Page 19 of Second Chances
“Oh good! So, I hope this is possible but, I’d like to have the opening in three weeks. I have thirty pieces ready which are about ninety-five percent of the exhibit and I’d like to get the ball rolling.”
“Oh. Wow. Ok,” Beth responded, sounding shocked. “I mean, that’s not a problem on my end - a slight rush but nothing I haven’t dealt with. I’m just surprised you have all of the pieces ready already.”
“Yes, well a lot of them are older pieces that I’ve refused to sell until now; most from when I just moved to Europe and my first few months there,” Caro explained.
“Oh, I see. What made you decide to sell them now?” Beth asked, genuinely curious.
“Well, they represent a part of my life that I’ve moved on from and don’t want to hold on to anymore,” a degree of regret clear in her voice.
“I see,” Beth responded quietly, holding herself back from prying further as she walked around and pretended to examine the space further.
“Who am I kidding? You’ve seen my work,” Caro began with a small laugh. “Most of my original pieces were of men that I was in relationships with, if you could even call them that.”
“I see,” Beth repeated to herself, processing the information that Caroline had revealed. Thirty pieces meant thirty men. That was a lot of relationships in such a short amount of time.
“I see your brain working,” she began with a knowing smile, “yes, it’s a lot and yes, relationship probably wasn’t the right word to use. I was young and they were my muses and they knew that. It took me awhile to learn that to capture someone so intimately didn’t mean I had to intimately involve myself with them.”
“Do they know you drew them?” Beth asked, curiously.
“Oh, of course. It was part of the process; they werewellaware,” Caro answered. “What do you think I should title the exhibit though? Nothing I come up with seems to evoke the emotion that the pieces do.”
Beth thought for a moment before turning to face her and say, “The Art of the Lovers.”
Caro just stared at her for a moment, before she let loose that brilliant smile of hers, “That’s amazing! Oh, my God, I love it!” she exclaimed, hugging Beth out of gratitude. “Ok, so what do you need from me if this is going to happen in three weeks?”
“Any catering or general preferences you might have. Other than that, I would say about three photos of different pieces that I can release with the press so that guests will have an idea for the type of art; one of which will be for the official invite, and a list of any specific people you would like invited to the event - like certain family members or friends,” Beth replied, quickly thinking through the event in her head to make sure she didn’t need anything else from Caro at this point.
“Well, we may be on speaking terms now but I think inviting my family, aside from Charles, would be a bit of a stretch right now,” she said with a wry laugh, “I can email you all that info tomorrow and any other questions I have.”
“Great!” Beth exclaimed, checking her phone to see that it was almost four in the afternoon -Darcy should be getting home within the hour.She smiled mischievously to herself, deciding to welcome him home with a little surprise of her own.
“What’s that smile for?” Caro asked perceptively. “I know my art is great and all but I don’t think a gallery opening is putting that kind of anticipation on your face.”
Beth’s face flushed, caught in her dirty thoughts. “I, umm, just started seeing someone and he gets home from a business trip tonight…” she trailed off, wincing at her hesitant, lackluster explanation.
“Ahh, I see,” Caro replied with a knowing eye. “Who is the lucky guy?”
“Ahh, well, it’s kind of a secret for now. Wejuststarted dating and with my luck, I don’t want to jump the gun,” Beth responded sheepishly.
“Ok, ok, I can respect that. Well, if it’s less of a secret in three weeks, you are welcome to invite him to my opening - I’ll make sure to include ‘Beth’s secret boyfriend’ on the guest list,” she teased with a wink.
Beth laughed as they headed for the door. As much as she was enjoying Caro’s company, her mind - and her body - was eager to focus on someone else.
“Oh, Beth, before you jet off I just wanted to throw this idea out there since Jane isn’t here,” Caro interjected just as Beth was about to grab a cab, “I don’t know if you’ve thought about this yet but I wanted to offer up the townhouse I’m renting for Jane’s bridal shower. I thought it might be the least likely place for her to expect it at, unless you don’t think she’ll want it to be a surprise.”
“Oh, ok. Yeah, that might actually work out well. I know my mom has been working on the invitations; she wants to have it in two weeks - really trying to rush this whole wedding along.” Beth gave a short laugh, realizing just how close that date sounded right now. “We definitely want it to be a surprise for her though so that would work out really well. I would say tentatively yes, but I’ll talk with my mom and let you know for sure sometime this weekend.”
“Ok, great! Just thought I would offer - and anything else that you need or want help with for the party, let me know!” Another dazzling smile graced Caro’s face to accompany her generous offer.
Beth thanked her again and hopped in a cab back to Darcy’s. As they pulled away from the curb, Beth looked at Caroline and was taken aback, not just by how beautiful the woman was, but how there was something about her, something that was lurking just below the surface. Beth didn’t think it had anything to do with her or Jane, it was definitely something private and personal - almost as though she had a specific purpose for being here; she was here for something, and it wasn’t her brother’s engagement or the opportunity to showcase her art. It was something deeper and darker but she couldn’t put her finger on it.
Her curiosity vanished as the cab pulled up to the plaza and Beth speedily made her way to Darcy’s apartment.This time, she was taking control.
Chapter Seven
“Just breathe, Beth, just breathe,”she repeated over and over to herself.
She’d rushed home after her meeting with Caroline, praying that Darcy hadn’t made it there before her; she had a plan and having him beat her home would spoil it. His flight had landed half an hour ago, which meant that he could walk through the door any minute.
