Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
“ W illa?” Frankie thought the house was empty when she returned from Lucas’s. She knew Harper had gone with Mitch to the rescue. As she looked around, there was no sign of Archie. Maybe Harper had come back to get him? She could be out walking him, but Frankie had a feeling Harper had taken Archie back to Mitch’s house. Maybe to see how the new dog would interact with him.
But Willa ought to be home. Frankie called out for her. “Willa?”
Still no answer. Frankie set her things on the kitchen counter, then went out to the back deck. There was no sign of Willa by the pool. No sign of Harper and Archie in the backyard, either.
With a shrug, Frankie came inside. She carried her tablet to the office. She hadn’t gotten much done at Lucas’s, which was about what she’d suspected would happen. Tonight might be another late-night work session. That was fine. She already knew she was capable of getting a lot done when the house was quiet and everyone else was in bed.
She dropped her things off, then went upstairs to change into leggings and a T-shirt. At some point, she’d have to figure out dinner. Maybe just a yogurt and a piece of fruit, though. She’d had plenty at Lucas’s. All of it delicious. But she wasn’t hungry enough for a big meal.
She hit the third floor and heard sound coming from Willa’s room. The door was open, and Willa had her earbuds in and was bobbing her head to whatever she listening to while writing on a notepad.
That explained why she hadn’t answered. Frankie knocked on the door frame to get her attention. “Hey.”
Willa looked up and pulled one earbud out. “Hey, Mom. How was it? Did Joyce and Beryl kill?”
Frankie nodded, smiling. “They did great. I can’t wait to see the final show.”
“When it’s live, we should all watch it together on the big screen downstairs.”
“That’s a great idea. I’m going to change and then work in the office downstairs for a bit. What are you doing?”
“I’m going through the clothes I have to see what will work for teaching. I think I’m going to need to buy a few things. Nothing much, but maybe like two decent pairs of pants and a couple of tops. It’ll have to wait until my first paycheck, though.”
“It’s a shame I can’t give you some hand-me-downs. I’m going to get rid of a lot of my professional wardrobe. I just won’t need it living here and working for myself.”
“When are you going back to get your stuff?”
“I don’t know. Needs to be soon, though. I’ve been putting off dealing with it, but that’s not going to make it go away.”
“I could help you. If you want. Drive up with you and help you pack up and all that.”
“Really?” The offer surprised Frankie, but Willa was a good kid. Always had been. Frankie just hadn’t been expecting it.
“Of course. What kind of daughter would I be if I didn’t help my mom?”
Frankie was touched. “I’d really appreciate that. Might even be fun.”
“As fun as moving can be.” Willa laughed. “Just let me know when. I have to go back and clear my stuff out, too.”
“Do you want me to help you with that? We could drive up and do it together. Just like with my stuff.”
“Yeah, but you’re only four hours away. I’m in Ohio. I don’t even know how long of a drive that would be.” Willa shook her head. “I think it would be easier for me to fly back, pack everything up and then just pay the extra baggage fees for my bags. I really don’t have that much stuff. I don’t need to bring half of that junk here. I don’t mind donating it, either.”
“You’re sure?”
“I can handle it, Mom. You need to be working anyway.”
“You’re not wrong about that.”
“Any thoughts about dinner?”
“I was just going to have a yogurt. I feel like I’ve been eating all day.”
“Oh, right. I can find something. Don’t worry about me. Seriously, I’ll be good with a PB and J, or a cup of noodles or something.”
“You sure?”
Willa gave her an amused look. “Mom. I can fix my own dinner. I do it all the time at school. Besides, you have to think of me like just one of your roommates now.” She made shooing motions. “Go on, go get your work done.”
“All right.” Chuckling, Frankie changed into comfortable clothes and went downstairs to the office. She’d sat on the loveseat with her tablet to do some more work on Stacy’s logos when the door just outside of the office, the one that led to the breezeway, jiggled.
That was followed by knocking.
She got up, went out into the hall, and found Jack Marsh on the other side of the door peering in. It was surreal to have a major celebrity so close.
He smiled when he saw her. “Hey.”
She unlocked it and opened it. “Hi.”
“Is Harper around?”
“No, she’s out with Mitch.”
“Mitch Ripley, from next door?”
