Even with the sun shining brightly, the crisp morning air made Leighton shiver, despite her cashmere cardigan. It wasn’t her favorite sweater. Casey had worn that one home, and it’d looked so good on her, Leighton didn’t care if she ever got it back.
Stefan side-eyed her as he grabbed two folded landscape easels from the stack leaning against the wall outside the front door of the atelier. He loaded them into the back of his beloved red and white Volkswagen van parked at the curb.
Excited about their combined class outing, Leighton followed with the last two as she scanned the street. She didn’t recognize any of the vehicles or pedestrians. The day was definitely off to a good start.
Stefan took the easels from her with a grunt. “You seem to be in a better mood.”
“Maybe let’s not have that conversation here.” Leighton glanced at the gallery, where inside, Maxine watched Kalyssa. Hopefully, she hadn’t run into Casey earlier.
She didn’t know why guilt filled her. Casey and Andy had stayed the night because Andy’s bedtime had passed hours before, and Casey couldn’t keep her eyes open. It’s not like Leighton had found time to extend an offer. She’d found Casey asleep before she could. Casey caressing her neck didn’t need to enter the conversation, should one be necessary, nor did her thoughtless kiss on Casey’s palm.
“I’m talking about your mood, Vaughn, nothing more.” Stefan took the easels from her. “You went from cranky as hell to this.” He motioned at her. “Your cheerful humming is driving me nuts.”
“I’m not humming.” Leighton scoffed. “I don’t hum.” Was she? She seemed to have an upbeat song stuck in her head.
“Sure, you don’t.” He scrunched his forehead. “So, you resolved your camera issue?” He all but put air quotes around it.
“Stefan.” Her tone held a warning edge, and she glanced at the front door. It was closed, of course. She’d never prop it open, and neither would he. Still, Maxine could walk out at any time.
He glanced at her from where he rearranged things in the van. “I said I wouldn’t bring anything up, and I won’t. No rule says we can’t talk around the issue.”
“There’s nothing to bring up, and there’s no issue.” Her curtness belied her response.
He held his hand out for another easel. “You were busy in your office after we talked the other day. Busy, busy, busy.”
“My office has glass walls. It’s not like it was a secret meeting.” She turned so she could watch the entrance.
“Casey didn’t look happy.” He laughed.
Leighton recalled the conversation. “She’s a spitfire, and unhappy doesn’t begin to cover it.”
“Oh, really?” His eyes gleamed.
Leighton handed him the bag of paper towels and the sunscreen and switched to a whisper. “She was livid and accused me of being a voyeur who watches the cameras for fun or out of boredom. I wasn’t about to let her think that, so I explained why I have them. That’s why I took her upstairs.”
“I can’t believe you told her.” He stared at her, hands on his hips.
“Not all the details, but yes.” Leighton lifted the box of snacks from the sidewalk and handed it to him. “I told her.”
“That’s a big step.” He found room for them on top of the easels. “Still, I wouldn’t have guessed she’d get the grand tour. I know how much you cherish your privacy.”
She leaned against the open door of the van. “I had to because I wanted her to know.” The admittance surprised her. “There was no tour, though. We only went a few feet inside.”
He glanced at the third floor of the building. “Did she calm down after she found out you live here?”
“Yes.” Leighton recalled how Casey had been calm enough to attempt to kiss her, but she wasn’t about to mention that part. When she remembered how Casey had held her hand and caressed her cheek, she felt anything but peaceful.
Was Casey right? Could they have something and keep it quiet? They wouldn’t need to shout it from the rooftop. She’d never been a fan of public displays of emotion, certainly not while at work, so she didn’t fear slipping up while teaching. When she’d seen Kalyssa with Casey, she couldn’t help but imagine what a life with the four of them might be like. Andy had warmed to her, and her protective nature came out when around him. Poor little guy, sleeping on a couch in the studio.
No, it wasn’t right. This wasn’t how her parents raised her to act. Even if they were gone, she refused to be a disappointment to those who mattered to her, and she wouldn’t take advantage of Casey like that, no matter how Casey saw the situation.
She shut the van’s door harder than necessary.
“I left a box of maple bars in the kitchen.” Stefan gave her an evil grin.
“I don’t understand how you do it.” She’d need to run sets of stairs if she ate like him. “Let’s go inside.”
Half an hour later, Stefan had eaten two of the doughnuts by the time Leighton gathered everyone in the studio. Most of them wore jackets since it’d be cool by the water. Casey had arrived last, but she’d run home, taken Andy to daycare, and returned faster than Leighton had expected. She’d planned on texting her directions to meet them there. Now, not having a reason felt like a missed opportunity, despite being pleased to see her.
“Stefan will drive the van with the easels and supplies. He only has room for one of you. The rest of us will meet them down there.” Leighton pointed south. “It’s a short walk, only half a mile.”
Mikala tapped Stefan on the shoulder. “I can help you unload everything.” She flexed her biceps.
“That’d be great.” He pulled on a black beanie.
