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Sabrina obsessively dusted the gallery as her sister surveyed the art submitted for the show.
“Where are your winter pieces?” Tab asked casually.
“I wasn’t pleased with them,” Sab replied.
Tabitha turned to look at Sab and smiled. “You never are. I want to see them.”
“No, they really aren’t right. I know I’m hard on myself all of the time but this time I’m just objectively saying that I had a rough year. Jason and all that. I went very blah and worked out my stuff. No one should ever see those. Like a breakup letter on canvas,” Sab rambled until her mouth went dry.
“Okay, can’t I just see them? You don’t have to put any in the show,” Tab said.
“Why? I don’t want to open old wounds. I want to talk about the wedding!” Sabrina could play the distraction game. “Mom was talking pink for the bridesmaid’s dresses but I think a pale blue might be better.”
“Pink is more your color,” Tab said.
“But it’s not your style exactly. Maybe a lavender?” Sab could talk colors all day.
“We have a gallery show soon and you have nothing new for it. I want to see what you did. Something is brilliant and you’re focusing on the ones where you worked out pain.” Tab flipped the lock on the front door and headed up the stairs.
“No, Tab.” Sabrina followed quickly.
Tab opened Sabrina’s front door and waited just inside. “Sabrina, you can’t use my wedding to distract me from life. There is plenty of time to plan but our early summer showing has to be great. We have some nice pieces but you paint all winter in here. I want to see what you’ve done. Artists share their work.”
Sabrina sighed and shrugged. “Fine. You can show the seascapes but not the portraits.”
“Let me see them all.” Tab walked to the bedroom.
The twins didn’t have many secrets from each other. Sab appreciated when Tab sat on the bed rather than open the closet herself. At least they respected each other’s space and privacy. But things would be different when Tab got married. Things would shift and they should.
Sabrina opened the door and the first painting in the stack against the wall was one of the portraits.
“Want me to help?” Tab offered.
Sab nodded. The duo set out the entire collection along the walls of Sab’s bedroom.
Tabitha walked around and took them in.
It was Sab’s turn to sit on the bed. She stared at the portraits. Usually putting her problems in her art helped her to work through them. Jason was harder to shake than she thought.
“Did this work?” Tab asked.
“It helped. Seeing him again set me back a bit. I think it’ll be good in the end. He and I can be friends and it’ll be less awkward. I’m sure he’ll come to visit regularly and the family needs to be okay with that,” Sab said.
Tab pointed to the most haunting of the portraits of Jason. “If this didn’t get him out of your system, you might need more time.”
“I can’t show that.” Sab shook her head.
Tab climbed on the bed and hugged her twin as Sab fought back tears.
“Sean can ask him to leave until the wedding. Give you space,” Tab said.
Sab shook her head. “No. If I don’t see him it’ll be harder to get over him. In my mind, he’s perfect and charming. I know he has flaws and if he’s around, I’ll see them more. We’ll just be friends. Maybe he’ll date someone else.”
“If he really was dating that actress...who knows what’s true but hopefully he’s not a cheater,” Tab said.
“If he is, I dodged a real bullet. That’s the kind of things I need to think about as well. He’s a good actor and he showed me the best side of himself. What I wanted to see. Is that really him or not?”
“I’m not sure that’s what you want to care about. Or need to find out. You need to move on,” Tab said.
“That’s what Veronica said. I just can’t. I’m sure I’ll meet other men but I can’t put my heart out there again yet. It’s too much.” Sabrina sniffed and reached for a tissue from the box on the nightstand.
“Well, don’t think of them as dates. Think of them as getting out there and being social. I’m sure there will be group dates with Mer and everyone. Set-ups and blind dates are so old-fashioned to Veronica. But you going to parties and dancing with handsome men isn’t a bad idea,” Tab replied.
“True. Odds are he’ll be there.”
“Come on, the island isn’t that small. You can find another event. Or let him see you there having fun with other people.”
“I can’t be mean like that,” Sab replied.
Tab sat back. “That’s not mean. I’m not saying hang all over a guy to get back at Jason. You’re not a nun. You’re not waiting for him to come to his senses. This is your home. You’re going to enjoy the summer events like you always do. If he’s there, fine. If he’s not, fine. The right man will turn up when you least expect it.”
“Like you and Sean. I’m glad one good thing came out of my meeting Jason in Paris.” Sab took a deep breath.
