Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Arriving at Jack and Olivia’s house, they were buzzed in and climbed the three flights of stairs up to the building’s top floor. Olivia was waiting at the door for them wearing a giant grin across her face and clapped her hands in glee when she saw the pair of them hand in hand.
“I’m so happy you came,” Olivia said.
“I come every week, why is this week such a happy event.” Elijah winked as he moved passed her.
“Not you, you fool, I was referring to Lilly, I’m so glad she came, it’s your first date and you came here,” Olivia said.
“I suppose it is our first date, perhaps we should have gone to the movies instead,” Lilly said with a straight face which only lasted for a few seconds.
She already knew Olivia would be hurt if they turned around and left.
For Olivia, this was a distraction to the upcoming wedding, and Lilly was only too happy to focus on giving Olivia a rest from all the organising.
Lilly kissed Olivia on the cheek and walked through the open doorway and into the apartment.
It was white walled and filled with artwork.
It took her a few minutes to walk down the hallway, looking at each picture as she went.
Art was her secret world she got lost in.
This was heaven on earth looking at all of Jack and Olivia’s artwork.
She wandered down the hallway and ended up in the main living room to see Jack pouring a drink and handing it to Elijah.
They were deep in conversation and Olivia was nowhere to be seen.
Hence, she carried on looking at the photographs that adorned their walls.
There were some fantastic black and white photographs on the wall, she was mesmerised by their beauty and wanted to know who the photographer was.
“Do you like them Lilly?” Jack asked and offered her a tumbler of clear liquid.
“I adore them, thank you for the drink, how did you know I liked Vodka?”
“Elijah told me, he has a great memory. You must have mentioned it to him over the last six months. He’s really smitten with you. If you don’t feel the same would you do him a favour and back away now?” Jack asked.
“You are the second person to tell me to do that. I can assure you Jack, he’s in safe hands. I won’t hurt him, he is the most amazing man I have ever met and I intend to keep him around,” Lilly said.
“Good, because I think he may finally have found someone to rescue him from his loneliness. He’s a believer in true love and one of these days he’s going to give you something extraordinary. I hope you treasure it,” Jack said.
“Well when he gives it to me I will treat it with the care it needs. What is it he will give me?” Lilly asked.
“That’s not for me to say, you will know when he gives it to you.
Now, Lilly, let me tell you about these photos.
” Jack swiftly moved the subject along to something less intimidating.
“They were taken by Olivia’s best friend Cecily.
I understand you met her online yesterday.
She’s an amazing woman and photographer, she’s over in America at the moment opening a gallery of her work. I’m so proud to know her.”
“She has a great eye, I love art in all forms but my first love is to paint. I can get lost for hours painting.”
“Another artist, I seem to be surrounded by creative types. You’ll have to show me some of your work,” Jack said and smiled.
“Sure, I’ve only sold a handful locally and have some in my studio at home, I shall return the favour of dinner and can show you them.”
“I’d like that.”
“What are you two talking about?” Elijah asked.
“Jack was telling me about-” Lilly started to say.
“About Cecily’s photographs and Lilly’s paintings.” Jack interrupted by finishing her sentence.
Lilly briefly looked at Jack’s eyes to understand that she wasn’t to talk about the gift Elijah was going to give her. She wasn’t materialistic so anything she was given would be treasured no matter what it would be.
“Lilly is an amazing painter, Jack you should see her work, her pictures would enchant you.”
“How could I refuse a look with a description like that? We shall have dinner soon at your place Lilly so that I can look.” Jack clinked his glass with hers and raised it in a toast.
The praise Elijah had given she threw Lilly, she wasn’t used to it and felt a little uncomfortable.
Looking around the room for an idea to change the subject, she spotted it.
She froze on the spot and stared at the wall on the far side of the room.
It was a small picture and she couldn’t quite work out if she was hallucinating or not.
“It’s a small world Lilly if you’re not all in, walk away now.” Jack whispered into her ear so only she could hear.
