All Things Beautiful, page 17
Chapter Twenty-two
Casey enjoyed walking with Leighton to the waterfront. Field trips always fostered a jubilant atmosphere, whether in kindergarten or higher education, and today felt no different. Even if dating wasn’t possible for them, she liked Leighton and enjoyed being in her presence. It gave her a little high. Casey wasn’t the type to avoid her simply because she couldn’t have her, even if she found their situation frustrating.
They worked for a few hours, stopping only when Stefan brought out drinks and snacks from the van. Most of the students, including Casey, had set up their easels near the water’s edge to paint the skyline. Phoenix chose the boats on the East River and Jenna the park itself. Leighton and Stefan picked a central location where they divided their time between their own easels and walking around giving advice.
Leighton stopped beside Jenna, not far from Casey. “Just because you’re outside doesn’t mean you don’t need to assess your painting from a distance. And not once or twice. John Singer Sargent did it so often, he wore a visible path in his carpet.”
Casey enjoyed overhearing the advice given in the surrounding conversations.
On the other side of her, Stefan spoke with Mark. “Check your shadow temperature. Remember, warm light, cool shadows.” He moved to view her canvas. “Nice job on the realistic gradation in the sky and your use of aerial perspective.”
At the end of the four hours, they stood the wet paintings against a railing and held an informal critique. Once they slid the wet paintings into wet panel carriers and loaded them into the van, Leighton addressed the group.
“Before everyone dashes off, I have something for you.” She pulled an envelope from her bag. “Phoenix, Mikala, Devin.” She handed out checks as she called their names. When only one remained, Leighton looked at them. “Maxine sold a painting yesterday, which is why you’re holding a little extra spending money, and Casey was the artist.” Leighton handed her the last one with a wide smile. “Congratulations.”
Casey accepted it, and goose bumps covered her arms.
The group applauded, and Stefan hooted.
She’d sold her first painting. Someone wanted to own something she’d created.
Mark crushed her in an enthusiastic hug.
When he released her, she looked at the amount and blinked. Could that be correct? She’d have to hold back a percentage for taxes, but her rent worries became less worrisome, at least for the next few months. She looked at Leighton. “Thank you.”
Mikala and Stefan climbed into the van, and the rest of the group headed back, their exuberance likely due to the money in their hands.
“You look surprised, yet you painted it. Didn’t you have faith it’d sell?” Leighton slung her pochade box over her shoulder.
Its years of paint splatters looked like confetti, or perhaps Casey simply felt celebratory after receiving the good news. “I’m not sure. That part of the process doesn’t cross my mind. Instead, I focus on composition, symbolism, drawing, brush strokes, and those kinds of things. I might be the only person who’s sold nothing, even someone’s sketch, from the gallery yet. My sales techniques need work, I’m afraid.”
“Hmm.” Leighton gestured the way they’d come, and they followed the group. “You know, Maxine can help you hone those skills. She’s excellent at making sales.”
“Jenna’s great, too, from what I hear. Maybe I should ask her to coach me in exchange for my notes.”
Leighton, who’d stopped, wore a frown. “Why is she using yours?”
Casey wished she hadn’t mentioned it. She didn’t want Leighton to be upset with Jenna. She’d wager that Jenna had never been in trouble in her life.
“Is that not allowed?”
Leighton seemed to consider it. “It’s not not allowed. I’m surprised, that’s all. I didn’t know it was happening. Why isn’t she taking her own?”
In the sunlight, a handful of silver strands shone in Leighton’s hair. The beautiful effect reminded her of a sparkling river running through a field of wheat. Casey wanted to thread her fingers in and find more.
Instead, they resumed walking.
“She takes some, but she gets overwhelmed trying to understand the concepts and can’t write fast enough. I use an app to scan what I’ve written in my sketchbook that day, or I send her the notes I take on my laptop. Mine help her get a clearer picture.”