Frankie nodded. “That’s right. She works with him.”
“Cool, cool. I didn’t mean to disturb you. Could you just tell her to give me a call when she gets in? I tried texting her, but she didn’t respond.” He grinned. “Guess I should have figured out she was busy.”
“I’ll let her know.”
He glanced toward the office. “You working in there, man?”
“I am. It’s quiet.”
He went past her to look in, leaning against the door. “My dad used to sit in here and read through all the scripts he got.”
“Yeah?” Of course, she’d known Arlington had to have used this office. It had been his house. She just hadn’t had any context for how he’d used the office.
Jack nodded. “Sometimes, he’d get one with a part he thought would be right for me or Teddy. That’s how Teddy got The Last Salesman and how I ended up in Long Nights and Lonely Hearts .”
“I loved Long Nights . That movie was just…” She sighed dreamily as she thought about the film. “The cinematography on that picture was like Nighthawks come to life. You know, the painting of the people in the diner by Edward Hopper?”
Jack turned to face her. “Sure, I know it. That’s exactly what the director was going for. That sense of loneliness and Americana. Cool, man. You know a lot about art, huh?”
She smiled. “You could say that. I’m the one who did that watercolor of the Sojourner .” She pointed into the office, toward where the painting hung on the wall.
Jack’s mouth came open as he looked in at the painting. “No way, man. You did this? Oh, of course. You’re Frances Vaughn. Frances. Frankie.” He shook his head. “Dude, I’m an idiot. You’re amazing.”
Frankie laughed. “That’s very kind of you.”
“Do you still paint?”
“I do. Although it’s been a while. Most everything these days is done on my tablet using a graphics program. But I should do some physical stuff once in a while. Good to keep those skills in shape, too.”
“Do you do portraits?”
“People or pets?” She grinned. “Actually, it doesn’t matter. I can do either.”
“Yeah? Could you paint a portrait of my dad? I’d love to have one.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, man. I mean it.”
“Um, sure. I have a few commissions already lined up, but then we can certainly talk about it.”
He nodded at the watercolor. “Something about that size. What would you charge for that?”
Was he serious? She couldn’t tell. She bought herself some time. “I haven’t done a portrait that size in a while. I’d need to estimate my time and materials. Can I let you know tomorrow?”
“That’s cool.” He studied the painting. “I’d love a portrait of my dad to hang in my house. I have photos, you know? But a painting is something else. It’s like a deeper medium, man. It’s soulful .”
She nodded. “I agree. I’d be honored to do a portrait of your dad.” It would mean getting supplies. She had nothing. No paints, no brushes, no canvas, no easel, not a thing. But for Jack Marsh, she’d get what she needed. If he was serious.
“That’s good.” He smiled at her. “Give me a price as soon as you can. You want a deposit or something? Whatever, it’s cool. Just let me know.”
Something made her bold. “I will need a deposit. Especially because I’ll have to get paints and a canvas and all of that. But I’ll get you a number. Do you want watercolor? Or acrylic or oil? Pastels? What were you thinking?”
His eyes narrowed. “You’re the art expert. What do you think would best capture my dad? What do you feel most comfortable working with?”
She thought a moment, but she already knew the answer. “Your dad was a Renaissance man. He deserves oil.” Oil had been her first love, but the cost had made it prohibitive. “But that’s also the most expensive medium. I don’t know what you want to spend.”
“I don’t have a budget. I can afford whatever it costs.” He laughed. “Hopefully, that doesn’t mean you’re about to charge me a million dollars, but I feel like you’re good people, man. Your sister is, so you must be, too. And I just get that vibe from you, you know?”
She smiled. “Thank you. It won’t be a million dollars. I promise you that much. But maybe several thousand.”
“Sounds like a bargain. Or did you just mean the deposit?”
She hesitated, then shook her head. “I’ll get that price to you soon.”
“Cool. You know where to find me, man.” He slipped past her and went out the way he’d come in, crossing the breezeway back to the guest house.
She stood in the hall, watching him through the glass door, her heart racing slightly. Doing a commission for Jack Marsh might lead to bigger things. She had to do an amazing job. And she had to price the work correctly. Not too little, not too much.
But maybe just enough to pay off the rest of her divorce attorney’s fees. Now wouldn’t that be something?