If I Didn't Know Better (The Callaways #9)(43)

"Kara mentioned something about that," Rita said slowly. "I don't want to say no, but I'm a little unsure. It would depend on the quality of the other paintings. A lot of the people who used the cottage were amateurs working through personal problems, but I was a professional then, and I still am. I sell my art. I take great pride in it. I don't know that I want to be part of a show that doesn't reflect my standards."

"Well, I can tell you that most of the paintings are quite good, but I'd be happy to show you the entire group before they go up."

"I would like that." Rita hesitated, looking suddenly nervous. "This is kind of awkward, but would you consider returning my painting? I could probably get some good money for it, and it was for your aunt, not really for anyone else."

Mia had a feeling this was the real reason Rita was hesitant about the show. She wanted to sell her painting herself, not show it. She didn't quite know what to say. She hadn't expected any of the artists to ask for their work back. The art left to her aunt had been payment for a stay in the cottage.

"I'm not sure," she said slowly. "My aunt left everything to my mother. It's not really up to me. I'd have to discuss it with her."

"Would you do that? I'd appreciate it. I feel a little cheap for asking, but I'm an artist. It's not easy to make money on art."

"I understand."

Rita handed her a card. "Let me know as soon as you can."

"Of course."

She was relieved when Rita left and Kara returned.

"Everything okay?" Kara asked, giving her a curious look.

"My idea of exhibiting my aunt's collection of art is taking a few hits. Rita wants her painting back."

Kara frowned. "That's just wrong. It doesn't belong to her anymore. She gave it to Carly to pay for the studio time."

"I think that, too, but then maybe my aunt would want her to have her painting back. It's hard to know what to do. I wish she'd left instructions, but she didn't even have a will. She had a trust for the house and her bank accounts, but no other itemized list of what she wanted done."

"She was probably too young to think she needed that. What are you going to do?"

"I'll talk to my mom. She's the one who has to make the decision. I'm not going to worry about it tonight."

"You shouldn't." Kara paused. "The coloring patterns are a huge hit. I have to say I didn't think it would be that much fun, but it is."

"I agree. I'm going to find a way to make them into books."

"We could sell the books here in the store. I think we'd sell a ton."

"I'll look into how I can get them published. I think Aunt Carly would like me to finish them for her, although, I have to admit that my aunt was known for starting things and not finishing them. It used to drive my mother crazy. She liked to set goals and check items off a to-do list but Carly was always impulsively changing her mind."

"Who are you like—your mom or Carly?"

"I've been pretty good about staying on the right path, but I'm kind of in the mood for a detour."

"Sometimes side trips are exciting," Kara said with a sparkle in her eye. "You never know who you'll meet—maybe a really hot, single guy with a super cute daughter who just happens to live next door."

"Jeremy might be single, but I don't think he's available. He's caught up in a lot of emotional stuff right now."

"That won't be forever."

"I won't be here long enough to find out."

"Unless you stay on the detour."

"Unless I do that," she echoed, wondering if she could really not go back to the life she'd planned out for so many years.



*



A beer in his hand, his friends at his side, a loud bar with baseball games playing on three different screens, and Jeremy felt like his old self again.

"See, this is good, right?" Kent asked, sliding onto the bar stool next to him.

"It's not bad, I'll say that."

"I'm glad you came. My friends are on their way. And Barton is coming, too, but who knows when he'll get here."

"I saw him earlier. I'm sure he'll show up."

"Did he talk to you about getting back to Delta?"

"He knows that's a long shot. We didn't get into it."

"I know your heart is in the Army, Jeremy, but think about all the positives this town has to offer."

"Like my father?" he asked sarcastically.

"Forget about him. You'd never see him anyway."

"True."

"This is a good place to raise kids. And you have friends here—good friends. If you don't want to work on the force, we'll find something else for you."

"What else is there?" he asked with a shrug. "I'm a trained soldier. I don't know how to do anything else."

"Which is why you should be a police officer. You can do that job, and so what if it's not as exciting as what you're used to. Haven't you had enough heart-pounding, near-death experiences to make you want a little peace?"

"Some days I think so," he admitted. "But I'd miss the adrenaline rush."