Chapter 8
21st March 1925
London
Five o'clock and the streets were full of people leaving work. Candy and Marion, a blue eyed petite brunette, were coming out of the Good Samaritans charity centre having finished their shift. Marion was one of her best friends. The daughter of Elizabeth and Edward Lewis, the permanent secretary to HM Treasury. She was mischievous and fun to be around, but superficial. She gave a constant headache to her parents. The only thing they were actually happy about was her friendship with that American young lady who had shown up in London's social scene a couple of months back. With much relief, they had noticed her positive influence on their daughter. When she had announced to them that she would volunteer for the Good Samaritans, their jaws had stretched to the flood by their surprise. Elizabeth had to look for her fan to air her husband's face, since it was frozen for a good minute.
Candy liked Marion. Sometimes, she thought she was "barmy on the crumpet" or as Miss Pony would say "she was dropped on her head when she was small" but her heart was in the right place. She hadn't a mean bone in her. So what if the only thing she knew was to party and act like a loony? She wasn't hurting anyone. Candy had suggested to volunteer at the Good Samaritans branch in Camden and Marion had joined her. It was such a new experience for her and had thrown herself into it with much enthusiasm. A fine mist of rain was in the air.
"Ohhh...that rain again! My hair will go all frizzy!", Candy complained and opened her umbrella in an attempt to avoid the unavoidable.
"You should have got used to it by now", Marion said while laughing with Candy's frustration.
"Of all the British things foreign to me, I think I'll never get used to that kind of rain!", Candy replied hidden underneath her big umbrella.
They kept walking within the crowd of people that had flooded the streets of Camden town. It was Friday, traditionally the day when everyone was hitting the pubs after work.
"We're all gathering at Her Majesty's Arms", Marion informed her friend while still walking.
"Will you join us?"
"I'd love to", Candy replied, "But I have a date tonight...", she said and flashed an excited smile to her friend.
"A date?", she asked wanting to know more. "Don't tell me it is with this bloke, Christian?"
Candy's eyes were smiling.
"Oh by God, you really have your sights on Christian Blake!"
"I think I do! I sense a 'but' coming?", she asked sounding doubtful.
"There is a 'but' indeed! The guy is a player, Rose..."
Candy stopped and looked with an amused face at her friend.
"And what's wrong with that?"
"Absolutely nothing wrong, if you are just going for a good time. But if you're looking for a relationship..."
"Who says I'm looking for a relationship?"
Marion stopped this time and looked at Candy for a few seconds before bursting to a laugh.
"My friend you're incorrigible", she managed to say. "They say I'm nuts. Honestly now, have your fun, but be careful...you don't want to fall for this guy"
"Well, I'll have your advice in mind", Candy commented before chuckling at her friend's worry.
She was certain she knew what she was doing. She wasn't one for relationships either, but if Christian could bring some excitement and spice in her life for the time being he was all the more welcome for her. As if she didn't know what a woman magnet an artist could be...and she had found the worst way, having tried with everything she got in the past to get over that. She was sure she had. But at the same time, she had closed the doors to everyone, not just her memories.
They continued walking, immersed in small talk until they reached the pub where her friends were gathering for their Friday pint. Marion turned and looked at Candy.
"Are you sure you don't want to join us for a while?", she asked her.
"I'm sorry, but I can't. He's picking me up at seven", Candy replied.
"It's OK! No need to apologise. Have fun tonight!", she said back and winked to her.
"I think I will!", Candy said with a big smile, "Say hi to everyone and that I'm sorry I couldn't join you this time"
"Make sure you tell me everything later...", she said and both girls kissed goodbye.
"I will do", Candy said, pulling her tongue out, before turning to continue walking towards her house.
Her eyes were shining on her face that was framed with a mass of frizzy curly hair. She felt happy.
He was almost ready. His classic black trousers on, he was passing his arms through the sleeves of the white shirt, when he was interrupted by the insistent knock at the front door.
"Who the hell could it be now?", Christian murmured looking annoyed as he walked towards the door. He didn't want to be late. With a stern look on his face he answered the door. His best friend, Edward was standing there, his smiley face turning to looking surprised.
"Going out?", he asked as he came in.
"Yes, and I don't want to be late", Christian said while he disappeared back in the room, sitting down to wear his shoes. Edward followed him.
"Date?", he asked.
