Always in My Heart by A. C. Arthur

Author:A. C. Arthur [A. C. Arthur]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Romance, African American, United States, Contemporary, Women's Fiction
Amazon: B01CBY47FG
Goodreads: 29360811
Publisher: Artistry Publishing LLC
Published: 2016-02-27T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Eva didn’t touch the beignets even though they looked and smelled delicious. She was afraid her topsy-turvy stomach would reject the doughy treats the moment she chewed and swallowed. She sipped her mimosa instead, slowly, but surely.

Monica Lakefield had already unzipped Eva’s portfolio. The portfolio she’d hastily put together this morning. Years ago Makai had given her a leather carrier for Eva to transport her paintings, but she’d never taken them anywhere. They all sat in her room, propped against the wall in stacks she’d organized by theme. Or rather moods—because painting had always served a therapeutic purpose for her, she categorized them by whichever mood she was in when she painted them. The pictures of her paintings she’d chosen to show the Lakefield sisters were a mixture of happy, sad and content.

The older Lakefield sister had perfectly manicured nails and one gorgeous diamond ring sparkling from a finger on her right hand. So Monica and Alex were dating, but not engaged. That was something to know, Eva thought as she waited, less than impatiently, for her to speak.

“How long have you been painting?” Karena asked.

Eva cleared her throat and scooted closer to the table. “I’d always enjoyed art class in school and after my parents could no longer pay for the formal dance classes, I went back to painting with my water colors and looking at the art magazines I checked out of the library. I was thirteen then. I began painting seriously—I mean every day—when I turned fifteen.” Because she didn’t have a boyfriend like the rest of the girls in her class. Painting, once again, filled a void.

“So you’ve had no formal training in art? No classes, no mentors. Nothing,” Karena continued.

She was looking at two pictures, one of a man and woman in the midst of a dance routine. The woman was arching backward while the man held her arms, the soft pastel colors blended together like a muted rainbow. Eva had painted this one when she was feeling content.

“Nothing,” Eva said. “I know they’re not polished or professional. That’s why I hadn’t bothered to show them to anyone. That and I just never had the time to sit and research who I should be showing them to.” She clapped her lips shut as she felt like she might be babbling.

Monica held up a picture, staring long and hard at it. When she slipped it back into the portfolio she looked candidly at Eva.

“I can give you the name of an art agent because you should not be negotiating your own contracts and sales,” she said.

Her hair was cut in a sleek asymmetric bob that fit her cool and aloof demeanor as well as the pale gray pantsuit and Stuart Weitzman pumps. Karena had a more subdued look. While just as pretty and intelligent as her sister, she wore a navy blue sweater pencil skirt and a white turtleneck, but her shoes were a fun and whimsical denim material platform that matched the bangle bracelet on her arm.

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