Page 59 of Love Among Vines

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

JADE

When she returned home, Jade wrapped glassine paper over her last canvas and slid it into the pizza delivery box.

Now that the explosion of inspiration had finally ebbed, her plan was to ambush the rep from her old gallery.

Even if she had to press them against the windows until someone deigned to look at them, she would find a way to get their eyes on her newest work.

And if they didn’t want it, she would figure out how to sell them online. Rett probably would have been helpful with such an endeavor, but she wasn’t about to ask him for help. Her stomach clenched at the thought. But she was strong and capable. She didn’t need anyone else but Penny.

She ducked out her front door, traipsing down the stairs to the familiar sidewalk. She hadn’t yet made her decision on the apartment. There were still a few days to think about it.

She swung open the door of the gallery and stepped into the familiar space. A woman at the desk looked up. Her fingers flew to her parted lips.

“Jade! It’s so good to see you. I’m sorry about the landscapes,” the woman said. There was a hesitancy in her words like she was wondering what the hell Jade was doing there.

Lyric, her old broker, hadn’t changed a bit since their last encounter. Cobalt blue bifocals perched on her nose. A loud statement necklace was draped over a simple black dress that was sure to be designer.

“I brought you something else. It’s okay if you don’t want them, but I had to try.”

Jade put the pizza delivery box on the counter and slid it towards Lyric.

Eyes wide, Lyric pulled out the first canvas and carefully unwrapped it.

“So there’s actually two series,” Jade said. “I brought you three of each. The first is pretty dark, lonely, brooding. The second is my favorite. The theme is ‘rebirth.’”

Lyric pulled out canvas after canvas, displaying them on the counter without comment. She pored over each of them, not speaking for several minutes.

Nerves twisted in Jade’s stomach. Maybe they didn’t have the promise she had thought. Maybe two years of no progress whatsoever showed more than anticipated.

Finally, Lyric whirled around. A pleased smile hovered on her lips. “You’re back. I knew it.”

Heat crept into Jade’s cheeks. She could have collapsed with relief. “Well, it was a long time coming.”

“These are incredible,” Lyric said. She turned back to the canvases again, seemingly taking in each detail.

“Incredible,” she repeated. “We’ll have to have a showing, of course.

I’m picturing two rooms. The first collection—the dark one—in the front room.

Then guests can transition through some greenery into the second room. ”

Lyric was an expert in creating atmosphere based on an artist’s theme, from coordinating scents to dramatic lighting and themed decor.

“I know you kind of hinted that you were low on cash,” Lyric said carefully. “Maybe sooner would be better?”

“As soon as you can,” Jade said. Even with the payment from the mural, an impending security deposit and first and last month’s rent in the metro area would undoubtedly drain her reserves.

“Let’s do it on Friday then.”

“This Friday?” Jade’s eyes widened. She had never had a showing on such short notice. “That’s in two days.”

“The artist we were supposed to have this weekend is sick.” She gestured to a number of canvases on the wall, all which featured abstract shapes in varying colors.

“That’s too bad,” Jade said, but she felt lighter than she had since coming back to the city. Maybe this was the universe’s way of making it up to her.

Her spine was tingling again. She needed to go home and paint.

“There will probably be more pieces coming. I’ll try to get them dry as soon as I can,” she said. “You’ll hold on to these?”

“I will protect them with my life,” Lyric whispered reverently. “We’ll start the advertising push today. I’m so happy you’re back, Jade.”

“Yeah. Me too.”

Jade left the gallery with a full heart and, for the first time in a long time, hope.

The evening of her first showing in two years, Jade paced nervously in her apartment.

True to her word, Lyric had put out a media push announcing Jade’s return to the art world.

She had put together a showing remarkably fast, and twenty pieces made up the roster.

It was nothing like any of Jade’s earlier shows—there wasn’t as much social commentary, just raw emotion and imagery.

Lyric had hinted that the number of RSVPs was very encouraging, but Jade shied away from the specifics. Tonight would make or break her.

It was her triumph, her comeback story. And with any luck, after tonight she wouldn’t have to worry about finances for a while.

She slid in a pair of dangling gemstone earrings. Her hair was swept back and bobby pinned in place, and a simple black dress adorned her figure. She paired it all with knee-high boots (mostly for warmth).

