Almost Perfect

don't. If I can do well, that's enough. Truly.'

Sylvia looked at the two framers. 'If you'll excuse us, I need to talk to Maddy in my office.'

Battling nausea, she followed the older woman into the largest of the glass cubicles, feeling like a child on her way to the principal's office.

'Have a seat.' Sylvia closed the door, which offered little privacy since the whole shop could see inside. Crossing to a mini refrigerator, Sylvia pulled out a bottle of green tea and handed it to her.

Maddy sat as ordered and accepted the tea with shaky hands. After a few sips, her throat loosened enough for her to breathe more evenly.

'Better?' Sylvia sat back in the swivel armchair at her desk.

Maddy nodded, still queasy but no longer afraid she'd actually throw up. 'I'm sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me.'

The older woman studied her a moment. 'You know, I've worked with artists most of my life, but I don't pretend to understand what makes you tick. Frankly, I have this constant fear that all the artists of the world will go into therapy, conquer their demons, and art as we know it will cease to exist.'

Maddy laughed weakly.

'Here's the deal.' The desk chair squeaked as Sylvia leaned forward. 'I can sympathize with whatever has you worked up, but in the end I'm a businesswoman. As such, I'm going to lay things on the line so you understand exactly where I'm coming from. Maddy, I've invested a lot of money in you. Since we want to do two more print editions for our fall catalog, I plan to invest a gre.at deal more. Do you know how long it will take me to simply break even?'

'No.' Maddy stared at the bottle.

'Months if things go well. Possibly a year. And that's with you helping us promote your work. If you had come to us with a built-in following, I could afford for you to sit at home, create your art, and let us do all the rest. But that's not the case. You came to us a complete unknown. So if you're going to flake out on me, do me a favor and say so right now.'

Maddy stared at the design on the pale green bottle, branches forking off in different directions. Some of them crisscrossing and continuing. Others ending.

She had two paths from which to choose. One was a simple life with Joe, the two of them working together running both the summer camp and his boot camp. She'd still do her art, but on a quieter scale. Along the other path lay the kind of career most artists would sell their soul to have: nationwide fame, gallery shows, traveling. The pace would be grueling, but she'd never minded hard work. Punctuating that work would be moments of glamour, of being a star.

She traced one of the crisscrossed branches with her thumbnail. If she chose the path Sylvia offered, could she still have Joe? How would he feel, though, watching her from the sidelines as her fame grew? As excited as he was about his boot camp, she knew it wasn't what he really wanted to do. It would never match being in the Rangers.

He also enjoyed watching her sell her art, but his expectations couldn't possibly match this.

Everything in her yearned to accept what Sylvia offered, but it wasn't worth risking what she hoped to have with Joe. What she'd decided just that morning to go after.

She traced the design back down to the fork.

Career or love-those were her choices.

Closing her eyes, she chose love, and felt a little piece of her soul die. It was worth it, though. Love was worth any sacrifice.

'I'm sorry.' She opened her eyes, and felt steadier now that the decision was made. 'I can't do the shows.'

Sylvia sat a long while, absorbing the news. 'All right, she said at last. 'I think you re making a huge mistake, but it's yours to make. I'll cancel our plans to do the other prints and have them struck from the catalog. Sunrise Canyon will stay in, of course, but it won't do as well without the rest of our plan in place.'

The words sent pricks of pain to Maddy's heart, but she held firm. 'I understand.'

'Can I ask you a favor, though?'

She nodded, feeling guilty enough to grant nearly anything.

'Will you at least go to the party in Taos and do Rick's show? It's close enough for you to drive up there and back. We should be able to sell enough originals to offset some of my investment.'

Maddy hesitated. Even this seemed risky, but not nearly as frightening as the rest. 'Do you think they'd mind if I brought someone with me?'

'Of course not,' Sylvia assured her. 'The place is big enough that you could probably bring three or four guests.'

'Oh.' That perked her up some. She'd meant only to invite Joe, so that maybe he wouldn't mind her going, but maybe she could talk Christine and Amy into going too, since Christine would finally be done with her residency. 'Very well. I'll do it.'

'Thank you.' Sylvia visibly relaxed. 'Now, if you're up to it, let's sign a few more prints.'

Maddy rose, eager to escape the office before she changed her mind.

'And Maddy,' Sylvia added as they walked back into the frame shop, 'we do a spring catalog as well. When winter gets here, if you change your mind, let me know. I'd still like the chance to work with you.'

Maddy didn't know whether to laugh or cry. 'I'll think about it,' she said automatically, then chastised herself. She should have said no, that she wouldn't change her mind. Why did Sylvia have to leave this door open a crack, just when she thought she'd closed it firmly?

If only there was a way to take both paths.

When Maddy returned to the camp, she sent a long e-mail to her friends that set off a rapid exchange for the next two days. She'd meant to simply invite them to the party in Taos but had ended up telling them everything about her meeting with Sylvia.

Christine's response was fast and heated: Of course we'll come to the party. (Shut up, Amy, I'll take care of everything. So you ARE going.) But Maddy, are you NUTS???

Amy: I don't understand. Why do you think Sylvia's plans would upset Joe? From the way you've described him, I think he'd be thrilled. And if I go to Taos, does that fulfill my challenge?

Christine: NO! Amy, I'll make all the arrangements. I'll pick you up at your front door and be with you every step of the way. Consider this a test run for you going somewhere on your own. As for your question to Maddy: Yeah, Mad, why do you think Joe will be upset?

Maddy: I told y'all, I've decided for sure I want to marry this man.

Christine: So? Is he asking you to choose between him and your dream? Because if he is, dump the jerk.

Maddy: He's not asking me to do anything. Are

you kidding? We don't have 'Big Conversations.' We keep everything very small and very safe.

Amy: You mean you still haven't told him you love him?

Maddy: I'll tell Joe I love him when the time is right. When I know he'll believe me.

The following day brought another blistering reply from Christine, while Amy's response was disapproving but sympathetic. Before Maddy could answer, she heard Joe coming up the stairs to her apartment, his step light and happy. Her heart lifted.

Closing the laptop-which shut off her friends' disapproval-she went to open the door. Christine and Amy meant well, but they didn't understand. How could they? They weren't the ones in love. In fact, Amy had never had a serious boyfriend and Christine was a loser magnet, so their advice was suspect at best.

The minute Joe swept her into his arms and kissed her crazy, doubts over her choice vanished. Well, faded.

He lifted his head to smile at her. 'Are you done with your art for the day?'

'Actually, I was just- Never mind. Yes, I'm done.'

'Great. I'm done with work as well.' As he stepped inside, she realized he wore a dark blue dress shirt, black