“I thought you forgot,” Sierra smiled. “I’m so glad you didn’t forget.”
“One of the best days of my life, honey. There’s no way I could ever forget it.”
EPILOGUE
“Look at the progression of the little girl,” I heard the woman whisper to the man next to her. “It’s like watching her grow up.”
“Beautiful,” the man agreed. “But the other girl doesn’t have any as a baby. I wonder why.”
“That’s because my dad didn’t meet me until I was 11,” I said softly from behind them.
“That is you!” the woman exclaimed, glancing from my face to the sculptures I had displayed on the wall.
“Yes, along with my sister Leia,” I confirmed. “Our parents married when we were 11 and my dad adopted me that same year.”
“A father’s love right there,” the man smiled as he looked back at the sculptures my dad had made through the years. “I assume those aren’t for sale.”
“No, they are not,” I laughed softly. “But I do have plenty of pieces around the gallery that are available.”
“The eagle is his?”
“Yes, that’s his work.”
“My wife is interested in the painting in the south room,” the man told me as he started to walk. He stopped at a metal statue right before the wide doorway that led to one of the back rooms. “But I like this. Does this artist do commission work?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact he does. The artist is Jace Duke, you may have seen his pieces around town. He has a few in other areas of the state, too.”
“That’s his work in front of the children’s hospital in Dallas isn’t it?” the client asked. I was impressed that he could recognize an artist’s work on sight.
“Yes, sir - that’s his.”
“Exquisite, don’t you think, honey?” The man held his hand out to his wife and she took it in hers as she moved up to stand beside him.
“Which painting did you want to discuss?” I asked the woman.
I walked with the couple through the doorway and across the open gallery space. There was a painting there that took up most of the wall. The vivid colors of the Texas sunset lit up the canvas and the artist had painted the clouds with such depth that it felt like the person standing there could reach out and touch them.
“This one,” the woman whispered as she stopped in front of the painting. “I want this one.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I nodded. “I’ll get the paperwork together at the front while the two of you continue to browse. I assume we’ll be shipping this to you?”
“Yes,” the man told me over his shoulder. “We live in Austin.”
“Of course,” I smiled softly. “Would you like some information on the painting?”
“Yes, what is the artist’s name?”
“His name is Tucker Martin. He also lives here in Rojo.”
“Such talent,” the woman uttered quietly, still in awe of the beauty in front of her.
“I’d like to purchase the eagle statue we looked at earlier and also that little armadillo you have by the front door.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll start making the arrangements. The two of you take your time. Can I get you any refreshments?”
“No, thank you,” the woman smiled at me before she turned back to her new painting.
I felt a change in the air pressure of the room and knew that someone else had come in through the front door. I turned around and saw my sister waiting for me, a scowl on her face as she stared at the man standing by the door in a dark suit.
“Why aren’t you ready yet?” Leia whispered. “Everyone’s already at the clubhouse!”
“Sorry, I got caught up with some clients.”
“You closed 30 minutes ago!”
I yanked Leia’s arm and drug her through the door that led into my office. I turned and closed the door softly before I spun around and glared at her.
“When the governor of the great state of Texas comes into our fucking gallery, I stay open late. Especially when he’s about to drop a chunk of money on art that he’s probably going to display at the governor's mansion.”
“No shit?” Leia was shocked. “That’s the governor?”
“Don’t you vote? Or watch the news?”
“Not really, no.” Leia shrugged. “Is that other guy his security or what? What’s he buying?”
“He wants Dad’s eagle, Tucker’s sunset painting, and the armadillo that Uncle Jace brought in for us to use as a doorstop.”
“No shit,” Leia giggled. “That’s funny.”
“Why are you on my ass about being late? Did you even shower today? You reek.”
“Of course, I showered. At about 5:00 am.”
“Jesus, Leia,” I rolled my eyes. “There’s a change of clothes in the bathroom. Go rinse off the top layer of grime while I finish this sale.”
“You are so uptight, Lexi Lincoln.”
“You smell like a horse, Leia Lincoln,” I shot back before I pasted a pleasant smile on my face and headed back out front.
Once the sale was complete, I escorted the governor and his wife to the front door and then locked it behind them. I turned around to find Leia behind the display counter brushing her wet hair.
“Did they buy all of it?”
“Yes! And then as an impulse purchase, they took one of Bear’s chess sets to give as a gift to some ambassador.”
“Bear’s going to get a kick out of that,” Leia laughed.
“Yeah, their mansion is going to be decorated with art from a bunch of bikers that they would probably snub their nose at if they saw them on the street.”
“Did you put the snob tax on the ticket?”
“Nah, they were pretty nice,” I laughed. “Now, let’s go - we’re late!”
The End
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