Jason was amazed when he looked at the paintings. He remembered seeing Elizabeth on the docks and even though he had no clue who she was or that she was friends with his sister. She was beautiful to him then but now seeing her all grown up and living in her element, there was no doubt that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He wanted to tell her that but knew that this wasn't the time or place.
"Looks like you have a great talent. I never knew anyone could capture somebody like this in a sketch or a painting especially not me. I can see how lost I was in those paintings. The docks always seemed to call me. Thank you, these paintings are outstanding." Jason saw the light in her eyes just then. He could tell that her art was very important to her. Jason then left Elizabeth and Emily and went to check out more of the paintings.
The evening was a blur for both Jason and Elizabeth. They realized that their wish had come true. Elizabeth was always fascinated in Jason and thought he was an interesting person to sketch. His moods never really played on his face but she seemed to understand that and was still able to get what she needed from him down on paper.
Jason had secretly bought up all of Elizabeth's work. He knew that his family would love having some of the paintings but there were a couple that he wanted for himself. Elizabeth had sketched a beautiful painting of him near his motorcycle and he loved it especially with the sun setting on the water behind him. He knew that the paintings were from her earlier sketches and he loved all of her work but especially that one piece. Amanda knew from the way the two of them were looking at each other that she and Jason were about to break up. She made it easy for him instead of prolonging it. "Jason, I think that we would be better off as friends. I can see that she likes you and you like her too. I don't want you to have to choose later on."
Jason took Amanda home and thanked her for talking him into going to the art gallery. "There is one thing that you could do for me, Jason. I would love to have one of the paintings that you bought of hers. She has a great eye and I can see that she is only going to get better. I love art and know about these things. There was one painting that I love and that is the one of you looking at the water as the sun was rising. I know the one with the motorcycle is yours but this other one also caught your spirit in a way that shows just how much she loves you whether or not either of you know it."
"I will have that painting sent to your place and you are right about the one with the motorcycle. I am giving a couple of them to my family but not sure about what to do with the rest. I just know that she deserves this chance and I agree that she has a great talent." He gave Amanda a hug and a kiss on her cheek and walked out her door to his truck and went home.
Elizabeth was shocked when she found out that all of her paintings had sold at above the asking prices. She had a feeling that Jason bought them but she thought it was because he didn't want anyone else to see them, not that he loved them. Emily had bought a couple of them too and she loved the one with him Jason and his motorcycle but it was too late. Someone had already snatched it up. "Elizabeth, your paintings are amazing even if they are of mostly my brother. I knew that he had a certain light about him but you were able to bring that to every piece that you did. I am giving one of these to my grandmother and the other to my mother. My favorite piece though is going back with me to New York. Our buddies are going to be sad that they missed your first showing but I can tell that this is just the beginning for you here in Boston. I think you made the right decision in moving here." Emily watched Elizabeth talk to her boss. She was going to stay for a few days at Elizabeth's apartment and then she was flying back home to New York City.
"I knew that you would be a great addition here at the gallery. You have the talent and also the know how to organize a great show. You made more money on a first try here than any other artist I have seen for a very long time. You remind me of myself when I was younger. The commission check and also the money for your paintings will be in your bank account on Monday. I think that you will be pleasantly surprised. The other artists will also be happy because there were some big time buyers here tonight and they loved your paintings but were also able to buy others because the paintings were sold before they had a chance to buy. We need to get you a bigger art studio so you can make more of your work."
Emily and Elizabeth left the gallery and went to her apartment. They got ready for bed because it had been a long day. They told each other good night and went to sleep. The next day they woke up and noticed that there was newly fresh snow on the ground. They decided to take the blue line into the city to see what was going on. They went to Faneuil Hall and had some breakfast. Then they walked around the area checking out the different stores. Elizabeth wondered how much money she had made between the paintings and the commissions she received the night before. She hoped that she could find a bigger place to live especially since she needed more room for painting. They spent the rest of day checking out the city. Elizabeth loved the history of the city and so she and Emily went on the Freedom Trail. While they were walking around, Jason came over to say hi.
Emily had been texting with her brother while they were out shopping. He wanted to see Elizabeth but he didn't want to come on too strong so he asked his sister for some help. She loved her brother and knew that he really needed someone like Elizabeth in his life. Emily also knew that Jason was trying to get away from the mess he left in Port Charles and knew that Elizabeth could help make him a better person.
"I hope that I am not intruding on your outing but I wanted to see you and so I asked Emily for some help. I was truly amazed that the young girl who used to sketch me by the docks had such an amazing talent. I love your work, especially the one with my motorcycle. I have that hanging in my apartment. I am going back to Port Charles for a couple of days to see my family. I know that they would love a couple of your paintings. I have heard their raves about you since you and Emily were in high school together. They have always loved your art and know they can own some." Emily had never seen her brother this excited since before his accident. She knew that he did like Elizabeth and that it was more than her paintings.
Elizabeth was thrilled to hear how Jason felt about her and her work. "I was afraid that you only bought those paintings because you didn't want anyone to see them. I didn't know who I was sketching back then but you seem to have this wall around you but when I sketched you their seemed to be some kind of light coming from you. I know it makes no sense but you seemed so distant but when I sketched you it was like being able to see into your soul. I knew you were hurting but I didn't know who you were but you captivated my heart even then. I had to see you every day and sketch you. It made me feel closer to you. If I only knew that you were Emily's brother, Jason. I guess we were meant to meet later." Emily looked at the two of them and felt it was time to leave.
"Hey, you two can you get me a lift to the airport. I just remembered something that I have to do tomorrow for a report I need on Monday for work. I have rescheduled my flight and I leave in three hours. I know it is short notice but I will feel terrible if I miss this deadline." Jason knew that she just wanted to give them time to know each other better but he let it go.
