Now I was coming to her; only it wasn’t for something happy like a holiday. I was returning home because she was sick.
With what, though?
I knew the clan had found their Mystic because Gran kept me in the loop. I didn’t understand why Tris couldn’t just heal her? Even though it wasn’t the shifter sickness Gran was sick with, Tris should be able to cure it. While her presence in the clan meant the shifter sickness couldn’t touch any of the members, it also meant she could heal them from things their own personal healing abilities couldn’t.
“Um. I’m not sure, but I think it might be a month or so.” I wanted it to be longer. Heck, I hoped it would be, but the way Gran had sounded on the phone made it seem as though time was of the essence.
“Will you be working on new stuff while you’re there?” Karen asked.
“Maybe. Probably,” I said. “I’m not sure yet.”
It all depended on the state Gran was in when I got there.
“Okay, well, if you happen to paint any masterpieces while there you know I can pop an image and some info into the newsletter or up on the website to generate excitement among buyers and fans of your stuff,” she said.
“Thanks. I’ll let you know if I have anything. I didn’t mention it before, but I’m heading to Gem Creek because my Gran called. She’s sick.”
“Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry. Here I am rambling on about Damon Kincaid and you working while away.”
“It’s okay. I should have said something.” I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t. Maybe because once I did, it gave the worries and fears forming inside me more life. “And I’m sure I’ll end up painting something while I’m there. I’ll send you a picture of it if I do.”
Heartache made for good art. It feeds the muse. Since going back to Gem Creek would bring me plenty of heartache, I figured my muse would be fed for a while.
“No worries if you don’t. Keep me posted, okay? Let me know how things are going with your sweet Gran. Send her my love, and let me know if there’s anything you need from me.”
Warmth filled me as well as my bear because we both knew Karen meant what she said. While I hadn’t made many friends in the city, Karen definitely counted as one. She knew more about my past and my family than anyone here. However, Karen didn’t know about my bear.
The only ones who did were those in the Maverick crew.
I’d learned of them by chance from a girl in my apartment complex. She’d noticed when I was moving in, I was a shifter and invited me to join their crew. I held out for the first two months, but my bear wasn’t about to let me go any longer. So, I joined them for a non-formal meet up once a month at a lake house two hours away from Denton. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to keep my bear settled—along with turning my apartment into a jungle of houseplants so she could feel like she was outdoors.
“I mean it. Call me if you need anything,” Karen insisted, pulling me back to our conversation.
“I will. Actually, there is something you can do for me,” I said as I glanced at the few gigantic houseplants I owned.
“Sure. What?”
“I need someone to water my plants while I’m gone,” I said.
“Uh, anything but that. You know I have a black thumb. Are you seriously willing to trust me with that task? Those plants are your babies.”
“All you’ll have to do is swing by to water them once a week. That’s it.”
She exhaled a long sigh. “Once a week? I think I can remember that.”
“Make yourself a calendar reminder if you’re worried,” I said. “And, thank you!”
“Don’t thank me yet. Wait until you come back and see if they’re still alive.” She chuckled. “I don’t know if I’ll see you before you leave, but you can drop your key on my desk when you bring that painting by. Drive safe. Call me later and give your Gran a hug for me. I’m so sorry she’s not well.”
“Thanks. I’ll talk to you soon.” I hung up and started cleaning up my mess at the easel.
An hour and a half later, my apartment was spotless but I still hadn’t finished packing. I checked my watch, noticing it was almost four fifteen, as I made my way to my bedroom. There was no way I’d be able to clean myself up, finish packing, and make it to the gallery in time to meet with Damon Kincaid. Karen might be upset with me, but like she’d said—he had my number. He could always call to discuss whatever it was he wanted to. After I took a quick shower, I finished stuffing my suitcase with things I probably wouldn’t even wear while at Gran’s and then hauled it to my SUV. I loaded up the painting Damon wanted next and then the one I’d just finished, thinking it was something Gran might like. Plus, I wanted to see if I was right about her porch. Then, I did a walkthrough of my apartment, grabbing houseplants I thought would be too sensitive to leave under Karen’s care. She might forget to water them or water them too much. I’d only intended to take three or four with me, but the more I glanced around, the more plants I loaded into my vehicle. It looked like a jungle before I forced myself to stop obsessing.
When I made it to the gallery there were lights on inside, but I knew the place was closed. I unlocked the door and slipped inside,
