‘No, actually, I wanted to speak to you. You know, my boss, Claudine – she popped in the other day?’
Odette’s brow furrowed. ‘Yes, you told me I think?’
‘Well,’ Bella tried to cover her misgivings with a smile. ‘She wanted me to give you this.’
Odette took the small card, turned it over, read the name. ‘Marie Fontaine?Why – why would she give me this?’
‘My boss loved your painting. The seascape. Really loved it. And she knows her stuff. Her sister’s a curator, or an artist or something. Her dad was in the industry too. I can’t remember all the details, but anyway, she has this connection and thought it would be worth you approaching her with some of your work!’
Odette’s eyes were still focused on the card. Then, ‘Non,’ she said, handing the card back.
‘What do you mean? Surely – I mean I know it’s daunting – but this is a great opportunity, right?’ Bella didn’t raise her hand to take the proffered card and the two stayed in some sort of stalemate.
‘Non. I am not ready,’ Odette said, pushing the card at her more forcefully.
‘Yes, you are!’ Bella gently pushed the card back, so that Odette’s arm folded in a little closer to her body. ‘Your paintings are amazing. And you have— well, you have a lot of paintings in there.’
‘Non.’
‘Seriously, Odette. If not now, then when? I know this is your dream. I know you’ve lost your confidence, but if this Madame Fontaine would be willing to look at your work, surely that’s an opportunity you shouldn’t miss out on?’
Odette scowled.
Sometimes Bella wondered why she’d ever thought she had anything in common with her housemates. The more she lived here, the more she noticed remnants of the children they had once been, still evident in some of their behaviour. They were in that weird phase of not-childhood but not-yet-adulthood.
‘Come on,’ she said. ‘At least think about it.’
‘OK, I will think about it. Happy?’
‘Thank you.’
Odette closed the door rather abruptly and Bella was left standing in a hall full of shadows.
There was nothing else she could do.
She made her way back to the kitchen where Brad was still sitting at the table, papers spread out, laptop flickering. He’d switched on the lamps; the room was bathed in a warm, yellow light, and the kettle was just coming to a boil. He looked up at her expectantly. ‘And?’
She shook her head. ‘Not keen.’
‘But she took the card?’ he said, noticing that she wasn’t holding anything.
‘Yep, she took the card.’
‘So we’ll see.’ He grinned.
She felt suddenly grateful for this man who’d come from nowhere and was now dedicating his evenings to helping her, and doing it with such enthusiasm and kindness. ‘Want a cup of tea?’
‘You bet.’
Bella made her way to the kettle. ‘Thanks for this. You don’t have to.’
‘I know. But when I?—’
‘Let me guess,’ she said, turning and grinning. ‘When you were younger, people helped you. You may have already mentioned this once or twice.’
Her tone made it clear she was teasing, so she was surprised to see him fixing her with a steady gaze. ‘Actually, I was going to say that when I’m with you, it’s like all my own problems fade away.’
‘Because it keeps your mind busy?’ she said, spooning loose tea into the pot and wondering why her hand was trembling slightly.
