My father frowned at my tone and waved at the waiter. “Maybe you need to eat. You’re grumpy when you’re hungry.”
I let out a laugh. If only he knew the true reason for my foul mood.
The waiter brought us water and a basket of bread, and took our orders. My mother put a warm sourdough roll on Tyler’s bread plate and one for my father. Then she handed the basket to me.
I raised my eyebrow at Abby when she came back. “What was that all about?” I whispered so only she could hear.
Abby leaned closer. “You looked like you wanted to punch her.”
“I did not.” I lowered my head, ashamed at the truth of her words.
Abby huffed and placed the white linen napkin on her lap. “Anyway.” She spread butter on a roll and took a bite.
“Is there something you’re hiding from me?” I said around a mouthful of bread.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Is Jessica with Lee at this restaurant?” I glanced behind me and I shook my head, upset with myself for caring. What was I doing? I had to let him go. “You know what, never mind.”
Abby shifted her gaze away from me. “He’s not. Don’t be silly.”
My sister was lying. She could never look me in the eye when she did, but I let it go. I was leaving tomorrow anyway, so what did it matter?
“Why are they whispering?” My father chomped on his bread.
“Eat your bread, honey. They don’t want us to hear.” Mother handed Tyler a glass of water.
Tyler shook his head. “No, Grandma. I’m not thirsty.”
I kissed Tyler on the head and hugged him. He always made me think of what was most important in our lives—the people we loved and who loved us back.
After dinner, we took more pictures by the Christmas decorations in the lobby. I was ready to go home, but Abby wanted to check out the garden.
“Why are you walking so fast?” I fell behind Abby’s swift steps pounding on the marble floor.
Abby rounded the corner and halted in front of a ballroom.
“This isn’t the garden. Are you lost?” I looked over my shoulder at my parents, making their way to us with Tyler, and then back to Abby.
“Kate.” She inhaled a deep breath, her hands clasped under her chin. “Your life is about to change. Don’t be mad at me.” She kissed my cheek. “I love you.”
“Abby? What did you do?” My heart thumped faster and I reached for her arm, but she pushed the door open.
We stood in an empty room, but the walls were filled with twenty paintings and large, framed photos. They looked familiar. It took a moment for me to process that they were mine. All of them.
I walked up to the painting of Lee and Bridget I had wrapped and stored at the back of Lee’s painting room. I hadn’t messaged him about it yet. I had planned to after I left, but it was here. How?
And ... oh goodness, the painting Mr. Medici’s Shirt hung smack in the middle of the side wall, sticking out like a sore thumb. Not only from the grand size, but the muddy blobs of mismatched mixed together.
Who put it here? Abby? Why?
On the corner of the frame, a white tag said—sold. Price: $20,000. Name: Ian Bordonaro.
What? I blinked and looked at it again. Lee’s friend bought that painting? What in heavens for? Then I went to the next painting of New York City buildings.
It had a white tag that said sold with the name of the person who had bought it, and a price of $5,000. I went to the next frame—a wine bottle on a stack of books. Depending on the size of the canvas and the framed photo, they were priced from $5,000 to $20,000.
I had meant to blow up the pictures I had taken and give them to Abby to sell, but she had beaten me to it.
“Abby, when did you do this? What’s going on?”
I turned to find Abby when she didn’t answer, but I was stunned to silence. Lee stood where I had expected her, and my family was nowhere to be seen. I had been so shocked to see all of my work that I hadn’t heard anyone come in or out of the ballroom.
I wanted to cover up the photo behind me, one of my favorites. I had taken that picture of Lee by accident at the Poipu Plaza. The mistake turned out in my favor. He looked so dapper and natural, with his eyes directly at the camera.
“Lee. What are you doing here?” I swallowed and took a step back. Standing a few feet from each other had my pulse racing. Seeing him again brought back feelings I’d tried hard to suppress.
Lee took a step forward, his expression unreadable. “Why did you leave that night, Kate?”
His question and sternness intimated me a little.
“I-I wasn’t feeling well. I already told you.” I shifted my clutch purse to the other arm, needing something to do with my hands.
Lee’s frown told me he didn’t believe me.
His chestnut-colored eyes darkened and a hint of hurt came through his tone. “I think you were just fine. I think you ran away. I said something or did something that made you upset. Please tell me so I can explain. I’m not going to hurt you. I’m not like your ex.”
I glanced down to my black heels. This was the moment of truth. Lee was right. I had run away because I didn’t want my heart crushed again. After what Jayden had done to me, I had closed my heart and come up with reasons not to be with anyone else. But still, even with this revelation, I still made up excuses.
“I wasn’t running away.” With my chin up, I raised my voice a little, trying to sound strong. “It was my last day.”
Lee shook his head. “There’s something else bothering you. I thought ...” He squared his shoulders and inhaled. “I thought we had a start of something special.”
“I thought so, too.” That slipped out too fast. His confession had chipped away some of the barrier I had built between us.
Lee’s eyes grew wider. “Then what happened?”
“Ian. You were trying to set me up with your friend.” Embarrassed from my outburst, I shifted my gaze to the closed doors on the other side. I wondered where my family went.
He pressed his lips, trying not to smile. “No, like I told you, I wanted you to get to know him because I thought he would be a good match for Abby when she’s ready. Ian means a great deal to me, but when it comes to finding someone right for him, he hasn’t had any luck.”
“Oh.” I felt like an idiot. Except ... “You never told me that.”
He rubbed the back of his head, his brow furrowing. “Yes, I did.”
I crossed my arms. “No, you didn’t. Believe me, I’d remember that.”
His frown deepened, then he looked a little sheepish. “Well ... I certainly meant to tell you.”
I wasn’t done. I wanted to get everything out in the open. “I heard you have lots of women.” I arched an eyebrow in challenge.
He raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Some women spread rumors about me because I never pay attention to them. They have no idea who I am. What other women are you talking about?”
“Cassie?” I brought my clutch purse to my chest and hugged it.
Lee scrunched his features. “Cassie requested me for a real estate deal. I take on the requested projects and then I pass down the responsibility to someone else. I’m not going to lie to you. Cassie wanted more than a business transaction, but I didn’t. Nothing happened between us and nothing ever will.”