“She should’ve come to me. I didn’t know she was having issues.” Leighton’s low intonation made her sound offended. “I could’ve provided her with additional materials or spent more time with her.”
“I think she’s doing okay now, and I don’t mind sharing.” Casey shouldn’t have mentioned it. “You could always ask her if she needs anything else.”
“That’s not the point,” Leighton snapped, then lowered her voice. Mark and Phoenix walked a dozen feet ahead of them. “The point is, I didn’t know one of my students was struggling.”
Casey didn’t know how to respond, but at least Leighton hadn’t told her to stop. Jenna would stress again without her notes, and she didn’t want that.
Was Leighton upset she hadn’t noticed Jenna’s issues because Casey distracted her? She struggled to dismiss thoughts of Leighton every day, and part of Casey hoped she wasn’t the only one feeling that way. They’d sparked something in one another but couldn’t do anything about it. They had to exist, together but separate, doing nothing that might cause the atelier to combust.
Chapter Twenty-three
“Some of you looked frightened when I said we’d be doing math today.” Leighton turned to her class as they gathered around her, not surprised to find a few grim faces. “Don’t worry. It’s mostly theoretical.” She angled the whiteboard so everyone could see.
“We’re going to study the mathematics of Leonardo Pisano Bogollo.” She wrote on the board with a dry-erase marker: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8
She drew a line after the eight. “What’s the next number?”
After a beat, a few students called out thirteen.
“Correct.” She added it. “Does anyone know what this series is called?” Silence greeted her until Casey spoke.
“It’s the Fibonacci Sequence.” She appeared reluctant to admit she knew.
“Yes, each number is the sum of the two numbers before it. As I mentioned, Leonardo Bogollo was the mathematician who came up with it. He’s better known by his nickname, Fibonacci, which means Son of Bonacci. Tell me, why do we care about these numbers as artists?” She waited. When she didn’t receive any responses, she elected to call on the one student she assumed knew the answer. “Casey?”
Casey looked surprised to be put on the spot. “It’s the basis for the golden ratio.”
Pride swelled inside Leighton as she drew a large rectangle on the board. Of course, Casey had known. She drew a line from the top to its bottom, creating a large square within.
“The width of this square is thirteen, and this one is eight.” She drew lines, dividing them more. “So, what’s this one?” Leighton tapped the third largest square with her knuckle.
Mikala spoke up this time. “Five.”
“Excellent, Mikala. It has to be if the sum of these two squares is thirteen.” Leighton labeled the width of the squares in reverse Fibonacci order until the smallest held a number one. Then, without lifting her marker, she drew a curved line through them from largest to smallest. Leighton stepped away and assessed the elegant spiral. When she turned, she saw smiles of recognition. “Does this remind you of anything?” She leaned on the end of the sofa.
“A shell.” Jenna looked more interested in this lecture than in any other she’d taught.
“A fractal.” Mark drew in his notebook.
“Yes.” Leighton scrawled their answers on the board. “We find Fibonacci sequences throughout nature in pinecones, ferns, the seeds in a sunflower, shells, and petal and branch growth. We see it everywhere, which may be the reason it’s so appealing to us.”
The elevator opened, and Maxine entered but waited near the kitchen.
“However, it’s the ratio that’s important. If we divide the largest side of our original rectangle by its smaller side, we can round the resulting number to 1.618. This is called Phi.” Leighton drew the symbol with a flourish. “If we take any two successive Fibonacci numbers, their ratio is very close to this number. It’s called the golden ratio, and Leonardo da Vinci used it when creating his Vitruvian Man.” She cut her lecture short and capped her marker. “We’ll discuss this more in-depth when we talk about composition later.”
As the students returned to their stations, Leighton went to Maxine.
Maxine pointed to Leighton’s feet. “Switch shoes with me since we wear the same size. I remember from that time you wanted those ridiculous Brian Atwood Maniac pumps for your birthday.”