“Come on, Penny.” She whistled to the dog, who was wearing a bowtie collar and black tutu.

Lyric gave her artists a number of allowances, including bringing their pets with them for support. Penny was sure to knock over a buffet table or snatch an hors d’oeuvre out of someone’s hand, but at least Jade would have her furry companion there.

Maybe tonight would be an opportunity to make some new friends. Hell, maybe she’d even meet the future love of her life. Stranger things had happened.

Penny, at least, seemed to be happy to be back in the city. During their walk to the gallery, she ducked her head from side to side, dragging Jade all over the pavement.

Finally, after Jade had nearly face-planted thanks to Penny’s desire to chase an errant squirrel, they arrived at the gallery.

A crowd teemed inside, people filing around the space and staring at her paintings.

The light had been lowered, with beams of red and deep purple mood uplighting spaced evenly in the front room.

Golden light was just visible between the branches of some faux greenery at the back of the gallery.

There was no time to waste. People were more likely to buy if she schmoozed them first, and her future was riding on this showing.

With a deep breath, she flung the door open and stepped inside.

“Here she is!” Lyric’s voice rang out loud and clear in the gallery. People turned towards the door. A hush fell over the crowd, and classical music tinkled softly in the background.

Clapping broke out until the entire crowd applauded. Heat rose from deep within Jade. Between the nausea and embarrassment, she probably looked like a half-ripe tomato.

Penny’s nose was pressed to the floor. She tugged hard and disappeared into the crowd. Traitor.

Jade finally remembered to smile and waved sheepishly. Half a dozen people converged around her.

“Jade, tell us about your new collection.” Oh, this one had a voice recorder. Must be from some sort of publication.

She chatted and made small talk with a number of critics, potential buyers, and previous customers.

It was an overwhelmingly positive flood. People gushed over the juxtaposition of the dark and the light. For the first time, she even felt comfortable answering some overly personal questions—the inspiration behind the darkness, why she had disappeared for a number of years.

Someone tapped her on the shoulder, and she turned around, already mentally steeling herself for more small talk.

“Kenya! What are you doing here?” She leaned forward and was wrapped in Kenya’s sculpted arms.

“I was in town. Blake’s here too,” she said, pointing at the corner of the room.

Blake appeared to be chatting up a Wall Street-looking thirty-something with carefully slicked-back brown hair.

At least someone was meeting the love of their life tonight.

“We saw the announcement and had to come. I’m so happy everything worked out for you. ”

“Well, almost everything. Rett dumped me. Long story,” Jade said.

Kenya frowned. “You say the word and I will burn that winery to the ground.”

Jade laughed. “As fun as it would be to see you do some kind of prison bootcamp workouts, maybe we should avoid arson. Thank you so much for coming.”

“I’m buying one of the paintings in the back room. As a wedding present,” she added, flashing an engagement ring the size of a Kinder Egg under the mood lighting.

Jade grabbed her hand. “Are you kidding me? Hakeem proposed?”

Kenya nodded. “I hope you’ll come. We’re thinking next September.”

“Not in the Finger Lakes, right?” Jade teased.

Kenya laughed and shook her head. “Definitely not. Love it there, but it’s forever tainted for me after that shitshow.”

“I’m so happy for you,” Jade said, administering another hug. “Have you talked to Ashley?”

“A little. Apparently the divorce isn’t going well.”

Jade shook her head. As much as Ashley deserved to have her marriage fall apart, it didn’t bring Jade any pleasure.

“That’s a pity. Well, thank you again for coming, and for buying. Which one’s going home with you?”

“Karma,” Kenya said. “It’s perfect.”

“That’s one of my favorites,” Jade said with another smile. It made her heart glow to think of one of her creations nestled on Kenya’s walls in Los Angeles.

“Go schmooze,” Kenya ordered, pointing to the back room.

“Yes, Mom,” Jade said. She should probably figure out where Penny had disappeared to anyway.

When she stepped into the back room she had a split second view of a floral arch.

“ Surprise ,” someone shouted. Someone crashed into her, and something heavy sloshed between them. Was that a bag of wine?

She pulled back to find Tom, Cindy, Elena, Gemma, and Margie all crowded into the back room.

Her heart leapt into her throat. She hadn’t even told them about the showing. “What are you guys doing here?”

“We came to celebrate you, dummy,” Gemma said, throwing herself on Jade.