George, Jeanette and the two children arrived early. George went upstairs to help Lawren hang the new portrait while the rest of his family assembled in the kitchen to await the remainder of the guests who had been invited to the unveiling.
Alina took Liam, and baby Anne in her buggy, out to the rear garden to visit the sheep that still managed to find a way to hop over the stone walls occasionally. Jeanette and Anna set out dishes of salads, sliced meats and fresh breads along with pitchers of lemonade and fruit juices. Champagne for a toast was chilling on a stone shelf in the larder.
“Tell me, Jeanette, what does George think about Lawren?”
“Why? Are you worried about our opinions?”
“Not really, but I am interested. I don’t want to make a fool of myself and you can see he is younger than I am.”
“Fear not, my dear. Every woman wants a younger husband. George is one you know.”
“What? I did not know that.”
“Aha! Surprised you there, didn’t I? Yes, George is a full four months younger.”
“Jeanette! Stop teasing me. You know what I mean.”
“I am just trying to show you how ridiculous your objections are, Anna. No one looking at the two of you would ever think about age. They’d be too busy admiring your taste in men.”
Anna chased her Canadian friend around the table twice before collapsing, breathless, on the padded bench in front of the windows.
“Do you know when Kirsty is coming?” Anna was anxious to see the elderly woman who had nursed her back to health when she had caught a bad flu during her first ever visit to the McCaig Estate house.
Kirsty was one of the few people who had known Helen Dunlop well enough to recognize whether or not Lawren had managed to capture her image, or her essence, in his painting.
“Bev said they were picking Kirsty up from Skye early this morning. They should all be here soon.”
“Good. Who else is coming?”
“One or two more, I think.”
Anna immediately picked up on the strange way Jeanette had spoken and she pounced at once.
“What are you hiding from me? You can’t fool another Canuck, you know.”
“Well, the truth is, there will be one or two surprises but don’t even try to get anything more out of me and for the love of goodness please attempt to be surprised. I was sworn to secrecy.”
Anna had to be content with this small hint. She suddenly became aware of the importance of this occasion and that awareness was swiftly followed by a self-conscious fear that she had not chosen the right outfit for the day. Making an excuse to Jeanette, she ran upstairs and locked herself into the washroom where a large mirror would reveal whether she looked appropriate for a special summertime occasion or, like mutton dressed as lamb, as the derogatory Scottish saying went.
She saw a woman with a frowning and nervous expression on her face and immediately tried a more natural smile. This improved her general appearance quite well so she continued with the inspection. Her hair was freshly washed, coloured and conditioned and a recent trim had smartened up the style. She tossed her head and saw the layers swing into place neatly. So far, so good, she thought.
The dress she was wearing was one Maria had insisted on, although Anna was initially unsure about the pattern. Now she was glad she had followed Maria’s instruction as the fitted white and blue floral with a calf-length, flared skirt flattered her figure and concealed any bulges she might want to hide from view. She had pulled a long-sleeved, royal blue, cashmere shrug over the dress for warmth and that seemed to add to the more up-to-date look Maria had recommended. Anna could not see her feet in the mirror but she knew the beige platform sandals were a good finishing touch.
Lawren has rarely, if ever, seen my legs, she thought. This will be a surprise for him.
“You look just fine!” she told her reflection, with a confidence she hoped to feel for the rest of the day. “Now, go down there, stop worrying about what’s happening in the bedroom across the hall, and greet your guests.”
Thus emboldened, she descended the stairs in regal fashion to find Kirsty with Alan and Bev Matthews waiting for her in the kitchen. Eric was standing at the window in the grip of a wildly handsome young man who turned out to be his older brother, James. Behind them Anna glimpsed the slim figure that must belong to Caroline, whom she had seen with James on one or two memorable occasions.
Exclamations of delight echoed around the room while each person renewed acquaintance with others they had not seen for some months. Everyone had to admire baby Anne and converse with her brother Liam. Kirsty had the honour of receiving the little one on her lap and Alan quickly produced a camera to capture his mother, the oldest female there, with the youngest.
There was so much happy noise resounding around the kitchen that no one noticed George and Lawren descending the stairs.
“Attention please!” declared George, in his best lawyer voice. Everyone turned to the stairs and an expectant hush spread through the kitchen as some there realized they were seeing for the first time, Anna’s artist friend about whom they had heard so much.
“I would like to introduce to you, Mr. Lawren Drake, portrait painter extraordinary. “At this juncture Lawren bowed from the waist in courtly fashion which made the audience smile.
George continued with his introduction.
“Please follow me, ladies and gentlemen, to the formal presentation of a work of art, commissioned by Ms. Anna Mason and now installed in the grand salon above for all to appreciate.”
Lawren stepped down and took Anna’s arm through his to lead her upstairs before the rest of the procession.