"Boy, Ed, you are always so curious my friend", Christian looked up to see his friend standing at the door of the bedroom. "Yes, it's a date, OK?"
"With Rose?", Edward asked again as if his friend's comments hadn't affected him. He was a curious sonofabitch, he knew that already.
"Yes, with Rose!", Christian replied seeing that it was useless to play hide and seek with his friend at that time and place.
He stood up, starting to button up his shirt, when he heard Edward laughing.
"You're wasting your time with her my friend", Edward commented.
Standing in front of his upright mirror, he was about to put his tie.
"Why so?", he asked turning to his friend.
"Rumours have it that she's a big flirt, she strings guys along. Apparently she's off relationships of any kind"
"Well, good for her, she's having fun on her own terms! I like that!", Christian answered back to his friend's comments, before turning back to knot his tie.
"I'm just saying, don't get your hopes up for anything Christian"
He didn't say anything to that. He finished getting ready in front of the mirror, before turning back to Edward.
"Ed, why are you here? I hope not for giving me advice on my dating life"
Edwards's face took a more nervous look. Indeed, he hadn't passed by Christian's to criticise him for going out on a second date with Rose.
"It's about your exhibition, I'm afraid...", he said and turned back into the living room, as Christian was getting out of the bedroom, picking a cigarette from the packet that was on the table, pouring a shot of whiskey right after at his empty glass that stood next to the cigarettes.
"What about my exhibition?", Christian asked behind the puff of smoke he exhaled.
"The owner of the gallery wants to see you tomorrow. I went to see him today as a social visit", Edward said while sitting down.
"What for?", Christian replied raising his eyebrow.
"I hope you won't be angry because it might be a slight hiccup but the exhibition will go through, no worries about that...", Edward said back.
"Ed, I've told you many times not to spare my feelings! Now, without using cryptic messages, can you please spill?", he said and downed his drink, taking another drag from his cigarette.
"He was asking me if you'd consider moving your exhibition to a later date", Edward said with one breath, eager to just say what he had to say after his friend prompting.
"Why?", Christian asked, looking at his pocket watch, feeling anxious.
"Adam's girlfriend. Remember her? She is a budding painter...and she's eager to exhibit...", Edward spilled what he was afraid to say all along.
"WHAT?! I'm being shafted for Adam's girlfriend?!", Christian yelled and stubbed his cigarette angrily, before pacing madly for a few moments around the room, stopping to stare sharply at Edward.
"Fuck him!"
"What?!", Edward gushed, "No, no, no Christian! You know how difficult is to book a gallery for an exhibition!", he continued standing up now.
"Edward please! Can you listen to yourself?", Christian shouted looking furious, "I won't sit and take it like that from that cunt!"
"Christian calm down!"
He stopped and gave another look at his watch. He had to leave right at that moment if he wanted to be on time. He looked back at Edward that seemed very sorry now by sharing the news with Christian.
"Listen Ed, I can't talk about it right now, OK?", he said still reeling from the news, "I'll go there tomorrow to get the official kick in the balls, but I'm through with Adam...leave it to me, I'll think of something", he finished and looked for his jacket.
"Just don't do anything rush", Edward almost pleaded to his friend. He knew if he felt hurt he was acting as if being completely out of his mind.
"I won't, I promise", Christian said back to put Ed's mind at ease, "Now if you excuse me, I have a date with a very interesting lady and we can't have her waiting...", he said and flashed his trademark wide smile.
Friday evening hadn't got off to a good start, but he was certain that his date with Rose would make up for all the anger that flushed through his body right then. He said goodbye to Edward and was on his way to her place. He was looking forward seeing her again.
Seven o'clock, he was there, standing in front of her door in his sharp black suit. Candy was ready this time when she opened the door. He saw her smoky eyes and rosy lips smiling at him.
"Rose", he said to her.
"Christian", she said back and gave him her hand to hold, going down the stairs together to the sound of the pearl chains jingling around her neck while her flapper's black sequinned dress was shimmering as she walked.
Her stare was radiant under the dusk light having already drunk a bit of wine at the same time she was getting ready.
"You look gorgeous...", he whispered in her ear, the moment they sat comfortably in the old-fashioned carriage that was waiting for them.
Candy chuckled and blushed hearing that compliment coming from him.
"Thank you Christian! You scrub up well yourself!", she teased him
.
"Only scrub up well?!", he protested with a big smile.
