Country Roads (25 page)

Adam nodded again. For a man who made his living in the hospitality industry, he was surprisingly taciturn. Maybe he used his day off to recharge his conversational batteries. Paul decided the best approach was a direct one. “Here’s my question. Is my presence here in Sanctuary a healthy thing for Jimmy or does he use it as a crutch?”

“I’m not qualified to answer that question,” Adam said. “You understand I’m a sponsor only because I’ve been through the twelve-step program and stayed sober for a number of years. I don’t have any formal training in therapy or counseling.” He took a swallow of water. “However, Jimmy seems committed to being a significant part of his son’s life. That’s a powerful incentive to stay sober, especially as Eric grows older and is more aware of what condition his father is in.”

“Jimmy says he can hold it together during the times he has custody of Eric, but he has to fight harder when he’s alone.”

“Probably true, but he doesn’t have to be alone. He knows that from his AA meetings. Help is always just a phone call away.”

“So there’s a safety net in place, if he chooses to use it?” Paul hadn’t fully understood that until he heard Adam’s tone of commitment.

“Absolutely. That’s one of AA’s promises.” The chef shifted slightly. “Alcoholics are manipulative; that’s how they hold onto the people who love them in spite of their destructive behavior.”

“Are you saying Jimmy is manipulating me? That he doesn’t need me to stay here anymore?” Paul didn’t mention his agreement with Terri. They had left it open for renegotiation if the situation warranted it.

“That’s not something I can confirm.”

Paul recognized the care with which the other man was choosing his words. It reminded him of how he sometimes spoke to his clients. There were no guarantees in the law or in life, and Adam was making that clear.

However, he was also giving Paul a new perspective on his brother’s behavior. Paul considered Friday night’s dinner conversation. Maybe when he thought he was giving his brother a chance to surprise him, he hadn’t understood Jimmy’s reaction.

He had seen the fear in his brother’s eyes, but maybe he didn’t know what caused it. He had made an assumption, and Jimmy’s behavior on Saturday night seemed to confirm it, so he hadn’t probed further. “You’ve given me some food for thought.”

“Now let me give you some real food,” Adam said with a half smile. He pushed the plate of cheese closer to Paul.

“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll take a rain check.” His stomach wasn’t real receptive to intake right now.

J
ULIA WALKED SLOWLY
along the sidewalk, trying to wrap her mind around the idea of firing her uncle. Paul’s arguments made sense, but her heart seemed to twist in her chest at the thought. She tried to see through to the other side of the conversation she would be forced to have with Carlos, but she couldn’t picture how he would react. Not well, she suspected.

Before she could confront him, she needed the security of having a new agent. Although she knew it was Monday, she quickened her pace as she neared the Gallery at Sanctuary. Sure enough, a Closed sign hung in the door.

Disappointed, she took a moment to admire the Blake Larson sculpture she coveted, starting when she heard locks clicking open.

“What timing!” Claire said, swinging the door wide.

“Isn’t the gallery closed today?” Julia said, stepping inside while Claire relocked the door.

“That’s why I’m here,” Claire said. “Close your eyes.”

“Seriously?”

“I want you to get the full effect.”

Julia obeyed and felt Claire take a light grip on her wrist to tug her forward. After about ten steps, Claire pulled her to a stop. “All right, you can look.”

Julia gasped.

She stood in the center of an open pentagon formed by the freestanding white panels that added hanging space to the
gallery. Claire had arranged them so that no matter which way she turned, one of her
Night Mares
galloped toward her.

“It’s…it’s kind of frightening.” Julia spun slowly, eyeing the black horses charging at her. “Are you sure it won’t scare the buyers away?”

Claire clapped her hands as satisfaction lit her eyes. “Perfect! Exactly the effect I was trying for.”

“Terrifying your patrons is a good sales technique?”

The other woman nodded. “These paintings are meant to evoke strong reactions, so we have to give them the chance to do that. The buyers for these will be excited by the drama, the emotional impact.” She did her own slow spin before turning back to Julia. “This is going to make a huge splash in the art world.”

Julia’s stretched nerves wound tighter. She wasn’t sure she wanted to make a huge splash. Maybe Carlos was right; she should stick to the safe stuff.

Claire turned one of the panels on its wheels so the painting faced the back wall. “I’m just going to flip them away from the street so no one can get a sneak preview.” Julia spun a second panel in the same direction. Claire seemed excited about her paintings, so it might be a good time to ask her if she would be Julia’s agent.

