Belle.
In one New York cafe, a man sat by the window and looked dejectedly at the raindrops streaming down it. It started raining suddenly and he thought he would just wait it out in a cafe. He rested his head on his fist and looked at the watch on the other he hand. It had been raining for twenty minutes and was not going to end. The man sighed - he can't sit here all day. The man held up a finger to order coffee. He decided that he would sit a little longer, and then probably order a taxi. The man sighed - he wanted to take a walk today. He looked sadly out the window again. Suddenly the door flew open, with a light ringing of a bell, and a girl ran into the cafe.
She jerked her head shaking off the raindrops and closed the umbrella. The umbrella was bright red. She went to the table at which the man was sitting and sat down opposite. She hung the umbrella on the back of the chair.
- Hello, I'm sorry I was late! - She smiled very good-naturedly. - I called you! My name is Belle. Belle French.
- Sorry? - The man looked at the girl in surprise. - You confused me with someone, apparently?
- It can't be.- The young girl shook her head. - Brown eyes. Black coat. Are you Mr. Lawrence?
- No. - The man replied. - My name ...
- Your coffee, Mr. Gold. - The waiter put the cup in front of the man.
- Mister Gold? - The girl was surprised and blurted out. - Are you sure?
- I was in the morning. - Smiled Mr. Gold.
- Oh, sorry. It's me just ... I mixed up the cafe , I guess. - The girl was upset. - I was supposed to have a meeting. And now I will definitely be late for her.
Her phone immediately rang and she picked up the receiver.
- Hello? ... Mr. Lawrence! It's good that you ... won't come? How was it not found? ... Okay ... I get it ...- Belle finished the conversation and hung up.
- Miss French. - Mr. Gold lightly touched her fingers. - What happened to you? Can I help you?
- Hardly, but thanks. It is very kind of you. - Belle said sadly.
- One can I will at least treat you to coffee. - Said Mr. Gold. - It hurts me to see how sad you are. And so at least you will get warm.
- Yes. - Belle answered. - I will not refuse coffee.
- That's great. - Mr. Gold smiled and put his hand on top of her. - Would you like another cupcake for him?
Belle looked at the man and a smile touched her lips: he was very touching in his concern. Otherwise, she would have thought he was courting her. But it was clear that he was just trying to help. Noticing her half-smile, he smiled back and made an order. And Belle noted how charming he was. When he smiles.
They drank coffee, Belle ate cupcake and felt so comfortable with Mr. Gold. Even in spite of the fact that the meeting fell through, in spite of the fact that it was raining outside the window.
- Well, since we're almost friends, Belle, tell us? What kind of secret meeting was you supposed to have? - Asked Mr. Gold the young girl.
- It's a very long story. I wanted to find one book. Rare edition - limited edition. I searched all the libraries. All the bookstores and I found her. You understand? - Blue eyes stared at Mr. Gold. - And ... and then I lost it! I left it somewhere ... I don't remember where. Then I found out about him, Mr. Lawrence, he is a very rich man, with an extensive library. He assured him that he had this book! And he will come with her to the cafe today when he finds it. And now he called and said that he did not have such a book.
- Miss French. - Mr. Gold sighed. - Belle. I'm sorry.
- Nothing. - Belle shrugged. - I'm just absent-minded.
The girl's phone rang again.
- Sorry. -She answered the phone. - Yes, dad. Where? Today? I'm on my way!
She ended the conversation and immediately jumped up from her seat.
- I need to go,- she said. - Nice to meet you.
She quickly jumped out of the cafe, a red umbrella was left hanging on the chair.
Mr. Gold.
A man in a black coat walked along the long street under a red umbrella. Mr. Gold thought about Belle and was fascinated by the girl. On the one hand, he was sorry for her, she could catch a cold, but on the other, he was grateful to her for the umbrella that she had left. He walked, breathing in the scent of the rain and enjoying the light tap on the fabric of the umbrella. A taxi drove by and the headlights blinked - the man nodded to him. The taxi stopped a couple of meters away and the man approached the taxi driver.
- Mr. Gold, hello. - Said the young guy behind the wheel. - Give you a ride?
- Cooper. Is your shift over?
- No. I have an order in the direction of your house.
- Dont need it, thanks. - Answered Gold. - I take a walk, so rarely get out of the office.
- Oh. So you are a businessman? - The guy smiled. - I thought you work in the library.
- No, deary. What makes you think that? - Gold asked.
- Well, I usually take you to the library. Or vice versa. And now you go from Wall Street.
- I'm a professor. - Mr. Gold grinned. - I teach students.
- Wow. And on what subject? - asked the guy.
- Art criticism.
- Stunned! And is there such an item? - Cooper was surprised.
- Yes. Go on, or you'll be late. - Said Mr Gold.
- Yeah.- Cooper said and started the engine. - You have a cool umbrella. Somewhere I've seen this already ...
