Page 61 of The Rebel

As expected, Mom was running around the place, trying to do everything at once: arranging the paintings, checking the lighting, counting how many champagne glasses they had and if the bottles were chilled. It took a while for her to notice me as I stood at the entrance, watching her.

“Anthony! Did I know you were coming?”

“No. But I know how you are on days like this. You barely remember your own name, let alone to have lunch. I got you a muffuletta.”

“You’re a godsend,” she said. “I?—”

“Forgot to eat,” I finished for her.

She nodded, immediately unpacking it and sitting down on the table next to the champagne glasses. I rested against the edge of the table.

After taking a few bites, she sighed and relaxed a bit. “This is just what I needed. I can’t believe I get in a frenzy every time I’m presenting a new artist. After all, I’ve done this for so long.”

“It’s something new. It’s exhilarating every time. I don’t think it’s a bad thing.” I pointed to the muffuletta. “Just that you forget to eat.”

“Will you be here tonight?”

“Of course I will.”

She rarely asked the family to attend a gallery event. Usually, she did so only when she thought the artist was especially spectacular.

“How’s the music competition coming along?” Mom asked.

“It’s going great.”

“I’m so proud of you for setting that up. This city is full ofartists just waiting to be recognized. It’s the same with paintings.” She mostly represented paintings made by locals.

“I quite agree. You inspired me to start a jazz competition in the first place.”

“How so?”

“When I was sixteen, you asked my entire school to submit a painting. You spent weeks going over them.”

“I can’t believe you remember that. I loved doing it. I do it at Bella’s school, too, although it’ssomuch work.”

“I can definitely help you out.”

She tsked. “Anthony, you’ve got enough on your plate. Though I’m hearing that your new assistant is extremely efficient.”

I stopped mid-bite and glanced at Mom. I couldn’t tell if she was being genuine or fishing for information. That was alarming, because Mom was pretty easy to read, at least for me. “Yes, she is. Just this morning she went over to the festival by herself.”

“Hmm. I’m hearing that she’s very involved in the jazz competition as well. Julian said she was there with you on opening night.”

She was definitely fishing. “That’s right, but you know part of the job is shadowing me.”

“Yes, yes, of course. Did she enjoy your grandmothers’ perfume?” Mom went on when I didn’t offer anything more.

Bingo!That’swhat she wanted to know.

“Yes. I should probably call and thank them.”

“She already did that.”

“How do you know?”

“I live with your grandmothers, remember? We talk.A lot. But they didn’t tell me what made them think they should give her lilac.”

The corners of my mouth twitched. “And you’re hoping to get that from me?”