Chapter 11 #3
She made a quick trip to the bathroom. She reapplied her lipstick, staring at her reflection.
She touched a strand of dirty blonde hair, remembering the chill Michael had sent through her earlier.
It was almost nine o’clock; the final time for bids.
She hurried to check on her bid. The tables were busy with people but she managed to squeeze in.
She couldn’t believe what she saw; Albert Walkin had just bided $10,000. It was crazy; maybe it was a typo, he was definitely a family member of some sort, she rationalized. This was great for the show, she realized. Beaming, she turned around to face Michael.
“There you are, finally.”
Finally.
“I’m sorry. Everyone had their hooks into me.”
“Can you believe this? This guy just bid $10,000 on Sacha’s piece.”
He leaned over to look at the sheet.
“Oh yes. I know that guy,” he said with a suspicious laugh.
She looked at him perplexed for a second or two. Looking at his mischievous smile, she got it.
“Albert Walkin is you, isn’t it?”
He nodded, smiling.
“You jerk,” she teased. “How could you? I had my sights on you all night,” she explained.
“I’m sneaky that way,” he joked.
“You love to mess with me, don’t you?”
“I do. I really do,” he said, laughing.
“I really wanted to bid on this.”
“I know. I got it for you.”
She rolled her eyes. “But I wanted to bid on something, myself.”
“You still have five minutes. Go and bid on something for me,” he urged.
She ran off on a mission.
“I love trees,” he yelled out.
She bid on a drawing of a lone orange tree set against a deep blue sky, created by a ten year old boy named Christian. The initial bid was low but she bid three hundred dollars, nevertheless. She didn’t know Christian personally but she was glad to contribute.
As people finally started to leave, Michael finally got a hold of Angela.
“Did you buy me a painting?” he asked.
“I did.”
“Can’t wait to see it.”
“I can give it to you soon, after we get all this stuff cleaned up.”
“Your work has just begun,” he noted with a sigh.
“Unfortunately”
“Well, do you have a second to talk?” he asked, anxious.
“I do.” She took him to the kitchen area where they could have a little privacy.
“I wanted to tell you, I took your advice,” he said as he leaned against the counter.
“What advice?”
“I called my ex and had a little talk with her.”
“That’s great!” she said, truly pleased.
“I had to play a little hard ball but I got what I wanted. What I didn’t even know I wanted until you made me realize it.”
“Oh, I didn’t-”
“She didn’t want to get lawyers involved, and I didn’t either. I’ve got them for two weeks soon and one weekend a month after that,” he told her, beaming.
“I’m so happy for you,” she said with a warm smile.
They stared at each other for a few seconds and then, not being able to resist, he took her hand and drew her closer to him.
“I can’t stop thinking about you,” he told her, the steel blue of his eyes as intense as she had ever seen them. She felt a heat at her core.
“I know it’s too early for you. I know you just broke it off with Robert but I—”
“How did you know that?” She took a small step back.
“Well...your friend Krysta told me.” He didn’t want to betray Krysta’s trust but he also wanted to be honest with Angela.
“She told me how miserable you’ve been – and she was sure it wasn’t about Robert.”
Angela was speechless.
“I don’t really want to go from one man’s arms and jump right into someone else’s,” she explained.
“You still feel guilty about us?”
“Well, this break-up wasn’t just about you,” she told him bluntly.
“Oh.”
“He was seeing someone.”
“I see.”
“But...it was about us too,” she confessed.
“I know you need some time,” he told her. She looked at him and was so drawn to him. She stood on the tip of her toes and reached to kiss him but was suddenly interrupted.
“Oh...I’m sorry,” Beth said, suddenly realizing she had walked in on a private moment.
“It’s ok, Mrs. Davidson,” Angela assured her.
“I was wondering if you wanted me to start cleaning up the food and drink tables.”
“Sure. Yes, we should get started on that. I’ll help you.”
She looked at Michael, yearning for him.
“I should get going,” he told her. “Unless, you ladies need some help,” he offered.
“No. No. We’re fine,” Angela told him.
“You’re ok to get home tonight?” he asked; almost an invitation.
“I’m fine.” She smiled. “Thank you.”
As Angela helped Beth clean the food and drink tables, a passion suddenly took her over.
Who cared what was proper. What if she had just gotten out of a relationship; she loved him.
She wanted him. She imagined herself making love to him, his tender passionate touch.
She decided that after she was done with the clean-up, she would drive to his house and tell him she wanted him.
It seemed bold, and she wasn’t sure she could pull it off, but she would certainly try.
Michael sat in his car, looking into the distance at the lights flickering on the buildings.
He was not ready to leave. Most of the cars had made their way out already; just a few were lagging behind.
He was waiting for her. He knew she had wanted to kiss him before they were interrupted and - he was going to get that kiss.