Appointment with a Smile (12 page)

“Molly sacrificed so much in making my childhood good, as well as safe. And now I’d like to do what I can to reunite the two of you.”

“What did she say when you gave her the painting?”

“
Myths and Memories
. She loved it. She wept. That’s when I knew she’s still in love with you. She went online to look for your other paintings at the exhibit. She saw
Farewell to Molly
. She was inconsolable.”

“I’m sorry if I brought her pain. I must confess that I’ve painted two more paintings of her since then. One is titled
Reunion’s first Glimpse,
and the other,
A Scene from Our Story.
”

“I’m aware of them. They’ve both been purchased.”

I watched her face carefully. “As of an hour ago, they hadn’t been sold. How could you know this? I didn’t even know.” I quickly retrieved my cell phone and saw there was an incoming message from Fiona. “My agent has called since I arrived here. Undoubtedly to tell me about the sale. How did you know they were sold?”

“An offshoot of our family foundation purchased them. We keep the foundation’s multiple offshoots relatively silent for tax and profitability purposes.”

“Your hidden philanthropic foundation purchased the paintings?”

“A family-funded entity.”

I bristled. “What’s your reason for purchasing them?”

“We treasure them because they are Molly. The soul of Molly. We’re proud future generations will see her likeness. Jeff and I will ensure that they’re placed only in leading museums. The foundation loans exhibits. My husband is a very gifted businessman. His appreciation of great art makes him a perfect benefactor. He believes your art is going to rapidly appreciate.”

“Thank you for your patronage. But I don’t consider myself a premier artist.”

“You should. I talked with your agent when I called and left the message for you to call me. She told me she’s been after you for years to move to New York so you might have more recognition, but you’ve refused. You were a relatively undiscovered artist. Until now.”

“I wanted my work to speak for itself.”

“Now it has and will, I promise. Jeff likes being in the forefront. He’s selected a brilliant artist’s work that also spotlights his beloved mother-in-law. It’s a win-win situation.”

I smiled. “You both seem to idolize Molly.”

“Absolutely. Pamela died before I married Jeff. She had forbidden me to marry him. At that time, his family owned a nearly bankrupt aeronautic company. Her mantra was that one might select a rich man and be as happy as selecting a poor one. She didn’t want me corrupted by poverty. I’m sure she was afraid her own wealth might be squandered on a needy husband. In her will, she instituted a clause that half her money was to go to Molly and the other to me, but not until I reached the age of thirty-five. By then, last year, I didn’t need her money. The man I married has made me happy.”

“What did Molly say about who you should marry?”

Samantha’s expression brightened. “She stood by me. She warned me that I’d regret it for the rest of my life if I didn’t marry the man I love. Just as she had regretted her choice.”

“I can imagine that would anger Pamela.”

“It did. We’d made engagement plans before she died. Although she passed away before the wedding, she knew I would marry Jeff. When his father died, the company was millions of dollars in debt. Unencumbered assets were nonexistent. Jeff was saddled with an out-of-control, spendthrift mother, a playboy brother who couldn’t care less about the business, and an older sister who helped run the company into the ground.”

“The company turned around?”

“Jeff was the youngest. Pamela thought he had no chance of keeping the business afloat. Together, Jeff and I decided to try to make it work. We restructured the company. Put my mother-in-law on a restrictive, yet certainly adequate allowance. Jeff’s sister became vice-president of public relations. Amazingly enough, she was not only happier, she was extremely good at her new job. At any rate, we all worked together to rebuild the company and made it stronger than ever.”

“It’s a shame Pamela didn’t see your victory.”

Samantha shook her head before taking a sip of wine. “Pamela would never have credited us with anything. She could never be wrong, but she was absolutely right about one thing. Molly never did love her as much as she has loved you all these years.”

“I never wanted Molly to be unhappy. Even after she left, it was important to me to believe she would be happier than I could have made her. Maybe that’s the reason I finally accepted her leaving. Her happiness.”

“Pamela made her unhappy. She put us both through hell.”

“Blaming parents only creates negativity in one’s own life. I know from experience. If Pamela knew Molly was still in love with someone else, perhaps that exacerbated her drinking.”