She still had those shoes, and she disagreed with Maxine’s ridiculous label. “Are your heels hurting you?” She sat and pulled off her sneakers.
Maxine slipped from her heels and slid into them. “No, I checked the cameras after getting more hang-up calls. There’s a black SUV parked just beyond the line. When I walked out earlier, it pulled away and turned the corner before I could determine who was driving. This time, I’m going to slip out the back door and come around the block.”
Leighton pressed a hand to her chest as though it would calm her pounding heart. “No, it’s too dangerous.”
The shoes looked strange with Maxine’s skirt and jacket, but she’d blend in. Women commuted into the city wearing the same every day.
“I have pepper spray in my purse, but I plan to speak with him, nothing more. Can you watch the gallery until I’m back?”
“I’ll watch it.”
Leighton hadn’t noticed Casey standing behind her. “No, I’ll do it.” She stood and acclimated to the heels. Besides, she needed to watch what happened since she’d be Maxine’s backup.
“Okay, I’ll keep you company.”
Casey’s adamance puzzled her, but Leighton didn’t want to argue in front of Maxine. “Fine.”
They took the elevator to the gallery. Maxine retrieved her purse from her desk drawer. “Don’t come outside under any circumstance. Understand?” Maxine’s index finger almost touched Leighton’s sternum.
“Okay.” Although, if he hurt Maxine, she’d probably be out there in a heartbeat wielding a stretcher bar she’d ripped from a frame.
Maxine turned to Casey. “Keep her inside. Sit on her if you have to.” She headed for the back exit.
Leighton glimpsed Casey’s wide eyes as she wiggled the mouse to wake the security screen. Sit on her? She didn’t need Maxine planting additional images in her head of ways Casey’s body could press against hers. That’s what sleepless nights were for. She sighed and sank into the desk chair.
Casey put a hand on her shoulder. “What’s happening? You’re scaring me. If he’s not a nice man, are you in danger?”
Leighton pointed to a specific camera’s feed. “Do you see that SUV?”
Casey leaned closer. Leighton could feel her warmth everywhere, though only their shoulders touched.
“Is that your ex?”
Leighton zoomed in. The glare on the windshield made it difficult to be sure. Behind the vehicle, Maxine came into view. “I think so. He’s started calling again. After the divorce, I changed my number so my cell doesn’t ring all night, but we have to list the gallery’s phone number.”
Maxine approached the driver’s side and tapped on the glass. She jabbed her index finger at the occupant, confirming it was him. Leighton trembled.
“It’s okay.” Casey soft voice sounded like she meant it to comfort. Then she wrapped her arm around Leighton’s shoulders and pulled her close. Casey must have felt the trembling Leighton couldn’t seem to stop. “I’m right here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Leighton was glad she wasn’t alone. What would she do if he did something to Maxine? Watch while she waited for the authorities to arrive? Confront him and put herself in danger? She hoped she wouldn’t have to decide. Casey’s presence calmed her, and the more she focused on the warm arm surrounding her, her trembling subsided.
Maxine’s gestures had become two-handed. After a few minutes, she stepped back, and the SUV pulled into traffic.
Leighton exhaled.
Casey rubbed circles between her shoulder blades for a few seconds, then went to the front door. She opened it when Maxine was a few feet away. “Are you all right?” Casey touched her arm.
Maxine shook off her hand and looked at her like she’d turned orange and grew horns. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” She tossed her purse on the desk. “He’s in for a surprise if he thinks he can loiter around here.” Maxine sat in the chair Leighton had vacated and untied the sneakers. “Cigarette butts covered the sidewalk. He’d either been there some time, or he’d been there before.”
Leighton swallowed and hoped she’d be able to speak without her voice cracking. “What did he say?”
“The same as always, that he just wants a few minutes to talk to you.” She slid her feet into the heels Leighton placed before her. “Only this time, he mentioned Kalyssa, not by name, of course.”
Nausea welled within her, and her vision went blurry. She was semi-aware of Casey’s touch to her elbow. “What were his exact words?”
