Page 145 of Play On

“Violet, I’m going to have to kiss you to make you shut up,” he teases.

As his mouth finds mine, I kiss the man who has brightened my world. Made me believe in myself. Given me courage and caused me to see myself in an entirely new light.

And Daddy Darby will always be my Saucy Shorts.

The man I love.

Epilogue

December

The Harlowe June Gallery, London

“I’m so nervous,” I tell Noah as I walk around the art gallery and do what seems like my thousandth inspection of each piece of the Bloom exhibition of paintings and prints that is opening tonight at the Harlow June Gallery in Soho. “I just want everything to be perfect.”

Noah puts his hands on my shoulders and holds me in place. “Violet. Breathe.”

I follow his instructions and take a deep breath of air. Then I exhale slowly.

“This exhibition is amazing. I’ve heard the gallery director tell that to you. She had enough faith to let you put on your own small exhibition as soon as you started, so trust me when I say it’s brilliant.”

I stare into his deep brown eyes and feel nothing but comfort as I look back at him. Because I see nothing but belief in me in his intense gaze.

“I believe you. And this is happening all because of you, Noah,” I say, nodding. “None of this happens without your belief in me.”

It’s true. It was Noah’s belief in me that caused me to believe in myself. That I could be brave enough to fail—and by doing so,be brave enough to take a chance on finding a career that I was passionate about.

And I found it here at the Harlowe June Gallery as a gallery assistant.

“No,” Noah says firmly. “You did this. You got the introduction from Amelia’s mum, but the rest of it—making an impression in that interview, then showing what you could do here—that was all you, Violet. And I’m so proud of you.”

I think back to the summer. Lady Sarah connected me with Winter Fielding, the gallery director. When I did the research for the gallery, my heart knew it was a perfect fit. This gallery focuses on art from the Renaissance period to the sixties, and so much of that interlaces with the art that I love so much in my family’s home. When I met with Winter in August, I was nervous, of course—because there was no way to get around my lack of experience on my CV—but I answered that honestly. I talked about the art at Wintersmith Hall, what compelled me to select specific pieces as my favourites, what I hoped to offer a gallery that gave me a chance to learn and prove myself.

This is the result. I organised this entire show on my own—in a very tight time frame—and tonight is the culmination of all that work.

My first exhibition.

My dad never gave me a chance to do an event at Wintersmith Hall, despite Noah’s heartfelt plea for them to do so.

But as it turns out, I didn’t need it.

All I needed was to believe in myself and to convince someone to give me a chance.

And I did exactly that.

“I love you so much,” I tell Noah softly.

He smiles gently at me. “I love you, too.”

I still can’t believe how much my life has changed since I started seeing Noah. I got the job here at Harlowe June in August and moved to London straight away. I thought I would be living in my family’s flat—which I did for a month—but then Jules ended up taking a job in Scotland and moved out of Aimee’s flat.

I moved in.

And it’s the best move I could have made. We are truly each other’s best friend, and we enjoy living together.

Well, when I’m there, that is.

I have to admit, I spend a lot of time in Surrey. So much so that I have my own wardrobe in Noah’s home. He still hasn’t changed his mind about me staying there when he’s travelling, but I’m working on it.

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