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“Wise words,” I said with a shaky sigh.
“It’s my job.”
“Exactly why I came home.” I straightened and dashed away the tears. “And to work.”
“Work is always good for the soul. And to heal.”
“Sure is.”
We chatted a little more as we made the loop back toward the distillery and my new home. I got the scoop on the people working at the store and the engagements that had happened while I was away.
The evening sun was lower in the sky. It didn’t stop the heat, but at least we didn’t have to worry about the searing sun added to the mix. I heard the laughter and the swearing as we neared the huge barn doors.
We bot
h halted at the threshold of the barn as we took in the transformation. Most of my paintings were up on nails around the space with a few stacked along the side.
A freaking jet propeller-sized fan was hung from the A-line beams of the barn, but it moved the air around. I lifted my hand to my mouth. Seeing all of my paintings up was hard to take in.
They almost didn’t feel like my own work. I could identify the pieces that told the story of my time in California. The mood after my attack, the recovery in another half dozen. My catharsis had been painting and my time with Ian. The sweet love-drunk time with Ian was apparent in some of the other pieces.
Some didn’t belong—the ones I hadn’t allowed myself to really sink into were obvious now that they were all lined up. There was no hiding it now. It had been so easy to stack them away like notebooks in the back of my studio in Venice.
“What are you going to do with all those paintings?”
“She’ll be showing them, that’s what she’s doing.” Beckett slid down the ladder that led to my loft.
“Beck, I…” I swallowed and stepped into the center of the barn and did a slow twirl to take them all in. “I guess maybe I am.”
“Damn right.” Justin came up to stand next to me, resting his forearm on my shoulder. “I can’t believe my little sister did all these.”
“I can’t believe you guys put them all up.”
“More like she’s impressed with didn’t hurt any of them,” Hayes said from the loft.
I laughed and peered up to where he was. A chain of white twinkle lights shuddered and swayed as he pinned them between two posts with his nail gun. It lit up the space and gave it a romantic feel. They’d even added a huge checked black and white plaid sheet along the side for some privacy.
“You guys did an amazing job.”
Justin hoisted me up and swung me around. “We’re just happy to have you home. Even if you want to live in a barn.”
I linked my arms around his neck. “It’s the most perfect barn ever.”
He dropped me onto my feet. “You’re so damn weird. But you’re our weird.” He smushed me into his chest.
I couldn’t do anything else but hug him back.
My aunt walked around, touching the large paintings. “I knew you were talented, sweetheart, but this is…wow.”
I stepped away from Justin and twisted my fingers together. I’d never felt more naked. It was different when it was my advisor ripping me apart, but my second mom?
It gave me a chance to really look at them again. From someone else’s point of view. Maybe Beckett was right. These didn’t need to be hidden away. They were me. For better or for worse.
My aunt came over to me and hugged me. “I’m so proud of you. You can’t hide these away.”
I sniffed. Man, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d gotten so choked up. I was really tired of the crying. “Thanks, Aunt Laverne.”
“All right. I’ll let you guys finish up. Dinner is on me tonight, boys. I slow-roasted some chicken for tacos. It’s too friggin’ hot for much else.”
