Part 31 (1/2)
”Let me guess, you have one just like it at home?”
I gestured towards a volunteer and told him to pack it up as I made a note of the highest bid on the sheet so I could cover the cost.
”Yeah, this one is special to me.”
She took my hand. Her skin felt papery thin, just as my grandmother's once had, and her eyes held me with their intensity. ”I'm guessing they're all very special to you, so I thank you. We'll treasure this.”
As they walked off hand in hand, my woman came to take my hand. ”I was going to interrupt but that looked intense. I remember them. That was the older couple I was telling you about. She was the one going toe to toe with Beth Peterman over your paintings, especially the one of me practically bare-a.s.sed. It was pretty intense. I was rooting so hard for her.”
”You were?”
”Of course. I couldn't afford it myself and that just about killed me. I just remember feeling desperate that night. We weren't together anymore but I...I wanted something of ours. Maybe it was more that I wanted some piece of you. But they were all so far out of my price range. I'd been watching the two of them walk around the gallery hand in hand that night. They'd obviously been together for a long time and still seemed to be so in love. Anyway, if I couldn't have it, I wanted them to have it...to keep us safe, you know?”
”I get it. And I'd be a little creeped out by Beth having a naked picture of you on her wall. Or worse, that Mr. Peterman would be able to ogle your fine a.s.s on a daily basis.”
”You noticed that she's not here, right?” When I shook my head and shrugged, Carolyn teased, ”Sure you didn't. Anyway, the gossip gals in my mother's group said she's gone and Mr. Peterman has found himself a new young honey. I feel bad for her. I hope Beth picks more wisely next time.”
”Are you done selling? Maybe you shouldn't be on your feet so much.”
Another eye roll. I got one every time I said or did something that Carolyn saw as overprotective. ”I'm fine. This little fella is like the size of a kidney bean right now.”
”Little fella? Do you know something I don't?”
”No, and we're not finding out, ok? I want to be surprised. I'll be shocked if it's a girl, though. I just keep imagining a little boy that looks like you.”
Just like me.
Since we moved into our house, Carolyn has been going back and forth to her parents' place to clear out odds and ends. A few days ago she came home with some photos and a small box of keepsakes. I came across her laughing on our couch, flipping through a notebook. She made a half-hearted effort to hide it when I came into the room so I had to wrestle it from her, copping a feel in the process.
”Do not read that!” she shrieked. But she was laughing so hard that I knew whatever this was, it wasn't something seriously private.
My eyes went wide looking at the bubbly script that was clearly the work of a child. ”Mrs. Carolyn Rivers?”
”No!” she cried as she tried to grab the notebook that I was now holding up and out of her reach.
”Who's Rory Rivers and Jared Rivers?”
She was laughing so hard she had tears streaming down her cheeks. ”Our children,” she blurted out, covering her face in embarra.s.sment.
”You named our kids? In sixth grade?”
”Fifth grade.”
I couldn't contain my smile or my pride. So she really was into me way back then. I read over the names again: Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Rivers. That's what we were. And we were going to be naming our baby soon. ”I'm not a fan of Rory, sounds like what you'd name a big Irish Setter. Jared isn't half bad, though. Jared Rivers.”
”It's after Jared Leto.”
”The guy who wears eyeliner? Are you serious? Not happening. Now I don't feel so great about you crus.h.i.+ng on me back then.”
”Why not?”
”I was in the same category as a guy who likes to dress up like a chick?”
”Naw, back then he was a hottie...the brooding type.”
”Whatever. Jared's off the table.”