Chapter 9
'Hey!' Peter called out as the door to the Raphael Gallery opened to reveal its owner, fashionably dressed, as always. 'I wasn't expecting to see you in here today.'
'I was hoping to catch Hope here before I head out to the school' Neal admitted as he glanced around the empty space.
'Ah, Daddy wants to wish his little girl a happy birthday' Peter teased as Neal rolled his eyes.
'How old are you, Peter? Twelve?' he snapped back.
Peter ignored him and carried on. 'Well, she and Cam aren't here yet. They called to say they were running late' he said.
'Oh yeah?' Neal responded, excited. Maybe this was it, the moment they'd all been waiting for.
'Don't read too much into it, Neal. Cam just said they overslept.'
Neal cringed at the euphemism, thinking back to all the times he'd used that as an excuse to cover up his romps in the sheets with Sara.
'Why don't you send her a text, wish her a happy birthday?' Peter suggested.
Neal scoffed in response. 'I am not sending my daughter a text to wish her a happy birthday. I've wished her a happy birthday in person for the past nineteen years and I'm not about to change that now.'
Peter went back to work; obviously, his well intentioned advice wasn't welcome on this particular occasion.
'So, how's your mom settling in?' he asked - changing the subject seemed like the way to go.
'Great! She seems to really like the nursing home. She came over for dinner last night…' Neal said as his voice trailed and a smile appeared on his lips.
Peter watched with interest; he knew how important it was for Neal to have his mom in New York. After years of estrangement, Neal was more than anxious to make amends and to spend the little time they had left with her nearby.
'You know, she's becoming a really positive influence on Caitlin. Caitlin can't get enough of her and everything my mom says to her is like the gospel truth' Neal commented.
Peter raised his eyebrows and Neal's eyes narrowed in response. 'What?'
'I don't know… it's just… it's kind of like karma, don't you think?' Peter said as Neal continued to stare quizzically. 'How your mom blames herself for having made a mess of things with you and now, she's sort of making amends by being a good influence on a confused young girl.'
Neal had never considered that angle and he was busy mulling it over when his phone dinged, indicating an incoming text.
'Daddy, where are you?' he read as he smiled broadly.
'At the gallery - waiting to wish you a happy birthday' he responded as he heard Peter's phone vibrating nearby.
'It's Cam' Peter announced as he glanced down at his phone.
Neal waited while Peter read the incoming text. 'He wants to know if we can close up shop an hour early and if he can use the back room tonight' he announced as Neal smiled broadly.
'This is it!' Neal declared as he rubbed his hands in anticipation.
WCWCWC
Hope Ellis-Caffrey spent the day of her twentieth birthday visiting with all those she held so dear. She met up with her dad at the gallery and had coffee with him before heading over to White Plains to spend some quality time with her best friend, Olivia Mason. At lunch, she met her mom and her godmother and they treated her to lunch at one of her favorite spots, the Pink Cactus, the very same restaurant where she'd had her first date with Cameron Armstrong a few years back. The afternoon was spent shopping for a new outfit; although he'd been short on details, Cam had hinted at a special evening to celebrate her special day. He'd warned her to stay away until 8:00, at which time she'd been instructed to swing by the gallery to pick him up.
By six o'clock, Hope was back home in White Plains, in her old room, admiring her purchase in the full length mirror as Caitlin lay on her bed, watching her with wide eyes.
'Wow, Hope! You look beautiful' the teenager said as Hope turned on herself.
'Thanks. I think Cam's going to like this look - he loves me in red' she commented.
'So, what are you two doing to celebrate?' asked the young girl as she stood and joined Hope, glancing at her same old boring self in the mirror.
'He's keeping things under wraps. I'm kind of hoping we're not going back to the Pink Cactus, though - Mom and Aunt Elizabeth took me there for lunch.'
'Why would he take you there?' asked Caitlin, as always curious.
'That's where we went on our first date… he took me out to dinner and then to a gallery opening' Hope said as she stared at herself in the mirror.
'I wish I had wavy hair; I hate my hair' Caitlin said as she ran her hand over her thick blond mane.
'You have beautiful hair, Caitlin' Hope said as she turned to face the teen, pushing her bangs out of her eyes. 'And you have gorgeous blue eyes… you should wear your hair back and show them off more.'
Caitlin stared at her reflection; she had to admit to using her straight blond bangs to hide behind at times - a secret escape from prying eyes. 'I just never know how to style it…'
Hope's face lit up as she smiled at Caitlin. 'Tell you what, why don't I give you a hand and we can try a few hairstyles before I go back on Sunday.'
'Yeah?' Caitlin responded, her voice unsure. 'You'd do that for me?'
'What are big sisters for?' she responded as Caitlin beamed.
