Chapter 14 - Small steps (Damon)
Later that afternoon I searched the internet for something I had seen on a billboard during my ride home. There would be an artist talk at a famous photo gallery in town by the end of the week. I thought it would be something she could like and intended to take her there, but first I wanted her to trust me again. I decided to try an old fashioned method and waited on her doorstep the next morning until she came back from her usual morning run. Her eyes widened with surprise when she saw me sitting on the steps of her front porch. "Damon! What are you doing here?" she gasped when she stopped in front of me. She stretched her legs on the steps and eyed me warily. "Good morning to you too", I returned. Her face turned even more red than it already was. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" I asked. She sighed and sat down next to me. "Listen, if this is about yesterday…" she started but I interrupted her. "Yes it is and no it isn't", I said and reached behind me. "I just came to offer peace. Will you accept it?" I added and gave her a flawless white rose I had picked from a neighboring garden. Her mouth fell open and she stared at the rose in her hands. I grinned when she lifted her head and stared at me. "Well, I take this as a yes", I said and left while she stood there with disbelief on her face.
I enjoyed her reaction immensely. She had looked so baffled that I was sure her whole day had been off the usual track. The following morning I picked a pink rose from another garden and waited for her to leave for work. This time I leaned on the hood of her car and waited. She turned around after she locked the door and I could see her face lighten up when she saw me. "Good morning", she said. "Good morning", I returned. "Will I get another flower?" she asked and tried to spy behind my back. "Only if we're on friendly terms", I stated. "I think we are", she said and flashed me a huge smile when I gave her the pink rose. "Pink stands for friendship - Damon, what are you up to?" she asked and snuffled the rose's light perfume. "You know the significance?" I said. "I had to look it up, but yes. You're obviously trying to send a message", she replied. "Kind of", I returned with a smirk. "Let me pick you up on Saturday after your shift", I said. She cocked her head. "Why?" she asked. "Because I want to take you somewhere special", I answered. "A surprise?" she returned and narrowed her eyes a bit. "Yep, and I promise no dirty dancing this time", I replied and held my hands up. She pondered on it and touched her lips with the flower. "Hm". She weighed her head. "Please?" I said and gave her my best puppy-dog eyes. She couldn't stay serious anymore and let a laugh. "Alright, be there at five in the afternoon" she demanded. I gave her a mock salute. "Yes, ma'am!" She snickered and entered her car.
On Saturday I waited in front of the bar. I was on time, but she was late. The session at the gallery would close in an hour, but luck was on my side because I knew the artist. I had called her and arranged for a special meeting at the end of the talking session. Yesterday I had texted Caitlin to bring her own camera. She hadn't argued but I could imagine that Cheryl had gotten an earful for giving me so much information about her hobby. I saw her walking towards my car with a grim look on her face. "Hi there", I said. "Hey", she sighed and plopped into the seat beside me. "What happened?" I asked. "Tony happened", she grumbled and buckled on. "I thought Jake had fired him?" I asked bewildered. "Yep, but the dick hired a lawyer and wants compensation from Jake. I got summoned to testify before an arbiter!" She waved with a piece of paper. "That's ridiculous!" I exclaimed. "Of course it is!" she fumed. I pulled out and drove towards the gallery. "Do you want me there? If this is about that night, I could support your testimony", I asked. She sighed loudly and looked at me. "Yeah, I think that would be a good idea", she replied and leaned into the seat with a sulky expression.
I turned on the radio and searched for a station with cheerful music. After a while she started tapping the beat with her fingers and hummed along. "You know", she suddenly said, "I don't intend to let this ruin my surprise. Where are you taking me?" She gave me a cheerful look. I just grinned at her. "That's the kind of spirit I like", I replied, "but I'm not telling you yet". She pouted. "Please?" She batted her eyelashes at me. I just shook my head. "Nope". She reached for my leg and caressed my thigh with her hand. "Jeez!" I nearly jumped and the car swerved a bit. "Are you crazy, woman?" I shouted. She giggled and relaxed in her seat. "Don't panic, Damon. I won't touch you again", she said and crossed her fingers. I exhaled and concentrated on the traffic. I nodded my chin towards a sign ahead. "There's your answer", I told her. "The Paul Paletti Gallery! Are you serious?" she exclaimed. "Do I look like I'm joking?" I returned dryly. "That's why I should bring my camera", she said, smiling from ear to ear. "Exactly. Now, let me find a parking spot here", I returned and reduced my speed.