- This is a gift. - answered Mr. Gold faster than thought and moved on.
He walked to the house and thought it was stupid. Mr. Gold himself did not know why he lied about the umbrella. But he decided that he needed to find the girl and give her the umbrella. Necessarily! Only how, can he find a girl in a city in which seven million people live? Even knowing her first and last name?
The next day he was walking through the institute building and noticed a girl with brown hair walking in front. His heart beat with joy, anticipation.
"It's her! Belle!" - He thought and began to catch up with her. But this was a different girl, she looked at him in surprise when the man put his hand on her shoulder.
- Professor? - The girl blinked her eyes.
- Sorry, deary. - Said Mr. Gold. - I confused you with someone...
Belle.
The brown-haired girl, Belle, was walking down the street. It rained again today, but that didn't upset the girl. The only thing that upset her was the fact that she had lost her umbrella somewhere. Her favorite red umbrella.
"Nothing, I have one more." - The girl thought and went out into the street, taking an umbrella with her. Another red umbrella.
She loved rain and walking. And walking in the rain is even more. The girl was an artist. She decided to take a walk in the park today - because she had been drawing it for several days. The park, when it rained, had a special charm and inspired her. She had many different sketches. Trees, leaves, flowers - everything was in raindrops. But something was missing, some one small detail, to make the picture complete. She looked around, hoping to find what might have been the finishing touch and did not find. She sighed: maybe another time? The girl went to the exit when she suddenly saw a man in a black coat about five meters away. He stood with his back, but she clearly saw his long hair, which almost touched the collar. Her heart beat faster.
"Mister Gold" - she thought and increased her step. Mister Gold was on her mind. She thought about him constantly, for several days now. About his warm brown, almost puppy-like eyes, smile and graceful hands.
The man stood under the tree and did not seem to notice that it was raining. Belle came over and touched his elbow - the man turned around.
It turned out to be a boy of about fifteen. He was holding a rose in his hands, and when he turned around, his eyes were full of hope. But when he saw Belle, he immediately wilted. Belle smiled sadly.
- She did not come? - Belle asked.
- No. - The boy sighed and handed her a flower. - It is for you.
He turned around and, with his head lowered, went to the exit. Belle looked at the rose, inhaled the scent, and froze. One idea came to her mind: she knew exactly how to finish the picture. She found her finishing touch. The girl smiled and went home. To finish the picture.
Mr. Gold.
Mr. Gold was thoughtful and serious. He was so deeply lost in his thoughts that the driver had to press the horn, and the man remembered about the taxi. Mr. Gold saw the car and climbed into it.
- Hello, Mr. Gold. - Said the boy - the driver.
- Hi Cooper. - The man nodded and stared out the window, lost in thought again.
Mr. Gold was thinking about Belle. Or rather, how to find her in order to return the umbrella. Somewhere deep in his subconscious, he understood that the matter was not at all in the umbrella, but in its mistress. Belle might have been his student, but something set her apart from everyone else he taught. Something in the blue, piercing eyes and her charming smile. Mr. Gold was afraid to admit to himself, but he fell in love with this girl. And desperately tried to find. First, he checked his course and a couple of strangers, but there were no girls with that name. Then he checked the phone book and found it. As many as two. But one was an ancient old woman, and the other was very small, a girl of ten years old. Mr. Gold wondered how to find Belle and could not find an answer.
- Mr. Gold. - Suddenly it sounded over the man shuddered and looked at the driver. - Have you fallen asleep? Where are we going? In the Institute?
- Yes, deary, to the institute. - Grimly answered Mr. Gold and stared out the window again.
- And I remembered where the umbrella was, as you saw it. I had a passenger, a young girl. Pretty, but she kept chatting all the time. She invited me to her exhibition.
- An exhibition? - More like a courtesy to keep the conversation going, asked Mr. Gold.
- Yes. An aspiring artist. The day after tomorrow she exhibits several paintings in some private gallery. - The guy answered willingly. - You are an art critic, you should be interested. She also forgot her book with me. She kept chirping about how lucky she had found her.
- A book? - Mr. Gold roused himself. - What book?
- This one. - The guy carefully took out the book, wrapped in a bag and handed it to Mr. Gold.
Mr. Gold carefully unfolded the package and took it out. "The Incredible Women Who Changed Art and History" was on the cover. And below is a limited edition. The man stared at the guy.
- And what is the name of the girl, you do not remember? - He asked.
- Nope. - Answered Neal. - But she gave an advertisement from the gallery.
He took them out of the glove compartment and handed them to the man. Mr. Gold's heart beat with joy. The paper read: " 25. 11. 2020 The Maurice Benidit Gallery * will host the first exhibition of the emerging artist Belle French. Beginning at 12 noon."
- Cooper. How long have you been carrying this book? - asked Mr. Gold.
- For a week somewhere. - The guy shrugged his shoulders.
