“I’m not even driving,” he protested.
“Jasmine doesn’t need to hear about your twin fantasies. None of us do, really.”
Ted’s face turned serious. “I’m sorry. Sometimes I’m a lot.” He glanced at Ava. “It’s not because I wanted to fuck your brothers though. Don’t make it weird.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m the one making it weird. Right.” Ava chuckled. “Just lay off Jasmine. Kai will kick your ass if you scare her off.”
Corinne took a softer approach. “I think Jasmine knows you didn’t mean any harm. And I’ll bet she’d rather talk about something else.” She turned to me. “Can I change the subject and ask you about your art?”
“Yes, please,” I said, relieved.
“I didn’t want to mention it in front of everyone at dinner, but Kai told you he gave us the lighthouse painting…”
“Yes,” I said, suddenly even more confused. Was there some secret beat-around-the-bush code language I needed to learn to function in this family?
“Well, I kind of took it to Paradise Key to see if they liked it,” Corinne said sheepishly. “And they did.”
Eying her curiously, I struggled to follow her thread. “Paradise Key… that’s the private island resort south of Marathon?”
“Yeah, I work with them coordinating conservation dives,” she said quickly, like it wasn’t important or impressive. “Kai tells me you could have five ready in a week?”
“Five paintings?” I asked, now thoroughly confused. She’d blurted it all out at ninety miles an hour so I was trying to process it as she continued.
“Yes, the resort committed to buy five based on the sample I took,” Corinne answered with a nod.
I stared in shock. “They did?” A feeling of pure joy bubbled up in me. A luxury resort liked my work well enough to order five pieces. Maybe I did have what it takes to make it. “Yeah, I can get those done in a week.” Unsure if she even knew what I charged, I asked, “Did you give them a quote?”
“Kai told me he paid $75. That is way too cheap for such a nice resort. And for your art. So I added a one in front.”
“Thank you,” I said, truly humbled by her kindness, and thrilled that I had an extra $875 coming in next week.
“No need to thank me,” she said with a wave of her hand. “I can take you out there when I go next Friday if you’ll have them ready. We can have lunch with the general manager, who also happens to be my best friend. Would that work?”
When it dawned on me that it may have been nepotism rather than the quality of my work that got me the sale, it stung, but only for a moment. Who you know is often more important than what you know when it comes to success. Like it or not, that’s the way the world works. “Thanks for getting me that sale. It means a lot. And it really helps pay the bills.”
“If the owner of the resort likes the first five, they may want more,” Corinne smiled. “Fingers crossed.”
“My mom’s birthday is coming up,” Faith said softly. “When you have time to paint another one after you finish those five, I’ll buy another one for her.”
Gratitude swelled in my chest. These strangers were already treating me like family, much like Kai had from the start. “I’ll make time for that.”
“I might want one too,” Ted said.
Ava’s eyes rolled as she took hold of Ted’s elbow. “Let’s get back down to the dock before Dad brings the crew up here.”
“What’s wrong with that plan?” Ted asked with a contrived innocence. “There’s more wine in the fridge.”
“I have to fly tomorrow. And you don’t need any more wine. Let’s go.”
“I have an early day, too,” Corinne agreed, hopping to her feet again like she was immune to fatigue. She moved with that buoyant second-trimester energy I’d only ever seen on Instagram.
My limbs were heavy but a contentment filled me with hope and brought a lightness as I trotted down the stairs after Corinne. Night air licked cool across my skin; the grill smoke had faded to salt and diesel. My levity dissipated when I saw the gravity on Kai’s face.
“Everything okay?” I asked, touching his forearm.
“Yeah, I’m just beat,” he answered, worried eyes turning toward the ground. “You ready?”
“Sure,” I said, a little shocked by his shortness as I stepped toward the table to grab my purse. “Thanks for everything,” I said, reaching to shake his father’s hand.
