woebetide

  I find her to be the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.2024 December 14th SundayAnnette had been on all evening, and was feeling a bit tired from all the attention. Death of a Boyfriend/Birth of a Sister and her smaller pieces had all been very well received, and most of the smaller pieces had already been spoken for. Currently, though, she wanted nothing more than a mug full of hot chocote, a couch, and her boyfriend to y on. Where was he at? He’d been off chatting on his own for a while now, after asking her if it was okay — hopefully one of her sisters hadn’t decided to abscond with him to the basement very te in the year.

  Everyone who met him loved him, which worried her slightly because she knew that the real monsters could do that. Pame, though, was her anchor and between Pame and therapy, she’d been learning to rebuild trust again slowly. She had just finished another conversation with some wealthy old lech who was at least interested in buying one of her smaller works when she spotted Maggie approaching. She gnced around for anyone that could save her from having to interact with Maggie tonight, of all nights. But no one was at hand, so she braced herself and put on a smile that was more of a grimace as Maggie approached.

  “Annette!” Maggie said brightly, and approached with her hands out, and Annette gently accepted them. “Dear sweet Annette, how are you?”

  “I’m good, Maggie,” Annette said before they kissed each other on the cheek gently. “Moved on, I met a nice guy who actually appears to be nice — he’s around here somewhere.”

  Maggie leaned back up, and moved to touch Annette’s elbow gently. “Good for you,” she said. “I think I met him earlier, and he is nice. I wanted to compliment you on your pieces, they are simply stunning — but especially your central piece.”

  “Thank you,” Annette said, softening her rigid smile. “It’s a lot of emotions that I’m gd are on the canvas now, and there they can stay.”

  “Good, a fitting pce for them,” Maggie said. She paused, gnced around almost conspiratorially and leaned in closer. “Thank you… thank you for saving her — even if I never see her again, I’ll know she’s out there, thriving, and all because of you.”

  “I…” Annette started to say, surprised. She knew now that Maggie was aware of Dorley Hall, but she hadn’t expected Maggie to come right out and admit to knowing details of Scarlett’s progress. “I’m gd I could reach her, but… Pame… did all the hard work.”

  “Nonsense,” Maggie said. “You did a terribly hard thing for you, and if art should ever fail you — and with tonight’s showing I doubt it ever will, but you can always take up the cause.”

  “Thanks,” Annette said, giggling. “I’m actually talking about teaching art therapy to some residents at Dorley.”

  “That’s lovely, dear,” Maggie said, smiling. “Now, about the disposition of your main piece — I want it.”

  “Wait, really?” Annette said. Everyone had complimented it, but as yet, no one had approached her with an offer for it. Sometimes a big central piece was too big, and took a while for someone who had the space for it — not that many here struggled for space per se, but such a piece deserved the right pce. On one side of the rge canvas, fiery red embers transformed into a lifeless grey ash in the middle, before transitioning into being brightly colored petals on the opposite side. If you stepped back, and took in the whole thing, the colors made a vague, androgynous outline of a person.

  “Something for me to remember my mistakes,” she said. “I’ve even got a nice spot in mind for it already. I intend to be most generous, this is my starting offer.” Maggie handed over a business card with a number of zero’s on it that made Annette’s eyes bug out.

  “I…” she hesitated, but then set her jaw. Was Maggie trying to buy her off for her knowledge about Scarlett? Possibly. But it was also an absurdly tempting number. Still, there was propriety to follow in this, as in any transaction. “Miss Lambert, as my patron, gets first right of refusal on all my works, of course.”

  “Of course, dear,” Maggie said. “I wouldn’t have it be any other way. I’ll have my people work out the details with her people — I’m sure all parties can walk away satisfied.”

  “Thank you,” she said. “Just know it’s promised to the gallery for the length of the show.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of hiding a piece this pretty from the public,” Maggie said. “The spot I’ve got in mind for it is in the foyer of the student services building at Saints that I’m donating a considerable sum to fix up in my te grandson’s honour.”

  “Oh!” Annette said in surprise. “I think he’d like that. He even perversely inspired a Sister of mine, she wants to go into social work — and do it right.”

  “Good for her,” Maggie said. “Maybe without feeling pressure from… her retives… she can do good things. And with that, I bid you farewell, sweet Annette — start thinking of something nice to get yourself with some of that amount. And perhaps something for your boyfriend as well.”

  Annette ughed. “I can think of one or two things both of us might enjoy,” she said. “Thank you, Maggie.”

  “Give my love to Scarlett,” Maggie said as she walked away waving.

  Elle was next to wander over, with David walking beside her.

  “There you are,” Annette said, smirking, looking at David. “Was beginning to think someone had abducted you.”

  David ughed. “No, was just speaking with Elle,” he said. “She was admiring some pictures of my test work in progress.”

  “It’s wonderful,” Elle said. “I’m excited to see the completed work — your boyfriend is quite talented.”

  “Thank you,” David said, dipping a slight bow to Elle. “So what did Maggie want?”

  “Huh?” Annette asked, momentarily confused. “Oh, right, she wants to buy Death of a Boyfriend/Birth of a Sister, I told her you have first right of refusal, Elle.”

  “She offered that much, eh?” Elle said, raising an eyebrow. “Well good. I’ll work it out with her. I hope you had a good evening otherwise, Annette.”

  “I did,” she said, nodding. “Tired now, though.”

  “Understandable,” Elle said. “You have a lovely rest of your night — things are winding down here — and I’ll be in touch about the final offer.”

  “Looking forward, Elle,” Annette said. They leaned in and kissed each other on the other’s cheek, and then Elle walked away with Grace, already deep in conversation about some important correspondence or something.

  “So how was your evening, love,” Annette said, leaning over to kiss David. “I hope you had a good time.”

  “I did,” he said. “This was quite a swanky affair — and your former dorm mates are all pretty interesting to talk to.”

  Annette giggled. “They can be,” she said. “Come on, let's head back to the hotel, I can’t wait to try out that tub with you.”

  David grinned. “I thought you’d never ask,” he said.

  woebetide