Page 20 of Jeremy
“Iwas just taking my trash out.” With that, he stalks off, back to his house.
Thedude really might be unhinged. Every second he’s in my presence, he seemsdesperate to get away, as if being near me is torture, but then he doessomething nice like load my car.
TheLindon Way Art Gallery is housed in a moderate sized building downtown. Nervesset in when I park in their back lot, and I have to chuckle at myself. This wasthe world I lived in through most of my childhood. I was more comfortable amonggallery owners and artists than I was with other teenagers at the time. I grewup with this. The only time I used to be a mass of nerves was during my shows.It’s been a long time with too much isolation, and I just need to pull thebandage off quickly.
Ayoung man sits behind a small desk just inside the doors and barely glances upas he asks, “How can I help you?”
“Ihave an appointment with Penelope Vindel.”
“MissSanders.” A loud, cheerful voice calls. It’s connected to a tall, willowy womanwho must be in her sixties. Her silver streaked hair is pulled back into asevere bun, and her lips thin to near nothing as she smiles at me. “I’ve beenexpecting you. Thank you so much for coming.”
“Hi,please call me Melissa.”
“AndI’m Penelope. I can’t tell you how happy I am you’re considering displayingyour work in the Lindon Gallery. It’s created quite a buzz around here.”
“Thankyou for giving me the opportunity.” I glance around at the work on display.“Are you featuring Impressionist paintings?”
Penelopeflashes her incredibly white teeth. “Yes, these were done by J. Kollan. Are youfamiliar with him?”
“I’mafraid not. I’ve been away for a while, and I’m a little out of touch.”
Thequestions she knows not to ask blink across her forehead. They’re questions Iknow I’ll have to face, but I have no idea what I’ll say when the time comes.It’s fortunate that artists, by reputation, are often antisocial or evenreclusive so it’s often overlooked. But a prodigy who just disappears fornearly four years is bound to raise some eyebrows and set curious tongueswagging.
“Nomatter! Did you bring some work with you today?”
Sheleads me back to a comfortable lounge, and I take a seat on a small sofa. “Yes,it’s in my car.”
“Parkedin the back lot?”
“Yes,ma’am.”
Shepicks up the phone on the end table and presses a button. “Finn, please bringin the paintings from Ms. Sanders car. We’re in the lounge.”
Penelopeand I chat about my work and what I plan to create over the next few months. Ofcourse, some of that is hard to know. I don’t know what will draw my eye andpull me to the canvas.
“Doyou have a theme for your next exhibition?” I ask. Who knows if my work will evenfit in her planned shows?
“We’refeaturing abstract next month.”
“I’mafraid I don’t paint abstracts.”
Smilingat me, she nods. “We’re hoping to feature your work in January, as a separateexhibition. If it’s agreeable to you, we’d like to feature between eight andfifteen paintings.”
Wow.I used to have this kind of clout before, but I honestly thought I’d beenforgotten. I expected her to pick one or maybe two pieces to display. That Imight possibly sell a couple and feel like I’m really back to work was all Iwas hoping for. I didn’t expect my own exhibition.
“Fifteenmay be out of my reach,” I confess. “I’ve been painting, but not to thatextent.”
“Noproblem. We’ll have a look and decide together what will work.”
Theyoung man from the front desk walks in, carrying my canvasses, and leans themagainst the wall. “Anything else, Ms. Vindel?”
“No,thank you, Finn.”
Penelopestudies the hummingbird painting, then moves on to the lake scene. Her faceremains inscrutable until she gets to the painting of Jeremy. I have to admit,with the natural light striking it from the skylight, it’s intense.
“Thisone. It’s very different from your other work,” she murmurs. “Both from yourearly days and now.”
Ican’t tell if it’s criticism or what, so I remain silent as she studies it atlength. “The emotion leaps and grabs you by the throat, but I can’t nail downwhat he’s feeling. Sadness, certainly, and anger, but there’s a wistful, lostelement as well.”
