The next morning Ben was hard at work on his boat, hoping to get her finished and move aboard.
“Ben, are you here?”
He almost dropped the cloth he was holding to polish The Lady Belle’s wooden door to the cabin. He must be hearing things because he swore that sounded like his mother’s voice. But, of course, it wasn’t. She never came to the marina anymore and would never come to Lady Belle. It held too many memories of his dad.
He frowned, set down the cloth, and popped out of the cabin to the back deck. Then he held onto the railing in surprise. “Mom?”
“Morning. I wanted you to meet my new friend, Mischief.”
He knew his mouth was hanging open, but really, he couldn’t be more shocked. “Mischief?” He stared at the dog at the end of the leash his mother was holding.
“Isn’t he adorable? A bit of an imp, but so cute, right?”
“Are you walking him for someone?” He couldn’t quite process this. His mother was not a dog person.
“No, he’s my dog.”
He gripped the railing with two hands now, trying to steady himself. “Your dog?”
“Yes, he needed a home. I heard about him at knitting club and went to go see him.” She smiled and shrugged. “Next thing I knew he was coming home with me. We made a stop at the pet store for food, bowls, and things like that.”
“Your dog?” He knew he was repeating himself, but how in the world did his mother end up with a dog?
She looked up at him and frowned. “Are you okay?”
He swung off the boat and went to stand by her. “I could say the same thing. A dog is a lot of work. We never had one when I was growing up. I thought you didn’t even like dogs.”
“Your father didn’t like dogs. I do.” She shrugged.
“Are you sure you’re up to all the responsibility?”
“Ben, I’m not a child, and I’m not some feeble person. Quit treating me like one.” She leaned down and petted the dog. “We have big plans for the day. We’re going to meet Mary Lyons and Dorothy and go for a walk on the beach. Mary has a dog, too. Stormy. An adorable cavalier.”
He should be happy that she was getting out and making friends. But a dog? He just didn’t picture his mother as a dog person. And she’d come to the marina, and she’d come to Lady Belle.
He looked at her and decided to chance it. “You want to come aboard and see the changes I’ve made to Lady Belle?”
She looked at the boat for a long moment, a hint of sadness in her eyes. “Maybe next time. I’m sure Mischief and I will be back soon. We better run along now. Don’t want to keep Mary and Dorothy waiting.”
He watched while she walked back down the long dock, the dog trotting merrily by her side.
A dog. His mother had a dog. He just hoped she could keep up with the dog because he sure wasn’t going to take care of him for her. The last thing in the world he needed was a dog in his life.
Charlotte set down her coffee on the kitchen table when her phone rang. She glanced at it and frowned. The Desert View Art Gallery.
“Take it.” Robin nodded from across the table.
She answered the phone. “Hello?”
“Charlotte Duncan?”
“Yes.”
“You’re a hard one to find. We’ve been trying to get in contact with you. We want to know your arrangements for coming to the opening of your show here in Palm Springs.”
“My what?”
“Your solo show.”
“I don’t understand.” She frowned, trying to follow the conversation.
“We’ve been trying to get ahold of your agent, Reginald. But he’s not answering our calls. He set the show up a year ago. We book way in advance for the Palm Springs Festival of Arts week. It’s a very coveted spot.”
“I—he—didn’t tell me about it. We’ve been—out of contact.”
“Hm… we’d heard some rumors about him. But I had hoped since this show was set up so long ago that it wouldn’t be a problem. I apologize for the late contact, but it took us a while to find a way to contact you directly.”
“A solo show?” She still couldn’t get over the shock. After all this time?
“We have the work ready to hang, and the brochure for the Palm Springs Festival of Arts has been out for months.”
She couldn’t believe she was finally going to have another shot at a big showing in a city known for supporting the arts. The Palm Springs Festival of Arts was one of the big draws to the area and a well-known art show. Having a showing in The Desert View Art Gallery that week would certainly get her name out there again.
She looked over and grinned at Robin. “This is exciting news.”
“So, you’ll still do it?”
“Of course.” She gave Robin a thumbs up. This Palm Springs showing would put her back on top. Get her name going again after Reginald had stopped getting her new showings.
“Do you have a new agent who I should contact with the information?”
“Ah… no. Not yet.”
“I will say that Michelle Isling was asking about your work.”
Michelle Isling? Only one of the best agents in the business. “She was?”
“Yes, do you mind if I give her your contact information?”
“Ah… no. I mean, no, I don’t mind. Yes, give her my information. That would be great.”
“I’ll give her a call. In the meantime, I’ll send you the information regarding the show this afternoon. Why don’t you give me your email?”
She gave her email address, clicked off the phone, and set it on the table.
“What’s going on?” Robin raised an eyebrow.
“I finally got a good show. A really nice, prestigious one.” She hopped up from the table and twirled around. “I’ve still got it.”
“Of course you do.”
She grinned and sat back down. “Things are finally starting to turn around for me. I’ll do this show and maybe I’ll get back on the circuit again. And Michelle Isling asked about me. She’s like one of the top agents in the business.”
“Does this mean you’ll move back to L.A.?” Robin looked solemn.
“What? No. This is my home now. I mean… I might have to be gone some.” She frowned. This is what she’d wanted for so long. Ever since Reginald had messed with her and stolen from her. It would be easier if she lived in California and got back into going to the parties and got her name out there again. And Michelle Isling! That was exciting.
She looked at her phone when it rang again. “Hello?”
“Charlotte?”
“Yes?”
“This is Michelle Isling. I just got off the phone with the curator from The Desert View Art Gallery. She said you aren’t currently represented by anyone.”
“I’m not.”
“My firm would be interested in talking to you about representation. Do you have time to fly out and talk to us? All expenses paid, of course.”
“Yes, I could make time.” She grinned over at Robin and mouthed the words Michelle Isling.
“Could you come this week? Say Wednesday?”
“Yes, that would work.”
“Great, I’ll make the arrangements and send you your flight information.”
She set her phone on the table, staring at it. How had so much changed so quickly? She looked across at Robin. “She wants to represent me. I’m going there Wednesday to talk to her agency.”
“That’s great, Char. Great. I know this is what you’ve wanted.” Robin stood, walked over to the sink, and placed her cup in it. “And if you think L.A. is where you need to be, I support you one hundred percent. But I’ll miss you like crazy.”