North Coast by Dorothy Rice Bennett

Author:Dorothy Rice Bennett [Bennett, Dorothy Rice]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Outskirts Press, Inc.
Published: 2015-12-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Valerie sold a painting, her first significant sale since moving to the North Coast. The path to this major success began when Paulina Johansen, an attractive 40-something redhead, had posed for photos in the photography studio with her dog—a miniature schnauzer named Max—as a gift for her husband, Jim. When the proofs were ready, Paulina had come to the studio to decide which one to have printed and framed for her husband’s birthday.

“I thought I’d sneak in this morning,” she said pleasantly, pushing her sunglasses back on her head. “Jim is out on the boat and he won’t know I’ve done this.”

“You have a boat?” Valerie’s curiosity was aroused.

“Yes, a 50-foot sailboat. We’re just getting into the season where we can enjoy it. We’ve had the sloop in dry dock for the winter down in the Bay Area. Jim just sailed it up the coast and is now out testing the rigging, doing some fine tuning to get ready for the summer.”

“I love sailboats,” admitted Valerie. “I used to be fascinated just watching them glide by on San Francisco Bay.”

“Do you sail?” Paulina asked.

“Well, I’m not an expert. I have been out a couple of times, enough to know that I don’t get too seasick and that sailing is a lot quieter and more fun for me than power boating.”

“Yes, I agree with you. I’d never make a power boater, or a ‘stink potter,’ as they kiddingly say,” Paulina mused. “I’ll always be a ‘rag bagger,’ as the power boaters tauntingly call us sailors.”

They both laughed.

Valerie acknowledged that sailboats made good subjects for painting and that she had done watercolors and oils featuring sailing craft.

“I didn’t know you painted.” Paulina was surprised. But she expressed an interest and asked if she could see some of Val’s work. They made arrangements to get together, and Paulina came to the house the following week. Valerie showed her around her studio and pulled out several of her paintings for her to see. Paulina was clearly impressed.

“And here I thought you were just a photographer’s assistant,” she exclaimed. “Hiding your light under the proverbial bushel barrel, are you?” She thought for a moment and then added, “You should ask Lyn to display some of your paintings!”

Val’s mouth dropped open in surprise. “I never thought of that. I bet she would allow it. Thanks for the suggestion.”

Paulina chose one of the sailboat paintings, offered Valerie a very good price for it, and picked it up the next week. As she was loading the carefully wrapped painting into her silver Lexus SUV, she turned and smiled at Val. “My husband would like to meet you. I’ve raved so much about your work. Of course, at this time of the year, he’s totally involved with the boat. How would you like to come out for an afternoon sail one of these days?”

Valerie was taken aback. “That would be wonderful,” she said. She had always believed that people who had enough money to own luxury cars and boats were very selective about their guests, so she felt quite honored to be asked.

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