Ember
After Bas leaves, I start to sort which paintings are personal, which are undecided and those that can definitely go.
I’m just looking through a pile that I’m not sure whether to just chuck on the bonfire, as I don’t know if I like them, when Matt storms in and makes me squeak, as he’s not normally one for storming and raising his voice.
“The client's contract states they do all artwork….. that is not for you to decide, just because you think you can do better, which you will fail at, print the art that was supplied I will be passing this hiccup onto Clark and Mr Prince”, he hangs up the phone swearing a bunch in Spanish, he eventually flops on one of my chairs, running his hand over his face and hair, closing his eyes he takes some deep breaths when his breathing is calm I speak.
“If you need a distraction, those are unsure, those are sell, and these are burn or not,” I say, pointing to each section. I see him send a text, then he snorts at me,
“I know your job isn’t my artwork, but I also trust your judgement,”
I say, carrying a few more things over to the sell pile, I got my stuff from storage delivered, so all my high school and college pieces are here. I may do a few extras for the show, but looking at the stack, I don’t need to.
“It’s okay. You're right, I need a distraction, what are these?” I glance over at his words.
“They’re sketches or pieces that would need frames”, he hums, fires off another text, then starts to split the two piles. Miles, Kodi, and Nate walk in shortly after, the former two looking at the canvases dotted around,
“What’s happened now? I briefly read your text before Clark rang and ranted,” Matt tells Nate to meet him at his office, then turns to Kodi and Miles,
“These all need to be framed for Ember's upcoming art show because of the rustic-ness of some of her art. Reclaimed wood frames would look amazing, same as displaying some of the canvases on wooden ladders rather than easels. Can I leave that with you guys while she finishes sorting? Miles, you also need to decide if you want any for the house” Matt kisses my crown and drops a peck on Miles’ lips, as he heads off. Kodi picks up a thin canvas.
“Do some of these need frames? This would look good with a driftwood surround.” I glance at the canvas, it’s a painting I did of a beach I lived near, I left off the beer bottles and discarded needles and added a northern lights-type sky and some mermaid tales.
“Yeah, sure, there are some Post-it notes on that table if you guys want to mark what’s happening to stuff,” Kodi asks if he can steal a scrap of paper, then grabs some Post-its and makes notes on sizes and types of wood.
“Is Mateo okay?” Miles looks worried,
“Yeah, the artist at the publishers decided his art was better than mine and ignored that my contract states I do my own artwork,” I shrug, and we share an eye roll before he starts looking through what needs framing.
Alma brings lunch through and shortly after Kodi and Miles head of to the local salvage yard, the place is apparently an Aladdin’s cave as they collect unwanted furniture or if someone dies with no will they empty the house, some items are tarted up and resold others are there so people can do the tarting themselves, I give Kodi a list of things I want for the new house and neither question it, I decide to curl up in one of the old arm chairs and start doing the preliminary sketches for Lily’s new club, she’s opening a pleasure bar, humans will see it as a BDSM club members only, but it’s mainly aimed at incubi and succubae as a safe space to feed, she is having a heaven and hell theme, but wants some same sex couples and groups not just male-female which other artist tried to push on her, she also wants a huge one done of the main Doms, Dames and Subs.
I will have to meet them to get a fair likeness; a photo doesn’t show mannerisms. I’m actually wondering if it would be easier to do it on the wall at the club rather than on a canvas.
I feel I’m not alone and look up to see Rhett staring at the Canvas I did of Dan and Elise,
“You can touch but use the backs of your fingers, not the pads, as you will melt the wax,” I say, not moving but acknowledging he’s here. I can see him startle, not expecting me to notice him, it’s then I notice River hovering in the hall, obviously not trusting him to be alone with me,
“I’m guessing the talk you wanted with me wasn’t a reminiscence,” I nudge, wanting this conversation over.
“What do you plan to do with your inheritance and the items Dan left you?” I see Uncle Nic and Liam walk in, both annoyed and on guard,
“Not that it’s any of your business, the items I was left were Dan and Elise’s PERSONAL items minus a few books that have been put in the family vault, the same with the money and properties, none are from the family name, just theirs so what I do or don’t do with the items, money and properties is of no matter to you,” I stare at him holding his eye, I’m not scared of him, he is of the family but from Dan’s record he only has 122 gold scales,
“BUT I plan to live off the interest of the money, donate some of the larger buildings to charity organisations, most are already rented out to one thing or another anyway, with the charities Dan and Elise set up themselves, two of the largest buildings are schools that work with orphans and have scholarship funds to get into higher education,”
I still can’t work out what he’s after, but thankfully, Uncle Nic steps in.
“Any of her financial questions should go through her father or me if he is deployed before she turns eighteen, or Ignatious Salvatore as the estate lawyer,” I see a flash of fear go through Rhett's eyes,
“Is this being sold at your art show, I heard mentioned?” I shake my head.
“Pity” Then he strides from the room, followed by a guarded and scowling Uncle Nic,
“He will be the last to leave! May I?” Liam glances around, and I chuckle.
“Like I could stop you” his smile is akin to a child in a candy shop; he goes around oohing and arrrring and muttering, then adding Post-it notes. He stops at my Wax Dragon,
“Would you be willing to do something similar but less personal?”
I smile at him as he takes a step back.
“Maybe smaller, humans don’t have as large walls to fill nowadays, which is a shame, large pieces always felt more satisfying,” he gets a far-off look for a short time before looking at me,
“I’ve ordered some more wax. I plan to do three smaller ones for the show once it arrives,” he says, pleased with the answer.
He then plops down in the chair beside me, grabbing a sketch pad and watercolour pencils, and we both work in silence until we are called for dinner.
“It's been ages since I have just done it for fun rather than to teach or commission” he doesn’t seem sad, but he does seem more relaxed than he has been.
“Liam, not that I don’t enjoy your company, but do you plan to open your own house here, or are you moving in permanently?” Uncle Nic asks as we enter the dining room, and Liam turns in mock upset, ‘Ah, there is my dramatic art teacher’,
“Before Liam starts down a Shakespearean drama scene, we are closing up and opening here, but we are waiting on their schedule as we moved it forward ten years”, Nate answers, shaking his head at Liam.