If I Didn't Know Better (The Callaways #9)(73)

"I didn't hear it; I'm sorry."

"I thought I might retrieve my painting."

"Of course. You were on my list to call. Here are the paintings I pulled out of the studio."

Rita made the same trip around the patio that Christina had taken. "It's this one," she said with relief, pointing to the oil painting of a seaside landscape. It wasn't the best painting in the group; in fact it might have been one of the worst, but Mia kept that opinion to herself.

"May I take it with me?" Rita asked.

"Yes, please. I'm glad you found it."

"I really feel that Carly would have wanted me to take it back and sell it myself, and then use the money to continue my art."

She nodded, not sure of any of that, but she wasn't up for arguing with any more possessive artists. "I'm sure you're right."

"What are you going to do with the studio, if you don't mind my asking? Will you open it up again to other artists?"

"I don't know if we'll keep the house or the studio. My mother will make that decision."

"It would be sad to see it go. This place has been an inspiring refuge for so many people."

Mia felt a little sad at the thought as well, but it wasn't realistic to think her parents would want to keep this property. It was far away, and they could probably use the money that would come from a sale.

She looked up as the gate opened once again, and Kent walked into the yard. Everyone was coming at the same time. It was just as well. She'd get through the three reluctant artists first.

"Thanks again," Rita said.

"You're welcome." She gave Kent a smile. "Good morning."

"How are you today?"

"Getting a lot done."

"That's always good. So are these all the paintings you could find? I don't see mine."

"Well, you know that some of them were destroyed the other day. Maybe yours was one of them."

He nodded. "I guess I should have looked more closely when I came in that day. But, whatever, it probably belonged in the trash anyway. Jeremy told me I was an idiot for caring about this."

"I understand that you painted from a very personal place."

"I did. I never stepped outside when I was here. I couldn’t face the sun or the beauty of the view. I painted in the dead of the night, sometimes by candlelight, and it was all just washes of color, darkness and evil, and the images that wouldn't leave my mind." He stopped talking abruptly, as if he'd just realized she was there. "Sorry, that was a little heavy, wasn't it?"

More than a little heavy for a guy who usually acted like he was the happiest man on earth. But there was obviously another side to him. "I'm sorry for what you went through, Kent."

"I signed up for it. I just didn't think the enemy would look the way it did."

"What do you mean?"

"My team was ambushed by a bunch of kids. They couldn't have been more than fourteen or fifteen. Children should be children, not pawns of war, but in other parts of the world, the indoctrination starts early." He drew in a breath. "Sorry again. I don't know what is wrong with me. I guess being back here makes me remember that time in my life. I'm proud of the service I did, but I'm happy to be living a normal life again."

"Do you think Jeremy could ever be happy away from the Army?" she impulsively asked.

Kent gave her a thoughtful look. "I know the answer you're looking for, but the truth is I don't know if I can say he would be happy. I don't think he would have ever quit if it had been left up to him, if he hadn't been injured, if he hadn't discovered he was a father. Those changes have turned his life upside down. You should have seen him when he first got here; he was a pale shadow of himself. He's come a long way in a few weeks, just like his daughter has." Kent smiled. "I have a feeling that has a little to do with you."

"Probably more to do with time," she said.

"You're being modest."

"I like Jeremy. I'm sure that's not a surprise to you. But we're both in a transitional period, and Jeremy has a lot of decisions to make that don't include me; and I do as well."

"Maybe you'll start factoring each other into those decisions."

"That seems like a crazy idea."

"Crazier than walking away from each other? It's so hard to find someone you really click with, Mia. Do you want to throw that away because of geography or career choices?"

It was a good question. Too bad she didn't have an answer.

"I think Jeremy should stay here," Kent continued. "Angel's Bay is a good place for him to start over. And Ashlyn would have a great childhood here. But I'm not sure this town has enough to offer him. Jeremy has lived on adrenaline for a long time. He's used to danger, excitement, and adventure."

"You were used to that, too."

"But I was ready to move on. Once I started sleeping through the night, I appreciated the fact that I could sleep without worrying about surviving until morning. There's something to be said for peace. Jeremy and I have been fighting for peace in the world, but at what point do you ask for some peace within yourself? For me, I reached that point. Jeremy's tipping point is still to be decided. He'll figure it out. And you'll figure things out, too. Angel's Bay is a good place for soul searching."