Chapter 38
Thirty-Eight
FEbrUARY THE FOLLOWING YEAR
Calliope Thorne
Contemporary and award-winning multi-media artist based in the south-west.
(Taken from South West Art and Cultural Life Magazine, ‘Top Ten Creatives: Ones to Watch’)
Callie sat in her new office in the Art School. Happiness and contentment filled her until she felt like a helium balloon about to float away.
After giving her notice at school, everything had sprung into action at a speed which took her breath away.
Frida started at university and was loving it.
The little Victorian house in Worcester was under offer from a student landlord and she and Johnny had found as much time as they could to spend together, either in Worcester or Stratford.
At the end of the autumn term, she’d moved into Sea Haven House. Frida decided to spend the holidays with Sunil so Callie and Johnny had spent Christmas closeted together. In the new year, Johnny hadn’t moved out.
Callie thought it should seem too early to commit to living together but it had actually seemed the most natural thing in the world.
They were careful to give each other space and she’d adjusted with remarkable speed to having a man around.
Frida’s time with Sunil’s family, although fraught at times, was developing positively.
Frida had accepted a possible reconciliation with Callie’s parents and brother with aplomb.
‘We can go-see and if we hate them all, we don’t have to have anything to do with them, do we?
’ she’d said. ‘Chill out, Mum. We’ve managed without them all this time, it’s no biggie if they’re still horrible.
’ Her eyes had gleamed. ‘But I’m dead nosey to see what they’re like! ’
It had turned out to be a testing afternoon and not one Callie wanted to repeat too soon. But they were back on speaking terms at least. Sam had even suggested they all get together when he was next on holiday in Dorset.
Donna had taken news of the move badly. Callie had been wracked with guilt when telling her. Her friend had sulked for weeks but there were signs she was gradually coming round. She’d even admitted, grudgingly, it could be handy having friends living in a gorgeous seaside town.
Once Donna had met Johnny, she’d warmed up a little. Callie assured her that, despite her new friends in Lullbury Bay and Johnny’s sister and baby nearby, Donna would always be her bestie.
In between all the change, Callie had managed several visits to Adya’s gallery and was trying very hard to lose the imposter syndrome every time she saw her work displayed. Two paintings had already sold and for eye-watering amounts.
And this afternoon she was about to give her first class in abstract multi-media painting in the Art School. She couldn’t wait. At the knock on her office door, she looked up to see Johnny’s face peering round.
‘Won’t stay. Don’t want to get in your hair.’ He brandished a bunch of daffodils. ‘These are to wish you good luck. Not that you need it.’ Coming over, he kissed her soundly. ‘Good luck, Calliope, my darling. The card’s from the clan Starling.’ He grinned. ‘They all insisted on signing it.’
‘Oh, they’re lovely. And so is your family.’ Putting the flowers and card gently on her desk, she rose and slipped her arms around his waist, kissing him. ‘Thank you. How’s the book going?’ Johnny had begun a memoir based on his experiences as a foreign correspondent.
‘Had a really good morning,’ he said. ‘What we discussed last night helped, my Calliope muse.’ He kissed her again.
‘Oh, and I’ve booked a table at The Old School Kitchen for tonight.
’ Keeping her close, he added, ‘Thought we’d celebrate you selling another painting.
Adya left a message on the answerphone. Said she couldn’t get through to your mobile. ’
‘I’ve sold another?’ Callie tried not to sound smug and failed. ‘I’ve been working in the studio all morning. I switched my phone off so I could concentrate.’
Johnny rubbed noses with her. ‘I’m so proud of you.’
‘I know. Listen to myself. Painting in a studio, selling work in a London gallery. Get me!’
He laughed. ‘I think you’re working harder than ever.’
She pushed him away a little so as to see his face better. ‘I am – but the difference is I’m doing it for myself and loving it.’ Tenderly, she traced the fading scar on the bridge of his nose and gazed into his eyes.
‘You know you can do anything you want, don’t you?’ He said it often.
‘I can, with you at my side.’
‘You don’t need me.’
‘I don’t need you, but I want you. I don’t want to do it all by myself anymore.’
‘Neither do I. And we don’t have to. We’re a team, my love.’
‘We make a great team.’ She nodded to the flowers.
‘And thank you for the luck, but with you in my life, I’m not sure I need it.
I’ve got everything I want right here. Right now.
I feel I can do anything.’ She threw her arms around his neck and pulled him to her.
‘Oh, Johnny, it took a while to find you but I’m so glad I have.
I love you, Johnny Starling.’ She kissed him with all the love she had.
‘Right back at you, Calliope. I love you, too. With all my heart.’ And, with that, he kissed her back.