Johnnie entered the large art gallery with her nerves on edge. People milled about everywhere, walking, talking, looking, and seeking. The show was a success; she could tell by the number of pieces with orange stickers stuck to the description plate. Most were already sold. And the number of people, it was overwhelming.
Johnnie looked behind her and found Jolene hesitating at the door. She grabbed her hand and then tucked her hand into her arm. They walked side by side, weaving between people.
“Johnnie!” She turned and Eddie hurried up to her, two glasses of champagne in hand. “You little shit, this place is hopping.” He handed over the glasses and leaned in to kiss Jolene on the cheek.
Johnnie wanted to smile, to be happy, but she was disappointed. Elaine had said she couldn’t make it. That she needed to meet a client out of town. Johnnie hadn’t argued even though it was so unusual for Elaine to say anything of the sort. She never mentioned meeting clients out of town before. But Johnnie tried not to worry. All things being said, their relationship was going really well. Johnnie spent most nights at her place even though she’d run Gail out of her place weeks ago and changed the locks. She’d heard Gail was back in Costa Rica so she didn’t really worry about it anymore. And as for Monica, she never spoke to her again once Eddie had made it clear that Johnnie was in love with Elaine. That and he had threatened her with her life to leave Johnnie alone to be happy.
Johnnie looked around and smiled, trying to enjoy it. Her paintings hung everywhere.
“Your big one sold,” Eddie said.
“You’re kidding.”
They followed him through a maze.
“And so did the nude of Elaine.”
Johnnie couldn’t believe it. She’d worked so hard, and tonight was the fruit of all that work. And it seemed to be a great success.
“Who bought it?” Johnnie asked.
Eddie shrugged. “Who cares? I want to know who bought your tree.”
They came to a stop at the head of an aisle.
Eddie stepped aside, and Elaine came into view. She was standing next to the large canvas of the tree. The one Johnnie had painted during the bottoms. She looked to Eddie who shrugged and grinned. She looked to Jolene who grinned as well.
Her cell phone rang. Johnnie answered, looking at Elaine who was holding her phone to her ear.
“Hello.”
“Just walk to me,” she said. “Pretend no one else is here. Just me.”
“I don’t know if I can,” Johnnie said.
“You can. I know you can. Come to me,” Elaine said. She was wearing a little black dress and matching heels. She looked drop-dead gorgeous with her shining black hair falling to her shoulders, contrasting with her red lips.
Johnnie pushed out a breath. She took a step. Jolene released her.
“Go to her,” she said.
Johnnie kept the phone to her ear. She walked slowly. People crossed in front of her. The DJ’s music played. Her name was lit up in neon. She ignored it all and kept stepping.
“Come to me, Johnnie,” Elaine said.
Johnnie sped up. The tree was lit up in lights, and Elaine was directly in front of it, spotlighted. Johnnie approached and let out a long-held breath.
“I made it,” she said into the phone.
Elaine smiled and lowered hers. “Yes, you did.”
She leaned in and kissed her delicately. Johnnie heated.
“You look so damn good,” Elaine said. “I can’t wait to get you home.” Her voice was deep, throaty. Just like it had been that very first meeting in her office. She ran fingers up and down Johnnie’s black fitted blazer. Touched the turquoise necklace Jolene had given her. It was hanging against the bare flesh of her chest She took her hands.
“You’re here,” Johnnie breathed. “And in that,” she said, looking her up and down. “Oh my God, I can’t breathe, Elaine.”
Elaine leaned in. “Are you okay?”
“No,” Johnnie said. “This is the best fucking moment of my life.”
Elaine laughed.
“Allow me to inhale all of this and have an anxiety attack, okay?” Johnnie pulled her close. “Thank you so much for coming.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“So the client…”
“Bullshit.”
“All of it?”
“All of it.”
“And Eddie and Jolene knew?”
“Mm. And Ian.”
“Ian?” Johnnie looked around for him.
“He’s my friend,” Elaine said. “The one I’ve been buying art from.”
Johnnie shook her head. “You guys were all—you all knew—you all—” She couldn’t speak.
Elaine looked toward the painting. “Aren’t you going to ask who bought your tree?”
Johnnie looked at her, watched her smile mischievously.
“You?”
Elaine nodded. “Guilty.”
“Oh my God, why?”
Elaine wrapped a hand around her waist. “Because this tree represents our beginning.”
Johnnie stood and stared at it for a long moment. The tree was coming out of the darkness and into the light. Elaine was right. It was them.
“Did you buy your nude?” Johnnie asked.
Elaine laughed. “No, we don’t need that one.”
Johnnie tugged her closer. “Why not?”
Elaine touched her lips. “Because you’ve got the real thing now.”
Johnnie laughed and leaned in and kissed her. They kissed in front of the tree, not caring who saw or who was watching.
Michael appeared with two glasses full of wine. “It’s about time you two shared this,” he said.
Elaine toasted Johnnie. “To my love, here and now.”
Johnnie clinked her glass. “And always.”
They drank and kissed.
It was their new beginning.
A new life.
And Johnnie, for the first time, walked toward it without fear.
THE END