“Well, it’s still rough, but...” I opened the sketchbook and showed her.
She drew in an admiring breath. “Oh, that’s wonderful!”
“Everything the girls showed me was Disney, and this is a completely different style,” I said. “I hope they’ll like it.”
“They’ll love it! You did all this last night?”
I nodded. “I work fast.” Embarrassingly fast, my ex used to say. Real art, he’d repeatedly told me, took time.
“This is fabulous!” She looked up from the sketch. “Do you have any interest in painting a mural in here? I’m opening the back room, and I’d love to have a historical drawing of the town square on one of the walls. It would be so great to have the faces of local people in it, maybe wearing old-timey clothing like their ancestors wore. I’m sure the stores that you’d draw would sponsor it.”
Potential angles and images immediately popped into my head. A wave of excitement surged through me. I tamped it down. “I don’t know how long the one at Matt’s house will take, and I’ve barely gotten started on going through my grandmother’s things.”
“Well, think about it. If you have time and you’re interested, I would love it. I’m sure the merchants on the square would, too. I’d make sure you were very well compensated.”
The bells over the door jangled. I turned to see Jillian walk in. I lifted my hand in a wave, and she froze just inside the doorway.
“Hey there, Jill,” called Kirsten.
She smiled and moved stiffly toward the counter. “Hi, Kirsten.” She nodded at me. “Hope.”
“Want your usual?” Kirsten asked.
“No, thanks. Just black coffee today.”
“Wow, you’re really sticking to your diet,” Kirsten observed.
“Yes, well...” She nodded, her hands smoothing her skirt. “I’m trying.”
“Whatever you’re doing sure is working.” Kirsten poured a large paper cup, put on a lid, and handed it to Jillian. “You look wonderful.”
“Thanks.”
“Hope was just showing me a sketch of the mural for Sophie and Zoey’s room.”
“Is that a fact.” I expected Jillian to ask to see it, but she just dug in her purse and paid for her coffee. “I’ve got to run or I’ll be late for school. Nice seeing you both.” She gathered up her drink and turned to leave.
“Will I see you at Matt’s later?” I called after her.
“I—I’m not sure. I have a parent meeting after school.” She tossed out a quick “good-bye” over her shoulder and scurried out of the coffee shop.
“I don’t think she much likes me,” I said as the door closed behind her.
“Oh, that’s just Jillian. She’s a little socially awkward—the exact opposite of her sister that way.”
“Oh yeah?” I was curious about Matt’s late wife.
Kirsten nodded and wiped down the counter. “Christine never met a stranger. She was one of those people that others just gravitate to, you know? And Jillian—well, she just doesn’t have the gift of gab.”
“What’s the story with her and Matt?”
“She’s his sister-in-law.”
“I got the impression there was something more.”
“Really?” She considered it for a moment. “Nah. I just don’t see it. Although I’m pretty sure Jillian would be open to the idea. What single girl wouldn’t be, right?”
I lifted my shoulders and took a sip of cappuccino.
