The Letter

Chapter 8

After the bus took off and I had again assured Kelley’s parents that she would be ok, I headed to the gallery. I was supposed to be going to New York next week and wanted to clear my desk off before going.  I hoped that perhaps the artist and I would be able to come up with some sort of agreement beforehand and I wouldn’t have to go. He was being an ass and was being difficult because he could. If he were not so brilliant, I would say screw it and ax him from the show. Unfortunately, he knew that probably wouldn’t happen because he was in such demand and took that as a pass to be a complete ass. At least I would make money off the show if I didn’t end up killing him first. He questioned every decision that I made until finally I told him that if he wanted things done his way, he should open a gallery and do so. I had heard all about his antics from other curators and until he was called on it, he continued. After telling him that, I hung up on him. The trip was still on but I hoped after he had a couple days to think, he would realize that he knew how to paint and I knew how to sell paintings and we should both just do what we do well.

Alice and I were meeting for lunch at The Planet while Dana gave lessons at the club so I had some time to get work done. In between the drinking and gossiping the previous night, we had made the plans but in seeing her this morning, she was probably still at my house sleeping. I was impressed that she had gotten up to say goodbye to the girls. I would have to thank Dana because left to her devices, Alice wouldn’t have moved. Helena was leaving for Europe later in the day and Shane, there was just no telling so lunch was not a sure thing. I left a couple different notes for James to follow up with things on Monday but I finished quickly with what I needed to do.

The first couple days with the girls gone were always hard for me. I was so used to having to be available for them that to have time for myself was strange. It was too early to meet Alice and I really didn’t want to go home. If she were still there, that would be great but if she were gone, then it would just be me in a lonely house. Instead of heading to The Planet and hanging out with Kit, I went to a piano store and looked at the different models. Lyss was in need of one. I had waited to see if her interest waned and it hadn’t. Kit was teaching her but she was going to need lessons as her interests seemed to center around classical music rather than modern music that Kit was familiar with. Lyss would often ask me to put one of my cd’s in and sit with me as we listened. If I wanted Em out of the room, that was the quickest way for her to leave. Lyss though, was different. She was mesmerized by the calming music and intrigued by the stories behind the composers. I surely wasn’t planning on buying anything today but I did pick up some brochures to go over with Kit so that I would be able to make a somewhat informed decision. I wasn’t even sure where we would put a piano but we would figure it out. Her interests needed to be given the same opportunities that Emma’s were given even if it didn’t come as easily to me.