Candy turned to stare at him, feeling her heartbeat rushing when her eyes wondered around his beautiful face.
"Well, we don't want Mr. Blake to start feeling full of himself now, do we?" she managed to say when her eyes lingered opposite his.
Christian burst into laughing falling backwards on the seat.
"Too right my dear!", he said still laughing.
They arrived at "Rules" restaurant in Covent Garden, a short while after. The place was renowned for its impressive clientele from Charles Dickens to Henry Irving, the famous Victorian stage actor. One of the oldest restaurants around in London, it reminded Candy a gentleman's club the moment she had come in with its immaculate pile carpets on the floors, plush banquets, panelled glass high ceiling, while the length of its walls was graced with antique drawings of famous names of the artistic circles of London. She had been there before but it never failed to impress her as she looked around soaking the atmosphere, once a tuxedoed waiter took them to their table.
Candy and Christian seemed to enjoy each other's company over their empty plates, feeling content as they were immersed in an animated lively conversation that only paused at moments where their eyes met and their laughter mingled.
The waiter came to clean their table, asking them whether they wanted to order desserts. Candy looked at Christian.
"I'd love too, honestly, but I'm full!", she said.
"OK. Same here...", Christian added.
"I'd love some coffee though", Candy said back.
"Could you please bring us two coffees and two glasses of Martell?", he turned and said to the waiter.
"Of course sir", he replied and swiftly left the table with the plates.
Christian turned to look at her who to his surprise was staring past him with her eyes wide and her mouth open.
"Oh my God!", she exclaimed.
"What is it?", he asked her without turning his head back to see what she was seeing.
She patted the back of his hand that rested on the table in urgency, leaning closer to him.
"Ohhh it's just Charlie Chaplin behind you!", she said as quietly as she could consider how excited she looked.
"Rules" was always known to attract the crème de la crème of the art world that happened to be passing from London. And it was Christian's time to look surprised.
"He's is together with a gorgeous blonde woman!", she continued not being able to take her eyes away from the famous couple that were greeted by a waiter who was followed by the manager of the restaurant.
"He looks so different compared to his screen persona", Candy noticed while looking at Chaplin's face without his famous moustache and heavy makeup that his audience had become accustomed to seeing him with.
He may not have been classically beautiful but he did have this aura around him which Candy found fascinating. Christian turned discreetly to catch a glimpse of them and turned back to Candy.
"Not bad for Chaplin! She must be Peggy Hopkins Joyce", he said.
"You know her?!", she asked him.
"Not personally but my best friend, Edward is like a portable celebrity guide", he explained with a laugh. "She's the latest fling of Chaplin. She is an actress but more famous for her private life, she attracts the men like a magnet apparently. Rumour has it that an employee from a South American embassy in Paris killed himself for his love of her", he said quietly as he shared the gossip with Candy.
"I can see why the attraction, she is stunning!", she said back as the couple were led to one of the private rooms of the restaurant.
"Nah...I think the view in front of me is way more interesting...", he commented while staring at Candy.
She felt her cheeks instantly in flames the moment she heard him say that.
He left the coffees and the glasses of cognac on the table while Candy pulled a cigarette out of her silver cigarette case. Christian lit his lighter the moment she held it between her lips. Candy took a drag and smiled. He lit a cigarette for himself and looked at her.
"How come you left the States for old foggy London?", he asked her.
Before Candy opened her mouth to answer he continued.
"Weren't anyone special back home?"
Candy's stare darkened. She turned and played with the lit tip of her cigarette smoothing it at the sides of the ashtray. She had a sip of her coffee and looked at him with vacant eyes.
"No, no one", Candy said feeling unsettled.
Christian looked at those eyes of hers feeling she was telling him a lie.
"Your family?", he continued.
"I have four very good friends, one of which is my cousin, and I also have my two mothers"
"Two mothers?!", he asked.
"I grew up in an orphanage", Candy replied.
"Oh...I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked..."
"No, that's OK. Miss Pony's home in Indiana was no Dickensian heartless and dark institution for the unfortunate lone children. I remember my childhood years there with deep love. In fact I didn't even want to be adopted if you want to believe that. ", she said and her eyes shone, light reflecting on their deep green meadows.
"You miss them...", he said softly.
"I do...can't deny it. I think of them almost every day", Candy said back.
