She heard a customer enter the gallery. ‘I’m sorry, Nate, I’ve got to go, but I’ll give you a call soon. I promise.’
With a reluctant ‘OK’ and a huge sigh, Nathaniel Carlisle hung up.
With the happy customer leaving with a moody-looking Constable print of Brighton Chain Pier, and Danny texting to say he wouldn’t be back until after lunch, Vic set about arranging her window.
There was space for a large painting in the centre and three around the edge of that. She’d had nine smaller illustrations framed and had decided that she would rotate these throughout the month. Thinking which would make the best display, she came to the decision that the prints of the book covers she had created for Jerico would look really cool together and show her range, plus would be a bit of advertising for his books. She could imagine him saying, ‘It’ll get me to atleast two thousand in theDonkey Taleschart, once they see those.’
Then, to the big one in the middle. As she walked through to the back studio, a feeling of excitement surged through her belly as she started to remove the bubble wrap. She hadn’t seen it framed yet, and knew that the shade she had chosen for the frame would enhance the colours even further. She gasped as she saw it in its full glory. Even seeing her swirly trademark signature ofVictoria Smade her feel proud of what she was actually about to do. She propped it up on the easel in the middle of the room and grinned broadly. Who’d have thought the abstract she had created post-diagnosis would be the one that was going to be her first exhibit piece? She put her hand close to the glass and started to swirl it around in various huge virtual paint strokes. She had named itFire & Blues.
Giving the glass of the framed book-cover prints a dust-off, she read aloud: ‘Mr Pigeons and the Glasgow Kiss,’ took a deep breath and suddenly felt sad. If Jerico hadn’t kissed her, then everything would be OK, wouldn’t it? But he had, and even when she was telling Ray that she had brushed it off as a tipsy kiss, she had realised it had been more than that. She had felt her toes curl. She had felt an electric current go through her. She had felt like a teenager again. Not dissimilar to what she had felt with Danny. But thathadbeen lust and longing, and if she was honest with herself, in that moment of life-changing madness, she had also subconsciously sabotaged her relationship, in order to push herself to make a decision regarding Nate.
Jerico had messaged her the night of the kiss. Not apologising for it in any way, but saying sorry for rushing off. She had ignored his text. He had tried to call her a couple of days later, but not knowing how to deal with her emotions, she had stared at the phone as if it were some kind of alien, then had let out a little groan as it rang off. His last attempt at contacting her had been via text, after Ray had shared his latest book cover withhim, as she had instructed. Unike with Nate’s, she’d been pleased that this message didn’t include a question mark. And trust Jerico to make sure that his reply didn’t pressurise her in any way either.
Dear Queen Victoria. Mr Pigeons and the donkeys are simply delighted with their new cover. Now, find what brings you joy and take yourself there.
Victoria was suddenly awash with a sense of sadness and regret. What a beautiful thing for Jerico to say. If she didn’t have HIV, maybe – just maybe – there would be a chance for them to make it work. Because she liked him, and he clearly liked her. But her shame was too great, and telling him was a risk that she was too frightened to take. For, despite only knowing this charming man such a short time, a life without Jerico Flint in it – in whatever capacity, and however difficult it may be – was something she was not prepared to take a chance on.
A while later, Danny came rushing through the front door. ‘Wow, wow, wow, Vic, the window looks fucking magnificent. I’m so happy you decided on your new one. I didn’t want to push you but it really is so, so special. Amazing! I hope you don’t mind, but when I change the window I get the local paper to do a little piece on the artist showing. I actually met my journalist mate for lunch so he can get it in this week’s. It just helps to bring in the business, and all of these certainly will. They’re all fab, Vic! He’s going to call for a quick chat in around an hour if that’s OK. Do you have any prints of them, as well as the originals?’
‘The books covers are just prints. The author kept the originals.’ Vic felt slightly overwhelmed. ‘I got fifty of each of them. But I wanted the main one to be a one-off.’
‘I agree. Someone will hang that in their home andpeople will be asking who painted it. I’m excited for you. And what price are you putting on them?’
‘I’ve no idea, Danny. This is all so alien to me.’
‘Well, I say put a thousand on the original abstract and two hundred and fifty each on the cover prints.’
‘That much?’ Vic’s eyes widened.
‘Vic, you’re good. Really good. I’ve seen a lot of artists come and go here. You are going to be a name. I just know it. Your work is incredible.’
Vic felt herself tingle from head to foot.
Danny smiled. ‘It really is. Now, sorry I’ve been so long. You must be starving. Go and have a break, and I’ll see you back here in an hour to talk to the journalist. OK?’
TWENTY-NINE
BRIGHTON
The Customer
Four days later, after a busy day in the gallery, Vic was restocking hand-painted cards in the small rack on the counter with her back to the door when she was startled by a slow, molasses-like, southern American drawl behind her.
‘I’m not interested in those ropey old cover illustrations in the window, y’all, but where can I buy those interesting-sounding detective books, honey child?’
Startled, Vic spun around and not only felt the blood rushing to her cheeks but a million butterflies start to have a party in her stomach.
‘Jerico?’
‘Queen Victoria.’ He doffed his smart white fedora with its fetching black band at her.
‘What are you doing here?’
‘I could ask you the same. Being honest, I didn’t know you’d be here.’ Jerico faltered; his voice went quieter. ‘But I really hoped that you would be.’
Vic managed to stop herself from saying ‘Aww’ out loud asthe handsome one continued: ‘The newspaper article omitted that bit. So that’s quite the bonus all round, isn’t it?’ He grinned.
‘I didn’t know it had gone national?’ Vic looked confused.
