The grownups could work things out amongst themselves.
Gianna and her dad showed up twenty minutes into the show. She’d worn the dress and as a bonus her lips were painted a matching red. Later tonight that lipstick would be smeared.
“I’m really nervous for you,” she whispered as I grabbed her hand and led her to get something to drink.
Her dad had wandered off to look at the paintings. Each work had a little metal rectangle underneath with the painting’s and artist’s names engraved. It was strange to see my name like that.
Handing her a glass of water, I said, “Don’t be nervous, I’m not.”
She nodded, taking a sip. “Okay.”
From across the room, I saw Norah staring at us with barely veiled jealousy. The emotion was easy to recognize, having felt it so strongly for the two weeks I’d thought Gianna was with Gage. Heading in the opposite direction, I showed Gianna Sydney’s work and some of mine she hadn’t seen.
My mom came over to give Gianna a hug. “How are you, sweetie?”
“I’m good and how are you?” she asked my mom.
My mom gestured around. “Incredibly proud of my son at the moment.”
It was good to hear. I hadn’t made my mom proud very often over the past few years. “Me too,” Gianna agreed.
“Tell Caleb to bring you with him next time he comes over for dinner.”
“Okay,” Gianna said, grinning at me.
“I have to go check with Debra about something.” My mom squeezed my girlfriend’s hand. “I’ll see you later.”
Gianna turned a sweet smile on me. “I think she’s your second biggest fan.”
Pulling her closer, I looked down at her. “And who’s my number one fan?”
“My mom?” she joked, unable to hold a straight face.
“I’m bored. Want to go make out it Jim’s office?”
She tilted her head as if mulling the idea over. “Won’t people wonder where you are?”
As if on cue, I heard Jim call my name. “Caleb!” He approached with a smaller middle-aged man. “Meet Thomas Schwartz from Denver Life Magazine.”
I shook Thomas Schwartz’s hand. “Nice to meet you.” Pulling Gianna forward, I added. “This is my girlfriend, Gianna.”
Jim’s eyes studied her and I knew he was checking her likeness to that of the painting hiding in the back. “Good to meet you, Gianna.”
“If you have a few minutes free,” Thomas Schwartz said. “I’d like to interview you for an article I’m writing, Caleb.”
At Jim’s nod, I agreed, “Of course, Mr. Schwartz.” Seeing Chris talking to my dad nearby, I told Gianna, “I’ll be back in a bit, go hang out with our parents.”
She frowned at the order, her eyes flashing annoyance. “Yes, Caleb.”
“Is that the girl from the violent painting Jim has stashed in the back?” Thomas asked.
I shot Jim an unhappy look. “That one wasn’t supposed to be in the show.”
Jim shrugged remorselessly. “It’s one of your best and being sold as a set with the football player.”
“Could you please not mention it in the article?” I asked Thomas.
“Of course,” he answered. “But could I ask you some questions about your time spent in youth corrections and the subjects of the other paintings?”
Those paintings were much less painful to talk about in comparison to the one of Gianna. After the interview with Thomas Schwartz, Jim guided me over to a reporter from 5280 magazine for a similar set of questions. I spotted Debra making Sydney do the same rounds. After the Rocky Mountain News, there was the reporter from the Denver Post.
By the time we finished, thirty minutes had passed and I didn’t see Gianna anywhere.
*****
GIANNA
A girl with dark brown hair, wearing an ivory dress and heels, came up next to me as I stood admiring one of Sydney Atwood’s paintings. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
“She’s really talented,” I replied, smiling at the girl next to me.
“So is Caleb,” the girl said, grabbing my full attention at the use of just his first name. It wasn’t hard to guess who she was. “I’m Norah, by the way.”
“Gianna,” I introduced myself, although she must know since her roommate tracked me down like a crazy person.
Norah returned my smile. “I know, I recognized you from the painting.”
“Painting?” I asked, confused. I’d walked the entire show while Caleb was busy speaking to different people. There hadn’t been any paintings of me. I’d recognized Ian in the zoo painting and barely held back laughter. People would’ve thought something was wrong with me if I’d unleashed my amusement.