Kissing a Fool

Chapter 1

"Very very impressive, Ashleigh," Mr. Montague, a potential buyer says to me.

"Thank you. They're from my blue period," I tease.

He looks up at me to see if I'm joking or not and chuckles when he notices the gleam in my eye.

"And you're charming too...I'll take two of the paintings, I just can't decide which ones," he says while tapping his finger against his lips.

My cell phone rings.

"Excuse me," I say before walking to the corner of the room to answer the phone.

"Ashleigh Timberlake," I reply.

"Pete Chasez," the voice on the other end responds.

I chuckle. "Well hello, Pete Chasez, what are you up to?"

"Am I interrupting?"

"Well, I'm showing a potential buyer my work right now but he's deciding on which two paintings he wants," I whisper the last part.

"Two? Woohoo, very impressive."

"I know but I'm trying to act like it's a normal thing for me," I giggle.

"Well I won't keep you, I just wanted you to pencil me in for dinner next Thursday. I'll be in New York..."

"You will?" I ask excitedly. It had been almost a whole month since I had seen my best friend of twenty-one years.

"Yep."

"Cool, hold on," I say digging in my bag for my appointment book. "Let's see, Thursday...Thursday. Is that the eighth?"

"Um, no, it's the fifteenth. The eighth is tomorrow," he chuckles.

I write down Pete's name with a big smiley face next to it.

"Okay, you're down for December fifteenth."

"Good. I'll let you go. Good luck."

"Thanks. Bye."

I hang up the phone and walk back over to Mr. Montague.

"Sorry about that," I say.

"That's okay. I know you're a very busy woman."

"Are there any more questions I can answer for you?" I ask, resting my hands on my waist.

"Hmmmm, no, since I can't decide, I think I'll go with that one...that one and that one," he says pointing to three different paintings.

"Oh, three?" I stutter.

He chuckled and pats my arm. "Yes, I just can't make up my mind. My wife is going to love these," he says getting his wallet out.

I smile and then take one of the paintings down.

"I'll just wrap this up for you..."

"You don't have anyone to do that for you?" he asks, looking around.

"No, it's just me," I chuckle.

"Wow...well, if it's okay, can you just have them sent to my house in the Hamptons? Here's my address," he says, handing me a card.

I take it. "Not a problem."

When I reach my New York studio apartment later that evening I throw my keys down on the table next to the door.

"Honey, I'm home," I mumble.

My cat, Honey, walks over to me and rubs against my legs while I sift through my mail.

"Bills," I say, rolling my eyes.

I throw those down next to my keys.

"Hey there, cutie," I say, scratching Honey's back.

"These damn heels," I mutter as I take them off and walk towards the spiral stairs that lead to my bedroom. I hit the answering machine button as I walk by it.

"Hey daffodil, I just called to say hi, I haven't gotten to talk to you in a little while. I love you."

I smile at daddy's voice.

*beep*

"Hey sis, I've got some goooood gossip for you. Call me!" Adriana says.

*beep*

"Gossip?" I say out loud. "Sorry daddy, but the gossip is winning out," I say as I flop across my bed to reach for my phone.

I press the speed dial button for my sister's cell phone.

"Are you sitting down?" Adriana answers the phone.

I laugh. "Hi to you too. But yes, I'm laying down, actually."

"Good. Jessica's going to have twins!" she screams with joy over the news about our sister-in-law.

My mouth gapes open. "Adriana! Cody and Jessica are supposed to tell me that, not you, and that's not gossip, that's news," I say, slightly disappointed.

"I couldn't help it. I needed to share it with someone and mama already knows."

"Awwww, I bet they're on top of the world," I sigh.

"They are. Anyway, they'll be calling you tonight. I think Cody mentioned waiting until he knew you were home from the gallery. How was work today?"

"I sold three paintings to the same guy. Three!"

"Wow...that's great. You didn't sell mine, did you?"

I chuckle. "No, I'm not going to sell yours, it's not even at the gallery. When's the next time you're going to be in New York anyway?" I ask, twirling my hair.

"I'm not sure...Tina, don't do that," she says, suddenly getting sidetracked by her daughter. "Come here, you want to talk to Aunt Ashleigh? You what? Oh, okay...she's got to call her friend to talk about homework, riiiiggghhttt."

I laugh. "She's smart, she's using the same excuses I used to use at six."

"Six being the key word. She's too young to be on the phone this much," she sighs.

"Awww, Adriana, it's okay, your little girls are going to have to grow up you know?"

