Chapter 13

My exhibit was swamped with people, all asking about Javelin’s painting. Mother stood beside me, answering for me. I let her. This was the first time she had ever shown interest in my art, and to hear her one would think she had supported my artistic efforts from the beginning. Once Mr. Watts came over and listened to her for a while. He caught my eye and we both smiled. With a shake of his head, he left to mingle with the crowd.

My friends had stopped by to hug me and congratulate me on being chosen to paint the portrait for Mr. Bow-Ridge. “You could have told us the truth, Vivvie,” Trent said to me. Mavis and Paul agreed. He said, “And you got Eva upset for nothing!”

As for Eva, I didn’t believe for one second that she fell for the presentation and the reason behind the painting. She was there and had witness the event. My hope was that she would let it rest. None of my friends hung around for long, because there were too many people trying to talk to me. They each said their goodnights and hurried away. I didn’t blame them. I wanted to leave, too.

A hand on my arm distracted me from a story Mother was telling about one of my early childhood painting experiences. I had drawn stick figures on the kitchen floor. I barely remembered doing it. And I found humor in how she left out the part about how angry she was when she saw what I had done. When I felt the arm, I hoped it was someone that I could spend some time talking to who wasn’t interested in the story behind the presentation.

The arm belonged to Javelin. He moved me through the crowd. We didn’t speak. I was conscious of his aftershave and how warm his hand was on my bare arm. The crowd parted for us and I found myself standing before the elder Mr. Bow-Ridge. He smiled at me and motioned for me to sit beside him. I glanced at Javelin, who nodded that it was okay.

Mr. Bow-Ridge took my hand and said, “Sit beside me, lovely girl. I want to thank you for the painting. It’s like you pasted Little James on the canvas and painted around him. The likeness is astounding.”

His hand was icy cold. I cupped it, trying to warm it between mine. “Thank you, sir. It was my pleasure. I enjoyed painting it.”

“However did you get him to stay still for the portrait?” he asked. This was one question no one had asked and I didn’t have Mother to answer for me.

Javelin broke in. “Grandfather, this girl can paint faster than Billy the Kid could draw.” Mr. Bow-Ridge laughed along with me. Javelin winked at me and I flushed.

“She has to come to dinner one night, Little James. What a lovely creature!” Mr. Bow-Ridge tightened his hand over mine. He leaned a bit closer to my ear and said, “Thank you. Now I’ll have my grandson around me for the rest of my life.”

“I think we should get home, Grandfather. It’s late and you’ve been up all day.” Javelin said to the elder Bow-Ridge, who did look drained.

“Where’s your father, Jav…um…Little James?” I realized I hadn’t seen him since they arrived and really had no idea what he looked like.

“Dad’s been called to one of the naval bases for consulting. He’ll be back in a week or so.” Javelin helped me up from my chair. His lips were at my ear. “You love ravishing tonight. I wish I could ravish you. Meet me by the lake at midnight? Maybe we can dance naked for a while?” His devilish smile was enchanting. I shook my head, wishing I could meet him but any contact with him would be dangerous to my relationship with Trent.

“You know I can’t do any such thing. I’ve got to get home before then or I turn into a …”

Javelin interrupted me. “Blueberry?” We both laughed. He added with a serious voice. “You really do look beautiful tonight. When will I see you with your hair down? I bet it is one hell of a sight! Hey, I don’t know why you really painted me, but I thank you for making my Grandfather so happy.” He squeezed my arm, before turning to take the arm of his grandfather.

Mr. Bow-Ridge offered me his hand again. “Young lady, what’s your name? I’m sorry I’ve forgotten it.”

“Vivian Wilde, sir.”

“Will you dine with my Grandson and I one night next week? I’ll have him make the arrangements. It would be my pleasure to have such a lovely dinner guest.”

I was trapped and knew if I didn’t accept that I would be on Mother’s bad side again. “Yes sir, I would be honored.” Javelin’s smile said things that made me blush.

After they left, I viewed the other exhibits and talked to their owners. They all congratulated e on a job well done, all except for Eva. When I got to her exhibit, she was standing beside one of her paintings. “I love this one, Eva.” I said, trying to make peace. “I can’t get my pinks to look that pure when I use them in a sunrise.”

I thought she was going to ignore me at first. Finally she spoke, “Thanks, Vivian. You sure stole the show tonight. Whose idea was it to give the painting to Mr. Bow-Ridge? I’m putting my money on Mr. Watts. Little James didn’t sit for that painting. You and I know it. I was there, remember? How could you have painted him so perfectly like you did without him sitting there? You didn’t have any sketches to go by.”

“What does it matter, Eva? The painting is his now. I consider it a closed case. Why don’t we move on from it? I hate this…this...weirdness between us.”

I cringed to think of what kind of a thought made her face twist with momentary anger. “I have no use for you, Vivian. Poor Trent thinks he’s got an angelic girlfriend. I hope I’m there to see it, when he finds out differently. I wonder if your Mother will disown you the day Trent kicks you out of his life. You'll literally be a starving artist then.”