“Because it wasn’t a process. It was desperation. I went to art school on a full scholarship. I knew I’d need to sell paintings right after I graduated if I was going to have money to eat. So I worked hard, slowly building my collection into something I could market. Even after I became well-known, I worked long hours. The last six years have disappeared and apart from a healthy bank account, I don’t have anything to show for it.”
“You don’t seem like the type of person who could lock herself away from the world.”
She handed Gabe the last dish. “You can do anything if you have the right motivation.”
His gaze lingered on her face. “I’m sensing there’s a ‘but’ in there somewhere.”
“I lost track of what’s important. I was so caught up with being a commercial success that I didn’t spend time with the people I love.” She glanced at Gabe, wondering if he would understand the guilt she was carrying. “Until mom and I left Sapphire Bay, we lived in the cottage with my grandparents. Even when I was at college, I used to spend each vacation here. When I moved to Europe, all that changed. I could have chosen to come home more often, but I didn’t.”
“You were building your career.”
“That’s what I told myself. Last year my grandparents died in a car accident. I’ll never get back the time I could have spent with them.” She took a deep breath and stared through the kitchen window. “Grandma and I used to sit on the veranda, talking about what’s happening in our lives. Granddad used to take me fishing and tell me stories about the steamboats that used to cross Flathead Lake. They were wonderful people.”
“Your grandparents would have understood why you didn’t come home.”
“That doesn’t make it okay.” She turned to Gabe, half-afraid to tell him how selfish she’d been. “Instead of going to their funeral, I went to the opening of my exhibition in London. Afterward, I knew I’d made the wrong decision.”
“Why are you here now? I know you need to paint two canvases, but you could have done that anywhere.”
Natalie sighed. “This might sound strange, but I need to find the person I used to be. I was going to leave Venice in September, but the burglary brought my plans forward.”
“And I nearly derailed them by renting the cottage.”
“It worked out okay.”
“It did.”
The sadness in Gabe’s eyes worried her.
He folded the dishtowel and placed it on the counter. “If it’s any consolation, I can relate to what you’ve said. While I was working in the police force, my whole life centered around my job. When I met Michelle, I never thought we’d be more than friends. But over time, our friendship grew into love.” He looked down at his hands. “I was going to ask her to marry me.”
“That must have been a horrible time.”
“Not as horrible as realizing how isolated I’d become. After Michelle’s funeral, I took six months off work. I needed to make some changes in my life.”
“Did you go back to your job with the police?”
Relief replaced the sadness in Gabe’s eyes. “No. While I was on leave, I submitted my first novel to an agent. They loved it and sent it to one of the largest publishing houses in New York City. Two weeks later I signed a contract and started editing my second novel.”
“Is your life heading in the right direction now?”
He looked away. “Until five months ago, I thought it was.”
She didn’t know what had happened, but he didn’t seem happy. “Can you fix what’s happened?”
“I thought coming here would have helped, but it hasn’t. Someone is stalking me.”
That was the last thing Natalie expected to hear. “I didn’t think people did that anymore.”
“You’d be surprised. It started with emails, then escalated to letters and photos. I ignored most of what the person said until the photos started arriving. I heard about your cottage from a friend of your mom’s. After what was happening, it seemed like the perfect place to lay low. Unfortunately, it hasn’t stopped the letters.”
“Does the person know you’re here?”
“I don’t think so. The letters are still being sent to my agent.”
Natalie frowned. “Is that why you don’t want anyone to know you’re a writer?”
“If the person who’s stalking me knows I’m here, they could make everyone’s life difficult. If you want me to move out, I will. It was hard enough dealing with what’s happening myself. I don’t expect you to get caught up in my mess.”