“He said, ‘I saw my daughter. Don’t you think she’s old enough to meet her dad?’” Maxine watched her.
Leighton swayed. On top of this, now Casey would have more questions. She’d explain at some point, but not here.
Casey led her to a chair. “Sit. You’re shaking.”
Leighton hadn’t been aware. “Tell me everything.” Her voice sounded like rusty iron. “Did he mention where he saw her?”
“No, and I didn’t ask. He’d never incriminate himself.”
Casey placed Leighton’s shoes by her feet.
Maxine shrugged. “The car smelled like cigarettes and bourbon. I couldn’t determine if the stench was an open container or coming through his pores. If he hadn’t driven off, I’d have called the police for that.”
“What else did he say?” Leighton couldn’t be bothered with her shoes. She considered calling the preschool, but they would have notified her if something was amiss.
Maxine shrugged. “That if you’d let him explain, he knows you’d understand, and you could put this mess in the past.” She trailed her fingers over her keyboard. “There’s something else.” She glanced at Casey. “You can go back to class now. The fun’s over.”
Casey straightened. “I’d like to stay if Leighton doesn’t mind.”
Leighton ignored her. It was easier to pretend she hadn’t heard than have Maxine question why she’d allowed Casey to stay. “What else?”
Maxine huffed but continued. “I met with him after the divorce, and we came to an agreement, a monetary one.” She avoided eye contact with Leighton by inspecting her manicure. “It was simple. As long as he stays away, he gets a check each month. I told him I don’t care how he spends it. Booze, poor investments, women, whatever. If he leaves you and Kalyssa alone, he gets paid. He’s the type that needs more incentive than a restraining order. I informed him this was strike one. Not only am I withholding his next payment, but if I see him around here again, I’ll withhold three additional checks. The third time, I’ll rescind the agreement.”
Leighton stared at her. “Since the divorce? How much have you paid him?”
Maxine waved a hand through the air. “That’s irrelevant. I consider it a worthwhile investment.”
“Why haven’t you told me this before now?”
“I wanted to avoid this conversation.” Maxine motioned to them. “Now get out of here so I can work, both of you. Don’t you have class?”
Leighton didn’t point out it was her who’d pulled her from her lecture. It’d been for a good reason.
Jeffrey had seen Kalyssa, and she didn’t know when or where. Leighton was so careful, always aware of her surroundings, yet she hadn’t noticed him. She put on her shoes. Would this nightmare ever stop?
She and Casey entered the elevator since she didn’t have the energy for a flight of stairs. Exhaustion had overtaken her.
Casey caught her hand before she could enter her code.
“What’re you doing?” Leighton turned.
Casey licked her lips and kept her voice low. “I know what you said before about keeping this professional, but this changes things. I want you to know I’m here for you. If you need someone to go with you when taking Kalyssa to preschool or ballet, I will. I can accompany you on errands, or I can run them for you. And if there’s a night you don’t feel safe, I’ll stay on your couch. Mark can watch Andy.”
Leighton’s eyes stung. No one had ever offered to be there for her like this. Maxine watched out for her and Kalyssa, but she had the financial means to do it in a sanitary manner. She couldn’t visualize Maxine sleeping on her couch. Stefan was a good friend, but he had a busy social life, always chasing one attractive guy or another. It’d be too much of an imposition for him.
Before Leighton could stop herself, she had Casey in her arms. Her soft warmth dispelled some of her worries, and after a beat, Casey wrapped her arms around her. Leighton needed to end the hug, but it felt too good, like everything she needed in that moment. The sweet scent of her hair and Casey’s breasts pressing against hers with each breath made her wonder how long she could draw it out without being inappropriate. For a few seconds, she only wanted to forget everything and enjoy the sensation.
“This was unexpected.”
At Casey’s soft revelation, Leighton moved back, letting their cheeks brush. They ended up facing one another, holding hands.
