Page 210 of The Seven Rings
When they made their way inside, Linda, Kevin’s assistant manager, hurried over. “I’m glad you came early. Some came earlier. You’ve already sold a painting.”
“Really?”
“Sailing Pals. The wife/mom of the father and son on the sailboat came in with a couple of friends. Saw it. Recognized them and the boat. Sold!”
“Sprinkles!
Cleo laughed. “Is she still here? I’d love to meet her.”
“She is. I’ll take you over.”
“Go,” Owen told her. “We’ll hang for Trey. She’ll have them eating out of her hand,” he added to Sonya when Cleo went with Linda.
“She will. And it’s natural, genuine. I think I’m more excited than she is.”
“How about I get you a plastic cup of what’s bound to be cheap, crappy wine?”
“I’ll take it. I actually know some of these people.”
“Go, do the small-talk thing. I suck at it, which is also natural and genuine.”
She sipped crappy wine, made small talk. Eventually she reconnected with Trey, then his family.
“We can’t stay long.” Seth had the baby in a pack on his chest.
“We really can’t, but we wanted to at least come by. It’s wonderful. It just looks wonderful. Congratulations, Cleo.”
“Thanks. So does she, look wonderful.”
Owen tipped his head down toward Fiona’s. “Fe, Fi, Fo, Fum. Somebody has to say it.”
“And you would.” Corrine shook her head with a smile. “I ran into Clarice a minute ago. She’s down that way. I think you’ve got a sale, Cleo. The painting you must have done from an old photo of Poole Shipbuilders. One before they expanded.”
“I didn’t see that.”
“You don’t see everything,” Cleo told Owen. “Collin had several photos from the late eighteen hundreds.”
“Show me. Sorry,” he added when he grabbed her hand and pulled her away.
“I’d say it’s lucky for Clarice she got there first.” Ace beamed at the groups of people. “This is what we like to see, isn’t it, my own darling?”
“It is. And speaking of sales, Ace, I’ve found my anniversary present. That series there. The hydrangea, the wisteria, and the lily. I have just the place for them.”
“So she always says, and she’s never wrong. Let’s go find whoever’s dealing with the dealing.”
“And I’ve got my eye on another.”
Surprised, Corrine turned to Deuce. “You do?”
“I do. I know you’re the one who picks out art and so on, but I asked Kevin to hold one until I showed you.”
“No time like the present. Excuse us, this is a moment.”
“He showed me earlier. It’s the cove,” Trey said. “He proposed to her there.”
“Pirate’s Cove.” Sonya just sighed. “That’s so romantic.”
“Want some more crappy wine?” Trey asked her.
