Page 57 of The Seashell of ’Ohana

I thought again about asking his teacher if a mother could go instead, but Tyler wouldn’t want that. I hoped I was making the right decision. It was difficult being a single parent. Father-son events cut twice, once for the parent he’d lost and again for the little ways the world reminded him he didn’t have a dad. I wanted my son to have all the experiences and not be left out.

“Have the best day, Ty,” I said. “I love you across the galaxies and beyond.”

Tyler checked the button on his Polo top and dusted something off his new pair of jeans I had bought when I’d gone shopping with Kate and Stella. He looked sleek and ready to conquer schoolwork. I was so proud of him.

“I love you across the galaxies and beyond, too,” he said quickly, his words jumbled together.

He flashed me a grin with all his teeth and pushed through the door with his backpack. I should have driven off, but I waited to watch him greet his friend and walk through the gates.

Impatient honking from behind startled me. I looked in the rearview mirror to see Jessica Conner, a blue-eyed auburn behind the wheel of a silver Mercedes-Benz. I frowned.

Jessica was polite to me when she felt like it, but she came off as rude and pretentious to others.

“Hi, Abby,” Jessica shouted, her head out the window, waving frantically. “I didn’t know it was you, or I wouldn’t have honked. We should have lunch.”

I looked out the window and waved, to be polite, but didn’t give her an answer. She threw in the lunch part to sound affable, but I knew she didn’t mean it. We never ate together or talked outside of school functions.

When I got to the gallery, Stella was busy on the phone at her desk. She raised her hand at me and pointed to the back room. Kate and Liam were already here.

“Good morning,” I said when I opened the door.

Liam stood up from the stool, green eyes gleaming, dimples piercing. “Abby, I’m excited to start. Kate was showing me the list of clients, and she gave me my first assignment.”

Kate and I had moved furniture around and made room for one more easel for Liam.

“That’s great. I’m not going to repeat everything Kate said, so if you need anything or if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Of course.” Liam smiled and sat back on his stool.

“Oh, there is one more thing.” Kate handed him a swath of folded black canvas.

When he held it out in front of him, he let out a small chuckle. “I love it. I’ve never worn one of these before.”

The front of the apron read: Messier the apron, the greater the artist.

While Kate and Liam got to work, I went to the computer to the list of customers. After I studied the description of the next in line order, I grabbed a new, primed canvas.

I gathered the different-sized brushes, picked up my palette and oil paints, and lost myself in color, lines, and the heady fumes of paints and thinners. When I was deep in my world of clouds, ocean, and palm trees, I lived inside the painting. My toes dug into the soft, velvety sand, and cool water washed over my feet. The palm trees with coconuts dangling overhead gave me shelter and shade as I watched the boats sail past, wishing I was there with my family. Time was irrelevant in this magical world.

“Abby. You’ve got a delivery.” Stella’s happy voice rang through the speaker.

I was startled, my paintbrush flying out of my hand. With a hand over my pounding heart, I pressed the button on the landline phone. What time was it? Almost noon.

“Maybe lower the volume?” Kate snorted.

Liam shrugged and gave a cute boyish grin. Something must be up. Stella sounded too bubbly.

“I’ll be back,” I said, and went out the door. “Stella? You have something for me?”

Her smile was brighter than the afternoon sun. “So, what happened this weekend with Ian?”

I narrowed my eyes. “What do you mean? I already told you. We went zip-lining.”

“Uh-huh.” She gave me a suspicious look.

I wagged a finger at her. “Nope. Don’t say that. Something happens when you say that. So, what delivery is so important you pulled me out of work?”

“It’s over there.” She gestured with a tilt of her head.