“I’ll be in the front if you need me,” Isobel replied, then made her exit.
“Lauren, why don’t you talk us through what you have here?” Claudia asked.
“Absolutely,” I said nervously. I stood in front of the first photograph on the left side of the wall.
I had a tendency to drown my pain in my art and the first one I put on display was one that I had done a few months ago, after things ended with Mason and me. I had been walking along the beach where he had taken me and just started taking picture until my car was full. The best one was of the lighthouse on the pier. Mr. Worthington took a liking to it as well, I could tell. I left out the real reason behind the beach photos. It was more of a healing moment than anything else. Once we were done with the photos, we looked at the sketches that I had placed on the table. There were four of them. All of them were from the time I spent with Nick while he volunteered. Claudia took a special interest in them also.
“Where was this?” she asked looking up at me.
“Portland,” I replied.
“These are very intimate pieces. Did you know these people?” she asked.
My cheeks flushed, and I tried to keep my voice even as I spoke. “Yes. He was—someone very special to me.” The tears hovered on my lashes.
“Was?” Her eyes squinted. “Well, they are beautiful,” she replied. Her head tilted slightly to the left. “I need to make a quick call. I’ll be right back.”
“You have a keen eye, Miss Miller,” Mr. Worthington stated.
“Thank you, sir,” I said, disguising my excitement.
“Your attention to detail is impeccable. I mean, this painting here feels so real, as if I am there in that storm,” he said, pointing to the oil painting I had done after I caught Mason cheating. “Do you like to sail?” he asked, turning to look at me.
“I do,” I answered, even though I had not been on a boat since my father died.
“It shows.” He smiled.
Claudia came walking back towards us, and Mr. Worthington gave her a nod. “I have another client coming by. You don’t mind waiting, do you, Lauren?”
“No, not at all,” I said, feeling my heart race a little.
“It was a pleasure meeting you, Lauren and I am looking forward to hanging your work on display in my home and my office.” He stated.
“Thank you,” I said, breathy and the grin on my face widening.
He shook my hand, and then left with Claudia. I clenched at my chest excitedly. When Claudia returned, she was smiling and placed a “Sold” signs over three pieces of my work.
“Wow! I’m so thrilled he liked my work,” I gasped.
“I like it as well. There is something about those sketches that really hits home for me.” She smirked. I looked at the sketches of Nick, then back at her. I eyed her a moment, her smile widening as she watched me figure it out.
“Did you say—your last name is Porter?” I asked, holding my breath. Her smile stretched, showing off her pearly whites.
“I did.” She nodded. “When I got the call to meet with you, I never took into account that you could be the infamous, Lauren.” She stepped closer.
“Who are you?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.
“I’m Robert Porter’s daughter,” she replied.
My eyes widened and the breath escaped my lungs. “Oh my god,” I gasped. That’s who my mother had called to help give me a chance. “Is Robert coming here?”
She shook her head. “No, but I do have a client coming. I believe he will be very interested in some of these pieces as well,” she said.
“I didn’t realize Robert had a daughter.” I said.
“I’m his stepdaughter,” she replied. “But I like to think of him as my real father since the real one was never in the picture.” She rolled her eyes. Claudia was a very beautiful girl with long brown curly hair and deep amber eyes. Her phone vibrated and she glanced down at it. “I’ll be right back.” She smiled then disappeared around the corner. I walked over to the sketches that I had drawn of Nick and stared at them. I missed him desperately, now that I thought about it. My eyes stung as the tears welled. My head snapped up as I heard Claudia’s shoes clacking on the hardwood floor. I spun around to greet them, and my heart stopped when Nick came around the corner. When he looked from her to me, I swear his did the same. Her smile stretched from ear to ear.
“I’ll give you a moment.” She rubbed her hand across his back, then turned and left. Nick stood there a moment staring, his eyes focused on me.