Selling Grace: A Light Romance Novel (Art of Grace Book 1) (19 page)

Chapter Twenty-Two

*

Finally, after what felt like hours of crying alone in my truck, the tears stopped coming. I wasn't feeling much better, but it seemed that my tear ducts had finally run dry.

I wiped the back of one hand across my face, trying to scrub most of the wetness off, and then pulled down the mirror to check my reflection. I looked like a total mess, my mascara streaked and running, but what else was new? Besides, with everything else going wrong in my life, a bit of streaked makeup seemed like the least of my worries.

I pulled in one last breath, let it out slowly, and then started up the truck. "I suppose I could try selling you," I said to the vehicle, rubbing its dashboard, but I somehow doubted that this would bring in much. When I'd last checked the vehicle's value online, it didn't come even halfway up to the ten grand that I needed. It was a trusty little truck, but it wasn't worth anywhere close to five figures.

With the truck running, I started to drive out of the dental office's parking lot, but paused before turning out onto the street. Was it really worth even heading back to the gallery? Especially in my current state. Maybe I could call Uncle Preston and explain what had happened, beg him to come cover for me so I could take the rest of the day off. Maybe instead, I could try to talk with my parents about what might be coming their way.

I decided not to head back to the office quite yet. Instead I threw the vehicle into reverse instead, looking over my shoulder and managing to steer, backwards, into an open parking spot. It was definitely not my best parking job, but Barry's office wasn't exactly crawling with clients, so I didn't feel too bad about taking up three spaces.

I reached into my purse and drew out my phone, flipping it over and swiping across it to open it up. I scrolled over to my favorites, pulling up Portia's number. I held the phone up to my ear as I waited for her to answer, hoping that I wouldn't just get the machine.

After four rings, she picked up. "Hey Becks, what's going on? Any word on the sale going through?"

"Nothing," I answered, and although I tried to keep my voice flat, a little hiccup of anxiety burst in my voice halfway through that word.

"Oh, no." Of course, Portia didn't miss that little breaking sound. "What happened?"

No point in holding it in, I supposed. "I went to talk to Barry, to try and convince him to be reasonable. It didn't work."

"Well, of course not. He's not reasonable - he's an ass." Portia sounded about to launch into a whole tirade about Barry, but perhaps sensing that it wouldn't do me much good, she held it back. "What happened?"

"Well, even though I told him that I didn't have the money, he said that he still expected it, that he'd even consider pressing charges against me to get it if I couldn't pay him." I sniffed, feeling the tears threatening to come rushing back. "Portia, he threatened to go after my parents if I couldn't pay up!"

"Bastard," she spat out with feeling. "Listen, Becca, how much are you short? I don't have ten thousand, but maybe I can help-"

"No, really, don't," I cut her off. My heart was touched, knowing that she would be willing to sacrifice her financial safety net to help me, but I couldn't bear to think of taking her money. "I could never live with myself if you had to bail me out. It would ruin our friendship from this point forward, because I'd always feel too indebted to you."

"Come on, really, it's better than getting sued," she said, not willing to let it go. "Becca, you're my best friend, and I've been with you for every step of this divorce. I'm not going to abandon you now, just when the ending is in sight!"

My eyes once again filled with tears; apparently they'd managed to recharge their reservoirs in the last few minutes. "Portia, really, I can't," I sniffled. "Come on, you know that it would make things too awkward between us, even if I paid you back."

She sighed, but thankfully didn't push the issue any further. "Do you want me to use the money instead to hire a hit on Barry? I dated this Italian guy once who, although he'd never tell me for sure, might have been in the Mafia. I do know that he owned a lot of guns, and he'd probably shoot anyone I wanted if it got him another night with me."

"Ew, no no, not necessary," I said quickly, although a half-crazy little smile flicked across my face at her sincerity. This was why Portia was my best friend; even at times like this, she knew how to pull me up from the worst of my depression.

