Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
She put her hand on my arm and gave it a light squeeze. “Go enjoy yourself, and be sure to say goodbye before you leave.”
“I will.”
I spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the many different exhibits. I purchased a small vase and a watercolor of the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean that I planned on hanging in my bedroom. I also purchased a few art supplies from a vendor, and I couldn’t wait to get home to use them. I had an idea for my next painting and had already been sketching it out in my mind while I strolled through the exhibits.
As I made my way toward the exit, I glanced over and saw that my painting was no longer hanging up.
My heart jumped to my throat, and I dashed over to the local exhibit.
An older man I had seen at the Seaside Grill before stood there with a sweet grin on his face. I was pretty sure his name was Gus. I pointed to the empty spot where my painting had been hanging. “The painting…um…the one with the storm moving in during sunset?”
He nodded and glanced back at where I was pointing. “The one by Elizabeth Ryan?”
I nodded as I numbly answered, “Yes, that one.”
“I’m pleased to say it sold a few hours ago.”
I pressed my hand to my mouth. “What? It sold?”
His smile faded. “I’m so sorry if you were wanting it. It was a very popular piece. So many other people have also expressed regret they didn’t buy it when they first saw it. She’s a local artist, you know. I don’t know anything about her though. I’m told she used a fake name.”
I nodded, unable to utter a single word. Did he say that so many people had been interested in it?
“No one knows anything about her, but she’s been the talk of the show. It’s like a mystery—and this town loves a mystery.” He looked at me more closely. “Aren’t you a Bradley? Your parents own the Seaside Grill.”
My eyes went wide. “The talk of the show?”
“Well, like I said, it was a popular piece today.”
I looked at the spot again and then back to Gus. “Um…I’m so sorry. Yes, I’m Palmer Bradley. My mother and father own Seaside Grill.”
He flashed me a bright smile. “I thought so. You’ve waited on me a time or two.”
“Probably,” I said, still trying to wrap my head around the fact that my painting had sold. “Um, do you know who bought it? The painting, I mean.”
“I’m sorry,” he said with a frown. “I’m not sure.”
I smiled. “That’s okay. I was curious, that’s all.”
Turning, I started toward the exit with a smile on my face and a little extra pep in my step.
“What do you mean you’re going to be selling? I thought you loved your house!”
Alice and Doug James looked at each other and then back to me. Alice spoke first. “It’s such a big home, and we’re getting older. It’s time to downsize. I’m so sorry, Palmer. We’ve loved having you here and being able to rent out the carriage house to you. Maybe the new homeowner will let you stay.”
I sighed and sank down onto my sofa as I tried to hold back the tears that stung the back of my eyes. This isn’t happening.
I looked up and asked, “I’ve saved up some money and can put in a down payment. Do you think the new owner would be willing to sell the carriage house to me?”
They exchanged another look, and then Alice shrugged. “I don’t think it would hurt to ask him. He might be understanding considering the circumstances.”
I had no idea what that meant, and was about to ask, but Alice kept talking.
“He’s coming over for dinner tonight. We’ll have him come on back to speak to you about it if you’ll be home this evening.”
Blinking a few times, I stuttered my answer. “A…uh…yeah…sure, that’s fine. My brother will be here, so I don’t see a problem with it.”
Were they really going to send a complete stranger over to my home to talk to me? Were they that desperate to sell? Maybe he was a local resident. I prayed he was.
Doug and Alice both stood.
“Thank you for giving me the heads up, though, I appreciate it,” I said as I walked them to the door.
Alice gave me a hug. “Of course. You’ve been an amazing tenant and it was the least we could do.”
I forced a smile while we exchanged goodbyes. Then I closed the door and leaned against it, letting out a groan.
“My mother is going to have a field day with this.”
Palmer
“This isn’t funny, Brax!” I said as I put a plate of spaghetti and meatballs down in front of him.
“I’m sorry, Palmer. I’m not laughing at you, just at the circumstances of it all. You know Mom is going to ask you to move in with her and Dad if the new owner boots you out.”