“Me too. He’s a fool to let any movie or anything in the world take him away from you.” Tab went back and stared at the paintings.
“He has a career. You’d never ask Sean to give up his work,” Sab countered.
Tab nodded. “But we did discuss things like where we preferred to live, and his work can be done anywhere he has computer and phone access. Did you talk about Jason’s work much?”
“Not really. I didn’t want him to think I was some crazed fan. We talked about real things. Art. Family. Life. It probably was just a summer romance. An escape for him. I’ll get over it.” Sabrina took a deep breath. “But you can’t show any of these.”
“Okay. None of the portraits. I’ve got the two seascapes and I have to show that one on the beach. The guy standing on the dock.”
“No,” Sab said.
“You can’t tell who it is. He’s facing away. It could be Sean for all we can tell. The colors and perspective are amazing,” Tab insisted.
“Maybe.” Sab could tell everyone it was her brother if nothing else.
“And the Eiffel Tower.” Tab nodded.
“No, everyone knows we met in Paris,” Sab shot back.
Tab folded her arms. “Everyone who? The family and some friends. Some people around the island who gossip, fine. Look at it. The couple underneath are shadows. They aren’t defined. Even if people assume it’s you and Jason, showing this piece is like saying, it’s a lovely memory and I’m over it.”
“Those two can’t be next to each other.” Sab knew her twin was right. Showing she was bouncing back was important and only having two new pieces would look like she was hiding something. “That’s four.”
“We have enough. Thanks.” Tab smiled.
“It’s not much for a whole winter. People will comment.” Sab frowned.
Tab moved the ones that they’d display in the showing to the living room. “No, and if they do, who cares? You don’t need to work at all. Art isn’t about quantity. Sometimes you are hyper-productive because the muse pulls you in multiple directions or sometimes you’re hyper-focused. That’s just good.”
“I guess.” Sab put the portraits away then closed the closet door. “We could say I’m saving the best for your wedding gift.”
“Are you?” Tab arched an eyebrow.
“No, I shouldn’t lie. But maybe I’ll be inspired to create something for your wedding. I need a new subject. I finally got Jason out of my system...at least my art system.” Sab laughed softly.
“That’s progress. Now help me get these downstairs. Tomorrow night the gallery will be packed and everything needs to be ready.” Tab carefully carried one canvas down the old staircase.
“Are you sure you want to go?” Sean asked.
Jason fussed with his tie. “I am. We met because of art. It’s not like I’m feigning interest. Sab is very talented.”
“It’s not her show exclusively. This is the summer kickoff. They’ll feature a few local artists and guest artists every couple of weeks. It’s a good excuse to drop in and visit but Sabrina will be busy,” Sean warned.
“I’ll be fine. I’m not trying to win her back. If she wants to be friends, friends support each other. Go to each other’s stuff,” Jason replied.
“I can tell when you lie.” Sean shot his friend a look.
“We’re going to be late.” Jason opened the door to his room and the men left the B&B.
The short walk to the gallery was made trickier by sidewalks full of people. Jason tried to hide his anxiety.
“Is it really a lot calmer in the winter?” Jason asked.
Sean nodded. “Compared to this it’s a ghost town. Much nicer for seeing the beauty of the island and getting work done. Wild storms. I like it.”
“That’s good.” Jason wanted his friend to be happy, not just compromise for his future wife.
Sean’s mom met them outside the gallery.
“Where have you been? Tab’s mother is fussing,” she said.
“Like I’d miss it,” Sean said.
“Not you, Jason.” The woman who’d been like a mother to him shot him a warning look. “Is he going to upstage things or upset Sabrina?” Mrs. Drake replied as if he wasn’t standing right beside Sean.
“Oh, come on. Sabrina wants to be friends.” Jason pushed ahead and walked inside.
It seemed as though all the conversation stopped as he entered the gallery. He knew that wasn’t real but all he could see and hear was Sabrina. She was smiling and talking to someone in front of a sculpture.
“Jason, so glad you could make it,” Tab said, turning from conversation with her parents to intercept him before he could reach her twin.
“Very nice.” Mrs. Buxton grabbed her husband’s arm and headed for the refreshment table.
Jason cleared his throat. “I know you may not want me here. Parts of your family may not. But Sabrina said she wanted to be friends. I took that seriously and I want that, too. If she was just being kind, let me know and I will make an effort to avoid her.”
