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I clear my throat. ‘Leyna, would you accompany me to the wine and cheese at the vice-chancellor’s house?’
She grins broadly. ‘I would love to be your date, Professor.’
Chapter 40
Leyna
Out the window of myflat, I stare at the gloomy expanse of terraced houses and narrow streets lined with cars. Today is one of those days that just never brightens up. The sky is grey and overcast and for the longest time, it looks like it’s going to rain but nothing happens. That’s great, I think. It’ll be just my luck that the skies will open up when it’s time to meet Jack this evening for the wine and cheese.
I’d spent the earlier part of the day at the community centre, helping out as I do with the young artists there. But it was tonight that I was looking forward to.
I’d told Jack I would meet him at the university to several protests. He wanted us to go together, he’d said, from start to finish, but I’d told him I would take my car and meet him there—and it was for a good reason. I had two paintings I’d been dying to show him, but I’d wanted to keep it a surprise. The plan was that I would hide the paintings in the boot of the car and reveal them later that evening, after the wine and cheese, when it was just the two of us and we’d have a quiet moment to ourselves.
I walk into the spare bedroom of my flat and survey the paintings. My paintings. I realised I needed two things in life—Jack and art. I grab two paintings, the one of the working-class woman that I’d found in the charity shop a few months back and a portrait. I had wanted to show these to Jack ages ago but just never got the chance. Better pack them in something protective and waterproof, I think, glancing out at the gathering storm clouds once more. Scanning the rest of the paintings I wonder if and when I’ll find them a home, too. ‘Not long, my darlings,’ I whisper to them. I’m still waiting and hoping beyond all hope that I’ll hear back from the Community Engagement team about the small business grant I’d applied for. I knew it was a long shot, but I clung to that hope like it was a life raft in a turbulent sea. Sometimes it wasn’t about the outcome but the dreaming and the hoping that could get you through the tough times.
My phone rings—it’s Candace.
‘Candace—I can’t talk for long. Jack is taking me to a wine and cheese thing at the vice-chancellor’s house at the university!’ I practically squeal with delight.
‘That sounds posh!’
‘Isn’t it? What do people wear to these sorts of things?’ I say as I rifle through my wardrobe.
‘Wear that pale blue dress. The one you got for the wedding we went to a few years back. Remember that one? Where one of the guests was so drunk he lit some of the decorations on fire?’
‘Oh my God, remember that? That was a crazy wedding.’
‘They’re still together, though. You know what they say, a fire on a wedding day makes for a hot marriage.’
‘No one says that.’
‘You’re right, I just made that up. But I think it’s true.’
‘I don’t want to stand out at this thing. I want to blend in and be completely invisible.’
‘Leyna you will never be invisible. I say go for the blue. It’s youthful, it’s fresh, and it fits you perfectly. It sounds like Jack is starting to come out of his shell, then, if he’s gone and invited you to something like this? It must be getting serious.’
