My One and Only(23)

“Thanks,” Snow said. “It’s always a work in progress, but I like it. Are you looking for anything specific, or just browsing today?”

“I’m looking for artwork, actually.”

“Can you be more specific?”

“Afraid not,” Haleigh said, embarrassed that she couldn’t offer a better answer. “I have a bare, dark blue bedroom wall to fill, but no idea what to put on it. If you’ll point me in the right direction, maybe something will catch my eye.”

“Of course,” Snow said. “There are a couple of areas to check out, but I’d suggest starting along the left wall over here.”

“Do you want any help?” Lorelei asked.

“No, thank you,” Haleigh said quicker than necessary. She’d rather skip the humiliation of anyone realizing how inept she truly was at this decorating thing. “But I’ll call if that changes.”

Unbelievable. Haleigh could handle bringing tiny humans into the world on a daily basis, but found two stylish women inordinately intimidating. What a proud moment.

Flipping through a small stack of still-lifes, Haleigh gave each an immediate pass. Being greeted every morning by a bowl of fruit didn’t seem very inspiring. The piece needed to be beautiful, of course, but uplifting, too. Something that would tell a story and maybe even make her think.

This was what happened when you sent a bookworm to do a decorator’s job.

Sifting through the next stack, she found three unicorn paintings, two of frolicking cats, and the classic dogs playing poker reimagined with visor-wearing pigs. Definite nos.

“That’s the one you should buy,” Lorelei said, popping up out of nowhere. Following the direction Lorelei pointed, Haleigh located the suggested image.

A half-naked woman, with light hair piled carelessly atop her head, sprawled elegantly across a stool. The man kneeling in the shadows at her feet looked both mesmerized and forlorn, as if he’d give her anything if only she’d ask.

With a tilt of her head, Haleigh said, “I don’t know.” The picture was beautiful enough, and certainly told a story. But maybe not the story Haleigh was prepared to live with.

“What’s not to love?” Lorelei asked. “The woman is gorgeous, clearly in a position of power, and the man at her feet shows she’s desirable.”

Haleigh examined the painting closer, focusing on the woman’s eyes. “She looks lonely,” she observed. “Like she’d rather the man sweep her off her feet than worship at them.”

“Huh,” Lorelei said. “How apt.” Before Haleigh could ask what that comment meant, Lorelei reached for the painting. “I’ll help you get her down.”

“But I haven’t agreed to buy it yet,” she said, rushing to catch the opposite side of the painting as it leaned precariously forward. “I might like something else better.”

Lorelei ignored the protest. “Nope. This one is perfect.”

Reminding herself that she wasn’t the expert here, Haleigh conceded and allowed Lorelei to carry her soon-to-be newest possession to the register. Preferring not to display a mostly naked woman on the streets of Ardent Springs, she said, “Can you wrap it up for me? I don’t want it to get damaged on the way home.”

Right. Potential damage was the issue and not the delicate sensibilities of the local church ladies. All of whom would report back to Haleigh’s mother.

“Not a problem.” Leaning the canvas on the wall behind the counter, Lorelei stepped to the register. “What are you doing Friday night?”

An odd and unexpected question. “I’m on duty at the hospital until six. And then I’m having dinner with my mother. Why?”

“A bunch of us are going to Brubaker’s after the Ruby committee meeting. You should come along.”

“Brubaker’s?” Haleigh’s mouth went dry. “The dance hall?”

“That’s the one,” Lorelei said as she tapped the screen of what Haleigh realized was an iPad. “Spencer and I are taking Carrie out for the first time since she had Molly and she’s nervous about leaving her. You could reassure her that one night of dancing does not make her a bad mother.” Without waiting for a reply, she added, “That’s seventy-one fifty-two.”

Crap. Haleigh hadn’t intended to spend that much on a wall decoration. Quickly debating her options, she decided to avoid the embarrassment of balking at the price and whipped out her credit card. To her surprise, Lorelei twirled the iPad to face her.

Sliding her card through the reader, she said, “That’s kind of nifty.”

Lorelei’s voice dropped to a whisper. “You should see the old biddies jump back when I do the flip thing. They act like I pulled a python out of my pocket and told them to kiss it.”