By Private Invitation (37 page)

The painting arrived Monday morning at nine by private courier.

From Haven Hotel.

Annabelle propped the crate against the checkout desk and left it there for an hour
before she decided to open it.

When the shock of the address wore off, she realized she was pretty sure she knew
what was in the crate. She couldn’t decide if she was pissed off or touched. She didn’t
want to be touched.

“That bastard.”

She’d barely managed to function on Sunday. Only the constant stream of customers
had kept her mind off the mess her life had become.

And it’d taken an entire bottle of Arbor Mist to ensure she slept through the night.

Which she’d paid for today with a hangover she’d only managed to shake with three
acetaminophen.

The sight of that crate made her temples throb again.

“Damn him.”

She knew she wouldn’t get any work done until she opened it, so she got her crowbar
and pried it open.

Kate found Annabelle sitting on the floor of the shop in front of the painting an
hour later.

“Annabelle? Hey, is everything okay?” A pause. “What’re you doing on the floor, hon?”

“Hey, Kate. I got a present from Jared.”

Behind her, she heard Kate walk over to her, then stop. “Is that one of your dad’s?”

She nodded, letting her gaze trace the lines of her mother’s naked back. “It’s
Number Seven
in the Passion series. The one I needed to complete my collection. Jared sent it.”

Kate paused. “Okay, back up. I’m thoroughly confused. I thought you said he wanted
to buy your paintings.”

“That’s what I thought too.”

“Then why did he send you this one?”

Good question
. “You know, Jared accused me of hiding and he was right. I have been. And I’m so
sick and tired of looking over my shoulder, waiting for my past to bite me on the
ass.”

Slowly, Kate nodded. “I get that, Annabelle. I do. But…” She sighed. “What are you
going to do? I mean, do you just take out an ad in the newspaper and say, ‘Hey, I’m
Peter O’Malley’s daughter.’”

“No, of course not. But I have to do something. And…I had this idea. It might be really
stupid and if you think so, just tell me, okay?” She then let her idea tumble out
in a rush before she lost her nerve. “I’m thinking about doing a showing here, a grand
reopening. The renovations will be completed next week. I have that beautiful new
gallery space. I’d decide who to invite and let the information just…slide out that
way.”

Kate’s expression was solemn. “Sounds like you’ve given it a lot of thought, and I
can see how having control over the event would
be helpful.” Kate turned back to the painting. “This one’s beautiful. I wish I’d known
your parents.”

Annabelle wished for the same. “They were wonderful. All of them. And so much in love.
I knew their relationship was different. Lots of kids had two dads and a mom but they
didn’t all live together and share the same bed. I knew other people thought they
were freaks. And worse. But those people didn’t understand. They just condemned. Then
the way they died just made it all that much more titillating.

“But my paintings, the ones I’ve kept in storage all these years, they show the love,
the affection. I think I didn’t want to share that with anyone else after what happened.
I wanted to keep it for myself.”

“Understandable, considering. But you’re not going to sell them, are you? Because
you know people will be all over you to buy them.”

“Of course not. But maybe I’ll show some of the younger artists I’ve been collecting.
Give others a boost.”

“And dilute a little of the focus on your announcement. Sounds like a plan.”

“I’m not ashamed of who I am. Or my parents. It’s time to take back my life.”

“Does that include forgiving a certain guy? You know he sent this as damn big ‘I’m
sorry,’ right?”

Annabelle paused as she brushed a finger over her father’s signature. “Yeah. I know.”

She’d had a lot of time to think over the past week. A lot of time to calm down, think
about what had happened. And to admit she missed him. And that maybe, just maybe,
he’d had a valid reason for his actions.

“I guess that will depend on the guy.”

“So, have you heard from her yet?”

Jared shook his head as he stared out the window of his office, not bothering to turn
around to acknowledge Tyler.

“The painting was only delivered Monday.”

“Yeah, well, it’s Friday. You’re just going to give her a painting and hope she realizes
how you feel about her?”

That was the plan, yes. She needed time. He understood that. Time to realize he wasn’t
playing her.

If it didn’t work…Well, he had three more O’Malleys.

“You know you’re an idiot, right?”

He opened his mouth to tell his brother to fuck off, then shut it again. Why bother?
His plan would work. It had to.

Tyler shook his head. “It’s not gonna work, Jed. So you sent her one of her dad’s
paintings. So what? She’s supposed to read your mind? Did you even tell her you loved
her?”

Of course he hadn’t told her he loved her. She wouldn’t have believed him. She’d have
thrown it back in his face.

He lifted a hand to rub at the ache in his chest. “Do you have any advice that’s actually
useful?”

His voice sounded like a low, angry growl, and he clamped his mouth shut before he
could say anything more.

“Yeah, I do. If I were you, I’d haul ass up to her place, throw yourself on her mercy,
and beg her forgiveness for being a total douchebag.”

“Tyler, dear, don’t call your brother bad names.”

Beatrice walked through the door of Jared’s office and he gave a low whistle of appreciation.
“Whoa, Nana. You look fantastic. Got a hot date?”