"Well, just let me know if there's any way that I can help, anything at all," she said. "Well, wait - I'm not going to sleep with Barry. A girl's got to have a limit somewhere."

"Hell, I think even if I offered to sleep with him, it wouldn't be enough to make him forgive the money," I replied. "His office looks a bit more rundown than I remembered. I think he's got some money problems."

"Normally, I'd be glad to hear that, but not if he's going to risk suing your parents in order to get the money from you," Portia said. "Look, Becks, I've got to go, there's a client meeting in two minutes and I need to get there - but really, if I can help at all-"

"I know, I'll tell you," I said, sighing. "Get back to work, Portia."

"Be strong," she urged me before hanging up.

I lowered my phone back down to my lap and took a deep breath, feeling only slightly better after that conversation. I really couldn't bear to think of taking money from Portia, even if it would help me out in the short term. Maybe, if I took money from her and sold all of my belongings except for Salem's food and water bowls, I could get enough to pay back Barry - but then what? Live on the street, or in the back of the Halesford Gallery, have to deal with the shame I felt every time I saw Portia because I'd know how much money I owed her?

I couldn't do it.

I looked down at my phone on my lap, scrolling over to the number for my parents' house. I needed to call them and tell them what might happen, explain things to them. I knew that they'd be disappointed in me, but they'd still immediately start looking into how they could pay Barry back for my debt. That trust they still held in me burned like an open flame pressed against my skin, even though I knew that they felt that way out of love.

I started to move my thumb towards the call button, but just couldn't do it. I turned the screen off and dropped my phone back down into my lap, sighing and leaning my forehead against the steering wheel.

And then, down between my thighs, my phone started buzzing again. Someone else was calling me!

I jerked upright, nearly smacking my head on the top of the steering wheel, as my hand fumbled down for the vibrating piece of metal and glass. Finally getting my fingers around the device, I picked it up and flipped it around so that I could see who was calling me on the screen.

I frowned. The number was listed as private. I answered, swiping across the phone. At the same time, I briefly turned the truck back on, just long enough for me to roll down a window and get some fresh air. The interior of the cabin already felt a little warm and stuffy from the sun beating down on the truck's roof.

"Hello?" I said as I answered the phone.

"Hi, Becca." I immediately recognized the voice at the other end of the line, and fought unsuccessfully against my heart as it sped up in my chest.

"Hi, Carter," I replied; even though my heart still felt heavy, my lips quirked up a little at just the sound of his voice. If only he was willing to lend a girl ten grand... "What's up? Why are you calling from a private line?"

He laughed. "It's private because I'm calling you from Robert Albrecht's house. After hearing about him showing some interest in the statue, I came out here - and it turns out that he's ready to go ahead and make the purchase!"

My heart, already fluttering uncertainly, shot up into my throat. "Really??" I gasped.

"Yep. And what's more, I know that sometimes these sorts of deals can take a while to get settled, so I figured that I could advance you the commission that you'll make from this, so that you can pay off Barry. How's that sound?"

It sounded unreal. This couldn't be happening. I tried pinching myself on the arm, seeing if this was some sort of dream. Maybe after walking out of Barry's office, I'd tripped and hit my head, and this was all some sort of fevered hallucination as I bled out in front of Melissa's uncaring gaze-

"You still there?" Carter asked, and I forced myself to focus.

It was tough to talk with my smile spread so wide that I started worrying that the top of my head might fall off, but I managed. "No way. Carter, you don't have to-"

"But I want to," he interjected smoothly. "Now, listen, I'll talk with Albrecht about swinging by the gallery in the next day or so to sign the final paperwork. But I'll see you back at the gallery this afternoon?"

"Sure, yeah," I said, still grinning and probably looking like a total dope to anyone who saw me sitting in my truck.

Carter disconnected, and I lowered the phone from my ear, just staring at it as I tried to adjust to this sudden twist in my fortunes. Just when everything seemed darkest, it had all turned around.

