Chapter 35
35
‘I think I’m almost as nervous as Finn is,’ Jade said to Dorrie and Ray as the three of them strolled towards the marketplace in the morning sunshine.
‘It’s a big day,’ Dorrie said. ‘I bet you’re really proud.’
‘I am.’ Jade glanced at Ray. ‘You must be very proud too.’
The old man, who in Finn’s words had never been big on emotion, grunted noncommittally. ‘Course I am. It’s what he wants.’
Dorrie gave him a playful slap on the arm. ‘He’s immensely proud, aren’t you, pumpkin. Your boy having his paintings on sale to the public in a big exhibition. It’s amazing.’
‘Beats being a miner. I’ll give you that.’ Ray cleared his throat and winked.
‘He’s jumping up and down with joy on the inside,’ Dorrie teased. ‘It’s just not all on show, is it, love?’
Ray flushed a little and Jade suppressed a smile. Dorrie and Ray were such opposites. Dorrie was so bouncy and extrovert and Ray was so dour and taciturn, but the love between them was very clear.
She and Finn were much more similar in personality. Both of them were natural introverts. Finn preferred the solitude of his own company – he’d have been happy painting pictures full time and never seeing anyone but her and Ben, and Jade was most relaxed when she was around people she loved like Sarah, Finn and Ben, or her animals.
She wondered if Ray was worried about Finn and Bridie’s reconciliation and all of the past resurfacing. He’d said he was happy to know she was still settled with Christopher. But it must still be difficult for him. Jade hoped Finn was right and Bridie wouldn’t by some coincidence appear. She didn’t want any awkwardness to spoil Finn’s day. He was nervous enough already.
They went up the stone steps and through the pillars into the Guildhall, and as they were directed to the exhibition by a helpful member of staff, Jade made a conscious decision to relax. This was Finn’s day and she was determined to make it as enjoyable as possible for him. She was pleased to see that even though they were ten minutes early there was already a small crowd gathered outside the door. Expensively dressed arty types mingled with locals and she could hear the odd posh-voiced yahs and oh my goshes floating around on the air.
She spotted Sarah, Callum and Ben. They had joined them, and the little group were all exchanging pleasantries when the doors were opened bang on eleven and a smiling, beautifully dressed woman invited them in.
Coffee and cake was being served on their left and they were greeted by more smiles before a man who introduced himself as their host but whose name Jade didn’t catch told them a bit about each artist before inviting them all to have a wander around to look at the fabulous art.
Jade watched Ray as their host did the introductions. Dorrie was right. He was lit up on the inside. Pride was written all over his face. Then they were finally let loose inside the exhibition hall. Jade spotted Finn standing beside a man with a sky-blue jacket and purple trousers. She waved to him, and he smiled back at her and lifted a hand in acknowledgement. She swallowed a lump in her throat. This was such a big day for him.
Sarah and Callum seemed almost as overawed as Ray had been outside, but Ben soon broke the ice with his cries of, ‘Daddy, Daddy, your pictures are definitely the best.’
‘You haven’t even seen them yet,’ Finn said, striding across and sweeping his son off his feet for a hug.
‘I’ve seen all of them at home,’ Ben said, pursing his lips and casting a disparaging look at a bronze head that was displayed on a plinth nearby. ‘That one’s got a wonky nose,’ he pointed out loudly. ‘Dad doesn’t do wonky noses, do you, Dad?’
‘Maybe the model had a wonky nose,’ Sarah said, looking around nervously as several people glanced their way.
‘He did,’ commented a woman who’d overheard them. ‘I’m the sculptor. Thank you for coming.’ She winked at Ben and he looked delighted and winked back.
Ray looked too overawed to speak, but as they walked along to Finn’s section of the room he stood with his hands clasped behind his back and studied each painting in turn.
‘My son’s an artist,’ he said to no one in particular. ‘My son’s a really talented artist. I’ve no idea where he gets it from.’
He hurried across to Finn and touched his arm. ‘I’m so proud of you, son.’
* * *
They were an hour into the exhibition and Finn had just started to relax and get used to the bizarre experience of talking to strangers about his work when he thought he saw a familiar face.
Across the room, talking to a woman in a navy dress, was a man he recognised. It was Declan Stone, he realised, remembering Ben’s comment about wonky noses. Or if it wasn’t him, it was someone who looked very much like him. He felt his heart dive towards his polished shoes and sent up a silent prayer to the universe that it wasn’t Declan, just someone who just looked like him.
Then, almost as if the man sensed he was being observed, he turned slightly and met Finn’s eyes.
Shit, it was definitely Declan. To Finn’s relief, his nose looked quite straight. He hadn’t done any permanent damage then. But he didn’t look particularly happy. Could it be coincidence he was visiting the fair, or had he known Finn would be here? Finn suspected he was about to find out because Declan had broken off his conversation with his companion and was heading across.
Jade had spotted Declan too. She’d seen him about ten seconds after Finn had done and now, instinctively, she moved closer to Finn. ‘I take it you didn’t invite him?’
‘No, I didn’t.’
‘Do you think he knows who you are? Has Bridie told him?’
‘Your guess is as good as mine.’ Finn fixed a pleasant smile on his face as Declan reached them.