“Your parents. Molly told me they separated when you were a child and are now dead.”

“I once resented them terribly. My mother had an alcohol and drug problem. My father was too young for the responsibility of being a parent. I went through years of blaming them for what they might not have been able to control. When I finally realized that, I felt better about it.”

Samantha seemed to let my words sink in. “Thank you, Danielle, I appreciate your insight. That wasn’t something I had considered.”

“You’re too nice a person to live with pain. Whatever made you the person you are today was good. You’re a lovely, decent woman, Samantha. You’ve created a terrific family, and you have love in your heart. That can’t be anything but good.”

“I only wish you and Molly had raised me.”

I gripped her hand and said, “I think we all would have loved that. I know Molly must be so proud of you. I would have been.”

Samantha placed her other hand on top of mine. “Will you call my mom?”

I tried to pull out of her grasp, but she held my hand tightly. “I’m not as sure as you that she wants to hear from me.”

“And I’m sure that she does. Please, Danielle?” She squeezed my hand.

“All right. I’ll call her.”

“Do you still have her phone number?”

Sheepishly, I confessed, “Yes, I do, and you have my word, I’ll call her.” Of course, I had entered the number into my cell phone… as well as engraved it in my heart and mind.

Chapter 20

After leaving the restaurant, I strolled the sidewalks and mulled over the simple facts. Molly hadn’t returned to me because of her worry for Samantha’s well-being. And Samantha, the most innocent of all, now wrestled with her past. A child shouldn’t have worn some faux anvil of culpability around her neck for all these years. My heart broke for Samantha’s youth.

Childhood memories of haphazard hugs from drunken parents bombarded me, and a sadness about my own lost youth settled on my shoulders. I blinked the tears away when I reached the gallery, not even aware of how long I had walked.

Fiona pounced on me when I entered. “Why didn’t you tell me you’re working on another painting?” she asked, slightly hostile.

“What?”

“Esther dropped by early this morning. I mentioned that since you have a romantic interest, you’ve lost your craving to paint. The urge and surge that produced such great recent work has vanished. Anyway, she jumped to your defense by telling me you’re working on a painting of Bethany. I’m in the dark. I know nothing about the new painting.”

“I didn’t mention it because I don’t know if it will be very good.”

“Let me be the judge of that. What pisses me off is that you let me think you had shut down your blizzard of work.” She paused before gathering more steam. “Esther probably thinks I’m a fucking nincompoop because I don’t even bother to keep up with you.”

Her anger got under my skin. I had a question of my own. “Why didn’t you mention that Franklin-Lewis is a branch of the Wesley Foundation? The Wesley family has purchased the lion’s share of my paintings over the week.”

“Jeffery and Samantha bought them?”

“You didn’t know?” I scrutinized her face for any sign of deception.

“Hell no, I didn’t know. Don’t be a fool. You know everything I know. The minute I know it. Hidden foundations are just that—hidden
.
At least the paintings are in great hands. Their foundations exhibit in the finest museums. You should be pleased.”

“I don’t understand why they’re being purchased by separate branches of their foundation, or however they’re doing it.”

Fiona shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not certain. I think maybe between the two of them, they’re brilliant enough to realize that a diversity of many buyers brings competition. A marketing strategy.”

I thought about it, and it made sense. “Sounds reasonable. They weren’t attempting to keep it from me. I met with Samantha today. She confessed when I said I’d painted a couple new paintings of Molly. She said they had sold. I then guessed that they’d been involved.”

“Yes. But that isn’t all,” Fiona said. “You’ve sold another four in the past day. I know the people who have purchased them. Some of your early work. A couple more that are in the New York Gallery are being held until paperwork is pushed through. Whatever the plan was by Jeffery and Samantha, it’s creating a hot market for your artwork. A stampede. Danielle, I’m sorry I jumped you about your new painting. I’m damned pleased your compulsion to work hasn’t turned off.”

“On the contrary, I can’t wait to get back to my suite and paint. But I’m not sure it’ll be any good.” Giving her a quick hug, I added, “I’ll tell you the minute I’m pleased with it, Fiona.”

