All I Ask(86)

I sit, watching her struggle for words. “Who else’s was it?”

“Everly and I thought, that maybe we could, God it sounds so bad, and it is.”

“You thought you could break us up?”

She nods. “I like Derek, I really do, but I hated her so much that the idea of having Everly Hartz in my life was so bad, I had to find a way. So we thought, if we could get your paintings seen, and…”

I have never been so upset with her in my life. “Don’t stop now, Chastity, what did you think would happen?”

She thought nothing of me, that’s for sure. She thought of herself and Everly.

“I don’t know. I thought maybe this could help us. I hate this town. You hate this town, it seemed like maybe this was our ticket out. I’m stupid. I’m so sorry. I wanted to tell you, but I couldn’t and then, Mom, something happened. People started to find them and love them. We couldn’t keep up with notifications. There were inquiries and people asking to buy them…open the app.”

I look down at it, not wanting to look at it. Not wanting to do anything but cry.

“Please, I just want to show you,” Chastity urges. I do as she asks and then she pushes where all the messages are. “Right there, that came in today. It’s what Everly and I were doing downstairs, we were going to tell you today, I swear. At dinner the two of us were going to confess everything and explain.”

There is nothing I can say right now. The relationship that Chastity and I have had was always built on trust. Lies weren’t welcome. Today, it seems that’s all I’ve uncovered.

“Have I failed you?” I ask. “Was it something that I didn’t give you?”

“No, Mom!” Her eyes are filled with tears again. “I’m so sorry. I was just so mad. The idea of Everly around made me crazy. So, we wanted to split you up. Cause a big fight between you two or maybe get your paintings sold so we could move! If we left here, then I wouldn’t have to be around her anymore. You didn’t do anything wrong and I’m…”

“Sorry.”

She takes my hand in hers. “I really am.”

“I believe you. I still don’t understand why you’d do this. You know my art was private and that I didn’t want to share it. I hid it from Grandma, and the last thing I would ever want is it to be public like this. But I know you’re sorry.”

“It felt like the only way to get out of this town before you marry him.”

“I know you hate her, and I get it, but—”

“She’s not that bad. We talked a lot the last few days when it went viral. Then there was no way to stop it. It just got more and more out of control.”

All of this has gotten out of control. “Can you remove it all?”

“Yes, I can delete the account, but can you read that one message please?”

I wipe my own tears, which fall silently. “This one?”

She nods quickly and opens it.

Dear RealPerspective,

I’m an art curator outside of Palm Beach, FL. I own one of the most prestigious galleries and your paintings have captured the eye of a few of my best clients. We’d like to speak with you further regarding having some pieces displayed and sold here. Please contact me at your earliest convenience.

Best,

Timothy Sterling

TS Fine Art Gallery



“I googled them,” she says quickly. “Their last painting sold for over one-hundred thousand dollars!”

My throat is dry while my chest tightens. I’m not ready for this. No one is going to pay that much for one of my paintings. “This is crazy.”

“Maybe, but isn’t it worth at least replying? This could change everything for us.”

That’s the problem, what if I don’t want everything to change now?





Chapter Thirty-Seven





Derek




Present



“How could you do this, Everly? How? You realize that this is a huge invasion of privacy? Do you realize what you two even did?” My temper is beyond reason. Once we got in the car, she confessed everything. I’m so disappointed in her.

I drove to my parents’ house in disbelief. We’re inside and we need to finish talking, now that I’m calm enough.

I know she’s capable of some devious things, but to plan a way to get rid of Teagan and Chastity is beyond my comprehension. This wasn’t something they did accidentally, there was a plot to this. They planned and continued on with it for weeks. All the while they were hiding under the pretense this was all for school.

“I thought it would get rid of her! I want to go back home! I want Mom to be alive and…” She starts to sob. “I just want Mom back!”

I pull her into my arms. As angry as I am, I can’t watch her cry like this. “I know you do.”

“But you don’t. You have Teagan now.”

Jesus. I can’t imagine the pain she must be in. On the other hand, she can’t do these things when she’s angry. “Just because I’m with Teagan, doesn’t mean that I wish your mother weren’t alive. I know that the relationship we had wasn’t great, and I’m sorry for that. I should’ve been stronger and left, but I couldn’t leave you.”