If I Didn't Know Better (The Callaways #9)(24)

"Nice to meet you. I think Ashlyn is being a little shy," she added with a laugh as she glanced over her shoulder at the little girl hiding behind her.

"And I thought all the ladies loved me," Kent drawled.

"In your dreams," Jeremy said.

"Not just in my dreams," Kent returned. "Jeremy and I go way back."

"High school?" Mia asked as she sat down with Ashlyn hiding behind her chair.

"Second grade," Kent said. "How do you know Jeremy?"

"I'm cleaning out my aunt's house, which is next door to his rental," she explained.

"Oh, you're Carly's niece. Which one are you? The artist?"

"I'm not really an artist, but I am involved with art. Did you know her?"

"Yes. She helped me through a dark period. She let me stay in her cottage after I got out of the service, and that time helped me get my head on straight."

"Did you paint while you were there?"

"All night long. I was suffering from some heavy-duty insomnia, but two weeks in that studio with that incredible ocean view, the blank canvases and the bright paints, not to mention the kindness of your aunt, changed my life."

Jeremy was a little surprised by the depth of emotion in Kent's voice. He'd really had no idea Kent had gone through such a bad time. It made him wonder what else he'd missed when it came to his friend.

"Your aunt used to bring me a snack every afternoon," Kent continued. "It was usually fresh tomatoes with mozzarella on top. She'd pour me an icy-cold glass of lemonade and we'd sit on the patio and talk about life. She was a very interesting person. I will miss her."

Mia wiped some moisture from her eyes. "I'm so glad she touched your life in such a positive way. It's nice to hear."

"Are you going to sell her place?"

"That's up to my mom, but right now I'm tasked with cleaning it out and getting things organized."

"I've seen the inside of that house," Kent said. "You have a lot of work ahead of you."

"Well, I have time. I'm not going to rush it." She paused. "Did you leave behind a piece of your art for my aunt?"

"Of course. It was all she asked for, and the least I could do to repay her for giving me a safe place to heal."

"What would you think of me displaying your piece in a collection at a local gallery or perhaps the museum?"

Kent hesitated. "It wasn't any good."

"Are you sure? I don't know which one of the paintings is yours, but a lot of them are excellent. But whether it's fantastic or not doesn't even matter. I want to pay homage to art, to its healing powers, to the freedom of expression that my aunt encouraged at her studio, and to the artists who found something within themselves during their time there. Would you be okay with it?"

"I might have to look at my picture again before answering that question," Kent said slowly.

Jeremy was surprised by Kent's hesitation. His friend had never been shy about showing off anything. "It can't be that bad," he put in.

"You'd be surprised," Kent replied, a shadow in his eyes.

"You never told me things were bad," Jeremy said quietly.

"We've never told each other a lot of things, and we both know why." Kent paused as Connie brought over a to-go bag.

"Dina says she gave you extra roast beef and two extra pickles," Connie said.

"Tell her I love her," Kent said with a grin. "And I love you, too, Connie."

The middle-aged waitress brushed the compliment off with a wave of her hand. "Sure you do. You love anyone who feeds you."

Kent pushed back his chair and stood up as Connie moved on to the next table. "I need to take off. I'll see you all around."

"Why don't you come by the studio one day and take a look at the paintings?" Mia suggested. "I'll make sure to pull yours out if you don't want it shown."

"I'll do that." He looked at Jeremy. "I hope to see you tomorrow night."

"I'll see."

As Kent left, Mia gave him a questioning look.

"He wants me to join him for pool at Murray's Bar tomorrow night."

"That sounds like fun."

"Maybe." He took out his wallet and put some cash into the billfold.

"Can I help?" Mia asked.

"This is on me. You watched Ashlyn all morning."

"Actually, I think she watched me, but thank you."

"Ready to go?"

"Yes."

As they walked out of the restaurant, Jeremy's gaze was drawn to the park down the street. He felt an odd wave of nostalgia. Some of his happiest memories were in that park as well as a very important reminder of his mother.

On impulse, he said, "Would you mind if we take a walk through the park, Mia?"

"No, of course not."

"Good. I want to show you and Ashlyn something."

"What is it?" she asked.

"You'll see."

They walked through the trees, past a massive fountain that several kids were playing in, weaving their way through a picnic area and past a huge play structure to a circle of benches at the entrance to the Angel's Bay Conservatory of Flowers.