Tabitha nodded. “I think she was serious but that doesn’t mean it’ll be easy for either of you. She’s too nice. But she says your affection for art is genuine so far be it from me to keep you from hot new artists.”
“Thanks. I should also congratulate you. Sean’s lucky,” Jason said.
“So am I. I’d never ask him to betray or turn his back on you.” She leaned in closer and lowered her voice. “But if you hurt my sister again, I’ll make sure you understand just how far reaching and powerful my family is.”
“Is that a threat?” Jason asked.
She smiled so naturally she could’ve had a great career on stage. “It’s a promise.”
Jason nodded and moved to the first artist’s exhibit. Sabrina was toward the middle of the space and he had to take his time. If he ignored the others’ artwork, it’d look bad and Sabrina wouldn’t like it.
He worked his way from artist to artist. Sabrina was next. There was a commotion outside and flashes came through the front windows. Trey slipped inside the gallery and waved at Jason.
Once he was done admiring that artist, he met Trey in the middle of the mingling crowd.
“What?” Jason asked.
“You got photographers crawling around the island. They found you,” Trey said.
“Paparazzi came here for me? That’s nuts,” Jason said.
“Barb is doing a lot of interviews saying you two are on a break from each other. She fainted in a restaurant in L.A.,” Trey explained.
Jason nodded. “I heard something about it but she’s always dramatic. Break. Fine, you correct the press that we’re broken up and moving on. We wish each other well.”
“You want to confirm her lie?” Trey asked.
Jason sighed. “I want her to go away.”
“That won’t happen. You have to do press and promotions things with her and the cast. If you confirm a relationship then she can paint you as the bad guy. I don’t recommend that, not that I’m anyone to have an opinion.” Trey shrugged.
“You’re right. Text my agent, have them put out a discreet statement saying that I was never in a relationship with her. My affections were elsewhere and while I sacrificed time away from my loved ones for my career, I’m very happy to be back to a more normal routine.”
“Got it,” Trey said as he typed it into his phone. “Barb won’t like it but the truth is easier to remember. At least when you did nothing wrong.”
Tabitha walked up to Jason as Trey left. “All this media coverage isn’t here for my little gallery.”
“Maybe it’s Sabrina’s new work?” Jason asked.
“I can only hope. But do you think you could call them off?” Tab asked.
Jason laughed. “They don’t answer to anyone but police. Looks like they’re not breaking any laws so good luck with that.”
He turned back and saw Sabrina was free. He wouldn’t miss the chance and walked over.
“I always love your work.” He studied the seascapes, trying to concentrate on something other than how she looked and smelled.
The first two were soulful and contrary. One showed Nantucket Sound in a massive storm. The next was the same spot on a calm day. The third piece had a male figure standing on a dock looking out at the sea.
He felt a strange pull. Was that him on the dock?
The last painting gutted him. It was he and Sabrina in Paris. Now they were just shadows dancing in the past.
“You just get better and better,” Jason admitted.
“Thank you. And thank you for coming. All the artists appreciate it.” She smiled.
She was so poised and calm. It was a professional event, after all.
“Paris seems like forever ago.” Jason moved in a bit closer.
Tucking her hair nervously behind her ears, she nodded. “It does. I hear your first of those movies will be out over the summer. It looks wonderful.”
“I was hoping for a break from all of it. Promotion and that side is exhausting. Now everyone is telling me to get on the next job while I’ve got the attention,” he replied.
“I’m sure those people are smart about their business and probably right.” She smiled at the person behind him, the hint not lost on him.
He didn’t want to leave but he was monopolizing her. “I’ll get out of your hair.”
As he made his way to the refreshments for a drink, he noticed Veronica out front with the press. She was posing. Typical Veronica.
“How much has she had?” Jason asked Chris when he walked up.
“Too much. I’m keeping an eye on her. Mom is worried. She’s getting more and more reckless and is drunk most of the time.” Chris grabbed a bottle of water. “I appreciate your help with Carl.”
This was going better than he’d feared. “No problem. I’m sorry about the press nonsense. It’s not helping with Veronica.”
Chris chuckled. “Our family has had its share of press. Veronica loves it. The rest of us never have.”
“Where did she go?” Jason asked.
Chris headed out front. Jason knew that would only make it worse and slipped out the back. He spotted Veronica carrying a bottle of something. Chris was behind her but she was yelling at him to go away.
As much as he wanted to stay and spend more time with Sabrina, Chris needed backup. The whole family was worried about Veronica and if he could help, he had to.