Page 31 of Summer Fling (The Kingston Brothers #5)

Chapter Twenty

Blake

I was tired from teaching but also exhilarated to share my love of painting with so many people. I couldn't believe how many islanders had attended.

While I was impressed with the number of people who'd signed up for class, I hadn't anticipated that so many from the community would come out to support me. At Hazel's urging, I started a list of emails who were interested in hearing about future classes.

At the end of the event, Hazel and Brady helped me pack up. Then she handed me the clipboard. "This is the start of your email list."

I flipped through several sheets of names and emails. "What do I do with it?"

Hazel ticked off the items on her fingers. "You need to start a newsletter, a website, and social-media pages."

I looked up from the clipboard with dismay. "I talked to Saylor about creating a website, but not the rest of it."

"Your newsletter list will be a place for people to hear about your next class, but you can also send them tips for painting and recommendations for products. You can film videos of you painting and post them on social media," Hazel said.

I felt excited and scared at the same time. "Should I be doing all of that?"

Hazel grinned at Brady. "What do you think?"

Brady shifted his gaze from her to me. "You have something amazing here. You could do a lot with it."

"I have a feeling people will want to buy your work. So you might want to take some pictures of it and get them up on your website." Hazel nodded excitedly.

I held up a hand. "I don't even have a website yet."

As we were talking, Dalton appeared at my side. "I thought you talked to Saylor about getting one started."

My shoulders lowered. There seemed to be a ton of things I needed to do, and all of them were new to me. "Yeah, but we haven't done anything yet."

"You can offer classes outside of the library or community center where people pay you , maybe start a class for kids or teens or adults. Whatever you want and expand from there," Hazel said.

"I'm happy about the turnout today, but how do I know if it will continue? What if this is just something new for people and they lose interest?"

Dalton picked up a few easels but didn't answer my question. I wanted to know what he thought.

Brady grabbed a stack of easels too. "I think you have something special going."

When they walked out, I asked Hazel, "Brady is just being nice. He doesn't really believe I could make this is a sustainable business."

Hazel gave me a look. "You remember that guy who used to paint on TV? We used to watch him in art class."

"Bob Ross. Of course I know him." I loved watching his shows. They were how I learned to do backgrounds so well."

A smile spread over her face. "You're the new Bob Ross."

"Now I know you're being crazy." I turned away from her and began packing a bag with the blank canvases, brushes, and paints.

She sobered. "I'm being serious. I think you could post short videos online and eventually start a subscription service or a course or something. The possibilities are endless."

"I wanted to teach art, but I thought it would be in person." I enjoyed that connection.

"You can still do that, but you can reach more people online. Think of the sheer number of people you could touch this way."

I shook my head even as I imagined connecting with more people. "It sounds completely crazy."

"Keep that email list, get your website going, and plan your next step.

I think the problem is going to be that you'll need to expand faster than you're ready for.

This could explode on you if you're not careful.

Get everything set up, schedule your next in-person class, and start doing short videos on social media.

Build interest, then settle on one offer.

Whether it's a subscription service, an online course, or just a series of in-person classes. See how that goes."

I shook my head as Dalton and Brady returned. "I think y'all are crazy."

"The online space is booming. I've seen art kits for kids, but no one is teaching like you are. What you're doing is unique," Hazel insisted as we carried bags outside to Dalton’s truck.

She and Brady bounced ideas off each other, each one crazier than the last. They talked about me selling prints and merchandise, but the money would be in online classes or subscriptions.

I couldn't imagine filming myself and sharing it with the world. It was beyond scary.

On the drive home, Dalton was quiet.

I shifted so I could see him better. "You think they're crazy, right?"

Dalton looked over at me. "You mean Brady and Hazel?"

"Yeah, all that talk about me being the next Bob Ross and how people will pay to listen to me talk even if they're not painting."

"I think I missed that, but yeah I could see it."

I appreciated the support, but it still seemed impossible. They were just being nice. They didn't really think I could make a living online. "I thought I'd conduct classes in person. Make those personal connections."