Julia waved toward the now-hidden paintings. “I have more of these at my studio, and my uncle doesn’t believe in them,” she said. “Would you consider being my dealer?”

Claire looked stunned. “I, well, I—”

“I’ll understand if you don’t want the job. They’re not easy paintings to sell.”

Claire scrubbed her palms against the beige twill slacks she was wearing. “It would be an honor to represent your work, but I’m not the person to do it.”

Julia frowned. “You think it’s good and you sell art.”

“It’s not that simple. You’re a well-established artist, so it’s not a question of building up an audience for your work. It’s a question of getting the maximum price for it. Your paintings should also be placed in carefully selected museum collections to add to your reputation.” Claire spread her hands wide. “Oh, there are so many things your career needs at this point, and I don’t move in those circles anymore.”

Julia felt a wash of relief. “I don’t care about those things. I just want someone to sell my work to people who appreciate it.”

“That’s not enough for someone with your talent.”

“But I trust you.”

“There are many reputable dealers I can put you in touch with.” Claire’s voice sounded a little strangled.

“I don’t want reputable. I want someone who will tell me whether the work is worthwhile. Not someone who will sell a painting just because it has my name on it.”

“I can’t. It would be doing you a disservice.”

Frustration made Julia’s hands ball into fists. She couldn’t force Claire to be her dealer. “Will you think about it?”

Claire sighed. “Yes, although I’ll also come up with other recommendations.”

Julia uncurled her fingers. “Deal.”

Loaded down with shopping bags, Claire walked into her living room to find Tim asleep on the oversize couch with Sprocket nestled on his chest. The little dog lifted his head to acknowledge her presence before laying it back on his paws. Her husband didn’t move. She couldn’t resist watching the man she loved to distraction as he slumbered unawares. She stood so long letting her eyes roam over him, her arms grew tired and she dropped the bags on the Oriental rug.

Sprocket twitched an ear, and Tim’s eyes came open as a slow smile spread over his face. “You’re home,” he said, as she bent down to brush back a curve of auburn hair from his forehead and kiss him. This disturbed the little dog, who gave her an irritated look before moving to the other end of the sofa.

Her husband took her wrist and tugged her down to sit beside him. “Did you find the perfect dress?”

“I found several perfect outfits, but I only bought two.” She ran her palm over his chest, so she felt the vibration of his chuckle.

“How about Julia?”

“She’s going to wear the Villar and…you don’t want to hear the details, do you?”

“Since I don’t know what a Villar is, they won’t mean much to me.”

“The Villar is the blouse she wore to dinner at our house, an original creation by an artist named Reuben Villar.”

Tim’s eyes took on the focused look that meant he was exploring his prodigious memory. “The thing that looked like a bunch of triangles sewn together?”

“You are impressive.” Claire frowned. “Julia asked me to be her agent.”

“I’m not surprised. You believe in her work.”

“She’s a top-selling artist. A lot of people believe in her work.”

“They believe in
selling
her work. Your belief is at a whole different level. She needs that kind of support right now.” He pushed himself upright, shifting her to the cushions beside him.

Claire chewed on her lip. “Maybe, but I can’t agree in good conscience. The price of her paintings could go into the stratosphere with the right dealer to promote them. Let’s face it, Sanctuary is not the center of the art universe, and I’m not going to leave you to jaunt around the world cultivating patrons.”

“Well, I always wanted to do some traveling that didn’t involve reading papers at scientific conferences. You can cultivate and I’ll sightsee.”

“What about your practice? You’re a busy man, even though you didn’t look like it when I walked in.”

“Maybe too busy now that I’ve got a beautiful wife to come home to.” His kiss was brief but filled with intent. “I’ve been thinking about hiring another vet to take on some of the workload.” Tim ran one hand up her arm. “You were right on the verge of a high-powered career in connoisseurship when you married me. Representing Julia is the perfect way to get back to that.”

Claire climbed onto his lap and twined her arms around his neck. “Hire the vet and let’s go traveling together. I don’t care about my former career.”

“But I do. You live here in Sanctuary because of me.”

“That’s right. Because you make me deliriously happy and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” She threaded her fingers into his hair and tried to bring his head down to hers for another kiss.

He resisted, and when Tim resisted there was no budging him. “The feeling’s mutual, but I think you should consider Julia’s proposition.”

“All right, I’ll consider it. After you take my clothes off and have mind-blowing sex with me.”

All the resistance went right out of him.