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We approached the easel that held a large canvas, coming to a stop right in front of it. As promised, it was only the beginning of what I was sure would be an amazing painting.
The property’s pond was visible behind the rows of white chairs and the sketches of people who’d sit in them. The arch in the center was outlined but not quite filled in, and she hadn’t yet added the vines and pink roses that adorned the structure in real life. There were trees in the background, behind the pond, and the sky was light blue overhead. But she’d left streaks of white throughout it like she was waiting to fill it in when the lighting would be right.
“They’re going to roll out an aisle down the middle, here,” she said, using the back of a paintbrush to point to the canvas. “But I don’t want to add it until later so I get the color right. I don’t want it to be the most prominent part of the piece.”
I nodded, my gaze flicking between the canvas and the real-life setting, trying to picture how it would look when it was finished. “It’s really great so far.”
“Well, I don’t know aboutgreat. Not yet. But hopefully, it will be.”
“Don’t do that.”
Her eyes snapped to mine. “Do what?”
“Downplay how talented you are. You always do that, but I know you’re going to create a masterpiece tonight.”
“You do?”
“I do. Have faith in your abilities. And if you don’t, just know I have enough for the both of us.”
Time stood still as she simply stared up at me, her eyes wide and searching. Then her lids lowered slightly as her gaze landed on my mouth. I hadn’t realized how close we’d drifted until that second. It was stupid, and I knew I shouldn’t do it, but I leaned forward to close the distance.
