Read Online The Yellow Braid by Karen Coccioli - Free Book Online Page A

head slowly. “I don’t know
what to say except—except that these are extraordinary. I just
never suspected you of such talent.”
    “ This is why I’m so mad at Tommy. I see these as art. He seems not to see anything past
the fact that I’m using Livia as my model. I wouldn’t do anything
to humiliate or hurt her.”
    Caro nodded in sympathy.
    “The normal person,” Nina said, “the normal,
socially adjusted person—”
    “So I suppose I’m not socially adjusted.”
Tommy spoke through the screen door.
    Nina took the cookie sheet out of the oven
and slid it onto the countertop with unnecessary clatter. She faced
her husband with her hands on her hips. “Where’s Livia?”
    “ Collecting shells.” Tommy walked in and
immediately approached Caro. “And I suppose being a fellow artist ” — he hung
quotation marks in the air—“you condone these.”
    “I understand why they might be
controversial.”
    Nina and Tommy reacted simultaneously to
Caro’s comment.
    “At least you’re willing to admit there’s
reason for argument,” Tommy said. “More than my wife will
concede.”
    Nina stormed at Caro. “How can you! You said
they were genius!”
    Caro signaled for a time-out. “Relax, both
of you. Nina, do I think they’re exquisite? Yes.”
    Nina snorted in her husband’s direction.
    “And Tommy, do I think an argument can be
made that they’re seductive? Yes. I heard you guys arguing the
other night.”
    Nina poked a finger at Tommy. “I told you
the whole neighborhood heard.”
    “Big shit.”
    “The point is, if I did, then Livia must
have,” Caro said.
    “Then you also know the photos aren’t the
whole issue,” Tommy said.
    Nina bolted over to her husband and stood so
close that the hiss in her voice reverberated between them. “My
career is my business.”
    “And I’ll tell you for the thousandth time
it’s not fair to use her,” Tommy argued.
    “Know what bothers me the most, Tommy, is
that you used to see the artistic value of my photographs, but now
all you do is criticize.” Tears collected and dripped onto the
curve of her cheekbones.
    Nina’s weeping did not dilute Tommy’s anger.
“Would you still be hell-bent on publishing her pictures if she
were your daughter?”
    Nina stared with assurance at Caro. “Tell
him. You know better than he does what I would do.”
    Caro cleared her throat. “Tommy, I want to
remain both your friends. At the same time I have to say that I
think Nina would…and should photograph and publish what speaks to
her as an artist.”
    “At any cost?” Tommy asked.
    “ The only cost , as you put it, is the fact that Livia isn’t into the
modeling. To be honest, I was against forcing her. And then I look
at these and see how precisely they capture not only her physical
beauty, but that inner essence that makes her a poet, and
I—”
    “You see?” Nina said to her husband.
    “No, I don’t. No matter what you or Caro
says,” Tommy said, and walked out.
    “Thank you for sticking up for me,” Nina
said.
    “ I have to ask,” Caro said. “What is your relationship with
Livia?”
    “She’s my only niece. We’re a small family,
only Carmen and me so we’ve always been close.”
    “Then you must have talked to her
about—”
    “ I know how much she hates modeling for me.
And though I don’t show it, I do feel bad I’m pushing her. And yes,
I see this as an opportunity for me. Over the last year, she’s
matured in such a way… she was always pretty, of course. But not
like she is now. So when I read that Art World Magazine was sponsoring a portrait exhibition at
the National Center for Photography I came up with the idea of a
series based around her.”
    “The National Center puts on major showings.
I’ve been to a few,” Caro said.
    “That’s the point. I wouldn’t be doing this
for any small-time show.”
    Caro indicated to Nina that Livia was
heading toward the house.
    “Will you say something to Livia on my
behalf?”