Page 27 of The Artist's Rival

Saying her goodbyes at the doorstep, Ellie feels somewhat confident in what steps she should take, grateful for allowing Fred to express his opinion.

“Talk to you soon,” he says, turning to go. “Really—talk to her,” he adds.

“Will do,” she smiles and softly closes the door behind him. Once alone, she knows it’s time to set up the dreaded date. I can’t even call these dinners dates, she thinks as she shakes her head.

As if willed by fate, her phone rings.

“Hey Ellie,” Tatiana says seemingly out of breath.

“Hey, are you alright?”

“Yes! I’ve been swimming. I have a question. Do you have teal paint?”

“Yes… What do you need it for?”

“I want to make the house you sketched—you know the one?”

“The Italian one?” Ellie shifts uncomfortably. This was the most difficult sketch to let go of, but Tatiana insisted she could make it beautiful. The house used to belong to Ellie’s grandparents, originally coming from Italy. She visited it last summer.

“Yeah, I want to make the palette colder, more blue.”

Ellie holds her breath in. She always imagined painting the house in a warm, nostalgic palette. Ideally making its shadows soft, enveloping, sweet.

“But why blue?” she asks, carefully.

“Well… I can tell you about it later, just drop me off the paint sometime?”

Ellie holds onto the phone, nervous.

“Listen, Tatiana, actually—I meant to ask you…”

“Ask me what?” Tatiana’s voice conveys a smile, a smile very familiar to Ellie.

“Ask you out to dinner. When are you available?”

“Probably tomorrow evening, if you want?” Tatiana offers.

–

Tomorrow evening came much too soon in Ellie’s opinion, leaving her with no time to consider clothes, much less the words she’d like to say. This whole affair muddled her thoughts of herself, always thinking herself very open and clear with relationships. She recognizes that she’s a mature woman, reasonably expecting a serious relationship instead of some fling, she keeps reasoning in front of her mirror. Nothing comes together well, so she follows an old piece of advice she once read in some magazine or other: Difficult conversation? Wear something tried already! Difficult dinners are no time to experiment.

She settles on her elegant black dress and earrings in the shape of golden drops. She wants to look respectable and decisive but not intimidating. As if Tatiana would be intimidated. She laughs. The restaurant they chose, a beautiful place resembling one straight out of Paris, is located conveniently close to her house, only some ten minutes by car.

She sprays on her favorite perfume, citrus and bold, perhaps only slightly too richly, and leaves the apartment. Then needs to go back for her car keys and leave again.

The whole way to the restaurant she’s chewing on the words she will have to say, one way or another. She’s certain she could get fed on these words alone, their weight fills up her throat and stomach. The traffic jam only worsens her mood; she’s now worried about being late as well. Tatiana messages about her own delay, asking whether Ellie will be on time to receive their reserved table.

Of course Ellie will be on time.

–

Finally sitting, Ellie feels like a fool. The elegant restaurant guests sit coupled by dimly lit tables, swift waiters pour expensive wine, glancing at her now and then questioningly. She rolls her eyes apologetically, not knowing what else to do. The delay has spun into fifteen minutes already, and Ellie begins to feel angry.

Tatiana is always late. Always messy. Does Ellie want to be with someone so disorganised?

Finally, the door opens and Tatiana rushes to the table. Her dress catches the delicate sparkling of candles, making her silhouette acquire an almost magical quality. The material wraps her body in elaborate ways, making Ellie’s gaze slide around Tatiana’s waist, tightly embraced by the fabric. Her necklace sits atop her collarbones with a dignified grace, and looking at Tatiana like this with her shimmering red hair pinned up off her face, Ellie doesn’t even remember she was mad.

Tatiana is so beautiful, it is all Ellie can see.

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