She felt his eyes looking deep inside hers searching in her mind for glimpses of her past. Without knowing why, she panicked. She trusted Christian even from the little she knew him and she wasn't ashamed of her past but she felt that she didn't want to bring it into their date. She was having too much of a good time to risk spoiling it.
"What was your family like?", she asked him before taking a sip from her cognac, feeling it sweetly burning her throat.
"I lost both my parents by the time I was nineteen", he said casually.
"Ohh...! I'm sorry Christian!", Candy felt like apologising to him for her question.
"It's in the past now. My parents were nice people but they had their faults like everyone else I came to realise.", he said back to her.
"Still it's hard to lose them at such an age", she added.
"It was, but on the other hand I was always relying more on myself and less on them. Most possibly because I was sort of adopted I guess", he commented and drank a bit from his cognac.
"You were adopted too?!", Candy said surprised.
His eyes were looking more grey than before Candy thought, under the soft lights of the room, and thoughtful as they seemed, she felt a chill creeping up her back to the realisation that his face was looking familiar to her, so familiar that she had to look elsewhere, finally picking up her glass to have another sip.
"Sort of adopted. My parents believed I was adopted but in reality I was stolen from my real parents", he confessed looking totally calm.
"Ohhh Christian! Really?!", she said, "Please forgive me for starting these questions!"
His eyes lingered on her worried and flushed face. He gave her a heartfelt smile answering that way to her apologies.
"Hey...that's life Rose! You're dealt a hand and you have to deal with it. Either accept it and move forward or sit back and wallow for the rest of your years", he said in all seriousness, "I've chosen the first".
"True...", Candy managed to say, his words were cutting so close to her memories.
She fought inside her not to let feelings flow out. She was having such a great time with Christian, but their chat had been steered unwontedly in such direction that it felt too close for comfort to her personally, despite how stunned she was with Christian's story. In a way she felt they had a lot in common.
"When did you decide to become a painter?", she said changing the subject.
Christian's eyes lightened up and he laughed like he was planning something.
"I'll show you if you want after we leave from here...", he said.
"That sounds exciting! When do we leave?", she asked him.
"Now if you wish", he replied.
"I'm ready", she said with a smile.
Christian asked for the waiter, paid their bill and they got up to leave the restaurant. They were on the way to the door when he heard someone calling his name. They stopped and turned to find out who that person was. To his sight, Christian looked pleasantly surprised.
"Come with me Rose. We won't be long", he said to her quietly while they walked towards that man.
He seemed to be nearing fifty; Candy looked at him in his tuxedoed white shirt and black bow tie, he was a plump man of aristocratic demeanour with jolly eyes and a thick moustache that curled upwards at its edges.
"My friends, I'd like to introduce you to Christian Blake, he is one of our very promising and talented young painters in Britain today", he said to his group of friends that sat around the table.
"As always the great Sir Witt is not short of big words!", Christian said with a smile to everyone, giving his hand for a firm handshake with him.
He made his acquaintances around the table and turned to Sir Robert.
"Sir, I'd like to introduce you to Miss Rose White, a dear friend of mine", he said and pulled back for Candy to come by his side.
"Rose, this is Sir Robert Witt, the chairman of the Art Collections Fund and a great artist himself. He was a close friend of my parents and I truly consider him my mentor", Christian said to her.
She gave him a sincere smile and stretched her arm for a handshake.
"I'm honoured to meet you Sir!", she said.
"Likewise my dear. Christian is very lucky to have such a delightful presence dining with him", he said to her with a chuckle, glancing at Christian at the same time who had a happy smug look in his face.
"Oh Sir, I think you're exaggerating!", she said back to him, feeling her face blushing to the roots of her hair.
"On the contrary my dear. I speak the truth when I see it", he said with a wide smile and turned to Christian who was trying not to laugh with their conversation.
"And how are you lad? How's your painting? Your exhibition will be coming soon", he said to him.
"I'm just fine Sir Robert. Painting keeps me quite busy the past time, I couldn't be happier for that...", Christian replied even though his eyes looked more serious than the occasion dictated.
"I sense a but coming...", Sir Robert said to him quietly.
"Let's say that it's not the time or the place for that "but" ", Christian said, "Will it be OK to visit you in your solicitor's office tomorrow morning?", he asked him.
"Of course! Pass by at 10am, we'll get tea together", he replied.
"That's perfect! Thank you Sir Robert!", Christian exclaimed.
