I realized that I’d said the words before I even recognized what they meant. I was stunned at how my heart had overrode my brain, sending a signal to blurt that declaration out… but even as I wondered about this, I knew that it was true.
All that mattered to me was Riley Ricketts.
“You really mean that, don’t you, Lex?”
I didn’t need to give it another second’s thought. “I do, Jess. I really do.”
“Well, I’ll be absolutely damned,” she laughed down the phone. “I thought this little trip might be a good idea upfront… give you some renewed perspective, keep you out of trouble… but you’re a changed man, Alexander Lambert. This woman has really gotten into you.”
“I think she has.”
“Alright then,” she exhaled, the tension leaving her tone. “In that case, fuck the contract. I’ll make the call right after we disconnect. If he can’t wait one more day to hell with the whole damn company. You get yourself to the airport. I’ll call ahead and have a plane ready for you.”
“You’re the best, Jess,” I told her, sighing out in relief. “I can’t possibly thank you enough.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she chuckled. “Go get suited up and head straight for Heathrow. Hit me with a text when you land.”
17
Riley
There was just one other person I had to speak to.
To the world, she was one of the most talented contemporary sculptors of our time – someone whose highly sought work occupied exhibits in over a hundred museums across the world. Highly reclusive, barely conducting interviews anymore, word was that she had hidden herself away somewhere in the vast archipelago of islands beneath Greece.
Mom was always dramatic like that.
I hadn’t spoken to Jolene Ricketts in years, and I still remembered the last conversation. Well, more accurately, the last vicious fight. We didn’t exactly see eye to eye, but something told me that she was going to be indispensible to me as I really set this major crossroads into stone.
She picked up on the fourth try.
“Hullo? Margaret speaking,” the weary voice on the other line spoke.
“Mom… it’s me.”
“…My stars, Riley?”
I suppressed a small smile at the sound of her confusion. “Yeah, it’s Riley. It’s been a long time.”
“It’s funny… I thought I might never hear from you again,” she told me matter-of-factly. “I take it that you need something from me. Is it money?”
If people thought that Gloria Van Lark was stiff as a board, then they hadn’t met my mother. It always surprised me how such an emotive and passionate sculptor could be such a cold, callous bitch to her own flesh and blood.
“I need advice.”
“Advice,” she chuckled. “Why on earth would you call me in the middle of the night for advice?”
Oh shit, I thought to myself. I didn’t bother to check for the time zone difference…
“Because I need you, Mom,” I answered plainly. “I’m sorry to call so late, I didn’t notice the time… but if you can spare me a couple of minutes, I’ve got a problem that I think you can help me with.”
She sighed briefly. “Fine. What is it?”
“I met Gloria Van Lark today.”
The silence over the phone was deafening.
“Gloria Van Lark approached you? In the flesh? Describe her. How did she look? I need to know for certain.”
“I met Paulette first, who matched the stories. But the real thing was an old woman in a disguise that I can only accurately call homeless chic.”
“That’s her, alright,” Mom remarked. Of course she knew the truth about Gloria… her work had probably been sitting in Spinnoc for a long time now. “If Gloria came to see you, then maybe I was wrong about your painting … Did she at least make you an offer?”
“As much as I appreciate that stunning vote of confidence,” I gritted my teeth, “Yes. She offered to purchase some of my artwork, so long as I packed up everything and returned with her to California. She’s waiting for my final answer tomorrow.”
“You mentioned a problem,” Mom remarked. “I fail to see where it is, unless your problem is clawing for my attention while I’m trying to sleep.”
It didn’t surprise me that she failed to grasp the situation.
“Mom, I’m being torn three ways. New Orleans is magic to me. My friends are here. Everything that I know is here… San Diego is so far away… And then… There’s Lex.”
“Oh here we go,” mother said, letting out a little laugh. “You know, I thought you grew out of boy troubles a long time ago?”