He smiled back. ‘I know we’re well past Christmas now but a warm hat is a warm hat.’
He introduced his wife, Pam, who I recognised from previous visits.
‘Sorry we never introduced ourselves before,’ she said. ‘We didn’t want you to feel like we were spying.’
‘It’s no problem at all. Good to meet you properly now.’
‘Would it be possible to have the afternoon tea?’ she asked.
There were a few options to choose from so I gave them menus, told them to pick their table and said I’d be over shortly to take their order.
‘Do you want me to serve them?’ Molly asked once they’d left the counter.
‘No, it’s all right. They’re Jed’s former in-laws and I want to quiz them about something.’
I gave them a few minutes before taking their order.
‘How are you doing, Billy?’ I asked.
‘Treatment seems to be going well but I get tired easily.’
‘We’d normally have a wander round the shops after coming in here,’ Pam said, ‘but it’s too much for him to do both.’
‘And afternoon tea will always win for me,’ Billy added with a cheeky smile.
‘I’m glad it’s going well,’ I said. ‘And are you still revelling in proud grandparent mode after Aaron’s heroism on Boxing Day?’
Billy’s eyes lit up. ‘So very proud. Aaron’s still brushing it off but I think it’s a big deal. He didn’t need to stop and lose his chance at winning.’
‘He’s like a fish,’ Pam said. ‘He’s been accepted into the local swimming club. It’s a big commitment – in the pool every morning before school, swimming with the club three nights a week and competitions at weekends – but he’s giving it his all and never moans about the early starts.’
I couldn’t resist the opportunity for a little further digging. ‘Mustn’t give himtime for much else.’
‘It doesn’t,’ Billy said. ‘He manages to fit in his homework and that’s it.’
‘Sounds demanding but it’s good he’s doing something he loves. I’ll leave you to it and be back shortly with your drinks.’
Well over a fortnight had passed since Jed had given Aaron an art lesson but all those swimming club commitments would explain why he hadn’t returned – he clearly didn’t have the time. Maybe it was for the best. He’d be leaving at Easter and, if Jed had reestablished their former closeness by then, losing him all over again would be devastating. But as I glanced across the road, I knew Jed would far rather spend the time with Aaron and experience the pain of loss once more than never have that opportunity.
19
JED
Although Monday was usually one of Anastasia’s days off, she’d asked if she could work today so that she was in the gallery on the first day her watercolours were on display. I thought that was a great idea. I’d driven to Anastasia’s cottage first thing on Saturday and loaded all her canvases into my car, taken them into my studio and carefully organised them into the ones I thought we should get made into prints, into greetings cards and a few less conventional-sized ones which we’d just sell as originals. It would be a few weeks before the prints and cards were ready but there’d been no reason to delay getting a few originals on the wall so I’d hung them last night after the gallery closed.
Late in the afternoon, I heard a squeal. Heart pounding, I raced downstairs thinking Anastasia had injured herself, but she was jumping up and down, waving her arms in the air.
‘Are you okay?’ I asked.
‘I’ve just sold my first painting. I can’t believe it.’
I smiled at her, remembering feeling the same way when someone from the Sydney gallery called to let me know they’dsold a print from my first collection. I’d somehow managed to keep my cool on the phone but I’d raced outside and leapt into the pool, fully clothed, as soon as the call ended.
‘Congratulations! And, not only have you sold your first painting, it was an original rather than a print and on its first day up.’
‘I’m in shock,’ she said.
‘Now do you believe you can paint?’