Anna was glad the waiting group could not see her face as she was awash in emotion. Everything from pride to panic was flowing over her and her heart was beating like a drum. For some reason, she was at a loss to understand, Lawren was a picture of calm confidence at her side as he whispered, “Don’t worry!”
The portrait was centred high on the wall above the fireplace mantel and seemed to Anna to be much larger than she had estimated. It was still shrouded in a clean cloth and all had to wait for the unveiling until every person had found a place to stand or sit.
Anna was installed in the velvet chair by the fireplace. In front of the fireplace was a large bouquet of flowers. Lawren stood behind her with his hand on her shoulder to steady her nerves.
Without another word, George expertly flicked the cloth and the portrait was at last revealed.
The sound of indrawn breath was the only sign that anyone occupied the spacious room. Even the tiny children felt the drama of the moment and kept still.
Anna was amazed all over again. She thought she had seen the painting before but it was almost as if she had never known a thing about it until this very moment. Perhaps, she thought, it was due to the expert match of subject and antique frame that added a new dimension. The colours were more alive and the background more compelling but the figures captured attention as they were meant to do. Anna stared at herself in her perfected form with eyes and scarf of a startling blue and the figure in the painting stared right back at her. There was some secret in those eyes and she felt as if she could look into their depth forever to fathom the mystery.
Behind her in the scene, was Helen Dunlop; the reason for the entire project. Where before, Anna had thought the figure of Helen dim and ghostlike, she now saw that it was a complement to the colours of her own portrait only in a more muted hue. The letters and books between them were so realistic that they might, at any moment, float out and into the room.
Her musings were interrupted by the pressure of Lawren’s hands and by the clapping of a wildly delighted crowd showing their appreciation in traditional fashion.
Anna looked first at Lawren and her eyes told him everything he wanted to know. She then stood and moved against the flow of bodies pressing forward to congratulate the artist. She was searching for Kirsty who had been seated comfortably on Anna’s large bed.
She bent low to whisper her request into the old lady’s ear.
“Kirsty! What do you think? Is it a good enough likeness of Helen? It was so difficult to get a picture of her.”
Kirsty took Anna’s face in her soft, wrinkled hands in reply and spoke out against the noise in the room,
“My dear lassie, it’s a miracle. He has caught her very look, the way she is glancing backward. The past was never far from her mind until the day she died.” Without pausing for breath, she continued, “That man cares very deeply for you, Anna. Now everyone here can see it.”
Anna kissed Kirsty’s cheek and turned to find Fiona standing behind her, waiting her turn.
“Oh, Fiona! Now the day is perfect! What a lovely surprise! Come and meet Lawren. How are you?
Tell me all your news.”
Hours later, when most of the visitors had departed and the house had finally calmed down, Anna had a chance to ask Fiona what her first impressions of Lawren were.
“I was warned you would be asking that question,” she replied, with one raised eyebrow expressing her disapproval. “You know I am not one for beating around the bush, Anna. I’ll tell you what I really think. Are you sure you want to know?”
It was too late to turn back now. Anna simply nodded without taking her eyes off Fiona’s stern face.
“I think ……………. those eyes are amazing! Sorry for teasing you. I just couldn’t resist!”
“I’ll forgive you in a year or two,” responded Anna, as relief flooded through her. If Fiona had not liked Lawren, she would have had serious doubts about a future relationship with him. It now seemed as if all her friends had approved of Lawren. Even Alina had come around to a more accepting opinion of him.
Does this mean I should do something to consolidate our relationship, she wondered. Her instincts told her it was too soon to be making commitments but how would she know when the time was right?
Just then, Lawren came in from the larder where he had been washing and packing his brushes. He had already announced his intention to fly back to Canada. He wanted to leave Anna and Alina with some time to themselves. There were many things to be considered by all parties before they made permanent changes to their lives.
He smiled at Fiona as he settled himself on the couch that had been his bed in the lounge.
“I have an announcement,” he stated proudly. “I have a commission from George McLennan. He wants me to do a family portrait while the children are still small and he says he will recommend my work to the Oban town council members in case there are others who would like casual, or more formal, portraits.”
“Excellent news!” exclaimed Anna.
“Now you have good reasons for returning to Oban, Mr. Drake,” said Fiona, with a sly smile.
“Please call me Lawren,” he insisted. “Anna considers you a family member and I want you to think of me that way also, in time, of course.”
“I’ll do that. But now I have to go see my wee house in Oban which has been deserted for months since I have been living in Inverness. I’ll call you tomorrow, Anna, and congratulations to you both for everything.”
With this cryptic statement, delivered with another sly look, Fiona left them alone in the lounge.
Anna breathed out a sigh of contentment and collapsed down into the comfort of the fireside chair.