"I know, but I don't have to like it."

"What's Jaime doing right now?" I ask.

"She's laying on the floor watching a replay of the Lakers game," she chuckles.

"Awwww, just like grandpa."

"Yeah, I totally blame him."

"I miss everyone," I say, suddenly getting sad. Honey jumps up on the bed and slowly walks over to me.

"Well you'll be here for Christmas really soon. You are going to be here for Christmas, right?"

"Yes, of course," I say, reaching over to pet Honey. "You're right, it's not that far away," I say, trying to cheer myself up.

"Chin up girl...you've always got next week..."

"Next week? Oh, you mean because Pete's going to be here? How did you know..."

"Oh shit, sweetie, I've got to go, Tina just fell and bit her lip, it's bleeding," Adriana interrupted me.

"Oh okay. I hope she's okay."

"She will be. Love you, bye."

She hangs up. "Bye," I say to no one.

Suddenly I hear my stomach growl so I move my hand to rub it.

"I should have gotten Chinese," I say throwing my head back. "Come on Honey, let's see if I have anything to eat."

A little later while sitting at the counter that juts out between my kitchen and family room area, my phone rings so I set my fork down, not taking my eyes off of the magazine I have in my other hand and pick up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey kiddo," Cody says.

I smile and set the magazine down.

"Hey daddy-to-be. How goes it?" I ask, trying not to sound like I know anything.

He chuckles. "It goes good. How about you?"

"Good, good. I sold three paintings today."

"Three? That's great."

I hear Jessica's voice in the background.

"She sold three paintings today," he says to her. "She says congrats," he tells me.

Jessica says something else.

"What? Oh okay. Hold on, Jessica's getting on the other phone."

"Okay. I wish you guys were still in New York."

He's quiet for a few seconds. "I know you do. I miss being around you too, kiddo. Gotta go where the work is, though," he chuckles softly.

"I know. I'm just feeling lonely right now. All my family is out in LA and I'm here..."

"Hello," Jessica says.

"Hi. How are you feeling?" I ask, trying to sound more upbeat.

"I'm starting to feel better. Not as much morning sickness."

"That's good."

"So you sold three paintings today?"

"Yeah. To the same guy. They're for his wife for their house in the Hamptons," I say in a snooty tone.

They both chuckle.

"Um, weren't you just in the Hamptons the other weekend with that one guy?" Jessica asks.

I laugh. "Only because I didn't know we were going there for the party. But yeah."

"So is he history? What was his name?"

"His name was Dave and yeah, he's history. We didn't click."

"I didn't like him anyway," Cody says.

I chuckle. "You never met him."

"Oh...who's the last guy I met?"

"I don't know...Phil, maybe? Anyway..."

"Anyway, we have some exciting news," Jessica says, changing the subject.

"What's that?"

"You tell her Cody," Jessica says.

"Okay...we found out today..."

"That we're going to have twins," Jessica interrupts him.

I laugh at their conversation and with happiness for them.

"Oh my God, that's wonderful. Double the trouble."

"Yeah, that's what I say," Cody says in a teasing voice.

"Hey...it's going to be double the beauty," Jessica says.

"As long as they look like their mommy it will be," Cody says.

I smile to myself and rest my chin on my propped up arm that's resting on the counter.

"Well either way, that's great. I'm so happy for you guys."

"You knew, didn't you?" Cody questions.

"What?"

"Who told you. You're tone is missing something."

"Uh, I..."

"It had to be Adriana," Jessica chuckles.

"Okay, she told me but she was just excited," I laugh.

"Dammit, we wanted to tell you," Cody says, sounding a little annoyed. "Next time I'm telling you first."

"Hey, fine with me," I say.

"But I bet she'd tell Adriana..." Jessica says.

"Oh Lordy, the two of you," I chuckle.

"I'm just saying," Jessica says.

I listen while they hash it out and continue eating my Hamburger Helper dish.

"Ash, you still there?" Cody finally asks.

"Yeah, I'm just eating my dinner," I reply.

"Well, we'll let you go then. Call us if you get lonely and need to talk, okay?" Cody asks.

"That would be all the time," I try to joke.

"Seriously," he says emphatically.

"I will."

"Love you, Ash," Jessica says.

"I love you guys too. And congratulations again," I say.

"Thanks. Love you. Bye kiddo," Cody says.

"Bye, Cody."

We hang up and I stare at the phone with a small smile on my lips.

My family.