“Maybe,” I said my voice quiet. “Night mom.”
***** I stopped going to the country club with Cassie and any events that she invited me to. I was staying away from her family as much as possible. I knew I couldn’t avoid the brothers forever, not as long as I lived here in Portland. If she wanted to see me she had to come to my place or we went somewhere out of town to party. Then she left for university.
Then it hit me.
I would need to move somewhere where I wouldn’t see them. Where there was no excuse to make up, or party to leave just to avoid them. This wasn’t the life I wanted to live. So I gently broke the news to my mother. I hated the thought of leaving her again, but it had been two months since I started pitching my work, and no matter what I did, no one was biting.
“I’m sorry, mom, but Portland just isn’t working for me. Maybe my work would get notice elsewhere like in New York or even back in LA.” I said with a shrug.
“I have someone in mind,” she said, walking away.
“Mom, it’s okay. I want to see New York anyway.” I added.
“That is so far away sweetie,” she said. I had to look away from the hurt in her eyes. It was far, it was across the country. “Just give me a day,” she said, then disappeared.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Summer was over, and the portfolio I set up had shots from every season. It consisted of photographs with friends and family; the others were just scenery. The sketches were of a more personal nature and most of them done by memory. My mother had not succeeded in making me stay. Whomever she was to contact I guess didn’t pan out.
Then two days before I was to leave, she got a call from someone and convinced me to go to Seattle and check it out.
“After this if it doesn’t work, I’m leaving,” I said, hugging her.
“Okay, I’m fine with that,” she said, kissing me on the cheek. “I love you, Lauren.”
“Love you too, Mom.” I grabbed the box holding everything I needed to put on display.
I filled my gas tank before heading to Seattle. That way I didn’t have to stop the whole way there, only filling up if I had to on the drive home. I looked at my watch. It was 10:00 a.m. I was meeting the dealer by two. It was more than enough time to get there and set up. Not only did I have to sell my work, bu
t I also had to sell myself. I had to prove to them that taking a chance on me would be worth their while.
It was the first time I had been alone in months. My mind started wandering about things I had not thought in a long while. Seattle was not that far from where Nick and Mason lived. Dredging up memories I had pushed to the back of my mind months ago, I couldn’t help but think of them and wonder how they were doing. Then before I knew it, I was in Seattle.
I pulled up to the building where the meeting was to take place and knocked on the glass door. A tall, slender, older blonde woman came walking up to let me in.
“Hey there, you must be Lauren,” she said with a French accent.
“Yes.”
“I’m Isobel,” she said, offering her hand. “You’re a little early, but I presume you want to set up?”
“Yes.”
“No problem.” She said gesturing for me to follow. “I’ll show you where you can set up, and then I’ll leave you to it. The dealer and client will be by shortly.” She added.
“Client?” I asked, surprised.
“Oh yes.” She said with a nod. “Sometimes we have clients who prefer to purchase art before anyone else sees it. But don’t get your hopes up. Sometimes they don’t buy anything.” She said with a pleasant smile. We walked down the hall and around a corner. “You can set up in here. I’ll let you know when they have arrived.”
“Thank you so much,” I replied nervously.
“Again it is not a problem at all.” She said then walked away.
It was getting close to the time that I was to meet the dealer and the client. I paced the corner of the gallery in anticipation. I saw Isobel first when she came around the corner followed by an older gentleman and a young woman.
“Lauren , I would like you to meet Mr. Worthington. He is one of our biggest nautical clients. When he had heard your photos were mostly of his favourite theme, he was very interested in joining us today,” she introduced. Mr. Worthington held out his hand. I accepted it with a nod.
“Pleasure to meet you,” I replied. “This is the gallery’s main dealer, Claudia Porter.” The pretty brunette stepped forward, shaking my hand.