His jaw was tight. "You should probably go back and get your degree. That way you have the credentials to back everything up. You won't just be a social-media influencer then."

"I'm so overwhelmed with everything Hazel said; I haven't even thought about the degree." I'd need to make a decision soon though. "Is that what you think I should do?"

"You want to do this right, and you've always wanted the degree," Dalton said dismissively.

This morning, he'd been so positive and supportive, but now he was closed off.

"That's what my parents want. This break was to see if that's what I wanted too, and I'm not sure."

"Don't you want to make your parents proud?"

"Of course." I couldn't understand why Dalton was acting like this. I was conflicted and wanted to do what I wanted to do, not blindly follow my parents' wishes. How could Dalton have known me for this long and not know that simple thing about me?

Maybe I was expecting him to be too self-aware. Not everyone had a background in psychology like I did. I should give him the benefit of the doubt.

"This was a great start. You know people love your art classes. But you should make sure you have your education first, before you do anything else."

I frowned, not sure that's what I wanted.

Even though I thought Hazel and Brady sounded a little crazy, I was curious about what they said.

Could I do little videos, telling anyone who wanted to listen how to paint?

Could I share my love for painting with the world?

Touch even more people than I ever thought?

Sure, I could wait and get a degree, but was that what I wanted to do? I'd have to spend more money, go back and get another master's. That path seemed so slow. But I'd felt excited and happy, even a little scared, listening to Hazel describe the next steps.

I'd think about what Dalton said, but I'd start that website with Saylor, maybe do another class, a few videos, and just see what happened. I wished I had Dalton's support, but this felt like the right thing to do.

Everything inside me told me I should pursue this, and I dreaded the very idea of going back to school.

Would people check my credentials? Would people trust me more if I was an official art therapist?

That was probably true. But in the social-media world, a lot of people did things they weren't technically experts in. You didn't need a degree to paint.

But the good girl inside me was receptive to the idea of doing the right thing. My parents would be ecstatic if I went back to school. And it was obviously what Dalton wanted.

Then a scary thought struck me—what if Dalton wanted me to leave so he didn't have to officially break up with me? What if our relationship had run its course?

My chest tightened at the idea.

Dalton's phone rang through the speakers of the truck, the display indicating it was Ashton. Dalton pressed the button to take the call.

"Hello."

"Dalton, glad I caught you. I was stuck in a jury trial most of the week, but I wanted to let you know that Oakley's' attorney reached out to schedule a mediation."

Dalton glanced over at me. "That's a good thing, right?"

"It could be if she's coming to the table willing to negotiate, and she's not using it to steamroll you or to make impossible demands. If no deal is reached, the court will schedule a trial."

"I'd like to avoid that if all possible."

"We can't control Oakley or her willingness to settle. It will take compromise from both of you. Did you want to move forward with scheduling it? I'd like to get it done as soon as possible."

"Let's do it. I can take off whenever. Don't worry about me."

"You'll need to bring your girlfriend with you, and if you could make her your fiancée before the mediation, that will help make you look like a nice, stable option in front of the mediator.

These mediators are supposed to be neutral, but it's human nature to be swayed by things like a fiancée or a wife.

We want you to look like a reasonable guy who just wants the best for your daughter, and Oakley will look over-the-top if she tries half of the stuff in the meeting that she does with you. "

My mind was reeling with the reminder that this relationship was supposed to be fake. How much of it was real? Was all of this a ruse for him? An elaborate play to get what he wanted out of his custody case?

"You want me to propose to my girlfriend?" Dalton asked carefully.

I felt a little lightheaded. The fact that the relationship seemed real made me forget that it wasn't. I didn't feel like I was lying to his friends and family, but this was so much worse. He wanted us to pretend to be engaged.

"Remember we talked about this. You needed a girlfriend to keep Oakley from complaining about you having a live-in nanny around her kid. Now you need to be engaged so that you come across as stable in front of the mediator."