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“I think I might have nightmares.” He winked, and her heart did a little cartwheel in her chest.
“Oh, yes,” she said, nodding her head with enthusiasm. “You definitely will.”
“Okay, let’s get serious for a moment,” he said, pushing his empty plate forward and drumming his fingers on the table. “This event is only a week away. How am I supposed to paint enough paintings to fill an entire booth?”
“I came up with an idea for that too.” She bounced in her chair as she reached into her bag to pull out one of the antique tins. “Remember what we said about the tins? You can paint small vintage paintings on canvas, on wood, or metal. Whatever strikes your fancy.”
“I remember. I can do this.”
She couldn’t contain her excitement. “You love the idea, I can tell.”
He looked up at her and grinned, his smile filling his whole face. “I really do.”
“Then let’s get started,” she said, smacking the table with both hands. “I’ve always loved to paint. Let’s go paint. I have some round wooden discs I picked up at the craft store I need to turn into peppermints for my booth.”
He flagged down the server and gestured for the check. “Peppermints. You want to come by and paint peppermints in my studio?”
“You mean instead of painting them at my kitchen table? Absolutely, but first we need to stop by my place and pick up the discs.” She stood quickly. “I’m so excited.”
CHAPTER15
Jimmy couldn’t stop thinking about Roni’s idea. He didn’t know why he’d never thought of it before. This whole week, as he’d added Christmas to his landscapes, he’d sent pictures of his work to Gerald, but he hadn’t heard from the gallery owner whether he wanted Jimmy to return the canvases back to the gallery. All that work was for nothing.
But maybe it wasn’t.
He could easily fill the booth with them and add several smaller, more inexpensive options based on the vintage tins. He was excited about his work for the first time in a very long while.
He looked at Roni sitting in the passenger seat as they drove toward his house, her bag of wooden discs in her hand. “You know, I think I’m loving your idea. I never in a million years thought I would sell art at a Christmas booth at a festival in Pineville, but I’m excited about it.”
She smiled, and his heart melted. “Great. I think your work will be a huge success. Just wait.”
Her enthusiasm was definitely catching. He parked the truck and they hurried into the house as the snow started to fall. His mom was still up when they walked through the door, cooking in the kitchen. The house smelled wonderful.
“Hey, Mom,” Jimmy said as he ushered Roni into the kitchen. “Something smells good.”
“Hi, Mrs. Duarte,” Roni said with a smile. “It’s good to see you.”
“You, too, Roni.” She pulled a tray of gingerbread cookies out of the oven. “You two want some?”
“Fresh baked cookies? Twist my arm.” Jimmy got a plate and put a few on it. “We’re going upstairs to paint, if you need anything.”
Surprise widened her eyes. “Have fun, and help yourself to the cookies, and there’s milk in the fridge.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Duarte,” Roni said as she followed Jimmy up the stairs.
As soon as they got to the landing, he gave her a quick tour. “There is a guest room through there.” He pointed to a closed door. “That one is my room,” he said, pointing to another. “Here’s the bathroom.” He gestured to it as he walked toward the door to the bonus room at the end of the landing. “This is my art studio.” He opened the door, turned on the lights, and stepped inside.
As he walked in, he glanced at the easel where the painting of Spooky was sitting and still wasn’t done. Luckily, he’d covered it last night. He wanted that painting to be a surprise for Roni. A Christmas surprise.
“This is a terrific space,” Roni said, looking around the room. She stood in front of one of the paintings that the gallery had sent back. He’d added a deer onto the snowy landscape with a single strand of lights around his neck. A little touch of Christmas.
He’d hoped to hear back from Gerald on the changes he’d made to each of the paintings soon.
“I love this. Simple. Quiet. Beautiful.”
“Thank you,” he said, surprised by how much her opinion mattered to him.
“So, show me how you make your magic.” The admiration filling her voice warmed his heart and bolstered his confidence.