“At least with Bethany’s portrait you seem to be benefiting by some added bonus action,” she said with a wicked grin. “The question is, does it increase your painting ability?”

“What do you think?” I waggled my eyebrows.

“Fluttering genitalia can’t hurt creativity. Speaking of women, what did Samantha say about Molly?”

“I’m going to call Molly. Samantha’s idea, not Molly’s. I don’t know what to think about it all, but I promised I’d phone.”

If Fiona was going on a fishing expedition to find out information about Molly, I was not her catch of the day.

With precious timing, Max Parker and Spencer Murphy approached. Max blustered with his usual vibrato, and Spencer patiently heeled. Max grabbed me with a bear hug.

“Memorable, I tell you. I’m so pleased you’ll be able to stay on another week. I predict an even better week next week than the blockbuster we have going now. Did I just overhear that there’s a new painting to be previewed?”

“I’ll let you all know when it’s finished.”

“Just call,” Max said. “We’ll send Spence up to get it. Is it another large format?”

“It’s 44 by 56.”

“Too big for you to be lugging around. Spence will pick it up the minute you’re finished. Leave the varnishing for us. We have a fan system to dry it fast and get it framed and on the wall.”

“Thanks, Max.” I turned to Spencer. “And Spence. Thank you all, and please tell your associates thanks for me also.”

We said our goodbyes. A sharp breeze slapped my face as I stepped outside.

As I walked, I thought about Molly. I dreamed we’d fall into each other’s arms. Our embrace would be for all the years we’d missed. We had a chance to rekindle the love that had always been there because, according to Samantha, Molly hadn’t stopped loving me.

My thoughts suddenly shifted. Bethany was also in the emotional mix. Implausible as it might be, I felt in some ways that I knew Bethany better than I knew the Molly of today. I set the thought aside by convincing myself that Molly probably hadn’t changed.

Reflecting on the years Molly and I spent together, I thought of her when she was the keeper of my heart. Her little idiosyncrasies like waking with her holding me, laughing at our own simple jokes, the snap of her head when she was irritated. I recalled her constant kindnesses and considerations to everyone near her.

All of life was subject to its own metamorphosing. Souls had been modified. Perhaps time’s shifting had become too great for us to resume a love affair. Or maybe no matter how enormously experiences had recast our separate lives, by episodes and by occurrences, perhaps love endured.

If I were to believe love wasn’t capable of persisting for itself alone, I would be saddened beyond belief. For in the final analysis, what else was there?

Chapter 21

Bethany called to tell me she had a late meeting and wasn’t sure when she might be able to drop by later. I suggested we order from room service when she arrived. That left a chunk of the afternoon to work on the portrait and to place the promised call to Molly.

I lifted the telephone tentatively and began dialing.

“Danielle?” she answered with such amazement I was certain Samantha hadn’t told her I might call. “Samantha gave you my number?”

“I hope you don’t mind. Molly, I would like to see you. Talk with you.”

There was a long pause. “Do you really think that’s a good idea? We were so long ago.”

“It’s a good idea for me. If it isn’t for you, then I won’t bother you again. After all, we shared a large portion of our early adulthood together. And I still have a lot of good memories. At least we can have a civil meeting and remember the past. The good times we shared. Catch up.” I waited out another moment of silence.

“Danielle, I’m all caught up. You seem to know about my achievements and failures. There really isn’t much else to say.” Her voice softened. “I’m happy you’ve achieved success in your art.”

“You’ve also succeeded as an educator and as a mother. I’d like to know more. How about we meet for lunch tomorrow? Just an hour or two of your time. It would mean the world to me.”

“All right. I’d forgotten how persuasive you could be. Lunch would be fine.”

“You tell me the place. I’m okay with anywhere.”

“How about Fav’s, a small neighborhood restaurant I love. It has a variety of choices on the menu. European fare.” She gave me the address.

“I’ll be there. Thank you for agreeing to see me. You’ve never left my thoughts over the years. I still recall our walks in the park, all the silliness, and certainly the love we shared.”