I'd just sold a six figure piece of artwork. I was going to get the commission, have enough to cover all my debts, be finally free of all this stress that had been clinging to me constantly for the last few months.

It was really going to work out!

I yanked the door to the truck open and hopped out, my purse bouncing as I pulled it over my shoulder mid-stride. I dashed back into Barry's office, not even slowing down this time as I passed an open-mouthed Melissa.

"Hey, Barry!" I called out, sticking my head into his office. He'd gone back to his sandwich after I left, but I didn't even give him the time to finish chewing the bite in his mouth. "Good news - I'll have the money after all! You'll have your check by the end of the week!"

Barry hurriedly started trying to chew faster, perhaps trying to clear his mouth so that he could respond, but I didn't wait for him. Still beaming like a crazy person, I ran out of the dental office, back to my truck, and headed back to the gallery.

Chapter Twenty-Three

*

Back at the gallery, I was just finishing off my own lunch when Carter came strolling in through the front entrance, looking as satisfied as the cat that had swallowed the canary.

He didn't make it more than half a dozen steps, however, before he grunted as I hit him, my arms flying around him in a hug. "Whoa, whoa!" he burst out, taking a couple steps backwards as he caught me. "You're going to knock me over, and we'll probably break a million dollars in artwork!"

"Oh, shut up," I told him, and then before he could say anything else, I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him strongly, pushing myself up against him.

"Well, that's the kind of thanks that I can really appreciate," he managed when we broke apart, although he looked slightly cross-eyed.

I smirked. "Keep making smart aleck comments, and I'll just keep on kissing you to shut you up."

"There are worse fates." Still, he gave me one last squeeze and then released me. "So, did you give Barry the good news yet?"

"Shouted it at him before running out of his office!" My grin grew a little softer, as a wave of emotion suddenly hit me. "Carter, you really didn't have to-"

He shook his head halfway through my sentence, and reached out to gently put a finger against my lips to silence me. "Really, it's not a lot of trouble," he insisted. "And besides, I think that I like seeing you sitting in the role of managing this art gallery. I'd hate for you to have to give up the job so soon after accepting it, just because you needed to find another way to pay back your ex-husband."

Looking up at him, I felt my own eyes growing misty. "Still. I really owe you."

"This is true. How about you let me buy you dinner to balance it out?"

I frowned a little. "I owe you, so I should let you buy me dinner? Is that really paying you back? I feel like I ought to be the one buying, at least - since I'm the one who's apparently coming into a windfall." My frown grew a little deeper. "Of course, since you're fronting the commission to me, that would mean that I'm thanking you by taking you out to dinner with the very money that you just gave to me..."

Carter laughed, interrupting my musings. "Just say yes, and that I can pick you up at seven tonight outside your apartment, so that I can get off to work," he asked.

I pushed aside my head full of thoughts with an effort. "Okay," I answered him. "Seven tonight. I'll see you there."

"Great." He bent down and kissed me once again, a deep kiss that made my toes curl, my body rise up slightly to press against him, and my mind wish that I could fast-forward through the rest of the day to make it seven o'clock already. "Oh, and one more thing?"

"What?"

This time, his smile was anything but innocent. "Wear something sexy," he suggested.

My mouth dropped open, but Carter had released me and was out the door before I could ask him what he meant, exactly - or even decide whether I should grin or slap him!

I expected the rest of the afternoon to creep by as I kept on looking forward to my date that evening (oh my goodness, I really had a date! With possible sexy times at the end, even! I ought to call Portia, ask for advice!), but instead, the hours flew by. I had to go back and look through Preston's files to find an example of how to file a billing statement for a big-ticket item sale like this. Annoyingly, it seemed like my uncle had changed the file format every time he made another sale, adding and subtracting new categories and boxes of information, so I eventually gave up and just made my best attempt at creating a billing statement.