“Don’t forget.” I stop at the back door. “I’ll be at work late setting up the Baxter gallery. I should be home by seven. Your parents know, right?”
“Yeah, they know.” Her tone is laced with disappointment.
I nod and leave. Maybe I should give her some hours next week after all. I did already promise she could make extra money by helping out and if she’s like the average teenager, that paycheck has already been spent.
Four
The house is empty when I get back, but I expected that. Kian and Alexia are both at work and my other siblings, at least those in college, won’t be coming home until Friday. This is one of the first years since all of us have been in either college or high school that our break is happening at the same time.
I drop my keys on the dining room table and wander into the kitchen. Seeing Jesse for the first time since November went great, at first. I could have sat there enjoying coffee and talking to him all day, but he was getting busy and I didn’t need to be hanging out in the back. Between Cam and his customers he had his hands full. And, he did have Larry.
What the hell is up with her? I get the crush, but does Jesse have any idea how the girl feels?
No. He’s clueless. I could tell by their interaction.
Should I say something?
Is it even any of my business?
Hell, I don’t even know if I’m going to see him again. It’s not like we made plans. He just asked if I wanted to have dinner sometime. Then again, we didn’t exactly get a chance to firm up details.
I’m also not ready to give up. Especially after today. That connection I originally felt was still there. But, I’m also going to give if a few days. Tomorrow would be too soon. Maybe I’ll stop in again on Saturday and take my sister with me. We can be out shopping, make it all innocent and stuff.
A grin pulls at my lips. Yep, that’s what I’m going to do. If he doesn’t mention dinner again, then I’ll give up.
My phone rings as I open the fridge. “Hey, Kian. What’s up?”
“Alexia and I dropped her car at the shop this morning for an oil change and tune up.”
“Okay.” Why is he telling me this?
“I just found out that I have a mandatory meeting after work so I won’t be able to pick her up.”
“No problem.” I’ve never been to Baxter, or at least not on the campus but I know where it is.
“She’s changing out art in the gallery with new displays for Spring Break so she’ll be working later too.”
“It’s not like I have plans.” I laugh. It’s sad because I really wish I had plans with Jesse. “Do you have a guesstimate of a time?”
“Sixish?”
“I’ll be there.”
“Great.” He sounds relieved. Did he think I’d not get her? “Use the gallery door off the parking lot. If it’s not open just knock or text her and let her know you’re there.”
I tell him goodbye and hang up. Well, at least I now have one solid plan for my break. Picking up who I assume will one day be my sister-in-law. The excitement is almost more than I can take.
“Stop that,” I say to an empty room. Just because I didn’t get a confirmed date with Jesse doesn’t mean there isn’t hope. I’ll be here a week and a half. Surely I’ll get a chance to spend time with Jesse again. If it doesn’t happen after seeing him on Saturday, then I’ll forget him and no more what ifs.
Before each art class is dismissed, Alexia and I have the kids wrap and box their old pieces of artwork from the gallery. Some of it will be stored and others are loaded into the back of my truck to take to my gallery for sale. Then we have them bring up the newer pieces to put on display. We didn’t let them put anything up, but just had them stacked along one wall. Alexia and I are facing a room of bare walls and empty stands. This is going to take longer than I thought. It always does. We’ve been changing out the gallery quarterly, right before each break, and each time we have more and more art that’s worthy of display. At this rate, and the caliber of artists coming through Baxter, we might need to ask the board to add on to the building.
“Well, let’s get started,” Alexia says brightly and begins grabbing paintings and leaning them along the wall. I follow and do the same. Paintings always go up first so we can stand back and make sure they flow the way we want before adding the ceramics to the stands.
“So, Deirdre is staying with you for Spring Break?” I try to sound nonchalant, but I’m digging for information.
“Yeah.” Alexia switches two paintings out and moves further down the wall. “Where did you see her?”
“She was out wandering around this morning and came into the gallery.” I grab more paintings and added them to the long line. Alexia will rearrange them if she wants.
“All of Kian’s siblings are going to be home for the break.” She frowns and moves a painting to an opposite wall. “Except Brenden. The Army doesn’t get Spring Break.” She chuckles and starts hanging the paintings on the hooks already attached to the wall.
“Um, is she…you know…seeing anyone?” So much for being nonchalant.
Alexia glances over her shoulder and gives an intrigued look with one eyebrow raised and the side of her mouth quirked.
My face heats. Damn, it’s like I’m sixteen again.
“I don’t believe so,” she answers slowly. “Thinking about asking her out?”
I shrug. “Maybe lunch or dinner.”
She chuckles and goes back to hanging the paintings.
I do want to ask Deirdre