"Not to mention it my boy! Always happy to lend a hand if problems arise, you know that", Sir Robert said.
"I do know! That is why I'm always grateful for your help", Christian commented with a humble tone in his voice.
"Well then, it's settled. Be at my office 10am tomorrow and we'll talk", Sir Robert said.
"OK then. I'll wish you goodnight for now. Have a nice dinner", Christian said and both him and Candy wished goodnight to everyone at the table.
"Enjoy the rest of the night you two", Sir Robert said to them. "And Christian, I trust you to take good care of this charming young lady friend of yours...", he continued sounding like a father, looking at them both.
"I intent to Sir Robert, you have my word", Christian said suppressing the laughter that rose inside of him by watching Candy's face turning to beetroot once again. She smiled nervously at them.
"Shall we?", she turned and whispered to Christian.
"Of course. After you my dear", he said to her with a smooth voice.
They said once more goodnight and made their exit. They took a cab from the rank that stood outside the restaurant.
"National Gallery please", he said to the driver.
"National Gallery? It's almost ten at night! It'll be closed", she asked him.
"Not if you have friends in the right places...", he turned and said to her like he was sharing a secret.
"I can say that I truly believe you", she said to him with wide eyes.
She was staring at him thinking how he was constantly surprising her since they met. She fell back to the seat with her eyes closed and a smile on her face. The night was getting more interesting she thought.
They arrived at the National Gallery, Christian giving instructions to the driver to leave them by the back of the building. He took her by the hand after they came out of the cab, leading her to a small polished black wood door, with gold engraved panels.
"That's the staff entrance", he turned and said to her before she was to ask him.
He pulled the bell cord while they were standing in front of it. After a couple of minutes, the door opened and a tall thin man with tousled ginger hair, appeared behind it.
"Hey Nicholas!", Christian said warmly.
"Christian", his friend replied and opened the door wide for him and Candy to come in.
They shook their hands patting each other on the shoulder, seeming happy to meet again.
"Nicholas this is Rose", he said to his friend and turned to her, "Rose, Nicholas".
"Nice to meet you Rose", he said and took up her hand smoothly kissing the back of it.
"Likewise Nicholas", she said and chuckled. She had not seen that many freckles on a person's skin before looking at his bare arms poking out of the rolled up sleeves of his shirt.
"Hey!", Christian protested.
"What?", Nicholas asked him puzzled and then smiled innocently at him, "Some men have manners Christian!"
"I can see that mate...", he said to him smiling back.
"He knows how much I like to wind him up", Nicholas turned and winked at Candy.
"It shows", Candy said with a soft laugh.
"Besides my man I've lost my fun with this job of mine", he turned, looking at Christian.
"How's it going?", Christian asked his friend.
"Two more months and I'm out of here", Nicholas answered.
"You are going somewhere Nicholas?", Candy asked him.
"He's been saving up for ages for a trip to Europe in the summer, Rose", Christian explained to her.
"France and Italy to be precise", Nicholas added with a smile. "My passion is architecture, Rose, which is not compatible with me being locked up in a building however wonderful architecturally the Gallery is. I feel I need to go places, feast my eyes and mind"
"But that's great Nicholas! I wish you'll fulfil your dream soon", she said to him.
"Thank you! That's very kind of you", he said back to her, "So, what are you two doing here Christian?", Nicholas turned and asked his friend.
"Rose asked me a question earlier on and I want to answer her. It's something I'd like to show her. Can we go down at the storage room in the basement Nicholas?", he asked him.
"Mate you're asking a lot...if they find out...", Nicholas said and scratched his head making his red hair looking wilder, "but it's OK...please take care down there though, leave everything the way you found it"
"I'll owe you one Nicholas! And don't worry, it'll be as if no one went in there in the first place. Trust me", Christian said with excitement and looked at Candy who still didn't have a clue what Christian wanted to show her.
"I'll show you the way. Come with me", Nicholas said to both of them and led the way to the basement.
Moments later, he was unlocking the basement door. He flicked the switch to his left, flooding the room with light.
"I'll leave you to it", he turned and said to Christian. "Lock the door on your way out OK?", he continued and handed the big iron key to Christian.
"No problem my friend", Christian replied. "We won't be too long".
"I'll see you two back upstairs", Nicholas said to both of them and left them alone.
Christian turned to Candy looking excited.