- And still have not given it away ?! - Mr. Gold was indignant.
- Who am I going to give it to? - The guy was surprised. - Exhibition only the day after tomorrow!
- So, I'll go and I'll give it back. - In a voice that does not tolerate objection,said Mr. Gold.
- Because? - Cooper asked, though.
- I'm an art critic, I'm interested. - Mister Gold smiled, but something predatory flashed in his face, at this moment.
- We've arrived. - Said Cooper and nodded at the building. - Your institute.
Mr. Gold and Belle French.
Belle came to the gallery an hour before the exhibition. She stood in a small room where her paintings were hung. There weren't many of them. And still the girl was a little nervous. It was noticeable: she once again smoothed out the nonexistent folds on her white dress. The curator of the exhibition, the woman smiled at her encouragingly.
- Everything will be okay. - Said the woman. - You will see.
- This is my first exhibition. - Belle exhaled nervously. - What should I do?
- First, calm down. - The woman answered. - Just stand there and smile. People will ask questions about the pictures. Answer. There will also be journalists.
- Journalists? - The girl goggled. - What? It's not a huge collection here.
- Do not worry. - The woman took her hands in hers. - A couple of newspapers are interested in your paintings. And then it's additional advertising.
- Oh, something's not good for me ... - Belle said.
- You just got nervous. - The woman hugged the girl. - Go to the back room and have some tea while I finish with your paintings. Okay?
- Yes. - The girl nodded and left.
By twelve o'clock, people began to gather in the hall. Mr. Gold strolled through the hall, looking for Belle. At the same time, looking closely at the pictures. The girl definitely had talent. And suddenly he froze near one of the paintings. It was an unusual picture: the viewer saw a man standing in the park, in the rain, but not entirely. His face was not in the picture, the figure started from the shoulders and ended in the area of the belt, the picture itself was black and white and only a bright spot, in the center, stood out a rose. Mr. Gold even fancied the sound of rain coming from the picture, it was so realistic.
- Gorgeous job, isn't it? - Asked a woman nearby.
Mr. Gold suddenly realized that he was not alone in the hall and that besides him there were still people walking around.
- Yes. - He nodded. - Do you know where the artist is?
- Somewhere there was. - The woman looked around. - So maybe I can help? I am the curator of this exhibition.
Belle only entered the hall a couple of times during the entire event. She tried to be there longer, but her legs gave way from fear and the girl went into the back room. She even managed to answer a few questions from the press.
Coming out once again, she noticed that not a single visitor was left in the hall and one of her paintings was being removed from the stand. Everything went cold inside her. On wadded feet, she walked over to the curator.
- What's happening? - She asked. - Didn't you like my paintings? Is the hall being closed?
- What are you speaking about? - Puzzled asked the curator,
Belle just poked at the workers packing her picture.
- Oh this! You are infinitely lucky! - The curator exclaimed happily. - One person bought your painting.
- What?! - Belle wondered. - Who?
- Some kind of man. In a black coat. He's out there on the street.
Belle jumped onto the gallery porch and spotted him. A man in a black coat. He stood with his back, but she clearly saw his long hair, which almost touched the collar.
- Mister Gold! - She shouted. The girl had no doubts, it was him.
Mr. Gold turned around and gave his widest smile. Belle walked over to him and smiled too. The man looked into her eyes and desperately wanted to kiss her.
- Did you buy my painting? - asked the girl.
- Yes, I bought it. - Answered Mr. Gold. - I really liked her.
- What are you doing here? How did you seem here at all? - Belle asked.
The girl shrugged her shoulders. She stood outside in one dress and felt cold from small gusts of wind. Suddenly it started to rain.
- I wanted to return this. - Mr. Gold opened a red umbrella over their heads. - And I also found your book, Belle.
He handed her the package. The girl looked into him and looked at the man with a mixture of delight and surprise. Mr. Gold wanted to say something else, but Belle hugged him and kissed him. She could no longer restrain herself, because she was drowning in his brown eyes, from the very beginning of the conversation. The man also hugged the girl and responded with tenderness to a kiss. Then he chuckled softly and opened his arms, still holding the open umbrella.
- Mr. Gold ... You ... -Belle began, but the man interrupted her.
- Duffy. - He said and smiled embarrassedly.
- Sorry? - Belle clapped her eyelashes.
- My name. - answered Mr. Gold. - Duffy Abel Gold, art critic.
- Belle French. - The girl smiled and made a slight curtsy. - The artist. Nice to meet you.
- So can we go to the cafe, Belle? I will buy you coffee. - Gold smiled. - You are completely chilled.
- On one condition. - Belle tried her best not to smile. - If to him, you buy me a cupcake.
The man burst out laughing, handed her an umbrella, took off his coat and threw it over the girl.
- Agreed. - Gold said. He put his arm around her shoulder, kissed her on the cheek and led her into a cafe.
