“What?” I ask, my mind racing with what it could be.
His boyish grin grows wider. “I bought an easel and painting supplies for you so you could work here when you’re not in the studio. I set it all up in the piano room.”
A feeling of warmth goes through my chest and I stand on my tiptoes to give him a kiss on the lips. “Thank you,” I breathe with gratitude when I pull away. My cheeks hurt from the wide smile on my face, but I don’t even try to hide it.
Zander winks at me. “I thought you might like it.” He gives me several more kisses that leave me wanting more before pulling away. There’s a look of regret on his face as he gazes at me, as if he wishes he could stay. “Don’t go anywhere while I’m gone, and do not answer your phone if you don't know who it is. I don’t want you in contact with him.”
I nod my head slowly, my anxiety slightly rising at his serious tone. “I won’t.” I promise. It's not like Danny’s threat feels real, it doesn’t. But I feel safer here with Zander. I don’t want to see Danny at all. Just the thought makes a chill run through my body. I don’t want to talk to him. I don’t want anything to do with him, and I trust Zander when he says he’s taking care of it.
Zander gives me one more quick kiss on the lips. “Later then, sweetheart.”
He walks over to the door but before he can leave, I call out, “Wait.”
Zander turns, arching an eyebrow in question.
“What am I supposed to paint while you’re gone?”
His brow furrows in thought for a moment and then he gives me that boyish grin. “I don’t know. Surprise me.”
With a wink he’s gone, leaving me alone in the room. I listen to the sound of his footsteps receding down the hallway until they fade into the distance. After a minute, I hear the roar of the engine of one of his cars start up outside as he drives away.
I chew on my lip, wondering what I could paint for Zander. Looking around the room, I feel like he has expensive taste. Hmm... An item of wealth, maybe? Power? I shake my head. No, I don’t think he’d like that.
I got it! Remembering his reaction to my painting of the woman, suddenly I have an idea and my face breaks out into an excited grin. My fingers itching with excitement, I rush out into the hall toward the piano room. I stop just outside of it, grabbing the picture frame off the stand just outside the door.
When I walk into the room, the breath catches in my throat.
“Ohhh,” I say softly, butterflies in my stomach.
Zander’s set up a chair and easel on the dais with the piano, pointing it toward the floor-to-ceiling windows so I could paint with the breathtaking backdrop in front of me. He even went to the trouble to have the painting supplies set out and ready. All I have to do is sit down and start painting.
This is so sweet of him. So unexpected.
Tears pricking my eyes, I walk up the dais and set the frame upright on the piano. I take a seat at the easel and look at the brushes. When I choose the right one, I dip it into a deep earth tone shade of brown and begin painting.
Over the next several hours, I lose all sense of time as I work on the painting, frequently casting glances at the picture frame, trying to get every detail and nuance right. I don’t take any breaks and I get so lost in my art, not even getting up to go to the bathroom. And by the time I’m close to done, my back is aching and my right hand feels nearly numb.
“Almost there,” I whisper, setting a brush down into a small cup of water on the stand next to me. There's a bit of paint on Zander's shirt I'm wearing, but I’m sure he won’t mind. I fucking hope not. “It’s missing something,” I murmur, staring hard at the painting, a replica of Zander’s mother, Marie.
I stare at it long and hard, trying to figure out what it is. Finally, I snap my fingers.
Her smile. A feeling of joy sweeps through me, a rush of euphoria I always get when I’m close to finishing a work of art. It’s not quite right. There’s life to the smile I see in the photo. A tenderness that shows her love for Zander. And it’s missing from this canvas.
“Once I get that done,” I say happily, loving how it all looks, “it’ll be perfect.”
And I hope Zander will love it.
I’m about to pick up a paintbrush and apply the finishing touches, when I hear a faint ringing sound. I pause, frowning, straining my ears. I can’t tell exactly where the sound is coming from, but it sounds like it’s in the other room.
I pick the paintbrush back up, but now that I’ve heard the sound, I can’t unhear it. I’ve got to know what it is. Sighing, I place the paintbrush down and walk into the adjoining room, one of Zander’s studies.
Ding. Ding. Ding.
It’s my cell, laying on his desk.
When I see the messages on the screen, my heart leaps up my throat.
It’s Natalie. Fuck!
I’ve been so worried about Danny that I forgot to call her.
That’s not true, says the annoying voice at the back of my head. You were too wrapped up with your lover Zander to care.
I’m really starting to hate that fucking voice right now, especially because it reminds me how much of a shitty friend I've been.
Sucking in a deep breath, I pick up the phone, reading through some of the messages.
Nattybatty95: Hey Ari! I got some crazy shit to tell you! I can’t wait to get home to talk to you about it :P
Nattybatty95: Where you at, chica?
Nattybatty95: Is something wrong? :(
Nattybatty95: Why aren’t you home yet?
Nattybatty95: WTF
Nattybatty95: I’m filing a missing persons report if I don’t hear from you within the next day
The last message sends me into a panic and my fingers are flying across the keys before I even have time to process.
Artistchick96: Hey nat! Don’t go filing a police report!!! I’m totally fine! Don’t worry. I just took a mini vacation that’s all
My cell chimes with an immediate ding.
Nattybatty95: Ari! Thank God you’re alright! I was just about to file that report on you
Thank fuck she didn’t. Jesus.
Artistchick96: No need! I’m okay.
Nattybatty95: Holy shit, you scared me to death! I thought you’d been kidnapped or something
My fingers fly across the touch screen.
Artistchick96: Nope. You’re still stuck with me.
Nattybatty95: Wait, where are you? And where the hell have you been!?
I pause before responding, biting my lower lip while I think. I feel awful about the worry and panic I’ve caused Natalie. And I can’t believe I haven’t thought to send her a message while I’ve been staying over here with Zander. But deep down, I know a part of me didn’t want to contact Natalie because... I knew she’d be trouble.
If I told her I was staying somewhere, she would’ve pestered me with endless questions.
God, I feel awful.
Sucking in a deep breath, I type out a quick message, ignoring her last message.
Artistchick96: hey... are you home?
Nattybatty95: No, but I will be in about a half hour.
Nattybatty95: Why what’s up?
I hesitate, my heart pounding in my chest. As bad as I feel about keeping Nat in the dark, I’m not sure if I want to do this. But if I don’t give her at least something, she might grow suspicious.