"Come", he said, leading her in the room, which was quite big high ceilinged and narrow with bright white washed stone walls. Covered paintings were stacked everywhere.
"They bring the paintings that need some maintenance here, either because of damage or old age", he explained to her, as they were passing carefully beside paintings that were kept together, each one being slid inside wooden frames for protection.
"I see...Are you looking for something in particular?", she asked him.
"I do...", he said, gazing briefly at some paintings.
They reached the back of the room. Christian pulled a covered painting out of its wooden frame. It was wide in length. Candy left her purse down to give Christian a hand as he carried the painting to let it stand on an upright holder. He took the fabric off and looked at it in silence for a few moments.
"It's just beautiful Christian", she said holding her breath looking at the painting from a distance.
"You know it?", he turned and asked her.
"Not really", Candy apologised.
"Don't feel bad about that, Rose. After all it doesn't mean anything to know names of paintings or famous painters", he said and came to stand next to her, keeping his eyes on the painting, "Art is not knowledge, it's all about feelings. As long as you let your eyes linger on a painting while letting yourself feel you're fine. Soon you'll know what images stir you inside"
Candy's eyes were on the painting too, gazing it at it in silence.
"It's Rockeby Venus by Velazquez" he started talking again, "It's been in hiding since 1914"
"Really? Why?", she turned and asked him.
"The painting seemed too degrading to a woman called Mary Richardson. She was a suffragette back then. She slashed the back of Venus with a knife in protest", he explained, his voice sounding almost angry.
"That's terrible!", she commented, "But I can't see any slashes"
"They fixed it. She's ready to be displayed again", he said and smiled to her.
"They've done an amazing work", she said and moved closer to the painting, looking for any tell-tell signs of the attack.
"You've asked me when I did know that I wanted to become a painter", she heard his warm voice behind her and turned to see him.
"Yes I did", she said.
"It was with my parents back when I was seventeen on a visit to the Gallery that I was so keen to visit, that I saw Venus for the first time", he said sounding as if he was revisiting that moment.
"I was blown away...that woman was so beautiful I couldn't get her out of my head. On that day, looking at her, I realised the improbable pleasure of contemplating the body of a naked woman without having the urgencies of desire or the obstacles of modesty*. That moment the life as a painter dawned in me as the future I wanted to have"
Her eyes shone with emotions hearing him confessing his thoughts. She admired passionate people that went through life wearing those passions of theirs on their sleeve for everyone to see. She opened her mouth to say something when Christian came from behind, placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Let me try to show you what I see", he said with a soft voice and pulled her back a bit.
Her heart was palpitating in her chest as she felt how close they were, she could almost feel his body touching hers.
"Tell me what do you see?", he asked her gently.
For a couple of seconds she felt nervous. She didn't want to sound ignorant; however there was nothing else for her to say than just describe the painting.
"No...", he said quietly close to her ear, "Let's move closer to her", he said prompting her to close up to the painting, "Leave your eyes to wonder on the painting, observe the colours, follow the curved lines of her body, see her blurred face, the strokes of paint...take it all in".
She felt the warmth of his breath blowing gentle on her neck, him whispering close to her ear. Her eyes were travelling on the painting, gazing at Venus' face blurred as it was, as if she was looking at the painter behind her, letting him in her private moment. Followed the deep curve of her waist, her shoulder blades, her mind could see him making the first drawing of her on the canvas, confident lines of the steady hand of a painter.
Her heartbeat moved faster inside her. The strokes of paint, light as a feather at points, thickly laid in others. She wanted to trace them with her fingers. She imagined him laying them there, she could sense him being immersed into his painting, working frantically driven by the inspiration this woman in front of him was creating.
It was as if she was transported in the painting, the moment it was born. Hidden at a corner, she could see the whole scene, the beautiful naked woman on the bed, the gaze of a painter lost in his world, giving birth to an image seen by the eyes of his soul. It felt wonderful and intriguing. Christian had made everything sound and feel so electrifyingly real to her.
"Christian it's just amazing. I felt like I was there", she said.
She turned to see him. Her face came close to his. He had the same lost stare she had imagined the painter to have. He didn't say anything; his arm slid across her waist and pulled her on him. His breath touched her lips that opened slightly before he covered them with his, tracing their softness. He pressed her body onto his, her hands staying on his chest, she felt like she had stopped breathing.
