Cohn appeared relaxed in a coastal-style linen jacket over a vibrant patterned shirt, accompanied by an attentive blonde sipping a glass of champagne.
“Come. Sit. Have a drink.” The Miami bigwig beckoned Matthew with a pat on the couch next to them. Several people hovered around the man, adding to his air of importance.
Matthew took the seat, but declined the drink.
The portly man waved a sale sheet with circles and stars, marking which pieces of art he intended to leave with that night.
It seemed to Matthew that the Miami collector was more interested in impressing his entourage than the art, but Matthew played along. Travis must’ve noticed it, too, because he swept in to move along the sale, motioning for his assistant.
The assistant swept in and steered Matthew toward the mayor. “Need a drink on the way?” she asked.
“Just tonic water with lime, please.” He never drank at these things. Rarely drank at all. It left him feeling fuzzy, and the lazy days that followed too much fun weren’t his style.
He spotted one of his regular buyers, Dr. Gibbs and his wife, across the way. He turned to the assistant. “I’m going to go speak to these folks for a moment. I’ll be right back so we can catch up with the mayor.”
“Sure. I’ll get your drink and meet you back here.”
“Hello, Doctor.” Matthew offered the man a nod, then caught Mrs. Gibbs’s fingers in his hand and lightly kissed them. It had become something of a tradition over the years. Not something he’d ever do now, but when he was in his early twenties, he’d been a bit pretentious. The Gibbs family had supported him from the very start. Thank goodness over the years he’d discovered humility and gratitude for his talent.
“Matthew,” Mrs. Gibbs sang out. “We are so excited for you. This has to be one of your biggest showings yet. It’s absolutely magnificent.”
Matthew nodded. “The accumulation of three years of work and some stuff from the very start.”
“Your gift continues to grow. We’ve picked out our favorite already, haven’t we, dear?”
Dr. Gibbs nodded. “For our beach house.” He pointed to the gold SOLD tag hanging on the piece to his right.
“One of my favorites. I’m glad it spoke to you,” Matthew said.
“There’s just something so mesmerizing about that painting,” Mrs. Gibbs said. “It overwhelmed me. It made me feel… oh gosh, how can I put it into words? Joy, that’s what I felt… joy.”
He placed his hand over his heart. That’s exactly the feeling that had inspired him the day he began that painting. “I’m so glad it’s going to be in your collection. Thank you.”
“The pleasure is ours,” they insisted. “You better mingle,” Mrs. Gibbs said. “We’re a sure thing.” She pushed him gently.
He shook Dr. Gibbs’s hand, then turned to meet up with Travis’s assistant again when he heard someone address him.
He turned to see his friend Skip approaching. It was barely spring, and Skip was already sunburned around the nose and ears in a perfect outline of his sunglasses. Clearly, beach life agreed with him. “Man. Thanks for coming out. I didn’t know you were in town.”
Skip glanced across the crowd. “Great show, my friend.”
“About time you made it out to one.” He reached out and shook Skip’s hand. “It’s great to see you without paint on you from head to toe.”
“It was on my bucket list,” Skip teased.
Matthew couldn’t help but roll his eyes at that. “So why are you really here?”
“Had some extra time and wanted to pick up those paintings that I did in your studio last winter. Thought I’d kill two birds with one stone,” Skip said. “Plus, I have a huge favor to ask.”
“Sure. What’s up?”
“Not here. I know you’ve got work to do, my friend.” A server walked by with a tray of mini crab cakes and quiches. Skip grabbed a napkin and filled it with them.
Matthew took only one and popped it in his mouth.
“Okay, I can’t hold the news in until this is over,” Skip said. “I’m getting married.”
“What?” Matthew swallowed, but that teeny crab cake seemed stuck in his throat. He chugged the tonic. “You can’t just drop information like that. When? Why?”