"How about if both Elizabeth and I take you to the airport. We can watch you leave and maybe grab some dinner nearby." Emily looked at Elizabeth knowing that she lived right near the blue line that took her straight to the airport but said nothing.
"Thank you both for that. I really appreciate the lift." The three of them got into Jason's truck and headed to Elizabeth's studio apartment. The three of them went inside and Elizabeth made some coffee for the them while Emily packed. When she was ready, the three headed to the airport. Elizabeth wanted to laugh because she knew that if Emily took the blue line she would have been there twice as fast as driving.
They made it to the airport and dropped Emily off. "You two try to stay out of trouble. I love you guys. Have a great dinner." Then Emily went into the airport to catch her flight. She knew that the two of them were going to have a great life together, they just didn't know it yet.
"Elizabeth, why are you smiling? I am getting a feeling that you and Emily are playing me."
Elizabeth went over to Jason and showed him something. "Right here is the blue line that goes from Revere Beach to Boston. Two blocks from my apartment is where the blue line is so it actually took you longer to get to the airport than what it would have been for Emily to take the blue line. She was just setting us up. That is why she left today instead of tomorrow. She had no deadline to get back too or she would never had come up here."
The two of them laughed at that. "Where do you want to go to eat? I hear there are some really great places back in the city?" Jason looked at Elizabeth and she walked with him to his truck.
"We need to go to the grocery store around the block from my apartment. I want to make you dinner. Then we can sit and relax at my place. It will be a lot more comfortable than sitting and talking in a loud restaurant." The two of them went to the grocery store and picked up a few things to make dinner.
The two of them worked together and made a great meal together. They had pasta, salad, Italian bread and wine. They worked together making the meal like they had known each other for years and not days. "I always wondered what happened to you. I hoped you were happy and that you would do great things in your life. Now, I know that I was right. You have an amazing talent that you should treasure and nurture for the rest of your life." Elizabeth knew he was right and she knew that someday she would be famous and would have to thank her muse for believing in her.
They talked well into the evening and when it was time for Jason to go to home, Elizabeth didn't want him to leave. "I would love it if you stayed tonight. I think it would be safer for you to stay here on my couch then drive after drinking all that wine. I also would feel safer having you here so I am not alone." Jason knew that she was making excuses but he realized that he wanted to stay there too.
"I would love to stay here tonight with you. Thank you for asking me." The two of them didn't realize it yet but that was not going to be the last time the two of them would fall asleep in each other's arms while watching a movie.
The next morning, Jason woke up to the smell of fresh coffee, bacon and eggs. "If you want toast the bread is right near the toaster. I will have this ready in a few minutes. Jason got up to make the toast. He had the worst kink in his back and neck but it was worth it to wake up to a beautiful woman and breakfast.
They spent the day reading the newspaper and watching football. When it was time for Jason to leave, it was really cute because they both had things that needed to be done but didn't want to leave each other to do it. "Elizabeth, I have had an amazing weekend. I feel that this is the beginning of something wonderful. Thank you for all that you have done." He gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek and left.
Elizabeth walked into work and saw that her boss was a very happy lady. She had just found out that their show that passed weekend was a bigger success than she had even known. There were a few critics there that loved the little gallery and gave it a lot of praise. The word on the street was that she was going to have to get a bigger gallery because the well-known artists would want to start showing their work in her gallery too.
The two of them had been at work getting ready for the next showing. A delivery was made to the gallery that shocked Elizabeth but not Michelle. It was three dozen of the most beautiful roses for Elizabeth. "Thanks for a great weekend and to many more. Love, J."
She blushed after reading the card and that made her boss, Michelle wonder what was going on between the two of them. She just knew that Jason was her muse and that in order for Elizabeth to stay creative that her muse needed to be there.
Elizabeth was stunned. She never believed that her work would sell the way it did or that because of the buyers that wanted to buy her art couldn't, they had to settle for the other artists which gave her an even bigger commission. She had done a couple of shows of other artist's work and the commissions were good and helped her get her supplies for her new work.
She was able to find a nicer, bigger place than her studio apartment. She really loved living there but she needed more room in order to make her creations. She had decided on getting a three-bedroom apartment close to where she worked. There was a new apartment complex that was half a block away from the gallery. The complex was just allowing people to move in there. There were plenty of units available and she found a great one with a view of the bay. There was a nice little balcony which she could sit out and sketch at and there were plenty of things to draw.
"Jason, remember you told me that once I moved in here that you would allow me to sketch whatever and whoever I wanted. I want to sketch you. I think that we have established who is the better painter and who is the better business man. I will paint and you will keep the books." Jason sat down and watched her sketch the skyline and knew that she was right. He was terrific with numbers and had great skills at making money which made is grandfather very proud. Since his accident, he knew that being a doctor was not in the cards but he still hadn't found out what he wanted to do with his life or his money.
Elizabeth kept on painting and the money kept on rolling in for both Elizabeth and her boss, Michelle. She was the most talked about gallery owner in all of Boston due to Elizabeth's work. She also had some other fine up and coming painters that even made the gallery that much bigger. Michelle had to buy a larger gallery in the middle of Boston to have room for all of her talent. Elizabeth had been there for just a couple of months and know that spring was there, she was getting a bit antsy.
"Michelle, next week will be too soon for another showing. Do you want to put up another one of your artists to see if he or she could take it to another level? I have to get more paintings done before I can do another show." Michelle knew that she was right but wanted Elizabeth to still have some pieces in it.
"I will allow four pieces to go in but you need to let our two new artists to star in this show and not me. Can you handle that?" Michelle agreed to that but she knew that all of Elizabeth's pieces would be the first to go.