Dressed in a pale pink fitted suit, her hair a sleek bob of snow
white, and her makeup impeccable, she walked into Jared’s office with a grin. “Why,
thank you, sweetheart. And no, I’m going to a gallery opening. I just thought I’d
stop by and see if you received this same invitation. It looks like an interesting
event.”

Jared realized he recognized the envelope his grandmother held. He’d seen a similar
one on the pile of mail on his desk this afternoon but he hadn’t bothered to open
it. He hadn’t bothered to open a lot of his mail in the past week.

Another party didn’t interest him. He’d only been able to think about Belle.

And how much he missed her.

Was this love? The ache in his gut? The pain in his chest?

Well, it sucked.

“Not interested.”

Tyler snorted softly. “Since when are
you
not interested in a party, Jed? Sounds like someone’s wallowing in self-pity, if
you ask me.”

The inflection in his brother’s tone made him narrow his gaze on Tyler. “No one asked
you for your opinion.”

His brother pulled a piece of white paper out of his shirt pocket. “I got an invitation
to the same party.”

Tyler’s gaze never wavered.

He walked to his desk, dug around the accumulated piles of papers, and pulled out
the envelope.

The return address was Adamstown.

His jaw tightened as he ripped open the envelope and pulled out the card.

His gaze shot back to his brother. “This is for tonight. When did you get this?”

“Yesterday. And so did you.”

Jared eyed his brother up and down. Tyler wore a suit and a tie. He didn’t have a
date. Tyler never had a date.

“We’ll wait while you change, dear,” his grandmother said. “Just make it quick.”

“What if no one shows up? I should have included an RSVP but it was such short notice.
This was a stupid idea. I should have given myself more time to plan, for people to
actually RSVP. No one’s going to show up.”

With a long-suffering sigh, Kate gave Annabelle’s dress one last brush, then stepped
up next to her so they were both framed in the mirror.

“Of course people are going to show up. You invited the entire town, in addition to
all those artists and gallery owners.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t have invited anyone from town. I mean, what if they think I’m a
freak? What if no one ever talks to me again? I’ll have to leave. I’ll have to—”

“Annabelle, knock it off right now.”

Kate’s sharp tone made her take a deep breath.

Whoa, okay. Panic much?

She had to get a grip or she’d never be able to go through with this.

And she refused to be a coward. Not now.

She could do this.

“Hello-oo! Annabelle? We’re here!”

Teddy Walters’s voice drifted up from the first floor, bringing a genuine smile to
her face.

When she’d decided to do this, she’d made the decision to include her friends and
neighbors. She wanted them to be here when she made her announcement. Might as well
tear the bandage away all at once.

She’d hired Tracy and her staff from the café down the street to do the catering.
She’d enlisted Teddy and his mother, Dolores, to check invitations and greet guests
as they arrived. Dolores had been a meeting planner before she’d retired and opened
her antiques shop. Annabelle couldn’t have put this party together in time without
her help. Or Teddy’s. He had an incredible eye for arrangement and had helped her
place all the artwork.

He’d done a better job than she could have imagined possible or ever accomplished
by herself.

And considering the subject material, he’d never once blushed, cracked an inappropriate
joke, or questioned her about the collection. He’d been a complete professional.

She hadn’t been able to thank him enough, but he’d just smiled and said neighbors
helped out neighbors.

Yes, it was high time she stopped shutting everyone out.

She looked down at her dress.

“You outdid yourself again,” Annabelle said. “The dresses are amazing.”

Kate’s champagne-colored silk sheath hugged her slight curves like a glove yet covered
her from neck to knee. Her hair fell in a sleek, dark wave over her shoulder, and
her dark eyes held a faint trace of anxiety.

“Are you sure it’s not over the top? I could change into the blue—”

“Don’t you dare. You look beautiful.”

Kate’s lips slowly lifted into a smile. “So do you.”

Her dress was a deep forest-green satin. The contrast made her
skin appear practically translucent. The style was deceptively sedate, with short
cap leaves and complete coverage in the front. But the back plunged in a vee, leaving
her bare to the waist.

She looked…amazingly like her mother.

Kate slipped her hand through her elbow and squeezed her arm.

“We should get downstairs.”

“Thanks, Kate. You know I love you, right?”

Kate rolled her eyes but her smile was bright. “Of course you do. Who else would put
up with all of this?”

They headed to the first floor, where Kate veered off to check on the food and Annabelle
headed for the gallery. The rest of the shop looked spectacular since she’d spent
most of the week pulling it all together.

But the gallery looked amazing.

“There you are, Annabelle.” Dolores took her hand and held her at arm’s length. “Don’t
you look beautiful?”

“Dolores, I can’t thank you enough for all your help this week. It really means a
lot to me.”

“Oh, sweetheart, no need for thanks. That’s what friends do. We’re just glad we’re
able to be here for you.” Dolores motioned to the walls. “I always did love this series.
It was one of your father’s best, I think.”

Annabelle nearly choked on her next breath as Dolores patted her on the back. “Oh,
now, none of that. Buck up, Annabelle. Your grandfather would be very proud of what
you’re doing here tonight. Your father’s work deserves to be seen and you have nothing
to hide. Don’t worry. We’ll all be here to hold your hand.”

When she could breathe again, Annabelle asked, “How long have you known?”