“It was my life.” She shrugged. “By the time I went to college, I was used to being by myself. I wasn’t shunned by the other kids, but they didn’t know how to talk to me. Like because I got a new kidney, I was a totally different person. But I wasn’t, I was still me. It was better in college because the kids there didn’t know what I went through. After college, I went to Mom and Dad and told them I was going to travel to find where I belonged. When I arrived in town here, there was a woman giving classes in pottery. I signed up, and I found myself. Growing up I was always clumsy. It seemed like every time I touched a glass, I broke it. I tripped when I walked, I couldn’t make a straight line even using a ruler. I was a mess. Or to quote you, whenever I was around it was chaos.” She actually giggled at his shocked expression. “It’s true. But the minute I put my hands on that glob of clay on the potter’s wheel, it was like a calm came over me, and I was this poised, put together woman.”
“So, you started your own business?”
“I did. It only took me six months to get established where I am now. The woman who had given that class started sending my creations to friends of hers that owned small shops. A year later, she got sick, and because she had done everything, I didn’t know what to do. Her name is Magnolia. She’s the one that named me Willow. No, that’s not true,” Wanda said and finished her fruit and pushed her plate away.
“When I was lying in that hospital bed, I looked out the window and saw a weeping willow tree. I watchedthat tree through all four seasons, and I realized that it was a healthy tree. At my lowest point, before they found a donor kidney, I wished I was like that willow tree. That I could handle anything nature, life, god, whatever threw at it and still stand strong. One night I told that to Magnolia, and she’s the one that gave me the name Willow Raintree. I only use that name for my pottery.
“Well, while Magnolia stopped teaching and making pottery herself, she took my career under her wing and hired an assistant for me. It was discussed that Trish Bower, my assistant, would work exclusively with me. She could work with other artists and have other employees, but when it came to me, she was the only one that I talked to, dealt with, and associated with. Comes from the Seattle area, but I’ve never met her. She organizes my website and the orders from there. It’s so organized that I only have to open an e-mail and have everything there waiting for me.
“I was supposed to go to some new gallery opening this weekend that featured my designs in Seattle, but with the court date on Monday, I had to decline. But I told her I’d be there the next time, wherever it was.”
“Was this Magnolia able to go represent you?”
“Unfortunately, no. She passed away two months before you showed up the first time. Cancer.” Wanda didn’t realize she was crying until Christopher took her hand and reached over and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
“I’m sorry. If we didn’t have court on Monday, you wouldn’t be here this weekend?”
“No. It’s been over three years since Magnolia hired Trish. Through the internet and phone, she’s organized my career into what it is today. If it weren’t for Trish, my shop would probably be overrun with everything I’ve made. Every Monday morning, I access my e-mail, print out the orders and as I fill them, I’m able to ship them out and then if I get a new design going, I make about ten of them and ship them directly to Trish to do with as she sees fit. But also in those e-mails are orders for the shops my work is in.”
“You have enough orders to keep busy?”
“Oh god yes. I’ve been doing this for three years now, and this is the first week that I’ve had over four hundred orders. Luckily my website has a disclaimer that it takes twelve or more weeks for the orders to be filled.” She looked at Christopher then giggled. “Don’t worry, I make lists as to how many of one product I need and how much clay and that stuff.”
He only grinned and studied the beautiful woman across from him. “I’m done if you’d like to get going.”
“So am I. I always hate that I don’t eat enough for the price of the meal.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said as he pulled his wallet, and they stopped as he paid. He helped her into his SUV and drove back to her house. Once upstairs they kicked off their shoes, and she turned to him and sighed.
“I’m not trying to come onto you or anything, but can I show you something?”
“I guess.” He frowned and followed her. What surprised him was that they walked down the long hallway and through a door at the end. After going up another set of stairs, they went into another door, andhe was surprised at the size of the bedroom. He watched as she walked him over to a spot behind a sofa and told him to close his eyes. As he did, he heard a faint motor, and when she told him to open his eyes, he sucked in his breath in shock. “Wow.” He looked out at the vista as the setting sun shown on the distant rocks, and he saw all shades of reds and oranges. “That’s beautiful.”
Wanda sat on the sofa and patted the spot beside her. “I sit here at night, and it gives me inspiration for my designs. It really is soothing and relaxing watching the setting sun on the rocks.”
Christopher joined her, but he removed his suit jacket first and settled in. “I can see why, it is a beautiful view.” They sat there just enjoying the view for a long, long time.
Chapter 15
At one point, Christopher looked over and saw that Wanda was asleep. He stood and went to her and slowly lifted her to carry her over to her bed. Halfway to the bed she woke and wrapped her arms around his neck. “What are you doing?”
“Carrying you to bed. You fell asleep.”
“Sorry.” She sighed and put her head on his wide shoulder and sighed deeply. “Guess I was more tired than I thought.” She snuggled in his strong arms and then gave a squeak when he actually dropped her in the middle of her bed, and she bounced a couple of times. Before she could say anything, he followed her down with a grin. When he landed, she moved again and ended up practically beneath him. She giggled and looked up at him but sucked in her breath at the expression on his face. She slowly reached up and placed her hand on his cheek.
Christopher closed his eyes and leaned his face into her hand and sighed. When he opened his eyes, he slowly leaned in and lightly kissed her on the lips. She wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and lay back, not hesitating to follow her. Once settled, he deepened the kiss, and was jumping for joy on the inside when she opened her mouth for his probing tongue. Settling down next to her, he continued to kiss her and placed one hand on her stomach and held her head with the other one.
After several minutes he raised his head, and whispered, “Are you sure?”
“Yes, do you have a condom?”
“I do.”
“Good. Not that it’ll do any good, but good.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” He frowned at her and paused as he had begun lowering the zipper on the side of her dress.
“Nothing, I’ll tell you later,” she said, and rolled over, stood and quickly stripped. Standing before the bed naked she stared down at him. “Someone’s overdressed.” She giggled when he jumped to his feet and quickly stripped. But not before pulling a couple of foil packets from his wallet and placing them on the bedside table.
