Read Online Summer's End by Danielle Steel - Free Book Online Page B

and eventually failed.
“I told you. I’m not ready.”
“Bull! If you don’t call him yourself, I’m going to give him your number. It’s time you did something about that mountain of masterpieces you keep standing around in your studio, facing the wall. That’s a crime, Deanna. It just isn’t right. Jesus, when you think of the garbage I painted and busted my ass to sell—”
“It wasn’t garbage.” Deanna looked kindly at her. But they both knew it hadn’t been very good. Kim was much better at planning campaigns, headlines, and layouts than she had been at her art.
“It was garbage, and I don’t even care anymore. I like what I do. But what about you?”
“I like what I do, too.”
“And what’s that?” Kimberly was becoming frustrated now, and her voice betrayed her feelings. It always wound up that way when they talked about Deanna’s work. “What do you do?”
“You know what I do. I paint, I take care of Marc and Pilar, I run the house. I keep busy.”
“Yes, taking care of everyone else. What about you? Wouldn’t it do something for you to see your work shown in a gallery, hung somewhere other than your husband’s office?”
“It doesn’t matter where they’re hung.” She didn’t dare tell Kim that they weren’t even there anymore. Marc had hired a new decorator six months before, who had declared her works “weak and depressing” and taken them all down. Marc had brought the canvases home, including a small portrait of Pilar, which now hung in the hall. “What matters to me is painting it, not showing it.”
“That’s like playing a violin with no strings for chrissake. It doesn’t make sense.”
“It does to me.” She was gentle but firm, and Kim shook her head as they got out of the car.
“Well, I think you’re crazy, but I love you anyway.” Deanna smiled as they walked back inside the hotel.
The rest of their stay went by too quickly. They browsed in the shops, had dinner once more at the Pine Inn. On Sunday afternoon Deanna took one more walk on the beach. She knew where he lived now, knew it when she glimpsed the house hidden behind the trees. She knew how near she was to the Wyeth. She walked on. She did not see him again, and she was annoyed at herself for even wondering if he’d be on the beach. Why should he be? And what would she say if he were? Thank him for not letting Kimberly know they had met? So what? What did it matter? She knew she’d never see him again.

5
When the phone rang, she was already in her studio, sitting back from the canvas trying to evaluate her morning’s work. It was a bowl of tulips dropping their petals on a mahogany table, against a background of blue sky, glimpsed through an open window.
“Deanna?” She was stunned to hear his voice.
“Ben? How did you get my number?” She felt a warm blush rise to her cheeks and was instantly angry at herself for the way she felt. “Kim?”
“Of course. She said that if I didn’t show your work, she’d sabotage our account.”
“She didn’t!” The blush deepened as she laughed.
“No. She just said that you were very good. Tell you what, I’ll trade you my Wyeth for one of yours.”
“You’re crazy. And so is Kim!”
“Why don’t you let me judge for myself? Do you suppose I could come by around noon?”
“Today? Now?” She glanced at the clock and shook her head. It was already after eleven. “No!”
“I know. You’re not ready. Artists never are.” The voice was as gentle as it had been on the beach.
She stared into the phone. “Really. I can’t.” It was almost a whisper.
“Tomorrow?” Not pushy, but firm.
“Ben, really … it’s not that. I …” She faltered and heard his laugh.
“Please. I’d really love to see your work.”
“Why?” She instantly felt stupid for the question.
“Because I like you. And I’d like to see your work. It’s as simple as that. Doesn’t that make sense?”
“More or less.” She didn’t know what more to say.
“Are you busy