathroom followed by Gretchen and Patrick.
I waited, expecting Abby, but Patrick closed the door. "Abby didn't come with you?"
Patrick was grinning and Gretchen shook her head and gave him a look that said to keep his mouth shut. "No, when we were closing up, she said she ran into a friend earlier and they would meet up for drinks after the fair."
Andy came back in, "Sorry, I had to piss like a race horse."
"Thank you for that announcement. There's fried chicken and sides in the kitchen. Just heat it up in the microwave."
Once everyone had headed to the kitchen, Isaac tapped my forehead. "I've been
thinking. Maybe we should talk to Andy about the paintings upstairs."
I thought about it for a minute. It had crossed my mind. "I think it would be a good idea. After Gretchen and Patrick leave. I'm not sure about trying to do it, though. Maybe just easing into it? Tomorrow evening after dinner?"
He looked surprised at my answer. "Okay."
Gretchen and the boys ate in the kitchen. When they came out, she said Abby gave her a set of keys and ventured upstairs to bed. Andy and Patrick sat at the dining table, huddled in conversation, eating cake, and having a glass of milk. We could hear them laughing and lowering their voices to a whisper. Patrick stood up and leaned in to give Andy a kiss good night. This time it was a lingering kiss on the lips, and we both tried not to stare. When he came into the living room, we stood and made space so he could spread out his sleeping bag and pillow to make his bed on the sofa. He must have noticed the surprise on our faces from their affection in the dining room. "Andy is a wonderful guy. He told me about Elias. I have a lot of respect for him, and would never hurt him. We've talked a lot these last few days. I am serious about seeing him, and I don't mean casually. There's a connection between us. I hope you understand."
"Um. I think that would be fine. Isaac?"
"Patrick, please, just take it slow. He's had a rough time."
Patrick looked down and rubbed his hands together before looking at us. "He told me about what his parents did. Trying to make a man of him. Shaving his head, and when they broke his fingers. He told me about living on the streets. I know what they did to him, and I know what that kind of life did to him. I won't let anyone ever hurt him again."
We looked at each other in shock. This was new. I did my best to school my expression, squeezing Isaac's hand. "Thank you, Patrick. Just be good to him." I leaned in close to Isaac and whispered, "Not a word."
An Unexpected Gift Page 22