Chapter 3
Chapter Three
A fter a quick breakfast, during which they mostly talked about their new resident in the guest house and how his visit was a super huge secret, Frankie got ready to head to Lucas’s for the big filming day with Joyce and Beryl. Frankie was only going for moral support and to provide the two women with a friendly audience.
Lucas had said they’d probably be more comfortable talking to her than pretending they had an audience that was really just the camera.
Frankie picked out an outfit she deemed cute enough to be seen in, just in case she ended up on camera, as Lucas said she might. White capri pants and a bright blue T-shirt that she’d never really worn much before. She’d always thought it too bold of a look. Now the color appealed to her.
She was happy to hang out while they did the cooking. For one thing, she liked Joyce and Beryl very much. For another, she was curious about the whole show thing. She’d seen Lucas do a live broadcast off the cuff, but she’d never seen him film an episode for his YouTube channel.
There was no doubt it would be interesting. All the same, she was bringing her laptop, her tablet, her stylus, and her notebook, because she planned to work while she was there. There would be downtime. Lucas had said as much.
Today she was starting the logo design for Lucas’s friend, Stacy. She wanted to get on that right away, because Stacy’s deposit had arrived promptly this morning. This would be a big deal. Not only was Frankie designing a logo for her, but she was going to create at least five designs for Stacy to use on T-shirts.
Frankie hoped Stacy liked them enough to buy them all. As she drove the golf cart to Lucas’s place, she thought about what Stacy wanted and how to translate that into hip, modern designs that would appeal to a young woman like her.
Frankie was not hip or modern. Could she really deliver what Stacy was after? Her confidence suddenly took a nosedive.
She parked in Lucas’s driveway, alongside a car she didn’t recognize. She stayed in the cart for a moment, trying to give herself a pep talk. Stacy liked the art of Alphonse Mucha. With that to build on, Frankie would just have to find a way to interpret his work into something that met Stacy’s criteria.
She could do that, couldn’t she? If need be, she’d look at what was hip and popular right now.
Except she didn’t want to be derivative. She wanted to be fresh and new and set trends. How else was she going to stand out? Talk about putting pressure on herself. What was she thinking?
The front door opened, and Scout ran out ahead of Lucas. He smiled at her. “Hey, beautiful. Are you coming in or what?”
Frankie nodded. “Sorry. Just got stuck in my own head.”
He walked over. “Happens to the best of us. Anything I can help with?” She started to shake her head, then he got into the golf cart next to her. “You know you can talk to me about anything.”
She smiled. “Thanks. I’m just stressing about whether or not I can deliver on what Stacy wants. She wants hip and modern. And I’m not either of those things.”
Lucas laughed. “Baby, you don’t have to be those things to create those things.”
She melted at being called baby. Then realized he was agreeing with her about not being hip and modern. She was about to say something when he spoke again.
“You have experience and wisdom on your side, and that means you’re cultured and educated enough to know what’s beautiful and what isn’t. Beauty beats hip and modern any day. Stacy doesn’t really know what she wants, but when you show her what you can do, she will. Because she’ll be looking at it.”
Frankie exhaled the breath she’d been keeping in. “You really think so?”
He took her hand. “Look at what you’ve done for me. I didn’t know I wanted a logo like the one you created for me until I saw it. Instantly, I knew you’d understood who I was and what I was about, and you somehow put all of that into the design. I’m telling you, Frankie, you have this intuitive thing that I don’t think you even realize. But trust me, you’ll figure out what Stacy needs. And it’s going to be great.”
She squeezed his hand. “Thank you. I needed that pep talk.”
He smiled and kissed her. “That’s what boyfriends are for.”
“Let me just get my stuff.” She’d set her computer bag on the floor behind the front seats, as that had seemed more secure.
“I’ll get it.” Lucas hopped out, grabbed her bag, and hoisted it over his shoulder.
She exited the golf cart. “Are Joyce and Beryl already here?”
“No, but they should be in about ten minutes or so. Come in and meet Clive.”
Scout ran into the house ahead of them.
Lucas’s kitchen looked different. There were tall, tripod lights with umbrella reflectors set up at either side, filling the space with warm, bright light. There were two cameras set up as well, one looking straight on, one facing the kitchen at an angle. Things on the counters had been slightly rearranged with more artful positioning. Fresh flowers, a few small potted plants, and a bowl of oranges had been added. The pops of color along with the vibrant green made the space come alive under the lighting.
“Wow, this is different.”
“You like it?”
She nodded. “I do. Looks like your show.”
“Good. But I trust your eye. If there’s anything you think should be moved or positioned differently, just say the word.”
“No, it looks great.”
He set her bag on the counter. The island in the center would be the focus of the cameras, obviously, as that’s where they were aimed, as were the lights.
A young man with a shaggy but stylish haircut emerged from the hall. “All set up. Hello there.” He stuck his hand out. “I’m Clive. Are you Joyce or Beryl?”