“Double-check and make sure you have everything you need.” Leighton picked up her pochade box. “We’ll be painting en plein air in Gantry Plaza State Park. It offers many choices of subjects. You can paint Manhattan’s skyline, the water, architectural elements, bridges, or foliage. Just don’t set up too far from the group so Stefan and I can make it around to all of you.”
Leighton zipped her jacket. “The assignments you’ve done so far have been indirect, or painting in layers. Today we’ll be painting wet-in-wet, or direct painting. Our goal is to finish it in one session. This is called alla prima, which means at first attempt. You’ll have to be more purposeful with your brushstrokes. This style isn’t as tight, so don’t waste time finessing edges and worrying about details in the beginning. Block in your large masses and work from there. And don’t be afraid to paint loosely. Realism doesn’t mean painting tightly. Remember, the Impressionists were realists.”
“This is what you meant by a field trip?” Jenna’s scowl announced her opinion on the matter. “I thought we’d be visiting a museum or something.”
“You’ll be in the field painting. That’s why I asked you to wear dark shirts or jackets. If you forgot, like Phoenix here, please borrow a smock, or the glare off your shirt is going to give you fits today.” She tossed him one. “Okay, grab your stuff, and let’s head out.”
Stefan and Mikala left first to find a parking space and begin unloading. The rest headed down, most using the stairs and a few taking the elevator.
Leighton touched Casey’s arm as they descended the last flight. “I need to say good-bye to Kalyssa. I’ll be right out.”
Casey lingered as they entered the gallery. “Mind if I say hi?”
“Not at all. She’d like that.”
Behind Kalyssa, Maxine covered her free ear as she tried to hear whoever was on the phone.
“Bye, Mom.” Kalyssa ran up and wrapped her arms around Leighton’s legs.
Leighton kissed the top of her head. “You can come when you’re a little older. Okay, love?”
Kalyssa nodded and flashed Casey a shy smile, punctuating it with a little wave. “Bye, Casey.”
“Bye, Kalyssa. Good luck selling paintings to—” She dropped to a knee, lifted Kalyssa’s wrist, and smiled. Kalyssa wore the black string, now braided and secured to the nut on her wrist. “I like your bracelet.” Casey rose.
“Mom made it for me. I decided I don’t care if things are straight or not.” Kalyssa’s firm tone equaled her expression.
Leighton held back a smile.
“Me either.” Casey winked at her. “The smartest people never do.”
Casey’s whispered words caused Kalyssa to beam. Observing their interaction made Leighton’s chest feel strange.
Maxine set down the phone. “Leighton, just so you know, we’ve been getting multiple hang-up calls the past few days from a blocked number.” She flicked a red fingernail at the receiver. “Not that one, though. George couldn’t find his wallet. How the man ran corporations is beyond me. Remind me to send his old assistants expensive Christmas gifts.”
Leighton couldn’t focus on Maxine’s ramblings. Was Jeffrey ramping up his stalking? Her knees weakened. There was a reason she never answered the gallery’s phone. “Thanks. Keep me updated.”
As she and Casey exited the building, she looked around but saw no sign of Jeffrey’s SUV parked anywhere, though he could drive something else. She checked the door had latched behind her and touched Casey’s elbow. “Would you mind walking with me?”
They headed toward Gantry Plaza. Autumn was in the air, in the way it blew leaves from the few trees along the street and in the cooler temperature. Even as she walked, she remained aware of those around her. The one-hundred feet the restraining order mandated didn’t apply to the atelier, but to her and Kalyssa. She didn’t think Jeffrey was stupid enough to approach her while sober, but his alcohol abuse made him unpredictable. She didn’t know how much he drank or whether he attended Alcoholics Anonymous as the judge had advised.
Casey touched the small of her back. “Is everything okay?”
Leighton nodded. She didn’t need to worry Casey, who had enough concerns. “It’s fine. Tell me where you are with your entry for the exhibition.” She’d asked Casey to walk with her because she wanted to make sure Casey stayed on track to make the deadline.
Casey zipped her jacket to her chin. “It’s coming along, and I expect to finish on time.”
Leighton glanced at her. “There’s only one live model session left. Will that be enough, or should I schedule another?”
“Three hours will be plenty.” Casey rubbed her hands together. “But thank you for the offer.”
That’s what she’d hoped to hear. Casey might not win the opportunity to go to Florence, but she’d be a shoo-in for the exhibition. Leighton had always entered a work in the past, but now it didn’t feel right to compete with her students.
“Please allow time for Maxine to photograph it with her professional camera. She’d never say no, but that doesn’t mean I want students asking things of her at the last minute.”
Casey brushed her hair from her face. “I’d never do that to her.”
No, that wasn’t her style, and Leighton didn’t know why she’d said anything. Besides Casey being talented, hard-working, generous, and caring, thoughtfulness was one of her finest attributes. Leighton admired these qualities in a partner. Everything she wanted seemed to be wrapped in one perfect package, right under her nose and right beyond reach.