“You know, I think I’ll light this fire just for the added warmth,” she began. “It’s been such a wonderful day although I feel exhausted with all the excitement. You must be feeling something similar.”
Lawren did not reply at first. He reached forward from his chair on the other side of the fireplace and retrieved a tall box of matches, lighting the fire with a few deft moves. When the blaze was just beginning to warm their faces, he looked over at Anna and said, “It has been an incredible day for me, Anna. It seems every day has been significant since I first met you. This house, this land, everything I have seen and heard has told me so much more about you.”
She was intrigued and sat up to hear his interpretations. “What do you mean?”
“Well, today is a good example. You probably have no idea how well respected you are, Anna Mason.
Each and every one of your friends and acquaintances has taken the time to tell me what a great person you are and with those comments has come an implied warning that I should treat you with the care you deserve.”
“Oh, that sounds embarrassing, Lawren. Did they annoy you?”
“Far from it! I speedily came to the conclusion that you are a most fortunate woman. I think a person’s friends tell a significant amount about that person. If that is a reliable measure, and I believe it is, you are a woman blessed in so many ways.”
Anna could not miss the regretful tone of voice in which these extravagant compliments were delivered. She reached out for Lawren’s hand and quietly asked, “Why does that make you unhappy?”
“It’s nothing new. You know I feel this is an unequal situation. You have so much to offer and I have very little, other than myself.”
Anna chose her words carefully and reinforced them with a firm pressure on the hand she was holding.
“Lawren Drake, I never wish to hear those words again. What you are offering is beyond price. I know what a talented and unique man you are. I feel privileged to have you in my life. No matter what the future holds for us, I hope we will always be friends, at least.”
Lawren stood up and walked over to the window where he could clearly see the path from the front door and beyond the gate, fields, forest and hills to the darkening skyline.
He was struggling within himself as to whether the time was right to risk a most important move forward.
Anna could feel the tension from his figure poised behind her and she chose to stay still and quiet until the problem, whatever it was, had resolved itself.
After several long moments, she heard a whoosh of air leaving lungs and Lawren appeared in front of her again. He pulled the armchair over until their knees were almost touching and the firelight flickered across their faces giving them both a fey appearance.
“Anna, I have something to offer you. I don’t want you to be afraid that I am asking more than you wish to give. This is a symbol rather than a commitment. The choice to accept or reject is entirely yours.”
“That sounds intriguing, Lawren, but I have no clue what you are talking about.”
“Right! I’ll explain. Remember when we went to Iona?”
“Absolutely! It was a marvelous day. I loved it there.”
“Me too!” They shared a warm smile at the memories and it gave Lawren the courage to proceed.
“Well, you know I have some claim to psychic tendencies. I had a very strong impulse when I visited the gift shop at the Abbey, to buy something unusual. I have learned to follow these impulses.”
Anna could stand the suspense no longer. “Lawren Drake, will you please get to the point. I am not as patient a woman as you seem to think.”
In response, he reached into his pants pocket and retrieved something small which he presented to Anna in a closed fist.
“There are two. I will wear one from this time forward, the other is for you and, I repeat, it is your choice if, when, and where.”
At the conclusion of this mysterious speech he opened his fist and in the palm of his hand she saw two silver rings glinting in the glow from the fire.
Her first impulse was to cry out in alarm. Rings were a commitment and she was not sure she was ready for that, despite admittedly strong feelings for this man.
“Let me show you,” he begged, in response to her silence. There is an inscription on the outer surface.”
He placed one of the rings onto the middle finger of his strong left hand and she could see that there was inset, a band of darker silver with raised letters that she could not interpret.
“It’s gaelic, and it says, ‘Anam charaid’”.
The way he pronounced the words told Anna he had taken the trouble to learn how to say them correctly and the soft syllables so close to her ear had a magical sound in the quiet room.
She felt a presence nearby. It was almost as if Helen Dunlop stood there beside them willing Anna to make a momentous decision.
“What does it mean?” she asked, with a quaver in her voice and the start of a tear in her eye.
“It means soul mate.”
The words dropped into the silence like an explosion. She was immediately overwhelmed by a storm of emotions both positive and negative, and for a space of seconds she let the storm rage through her until the tiny voice of her braver, wiser self came through.
Soul mate. What more could you ask of any man than this?
She could not speak. She allowed her actions to speak for her as she tenderly picked the second ring from his outstretched palm and placed it on the middle finger of her left hand where, by some strange alchemy, it fit smoothly, as if it had always been there.
His face lit up at once and he bent to kiss her hand.
“Is this truly your answer?” he asked.
“It is,” she said.
At that very moment, a log dropped in the fire and bright embers flew upward like a child’s sparkler on July first.
She thought, as she fell into his arms, Helen approves.
THE END
The Prime Time Series continues in The Seas Between Us, book 6.