‘Good morning, Jade.’ He addressed her first and gave her a charming smile before turning towards Finn.
‘Good morning, Finn – or should I be saying big bruv?’
‘Morning.’ Finn’s voice was even. Jade registered that he was very still. He always went still when he was in a state of high emotion. He was one of the most contained and self-controlled people she’d ever met, which made it all the more surprising he had given Declan a right hook the first time the two men had met. Although Declan had been pretty provocative on that occasion.
‘I should probably knock you over,’ Declan said conversationally. ‘I owe you one.’ He paused, his eyes glittering slightly, his fists clenched at his sides, and for a moment or so the two men squared up to each other like fighting tomcats about to go to war. The tension was palpable.
‘Please don’t cause a scene.’ Jade took a step forward. ‘Not here.’
‘He’s not going to, are you?’ Finn said, holding Declan’s gaze.
There was an awfully long moment when Jade wasn’t sure which way Declan would go, but then his face broke into a grin.
‘He’s right. I’m not.’ He laughed. ‘We don’t want to get blood on their nice floor, do we? And who am I to scare off the punters.’ He broke the gaze and looked around. ‘I didn’t realise painting was your thing. Mind you’ – he shot Finn a glance – ‘there’s a few things I didn’t know about you. You’re quite the dark horse, aren’t you?’
‘I’m not sure this is the best place to talk about our shared history,’ Finn said quietly. ‘But I would like to talk about it with you.’
‘I’m sure you would. Must be handy finding out you’ve got a wealthy old dear in the wings who can’t wait to cook the prodigal son a fatted calf.’
Finn did the hint of a double take and his grey eyes went a shade darker. ‘I didn’t leave the family,’ he said icily. ‘If that’s what you’re implying.’
Declan had the grace to drop his gaze. He’d put both his hands in his pockets and he shuffled his feet on the wooden floor.
Ray, who must have picked up on the tense body language from a distance, was heading over to see what was going on. Fortunately, no one else in the crowd seemed to have noticed anything awry.
Jade, who was beginning to think this wasn’t going to end well, tried the voice of reason.
‘This definitely isn’t the time or place for a row. I’m sure we can talk everything through like adults though, can’t we? Another time. For your mother’s sake.’ She glanced from Declan back to Finn and she sent him a silent plea with her eyes.
I know you’re angry but please back off.
Finn shifted slightly, relaxing his stance. But it was Declan who finally took a step back. He might not have had as much to lose as Finn today but maybe there was a bit of him that was responding to the quiet logic in Jade’s voice.
Ray arrived beside them, just as Declan turned away. ‘See you again, Finn,’ was his parting shot over his shoulder.
‘I can’t wait,’ Finn called with only a trace of irony.
‘Who was that bloke?’ Ray asked, looking at Jade and Finn anxiously.
Finn told him and he saw his father’s face blanch a little. Declan was the living embodiment of his erstwhile partner’s infidelity. Of course he was. That was never going to be easy.
‘He didn’t look like he was congratulating you,’ Ray said, wiping his palms on his trouser legs. ‘Was he trying to cause trouble?’
‘Aye, Dad. I think you could say he was.’ Finn let out a small sigh of relief as he watched Declan disappear into the crowd of milling people.
‘So did he turn up by coincidence or did he know you’d be here?’ Dorrie asked, who’d clearly overheard enough to pick up what was going on.
‘I haven’t told anyone I’d be here. But clearly Bridie has told Declan who I am and somehow he’s put two and two together and worked it out. I don’t know.’
Finn noticed Eleanor was heading towards them. ‘You may need to excuse me for a moment. I think my agent wants a word.’ He smiled at them as he spoke and added quietly, ‘My agent. I don’t think those two words are ever going to get old.’
Both Dorrie and Ray looked relieved, which had been his intention. Jade looked slightly less reassured, and Finn wasn’t surprised.
Declan had caused trouble from the moment he’d come into their lives and it didn’t look as though the fact they were brothers was going to change that any time soon.
Maybe the fly in the ointment he’d been worried about was Declan.
* * *
It wasn’t until much later that day that Finn discovered it was Bridie who had bought his Stonehenge painting.
An oblivious Eleanor told him that the Stones were big art collectors and as such would have seen a presale catalogue of the works on display in case they wanted to buy early.
‘It’s good news that the Stones like your work, Finn. They’re influential people in the art world. They wouldn’t normally buy more than one item from a new artist – they like to hedge their bets – and they’ve reserved three of your paintings so they must be confident.’
Finn tried to look pleased and not dismayed, because Eleanor was practically rubbing her hands together with glee.
‘Don’t the Stones own a property company?’ he said instead. ‘I didn’t know they were art dealers.’
She gave him a shrewd look. ‘That’s right. But old man Stone collects art as a hobby. Has done for years. He’s always had a good eye; in fact, rumour has it that he’s made more money from buying and selling art than he has from property deals, so give yourself a big pat on the back, Finn.’
He wondered whether he should say anything about the family connection, but before he got the chance, Eleanor said, ‘I owe you a celebratory lunch. Call me next week and we’ll compare diaries. Yah?’