She was kissing him back. It was a soft kiss of exploring each other's feelings, first steps on virgin snow. She moved her hands to rest around his neck, feeling his warmth. Christian pulled his face up slowly, his grey eyes looking dark and liquid.
"I'm sorry...I was carried away Rose", he said to her with a deep voice.
"Don't apologise...I liked it...", she said back to him, smiling shyly with glimmering eyes.
He smiled looking relieved. He liked her a lot but the words of his friend were still in his mind. And she had lied to him when she said that there was no one back home. Maybe it was a heart break that haunted her, shutting her heart to everything else. He'd have to move slow.
"Let's get out of here", he suggested to her and moved to put the painting where it was before.
Her eyes fell on another covered painting that was hauled up on a stand. She moved closer, being curious, and unveiled it carefully. She gasped in silence the moment her eyes saw the painting.
"Exquisite...isn't it?", Christian said behind her.
"Aha...", she said absent-minded.
She had instantly gone in a time warp, seeing herself there...
"It's Renoir's, "Girl in a theatre"", he added without being aware of the sting she felt in her eyes.
She stared a little while, seeing the girl dressed up, holding the flowers, the blueness of the painting, excitement and melancholy all mixed into one. She went and covered it again, feeling her heart squeezing in her chest. She took a deep breath to hold back her emotions.
"Let's go", she said without turning.
"Come then", he said to her.
Both of them went out the room, he switched the lights off and locked the door. She squeezed the purse she was holding, cursing at her curiosity. Bittersweet sadness washed over the excitement she felt from Christian's kiss. They stayed a bit talking to Nicholas before they said goodbye, leaving him there.
She was quiet in the cab to her house. Christian thought that she was somewhere else. He felt puzzled.
"I hope I didn't bore you", he said with hesitation.
She snapped back and looked at him.
"Oh not at all Christian! I loved everything tonight", she said.
They arrived outside her house and went up the stairs, standing in front of her door, looking at each other. He brought his hand up, traced her lips slowly with his thumb while holding her chin. He lowered his head and gave her a soft lingering kiss that made her skin tingle. She was holding from his arms.
"I'd love to see you again Rose", he said when he pulled back up.
"I'd love that too Christian", she replied in a soft voice.
"Tomorrow", he said.
"Tomorrow sounds fine", she said back with a smile.
"I've got your telephone number...", he said and patted his breast pocket, "I'll give you a call tomorrow..."
"I'll be waiting"
She came in and closed the door behind her after they said their goodnights. Her fingers touched her lips faintly to the thought of Christian's kisses. They had been soft and light like he was getting to know her. They were also beautiful and tender and she felt she wanted more. However, in the quietness of her home her feelings were mixed. By those small coincidences during the night, Terry's image had come to her stronger than ever, her memories of him darkening the excitement Christian made her feel. She cursed her mind being eternally sick with her past haunting her. Despite their faintness over the years they were still powerful when they hit her. And at the moment they were flooding her. Half an hour later, she was curled up on her green armchair, smoking with a glass of whisky on her hand, wondering how Terry was doing.
New York
12 midnight, Terry's apartment
The light in his study was still on. Terry lay on his big leather couch, one arm behind his head, while flipping constantly his harmonica between his thumb and his index finger, watching the light flickering as it fell on its shiny metal.
He still had not heard from Pony' home. Although it was early days. He was eager, there was no doubt about it. But all he could do was wait. Just a little while longer. Then there was the theatre, Robert. He had talked to him, right after Hamlet's premiere. In eight to ten weeks time, he would set his foot to London...long time away from his St. Paul's days...he thought with a sad smile...How this trip would play out with his efforts to communicate with Candy? If his letter had reached her in the first place that is...provided she would answer back...
He sighed deeply, and pressed his lips, brought the harmonica closer and started playing, sliding it softly through the palms of his hands. Her images came to his mind and he relished them for as long as they were there. Would she have changed since the last time he saw her? Would she still be working in a hospital? Would she be happy, content with life? Would she be happy to hear from him? Happy to even...see him?
To his last thoughts, the last notes died also as soon as they had left the harmonica.
Would she be happy to see him?
Terry turned his body, picking up his glass from the floor and brought it to his lips, feeling the alcohol burning his lips, preparing himself for another sleepless night though different from the others...the clock was ticking and soon enough, he would find out the answer to his question...
*The sentence with the asterisk is comprised mostly by words of Gabriel Garcia Marquez