Elijah looked at them and grew concerned for Lilly’s ashen face when his brother whispered something to her.
“Are you ok Lilly, you look pale?” Olivia asked, just joining the three of them.
Lilly looked at Jack, mouthed ‘all in’ to him and slowly moved across the room to the painting on the wall.
She adored the picture and couldn’t believe that she was looking at it again.
She remembered every stroke she painted and how she was feeling.
It was like hearing a song and being transported back to that very moment in time.
The time machine in her memories took her straight to that moment.
It was the day she buried Elizabeth, and she needed to escape the real world and enter a fantasy world in her painting.
The picture was of a South American couple in an Argentine Tango pose.
The woman’s leg clasped in a firm hand held high on his hip.
Lilly had always wanted to learn the Argentine Tango and Elizabeth kept encouraging her to go to classes to learn.
Still, she never went while she was alive.
Once she passed away, she signed up the next day after painting this picture.
The painting wasn’t massive, no bigger than an A4 piece of paper but it had vivid red colours of the woman’s dress and swirls of orange in the night sky.
Lilly hadn’t realised how much she had missed it until now, or how much she missed Elizabeth.
A soft cloth was placed into Lilly’s hand and it took her by surprise.
It was a handkerchief with a J sewn into the corner.
“Wipe away your tears Lilly. I had no idea looking at the picture would upset you. Please accept my apology for surprising you. I already love your work you see, and I wanted you to see it on someone’s wall. Please say you’ll forgive me?” Jack said.
Lilly took the handkerchief, wiped under her eyes and felt strong arms wrap around her from behind. She instantly knew it was Elijah because his smell was distinctive, he always smelt the same. It felt warm, familiar and comforting.
“Why are you crying sweetheart, is everything ok?” Elijah asked.
“Yes, I’m fine. This painting brings back happy memories of a woman I adored that passed away. I miss her so much and wish she was still around to offer me some advice.” Lilly wrapped her arms over his and held on tight.
“I hope between Olivia, Jack, Cecily and I we can be that support system and offer you the advice you need,” Elijah said.
“I hope so too, it’s such a small world, and it’s overwhelming at the moment, the connections that are there between us. I had no idea who’d bought this painting all those years ago and am so happy to see it again. These tears are happy tears, I promise.”
“Good, because it breaks my heart to see you upset, are you feeling better now?” Elijah asked.
“Yeah, I’m good.”
“Great because dinner is ready, come and sit and eat with us,” Elijah said.
Elijah dropped his arms and held her hand, taking her through to the dining room where Olivia and Jack were bickering happily about names for their baby.
It was a humorous scene as they were sword fighting with breadsticks over the round table.
Once Elijah and Lilly were spotted, they stopped their play fighting and sat back down in their chairs like naughty children being caught.
“Oh, don’t stop on our account, it looked fun, who normally wins?” Lilly asked.
“I do.” They both answered and then burst into laughter.
“Come and sit down and dig in, there’s enough to feed an army, take whatever you want,” Jack said and patted the seat next to him.
Elijah sat in the seat next to Olivia and snatched the bread stick out her hand and ate half of it in one go. It got him a slap on the arm and the other half was snatched back by Olivia and eaten.
“Lilly, what are you going to do next with your life, are you really going to work behind that bar at Blue’s? Surely you don’t need the money,” Jack asked.
“I’ve no idea what to do next. I’ve got savings but they won’t last forever. I should be ok for a year. Working behind the bar will keep me occupied but it won’t be my chosen career. Drawing and painting are what I would like to do but I’m not sure in what capacity.”
“Why don’t you take over the painting at Blue’s? Elijah, why haven’t you asked her to do that yet?” Olivia asked through a mouthful of fresh bread.
All eyes looked to Elijah for an answer. He looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights. He wanted to ask Lilly but was worried it would turn into the same as him and Elaine.