Caitlin was all excited. She bounced next to me when we entered the building. "Oh my God! They've got a new exhibition with my favorite artist opening tomorrow, did you see the ad?" she asked. I nodded. "I did", I said and led her to elevator. I had arranged a preview tour through the exhibition. From the corner of my eye I scrutinized her. She wore a black jeans and red shirt. A black vest over the shirt completed the picture. Large silver hoops graced her delicate earlobes and her wrists while a large silver pendant on a choker lay upon her collarbones. Her hair was held back by a fashionable loose braid, but quite few strands of hair had escaped and curled around her face. She looked beautiful. We stepped out and through another door onto the roof-deck. I was surprised to see a garden in full bloom up here, softly illuminated by the late afternoon light and many small lanterns. "Wow, this is beautiful", Caitlin whispered in awe. I hadn't known what it would look like. When Annie had asked me to meet on the roof I thought she'd picked it because there wouldn't be any audience.
Caitlin stood in front of a container with pansies in full bloom and tied to spy over the rail. I stepped next to her and picked a red one. Then I caught one loose strand of her hair and tucked it back behind her ear and added the flower. The soft light of a lantern cast a glow on her face and let her black hair shine like raven feathers. A strange tension flowed between us. She tilted her face into my hand and all of a sudden we heard the click of a camera and turned around. "Beautiful, amazing", I heard Annie's voice. Caitlin froze awestruck when she saw her. "Stay like this, look at each other", Annie demanded and raised her camera again. I locked my gaze with Caitlin's. She didn't say a word - she only looked at me with her incredibly blue eyes and I was lost. We heard the clicking of Annie's camera like a far away sound and mumbled words. Everything else faded out, only our eyes existed, as if time stood still. "Honey, you still sure you don't want to model for me?" The question pulled us out of our trance and I turned around, blinking my eyes. "I am sure, Annie", I replied and pulled her into a swift hug. We had met a couple of years ago in Paris and developed a unique connection.
"Annie, this is Caitlin O'Brien, a friend of mine and huge admirer of your art", I introduced my company. Annie took Caitlin's hand and raised it to her lips to blow a kiss on it. "You always manage to pick the diamond among the pebble, Damon", she returned. Caitlin blushed a little. "I'm very honored to meet you, Ms. …" she started but Annie interrupted her. "Please, Darling, call me Annie". Caitlin nodded. "Alright, pleased to meet you, Annie". She was rewarded with a flashy smile. "You two look so gorgeous together, as if you were twins. Are you related?" she asked. I shook my head. "No, we're not. It's just coincidence", I answered. "Damon asked me to give you a solo tour of my exhibition tonight. Are you ready?" Caitlin gawped at me, but I just grinned. "Told you it would be a surprise", I said and shrugged. Annie grabbed her by the hand and I followed them downstairs. They walked through the halls and stopped every now and then while Annie answered each question Caitlin threw at her. I sat on the rectangular blocks they had put in the middle of each room and just followed them with my eyes.
Caitlin stopped in front of a large picture and contemplated on it while Annie sneaked up behind me. "You sure you're not falling for her? Because if not, I will ask her out, Damon", Annie whispered to my ear. I glared at her and she just snickered. "Never mind. I'll send you the pictures", she whispered and went back to Caitlin. She made her take some pictures of me with her own camera and explained about exposure, resolution, using light and shades while they moved around me. I was in the mood to make faces but they teamed up on scolding me. Finally I had enough and got up. "Ah, looks like our model lost his patience with us", the artist bantered. "Don't you have to prepare for the grand opening tomorrow, Annie?" I asked. Fortunately, she got the hint. "I'm afraid you're right. Caitlin, dear, I'd love to go on and on, but I have to call it a night". She hugged her a bit longer than necessary. "Just remember, always look past the outward appearance, okay?" she urged her. Caitlin just nodded. "I'll try. Thank you so much for spending so much time with me. You're truly an inspiration, Annie". We exited the building after I said my goodbyes and walked to the parking lot.
"Did you enjoy it?" I asked. She looked at me with an indefinable expression. "Are you kidding? This was amazing", she replied. I smiled at her. "Glad you liked it", I returned. Later in the car I felt her scrutinizing me. "Are you trying to stare a hole in my head?" I asked. "Why are you being so nice, Damon?" she asked. There it was – the trust issue. "I thought I'd try being nice for a change, but if you don't like it…" She laughed and punched my shoulder. "Ouch! What's that for?" I exclaimed. "Can't you be serious for once?" she asked. "Nope", I replied and shook my head. "Life's easier that way". She clicked her tongue. "I've heard that before. So, it's either drinking or joking for you? Is there nothing else in between?" I pondered on it. Of course, I had moments when I wanted to be serious and I knew that both, drinking and joking, were only means of escape when life sucked too much. "Not really", I admitted. "I love playing games". I was sure she could see through my façade anyhow. She had parked her car in side road near the bar. It was dark already when we got there and I walked her to her parking spot. "I enjoyed tonight very much", she said seriously before she turned to her car. "Caitlin", I called softly. She turned around. I raised my hand and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and fixed her gaze. "Good night". She drew a deep breath. "Damon, I …" but I just shook my head and placed a finger on her lips. "See you soon, Caitlin", I said. She just nodded at me with a smile and got into her car. Then she drove off.