Finding Pride (Pride Series) (12 page)

The town’s people seemed very open and welcomed her. Usually everyone waved or said “Hi” when she walked by. Maybe it was because Matt had made a good impression, but she could do her part to fit in.

A bell chimed as she walked in the door of the shop, a young woman was sitting behind the counter. She had a paint brush in one hand and a phone in the other. Nodding “hello” towards her, Megan started walking around the small store. She instantly found herself picking out several items for the cabins. There were small statues; some of children dancing in a circle around a fire, one of a lone wolf howling up at a moon. Some brass candles sticks, and a large oak coat rack. A small writing desk, and a couple of benches and some other items she wanted.

“Hi, if you need any help just let me know.” The woman said after hanging up the phone. “Your Matt’s sister, Megan right?” When Megan nodded, the woman continued. “I’m Allison Adams, I knew your brother. He was a good man.” She stepping out from behind the counter with the paint brush still in hand. She wore a painted white apron over her blouse and jeans. She was probably six foot tall and had medium honey hair that was shoulder length. She had a nice lean figure that came straight off of a magazine cover.

“Thank you. Your store is lovely.” Megan said feeling small and plain. “I’m interested in this statue here, those candle sticks, this coat rack, and do you happen to have another coat rack like this one?” she looking around and noticed some other items she pointed out to Allison.

“Fixing up the cabins?” When Megan nodded again, she continued. “That’s good. I have another coat rack in the back, it isn’t oak though, it’s maple.” She said walking to a back room.

Megan walked into a small room and noticed tons of paintings leaning against the walls “Are these yours?” Megan asked stepping in and looking around.

“It’s just a hobby of mine, keeps me busy during the slow hours.” Noticing Megan’s interest she continued. “Would you like to see them?” she asked ushering Megan further into the room.

“
I’d love to.” There were paintings as large as a wall, and ones that could fit in the palm of her hands. There were paintings in oil, water color, chalk, and pencil. Their topics ranged from fairy tale creatures to local buildings and people, there was a charcoal of the town. The oils were in dark, rich colors, they were all top quality and beautifully done. Most of them more beautifully done than the ones Megan had seen at the Golden Oar.

“You did all of these?” Megan asked while walking around. She saw a charcoal of the three men sitting outside the barbershop next door and let out a laugh.

“Yeah, well there are a lot of slow hours around here.” Allison said with a half smile.

She found several paintings that would go great in the cabins and one she wanted in her bedroom. She really liked the pixies and small winged creatures that completely covered one large canvas.

“Do you, would you sell any of these?” Megan asked looking over her shoulder.

“Well, I’ve never sold any before.” She said chewing her bottom lip. “Well, except to my mother of course. But, I guess I could part with some. Which ones are you interested in?”

Megan took her time setting paintings aside. She had picked out the wall of pixies, a couple small water colors of a pack of wolves running in front of a full moon. She also picked out an oil painting of the bay, a charcoal of the town, the one of the old men, and six other oil paintings.

“All of these?” Allison said, sounding a little winded.

“Yes, I just love these. I must have them. Do you happened to know where I can buy frames?” Megan asked trying to not sound too eager.

“I can order frames for you. I have a book we can look through, that way you can pick them out,” she said walking back to the front of the store.

The next half hour, the two women leaned over a book of frames. They picked a frame out for each picture she had purchased. Megan found she liked picking out these little details for the cabins, it made her feel that she was really starting to find herself. Then when they had picked out the last frame, she looked up into Allison’s sparkling eyes and something hit her. She not only was feeling really good about herself; she’d made Allison feel good about herself as well. Maybe, she wasn’t the only person who needed another chance in town.

“You know, I bet that if you had the other paintings framed, you could sell them here in your store.”

“Well, no one has been interested in my stuff before.” Allison said chewing her bottom lip again.

“I bet you would sell them like crazy if you could get them in art galleries in Portland. Large city tourists are known for going crazy about local artists. I actually know someone who owns a gallery in Portland and Seattle.”

“Oh thank you. That’s very kind, but… well… I don’t think my art is good enough for a gallery and well…” Her statement dropped away.

“Nonsense, it’s better than a lot of that stuffy art they have in a lot of galleries. I bet you anything your art sells faster than… well… anything.” Megan said smiling over the counter at Allison.

Allison’s whole face lit up. “Really, you really think other people would buy it?”

“
I’ve been in the marketing business for years I know when I find something that would be easy to sell. And well, you have a lot of talent. I think people would love your art, I know I do,” she said smiling. “And, I wanted to see about the possibility of commissioning you to do a couple more, an oil painting of each of my cabins. That is, after I have finished the landscape work and repairs. I would also like to have one done of the main house. You can have business cards printed and place them in the corner of each painting I hang up, so that my customers will know about your store.”