“Um, would you want to paint the wall at Blue’s?” Elijah asked sheepishly, he was embarrassed that he was asking in front of Jack and Olivia.
“Are you kidding? I’d love to, are you sure you could trust me to do it?” Lilly said.
“I’ve no problem with you doing it after what I’ve seen you do so far, if you’re happy then I’m happy.”
Olivia and Jack high-fived over the table. They were delighted with themselves and when they were caught grinning at each other, they changed their expressions to ones of innocence. It didn’t last longer than half a minute before the smiles broke out again.
“So does this mean you are officially a couple?” Olivia asked.
“Are they always this forward?” Lilly mocked mimed to Elijah.
“No, this is a whole new side to them, they’ve never been this keen about anyone I’ve dated before.” Elijah answered.
“We’re still here you know,” Olivia said and pouted.
“It’s true, and you’ve never been this keen,” Elijah said.
“You’ve never been this in love. In fact I don’t think you have ever referred to love in the same sentence as a woman before brother,” Jack added.
Elijah dropped his head into his hands and groaned, he could have killed his brother for revealing the love part. He’d told him in confidence about how he felt. Next, he would start talking about his gift and then he would sink under the table, mortified.
“Oh Elijah, will you give your gift to Lilly soon?” Olivia asked bouncing in her seat and clapping like a mad woman.
“You told her Jack, really?” Elijah asked, defeated as he knew he probably had.
“No secrets between us Elijah, which is the secret to a happy relationship, no secrets,” Jack said smugly.
“What gift?” Lilly asked.
“Nothing that we can talk about here, I’ll talk to you another time, probably when I give it to you,” Elijah said.
“Oh Jack,” Olivia said and sighed. “He said when and not if, she’s it, oh my God, I am so happy right now.”
“Easy there Liv, your hormones are in overdrive, don’t scare Lilly at this stage.” Jack cautioned and lifted her wrist to kiss it. “We’ve only just got her to come to dinner.”
Elijah sneaked a look at Lilly to see how she was doing being talked about and having their relationship talked about so openly. It thrilled him when he saw she was smiling and at him. She was cool with the situation and his heart thudded a few extra beats in celebration.
“We’ve sorted you two out, now I want to know what your kink is Lilly.” Jack winked at her.
The wine had been flowing and Lilly was just about to answer when an object hurtled through the air at Jack. He successfully dodged the bread roll and roared with laughter.
“Stop talking about sex like its normal, not everyone is as open as you Jack, cut it out,” Elijah warned.
“Hey, she was just about to answer. You need to know what she likes, have you asked her? I bet you haven’t.” Jack said.
“Let’s talk about something else, we’ll work out what we like in bed soon enough,” Elijah said.
“Oh excellent, that makes me so happy.” Olivia said and raised her lemonade in a toast.
The others clinked their glasses to hers and changed the subject to something safer. As the evening drew to a close, Elijah and Lilly left their good company and warm hospitality. He walked her back to her apartment.
“Did you have a good evening Lilly? I hope they didn’t embarrass you too much. I didn’t know he had one of your paintings and that he knew it was yours, it’s a stunning picture.” Elijah kissed Lilly’s nose.
Lilly grabbed his coat lapel and pulled him in for a searing kiss. She loved kissing him, his plump lips were soft and she could kiss him all night long.
“You need to let me go in now Elijah or you’ll make me so hot and bothered you’ll have to finish things off in my bed,” Lilly said.
“In that case, I shall bid you goodnight. I’ve had too much to drink to let tonight be our first night.” Elijah kissed her long and slow.
Lilly broke the kiss and stepped back to her front door, Elijah followed and pressed her against the glass and kissed her again.
“Elijah,” Lilly said breathlessly.
“Ok, ok, I’m going. I’ll see you tomorrow beautiful, at Blue’s, to make a start on the wall,” Elijah said.
“Ok handsome, I’ll see you tomorrow.”