Frankie shook his hand. “Neither. I’m Frankie. I’m the moral support.”
Lucas put his arm around her. “She’s also my girlfriend. She’s here to help Joyce and Beryl feel more at ease, but we might have her on camera as a taste-tester.”
“Very nice to meet you, girlfriend” Clive said with a knowing grin.
“Did I mention, too,” Lucas said. “She’s also the graphic designer who did my new logo?”
Clive’s nicely manicured brows rose. “Are you now? I love that logo. Nice job.”
Frankie bowed her head. “Thank you.”
Clive wiggled his fingers at her. “Could I get your card?”
“Oh.” Frankie made a face. “I don’t have any. I should really fix that.”
Clive whipped out his phone. “Just give me your social media and I’ll follow you.”
“Um…” Frankie rattled off her website and her seldom-used Instagram.
Lucas leaned in and gave Clive Frankie’s new Facebook page. “You can contact her there, too.”
Clive nodded as he looked at his phone. “You have some cute designs.” His gaze came back to her. “You did all of these?”
“Yep.”
“Girl, I might need to hire you.”
Lucas shot Frankie a look. “Clive, why don’t you give Frankie a little touch-up so she’s camera-ready. In case we need her. I have a few more things to set up before the ladies get here.”
“I’d love to. Right this way, doll.”
Frankie glanced at Lucas, who nodded, so she followed Clive back to the guest bathroom. He had one of the tall kitchen stools set up in front of the mirror and the counter was covered in beauty and hair supplies, along with a vast assortment of brushes and tools.
He patted the stool. “Have a seat.”
Frankie settled in, not sure what to expect. “I don’t wear a lot of makeup.”
Clive stood back, giving her space. “Why is that?”
“I guess…I don’t want to look foolish. My mom never wore a lot, so I didn’t, either. I don’t know what to do with most of it.”
“Are you open to learning?”
“I can try. I don’t want to look heavily made up. That’s not me.”
“I’d never suggest that. You’re a natural beauty. And, not to be indelicate, but at a certain age, a woman can add years with makeup if she’s not careful.”
She was glad to hear him say that. “I agree. I’ve seen those women.”
“Honey.” He waved a hand through the air. “What I’d like to do with you is some good moisturizer, clean up the brows a bit, then a simple, flattering makeup that won’t take more than a few minutes. How does that sound?”
“It sounds good, actually. I don’t have a great skin care routine, either. Just moisturizer, some eye cream and that’s about it. SPF when I go out.”
“You’re doing the basics and, honestly, that’s all most women need. If you’re not breaking out or having dry or oily patches, what you’re doing is great. Keep doing it.”
She smiled. “What does Lucas do?”
Clive grunted out a breath. “Probably olive oil and lemon juice. Who knows?”
Frankie laughed.
Clive narrowed his eyes. “Slight amendment. I’d like to tint your brows. I think it would make a world of difference and it won’t take long.”
“Tint them? What color?”
He laughed. “Dark brown, the same as they are now. But you’ve got a few grays in them, pesky things, and that takes some of their strength away. Tinting them will take five years off your face.”
“Seriously?” She sat back. “Do it.”
Clive rubbed his hands together. “Just what I like to hear.”
She closed her eyes and let him do his thing, opening them when he asked her to. He showed her a few tricks and tips for easy makeup and when he was done, she felt like she was looking at herself ten years ago.
He’d been right about the brow tinting. Suddenly her eyes seemed bigger and brighter and much more the focus on her face. The mascara and subtle eyeshadow he’d done helped, too, but it wasn’t complicated. She could definitely replicate it.
He’d shown her how to contour her cheekbones, and where to apply blush to lift her whole face. Come to find out, she’d been putting it in the wrong place all these years. A soft, rosy lip color, a few dabs of highlighter—something she already owned but had never used, because who knew where that went—and it was like he’d worked a miracle.
With a big round curling iron, he’d curled the top portion of her hair away from her face, then he’d sprayed it, let it dry, and tousled it with his fingers. It wasn’t something she’d ever have done. Now, she was going to do it all the time.
“What do you think?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I love it. I really do. I look younger and more awake. I look…great.”
Clive winked at her. “I started with a fantastic product.”
“You’re very kind. The best part is, I think I can do all of this myself.”
“I know you can. But if you forget something, just email me.”
“Thank you so much.”
The sounds of Beryl and Joyce arriving drifted in.
“Perfect timing,” Frankie said. “Thanks again. You need anything done graphics-wise, you call or email me. I mean it.”
He nodded. “I will.”
They walked out together. Lucas was helping Joyce and Beryl with their things. He glanced at Frankie, then did a double take. “Wow. You look…” He exhaled. “You are always beautiful, but it’s like the dial got turned up to eleven.”
She laughed, feeling pretty in a way she wasn’t sure she ever had before. “Clive is really good.”
So good, she was going to give him a discount if he ever needed anything from her.