“You really are like your brother, aren’t you?” Allison said leaning back in her chair.

With all the items that Megan had purchased including a dozen of her paintings and frames, Allison just had the biggest sales day, ever. Now she was thinking about putting her art in a gallery. Her art! No one had really ever believed in her, or shown interest in her work until today. Actually, thinking about it, it was really her fault. She had always hid her art in the back room. Thinking about it, only her mother had known she painted.

An hour later, Allison helped Megan carry the smaller items to her rental car, with a promise of delivering the larger ones on Friday and the paintings, after the frames had been delivered.

The next morning Megan was out putting bird food in the new feeder she’d purchased when she heard a lawn mower start up in the front yard. After jumping almost a foot at the sound, she dusted herself off and walked around the house cautiously. Everywhere around the yard she could see green starting to poke up from the flower beds. The weather was getting warmer, spring was almost here. Reaching the front yard, she noticed Iian pushing an older model mower around. It appeared that he was comfortable doing the job and the grass really did need mowing. Forcing herself to relax, she decided to run in and make him some iced tea.

After making the instant tea, she brought a pitcher and two glasses to the covered porch and sat down until he was finished with the front yard.

When the mower stopped she poured them both a glass. Iian waved and walked over, sitting down next to her. He drank his tea down in two gulps. His white shirt was sticking to his chest, and what a chest it was. Any woman would have to be blind not to appreciate a body like his.

He set his glass down and signed slowly with each word. “I figured you would need some help with the yard work until your arm is healed.”

“
Thank you. I can get my cast removed next week, so I should be able to start doing more myself.” Megan said.

“That’s good. I broke my leg when I was ten. Todd helped me use a saw to cut off the cast two days later. I couldn’t stand having it on, itched like crazy.”

“Yes, I’ve almost removed this one myself a few times.” Iian chuckled at her face; she had it bunched up in a sour look.

“I’m sure I could find an old saw in the garage.” He joked.

“
No, I don’t think I would trust you or your brother with a saw.” At this Iian exploded in laughter.

They sat and talked for another half hour, then Iian finished mowing the back yard and left. She was picking up sign language quickly and enjoyed learning it. He always made a point to help her learn simple words. Being able to use just her good hand didn’t help her learn most of the simple words, but she muddled through.

Once she had made up her mind to finish the cabins, it seemed to her that her ear was stuck to the phone. Calls to and from electricians, plumbers, and everyone else. It seemed to go by so fast. Before she knew it, the contractor trucks were parked in her driveway, loading and hauling everything out towards the cabins.

On the first morning that work commenced, it had been almost eleven before she’d been able to have her first cup of coffee. She’d been running back and forth opening the cabins, and showing the contractors around. She’d not only been on edge, but almost ready to call it quits. Then the coffee had worked into her blood stream, and all seemed right again. The rest of the day went off without a hitch.

Even when Father Michael had stopped by, she dealt with his visits with grace and patience. He was the closest thing to a grandfather figure she’d ever had. He seemed somewhat overly protective of her and she enjoyed it.

He had of course visited on several occasions before, she’d even had several visits from what Lacey liked to call the church women. There was a group of them. All silver haired, frail looking and very overwhelming. She enjoyed their visits, but she enjoyed it more after they left, and the house was quiet again.

It seemed that every day there was a Jordan in her house, bringing food, making food, they even helped her on several occasions with the cabins. She enjoyed feeling like part of their family and truly felt blessed. She looked forward to their daily visits.

The next few days were filled with contractors coming and going. The work was a long slow process for her, but she managed with Todd’s help to start painting the last cabin herself, with the sprayer she’d purchased.

He had shown up one day with Iian and helped her preparing and tape all the rooms for painting. She had rented a large sander for the floors and Iian had taken to it like it was the coolest toy he’d ever seen. Before she could even blink, he had the remaining two cabin floors sanded and ready to stain. She really wanted to try the sanding machine out herself, but she couldn’t complain about the help. Every time Iian came, he brought wonderful sandwiches and soup for all the workers, which of course made everyone working in a better mood.

Iian had just bought over dinner one afternoon, after a hard days work. They were sitting on the front porch eating at her small table and talking about what she should plant in her garden, when an old blue truck drove up and parked in the drive.

Megan was exited to see Allison step out and wave up to them. She had on a white dress that flowed when she walked. Making her look even taller than before. “I’ve got your paintings here.” She called up.

“Oh! Good.” Megan hopped up and started down the stairs when she realized Iian was still sitting on the chair. He was looking at Allison with a funny look on his face, his whole body was tense. Megan turned back to him. “You know Allison Adams? She brought my paintings I bought from her. Can you help us get them from the truck?” she asked.