Instead of sending the photo, I drop my head and walk fast. If I don’t see anything, then I can get through this and do what I keep telling myself is what I want.
Florida is where the gallery is. Florida is where I will finally make enough money to get out from my parents’ thumbs, give Chastity a better life, and be something.
They’re already boarding, so I walk straight over to the gate attendant.
The couple in front of me are talking about their wedding and my chest starts to ache again.
“Do you think the girls will be okay?” the woman asks.
“They’ll be fine. This is our weekend. Our daughters will be just fine.”
She leans her head onto his shoulder. “I can’t believe we’re finally married.”
His eyes are so filled with love it makes my breath catch. “We waited long enough to finally be happy. It’s still so surreal. We’ve known each other forever…”
They start to walk forward and it’s my turn. “Miss?” The gate attendant stands there with her hand out.
I look down at the ticket and the tears I was holding back start to flood.
What am I doing?
Why am I here?
This isn’t the only chance I might have to do something with my art. There were tons of messages and comments asking to buy the paintings outright.
I’m going to leave for well over a year, and for what? A gallery. A gallery that didn’t know of me until that profile was made. I was fine before that app. Sure, I wanted more, but Derek saw the more in me when I couldn’t.
He’s what matters. He, Chastity, and Everly are all I need. They’re more than I could ever ask for.
We could make it through the time apart, I know that. But why make myself wait for the one thing in this world that I’ve wanted more than anything?
I can paint from that room.
I can sell them on my own.
Hell, I can open my own damn gallery. There’s about to be a very empty space above the store that has great views of the ocean.
“Miss?” the attendant says again, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Are you going to board?”
“No. No, I’m not. I have to go.”
I race out of the terminal and down to where the cabs are located. Thankfully, I find one willing to take me the hundred miles up to the island. The entire way, I can’t stop smiling.
This was the right choice. The only choice. Making a move like this should’ve been full of joy, but it wasn’t. He’s my joy. My family is my joy, not a gallery in Florida.
I call Mr. Sterling as we get close to the town limits.
“I’d like to thank you first and foremost. You have no idea how honored I am that you chose me.”
He clears his throat. “But?”
“But I can’t come there. I have something here, in Virginia, that’s more precious to me than anything. You see, I painted those pieces because I never felt like I was on land. I felt as though I were drifting out to sea, looking for the shoreline and the person who sat on that beach. Well, after a very long time, I finally found him.”
“You’re a romantic, Ms. Berkeley.”
“I guess I am,” I say with a small laugh.
“I understand. I’ve been married to my wife for thirty-seven years. I hope you find your happiness.”
“Thank you,” I say before hanging up.
The car turns down Sycamore Street and my heart is racing. The cabdriver turns left, and Derek’s outside, walking to his car.
“Stop here!” I yell and the driver hits his brakes.
I don’t wait for the vehicle to stop. I throw the door open and I’m running toward him.
“Derek!” I call his name.
His eyes widen as he sees me rushing toward him. “Teagan?”
The tears that fall now aren’t sad. They’re tears of relief and happiness. My happiness. I keep moving, crashing into him, and his arms wrap around me.
We stumble a little, but he keeps us upright, just like he’s always done. He steadies me when I waver.
“What are you doing here? What about your flight? What about the job?”
“I’m not going. You’re what matters to me. You, the girls, this house, I can paint from here. I can paint anywhere, but you’re here and you are where I’m meant to be.”
He brings his lips to mine, holding tightly and kissing me with his whole heart.
I watch his blue eyes fill with love and contentment.
“I love you,” I tell him.
“I love you.”
My thumb brushes his cheek and I rest my forehead to his. “Tell me something real.” I utter the words that are his and mine alone.
Derek lifts his head, his eyes trained on mine. “I’m really going to marry you.”
“Is that you asking me?” I ask with a huge grin.
“No, I already know the answer, it’s just what’s going to happen.”
“Well, I like a man with confidence.”
Derek chuckles. “I’m glad. Now, let’s go inside so I can show you how much confidence I have.”
Epilogue
Teagan
One year later
“I’m so nervous I could pee,” I say to my husband as we’re waiting in the back room.
Derek kisses my temple. “You’re going to do great.”
“Easy for you to say.”
He’s not the one who will be judged today in front of hundreds of people. I had to paint an extra ten paintings for this opening. Mr. Sterling believes we’ll sell all twenty-five that are being showcased.
“It is easy because I know how talented you are. I know how hard you worked to give this gallery what they wanted, even if it meant you were in that studio while I was getting rid of the dolls, which seemed to multiply.”
There wasn’t a choice in the matter. Mr. Sterling is also a romantic and offered to still showcase my paintings, but allow me to do it remotely. Of course that came after three other galleries were posting that they were interested as well, but I felt after leaving him in the lurch,