She'd long ago given up on having a happy family life and the past year had been more than she had ever dared dream of. Sure, Neal and Sara were often on her case but even she knew they only wanted what was best for her.
Why would she want to mess all that up by letting her mother back into her life?
WCWCWC
Hope shivered as she pulled her wrap tightly around her shoulders. Winter had been slow in letting New York out of its grasp and they were calling for more wet snow and freezing drizzle overnight. Although West 27th looked busy, she couldn't help but notice that the gallery looked deserted, which was odd, considering it didn't close for another hour. She parked Cam's beat up Chevy in the one an only designated parking spot and made her way to the front door of the Raphael, noticing a sign announcing to passersby that the gallery would be closing at 8:00 on Wednesday, March 27th. Frowning, she tried the door, noticing it was locked and she began to search her handbag for her key, cursing as the cold air whirled around her legs, causing her dress to float up around her.
It was just as dark on the inside - except for a faint light coming from the back room where classes were taught and all the art supplies were kept.
'Cam?' Hope called out tentatively as she took a few more steps.
Soft music floated through the gallery and she smiled as she recognized the song, a John Legend tune she particularly liked.
'Cam? Are you in here?' she repeated as the young man suddenly appeared in the doorway to the backroom, looking very well put together in a pair of dress pants and a shirt and tie - far from the usual casual look he normally espoused.
'Hi' he said softly as he took a few steps towards her, the soft light on her face. 'Hope… you look amazing!'
Hope laughed out loud, a little anxious and definitely thrilled to see him there, looking good enough to eat.
'What's going on?' she said as he arrived at her side and leaned down to kiss her, his tall, lanky body practically folded in two to reach her soft, welcoming lips.
'What's going on is that I have a special evening in store for you… for us' he said with a soft smile.
'O-kay' she said as he took her arm and gently led her towards the back room. Hope peeked in, barely recognizing the place where she'd spent countless hours, teaching classes, preparing pieces for display and just generally hanging out.
The large island where students worked remained in place but the rest of the art paraphernalia had been secreted away in cupboards out of sight and the whole room was bathed in dozens of soft fairy lights, giving the room a warm, inviting glow. A table had been set up with two chairs and suddenly the smell of something amazing wafted through the air as Hope inhaled deeply, her smile broadening.
'It smells incredible in here' she said as Cam removed her wrap and set it aside, glancing down at his girlfriend, looking amazing in a short red dress with lace trim, her hair halfway up in a soft chignon.
'Oh my God!' he exclaimed as he finally got a good look at her. 'Hope, you're beautiful.'
The look in his eyes could only be described as pure adoration and she smiled back at the young man, a lump forming in her throat.
'What have you done?' she asked with a chuckle as she continued to take in the small details around the room: a bunch of her favorite gerberas sat on a small sideboard nearby as well as candles and countless small glowing lights giving the room an air of glamor and elegance.
'I hardly recognize the place' she added as Cam watched her surprised face.
'I thought it might be nice to celebrate in the place we first laid eyes on each other. Do you remember that day?' he asked as she nodded.
'How could I forget. You were this suave, twenty year old university student and I was this giddy teenage girl who couldn't keep her eyes off you' she recalled.
Cam let out a throaty laugh as he thought back to the day this beautiful young woman had walked into his life; he remembered thinking how smart and wise she was - wise beyond her years and he'd admired her talent and quick wit as she'd definitely put him in his place.
'And this is where we shared our first kiss…' he reminded her as he leaned in to place a long, lingering kiss on her lips. '… only, this time, I promise your dad won't walk in on us.'
Hope laughed as she remembered the awkward moment, her melting into Cameron's arms as her dad interrupted; she wasn't sure who'd been more embarrassed at the time, her, Cam or her dad.
'You're right. This place will always be special for us. The gallery is what brought us together' Hope agreed.
They stared into each others' eyes a moment longer, some magical, intangible connection between them that neither would venture to describe. Cam was the first to break the spell, inviting Hope to take a seat as he pulled her chair out for her.
'I hope you're hungry' he said as he busied himself at the small side table, removing the lid off some wonderful smelling food Hope couldn't quite see from her vantage point.
'Is that fettuccine alfredo?' she asked as the smell became unbearably tantalizing. 'I'm starved!'
'With shrimp' Cam added as he placed a plateful of amazing looking pasta in front of her.
'Cam!' she said with a grin. 'My absolute favorite!'
'Well' he answered, returning to serve himself. 'Everyone should have their favorite on their special day.'
He joined her at the table, music playing in the background as he reached for the bottle of wine and poured them each a glass, watching with relief as Hope began to relax.
'I just can't believe you did all this…' she said, trying not to get emotional.
Cameron lifted his glass in a toast. 'This is only the beginning. Happy birthday, sweetie!'
TBC
