Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
J acqui Hutchins stood back to look at the painting on the wall. A new artist from Sanibel had come with a lot of unexpected fans, and for that, Jacqui was overjoyed.
Looking at Chelsea, she said, “It’s ten after one, and that’s the third time in the last five minutes, you’ve looked at your watch. Are you waiting for someone?”
Chelsea didn’t want to reveal too much to Jacqui. Steven’s visit to the gallery, if he showed up, would answer any of her friend’s questions. If he didn’t show, there would be no point in mentioning him to Jacqui at all.
“No one special. I did mention to a friend that a few of my paintings were here. I thought he might stop by today.”
Jacqui stopped what she was doing and turned to face Chelsea.
“I knew it. I knew there was a guy.”
Chelsea rolled her eyes. “There is no guy. He’s just a friend.”
Jacqui smiled and looked over Chelsea’s shoulder. “Well, don’t look now, but I think your friend is peering into my front window.”
Just as Chelsea turned, Steven stepped into the gallery. “Hello,” he said, his smile bigger than she remembered it from the night before.
“Steven, I’m so glad you could make it.”
Jacqui didn’t budge, waiting for Chelsea to introduce her.
“This is my friend, and owner of the gallery, Jacqui Hutchins. Jacqui, this is Steven Ellis Thompson.”
Steven smiled and nodded to Jacqui. “My pleasure. Your gallery wasn’t on my GPS.”
Jacqui shrugged. “I’m not surprised. I’ve only been open a few weeks. I’m glad you found us. Are you in the market for new artwork?”
He looked around the room, “I might be. I was hoping to see some of Chelsea’s work.”
“Oh, of course, it’s in the other room. I’m sure Chelsea can show you the way. It was nice to meet you, Mr. Thompson.”
As Chelsea and Steven made their way into the next room, Jacqui smiled and winked at Chelsea, who felt more nervous today than she had at Isabelle’s dinner party.
They stood in front of an ocean landscape that was a favorite of Chelsea’s.
“Ah, this is lovely, I must say. This is Captiva, am I correct?”
“Yes, it’s actually the view from my property. I’m very lucky to live so close to the ocean. It’s provided me with countless hours of various perspectives for my paintings. You might say Captiva is my muse.”
He smiled and continued to admire her painting. “It shows.”
His eyes captured her attention, and she couldn’t look away.
“I want to see you again,” he said. “Will you have dinner with me tomorrow night?”
It had been a long time since Chelsea cared about making a good impression on a man. She didn’t know if she should pretend to be busy, so he might think she wasn’t sitting around waiting for him to get in touch. Playing hard-to-get seemed like childish behavior. She was an adult woman in control of her choices.
The need to be with him was strong, and Chelsea didn’t care what was prudent. The only thing that mattered was her desire to know him better.
“Yes, I’d love that,” she answered. She took one of the gallery’s business cards, wrote her address and phone number on the back, and then handed it to him.
He smiled and added, “Thank you. Would you mind terribly if I purchased this beautiful painting?”
She laughed. “You’re not serious?”
“Why in the world would you say that? I’ve come to see your work, and as it happens, I want something new for my house.”
Chelsea had no idea why her face felt hot, but suddenly she felt a rush of heat pass through her torso and up to the top of her head.
This is no time for a hot flash, Chelsea.
“Steven, this is one of my favorite paintings, but it’s twenty-five hundred dollars.”
“It will now be mine. Every morning, when I’m having my coffee, I’ll imagine that we’re both looking at the same horizon. I’d pay any amount of money for that.”
Chelsea wasn’t used to feeling so off-balance. She needed to change the subject.
“Let me get Jacqui. She’ll wrap it up for you. Thank you, Steven. I’m thrilled you love the painting.”
Jacqui took the painting down from the wall and wrapped it in special packaging to protect the canvas and frame. “Thank you so much, Mr. Thompson. I hope you’ll visit my gallery in the future. If you want to stay informed on the gallery’s news, please add your email to this book.”
Chelsea waited for him to finish with Jacqui, and then walked him to the front door.
“I’ll pick you up at seven if that works for you?” he said.
Chelsea nodded. “Seven is fine.”
“I’ll see you then. I’m headed home to hang this beauty. Thanks again, Chelsea. Until tomorrow.”
She waved as he drove away and wondered if she’d possibly dreamed the last thirty minutes. She could sense Jacqui standing behind her.
“That one’s a keeper,” Jacqui said.
Chelsea smiled. “We’ll see.”
Riley Cuthbert, the inn’s chef, appeared frantic as she came into the kitchen looking for Maggie. Iris, the other cook, grabbed Riley by the shoulders.
“Whoa! Slow down. Where’s the fire?”
“You won’t believe what I just saw. Maggie’s going to flip.”
“What in heaven’s name…?” Maggie said as she entered the room.
“Did you know your sister was planning to get a job?” Riley asked.
“A job? What kind of job?”
“A waitressing job. I just had a quick bite over at Seafood & Sunshine. Kat was wearing an apron and taking orders. She saw me and smiled, acting like it was no big deal.”
Maggie sighed. She’d thought something like this might happen but didn’t think it would happen this quickly.
“There’s nothing we can do about it, Riley. Paolo is getting frustrated with me being involved. He said that it’sbetween Nolan and Kat, and they need to work things out without any help from me. I guess if she’s got a job, she isn’t going home anytime soon.”
“Who isn’t going home anytime soon?” Chelsea asked as she joined them in the kitchen.
Maggie rolled her eyes. “My sister. She got a waitress job at Seafood & Sunshine.”
Chelsea laughed and sat at the table. “Well, in all fairness, she did warn you that she was moving here. If I were you, I’d book that cottage with a paying customer and tell her she’ll need to find a place to live if she’s going to live on Captiva permanently.”
Maggie’s face brightened. “That’s a great idea. Chelsea, you’re a genius.”
“That’s what I’ve been telling you,” Chelsea said, opening the refrigerator. “Do we have any lemonade? I’m really in the mood for lemonade.”
Maggie laughed. “What’s with the ‘we?’ Last I saw, your name wasn’t on the mortgage.”
“Bottom shelf, Chelsea,” Iris answered.
Maggie’s cellphone rang. “Oh no,” she whispered. “It’s Nolan. What should I say? I’m not answering it.”
“You have to answer it. He’s been calling Kat for days and she won’t answer. Remember, you’re trying to get her out of here,” Chelsea whispered and then looked at Riley. “Why am I whispering?”
Riley shrugged and went back to work.
“Hello, Nolan. How are you doing?”
“I’m fine, Maggie. How are you and Paolo?”
“Everyone’s fine here,” Maggie said as she stepped out onto the back porch.
“Is Kat there? I’ve been calling her for days, but she won’t answer her phone. I’ve been worried sick. I have that app that shows where people are. Kat and I got that so we could stay in touch and I’d know if she was in trouble. It shows that she’s in Captiva, so I knew she got there all right. It’s just…well, there are some things we need to talk about, and she’s making that impossible by not talking to me.”
“Oh, Nolan, I’m so sorry. She’s not here right now. Actually, she’s at work.”
“Work? What do you mean she’s at work? She got a job? I thought she would take some time to be with you and her mother and get a tan.”
Maggie stifled a giggle. “Well, she is getting a tan.”
“Has she told you when she might be coming home?” he asked.
Maggie figured it was time to lower the boom. “She says that she’s staying here for good. Isn’t that what she told you?”
“No…I mean, well, yeah, but only in a note. I didn’t think she was serious.”
Maggie didn’t know whether to yell at Nolan or feel sorry for him. “Nolan, if you ask me, I think Kat is a bit confused right now and needs some time to figure things out. I’m not sure what we’re going to do though. She’s staying with us, but tourism is picking up and we might have to book the cottage where she’s staying. Of course, she could always stay at Mom’s or Sarah’s, but, well, that’s not very permanent. Of course, we haven’t had that talk with her, so we’ll help get her on her feet if she truly is going to stay on Captiva Island.”
Maggie couldn’t be sure, but the sounds on the other end of the line sounded like pacing…and chewing.
“Nolan, are you eating? Maybe you should have your supper, and I’ll tell Kat that you called.”
“I’m sorry, Maggie. It’s just a little bit of meatloaf leftovers. Kat made me tons of meals that she put in the freezer, so I’m not starving.”
Starving was not something Maggie worried about where Nolan was concerned. However, the food would eventually run out, and he’d be forced to order takeout regularly.
“I’ll talk to Kat, Nolan. I’ll see if I can get her to call you. I agree that the two of you need to talk.”
Chelsea came out and joined Maggie on the porch swing.
“Thank you, Maggie. I appreciate it.”
Maggie ended the call, turned to Chelsea and sighed. “I swear that sister of mine is going to be the death of me.”