Find Wonder in All Things

Part 3


chapter 21


Early Fall

In the end, the meeting with Neil Crenshaw went better than Laurel could have hoped. He was very professional, and although he candidly admitted that her work wasn’t really his cup of tea, he was certain that other people would admire it and offered her a showing during the Craft Fair of the Southern Mountains in October. She would have space in his gallery to display her work, complete with professional brochures and business cards to hand out. It was quite a step up from the usual Crosby-made materials printed at Kinko’s and a small booth at the Woodland Craft Fair. For his trouble, Mr. Crenshaw would receive a percentage of the gross sales.

Another bonus for Laurel was that the preparations gave her something to focus on besides James. The last few months hadn’t been easy for her. To have had a glimpse of another chance with him, only for it to be yanked away, was painful. But, she reminded herself, she had endured the loss once before, and she was convinced she would endure it again simply because she had no other choice.

Her family was thrilled about what both Cooper and her father billed as her big break, and they talked about making the trip to Asheville with her. At first, even her mother thought she might go, but at the last minute, she changed her mind. Of course, Laurel was disappointed; she had held out a secret hope that this might be the event that turned her mother around, but it was not unexpected, so she put that disappointment out of her mind. It was a coping skill she had practiced for many years.

* * *

On the first day of the fair, Laurel rose bright and early. She dressed carefully, choosing a flowing rayon skirt and a simple sleeveless blouse that left her arms free for pottery demonstrations. After twisting her long red hair into a large braid, she put on a pair of dangly silver and turquoise earrings and just a touch of makeup. She smiled at her reflection, realizing she looked every inch the part of the Bohemian artist.

Soon after she arrived at the gallery, Cooper came by to check whether she needed anything and to critique what he had seen so far of the festival. She thanked him but said she had all she required, except maybe a cup of tea to ward off the morning chill. He smiled and gallantly offered to fetch ‘whatever the talented artiste requires.’ In truth, Laurel was interested in getting him out of her hair for a while. She appreciated his help, both in securing the interview with Crenshaw and his support at the fair itself, but his biting cynicism about the other artists, the fair, and the patrons threatened to interfere with her enjoyment of the event. It was a joyous occasion for her, and she wanted to feel . . . joyful.

Laurel was setting up for a ten o’clock demonstration when she heard a vaguely familiar voice behind her.

“Laurel Elliot, is that really you?”

She whirled around and gasped. “Adrienne? Adrienne Smith?” She held her arms open wide and the two women hugged and squealed like high school girls.

“Yes, it’s me! How in the hell are you? It’s been what . . . four years?”

“Since graduation. What have you been up to? Are you one of the artists here?”

“Oh no, not here, no. I’m working.”

“Working?”

“I work for Neil Crenshaw. I’m making the rounds to double check that everything’s set up and ready to go. I saw your name on the roster, and I just had to come over and see if it was my Laurel Elliot in the big fancy gallery. Is this your work?” She stopped to examine one of the pieces.

“Yes, it’s mine.”

Adrienne nodded appreciatively. “Simple and beautiful, but then I’m not a bit surprised.”

“Thanks.” Laurel checked the time. “Hey, listen, I’ve got to do this demonstration, but I should be finished by 11:30, and the gallery will be closed until one. You wanna go grab some lunch somewhere?”

“I’d love to! Can we make it 11:45? That will give me time to finish up my morning and get back here.”

“I can meet you somewhere.”

They made arrangements, and Laurel hugged her old school friend one more time. “It’s incredible to see you. I can’t wait to have a nice leisurely lunch and catch up.”

Adrienne cocked her head at Laurel, a question in her eyes, but then she gave her an enthusiastic nod. “I’ll be there,” she promised.

* * *

“What do you mean you’re not coming to lunch? Cooper will be there.” Mr. Elliot was unusually stern when Laurel told him about her plans.

“Just that — I’m not coming to lunch. I promised Adrienne, and I haven’t seen her in ages. I’ve already seen Cooper this morning — twice.”

Her father tried a patient voice instead. “Laurel, I know you’d like to see your friend, but this lunch is quite an honor. Cooper had to pull some strings to get us in, and I think you ought to go. It will give you a chance to see what these people are about and how to fit in with them.”

“Dad, is this you talking or is it Cooper? Since when have you worried about any of us ‘fitting in?’”

He looked crestfallen. “This weekend is important, daughter. Finally, you have a chance to be successful at what you love to do. It’s what you’ve always wanted, isn’t it — recognition for your talent and your hard work?”

“No, it’s what you’ve apparently decided you want for me, Dad, and I love you for it. But recognition wasn’t ever my motivation for my art. It was never what I always wanted. I wanted — ”

She paused.

“You wanted what?”

A life with James. She didn’t utter that out loud, however, and just shook her head a little. “I just want to see my friend, and she’s free for lunch. I won’t break my plans with her because some better offer came along.”

“Well, when you put it that way, it does sound rude, but if she works for Neil Crenshaw, I’m sure she’d understand.”

“Perhaps she would, but that doesn’t make it right.”

Mr. Elliot sighed.

“You taught me to be like this,” she reminded him, “to follow my own path.”

“I know,” he said with some sadness. “What was I thinking, eh?”

“Go have a good time, Daddy. Make my apologies to Cooper and the rest of them. I’ll meet them tonight at the party.”

“All right, you win.”

She smiled as she went out the door. “I’ll see you later, okay?”

* * *

Her time with Adrienne was enjoyable, and Laurel had no regrets over missing what would have been a stuffy and pretentious luncheon. She wished Cooper would ask before he made plans for her. That quirk of his was becoming an annoyance.

On her way back to the gallery, she was again accosted by a familiar voice. For being 250 miles from home, she sure was running into a lot of people she knew! She turned and was thrilled to see James’s sister Susan and her husband Gary.

“Laurel!” they chorused, waving at her with frantic gestures.

“Hi, you two.” She gave Susan a quick hug. “What brings you to this neck of the woods?”

“You.” Gary put an arm around his wife. “Susan can’t resist a craft fair.”

“And when we heard you were going to be here, how could we not come to support our friend and neighbor?” Susan added.

“Thank you. I’m so glad you came! Have you seen my exhibit at the gallery yet? How did you know I was here?”

“No, we’re on our way this afternoon to see your work. And, to answer your second question — your brother Crosby’s been spreading the word all over town. So I knew, even before James told us you’d be here.”

“Pardon?”

“James, my brother. He mentioned it to me on the phone.”

“Oh, and how is he?” And how did he know I would be here?

“He’s fine, but as to what he’s doing, I’m not sure. It doesn’t seem like he’s very busy. We’ve told him he should come back out and stay with us at the lake.”

“What about the cabin he rented? Can’t he stay there? Or did he give it up?”

“He’s pretty much turned that over to Benwick, I think. And given the circumstances, he might feel like a third wheel if he stayed there now.”

“Circumstances? What circumstances?” Had Laurel been so out of touch while she prepared for this fair?

“Well, Benwick started seeing that Pendleton girl, the one who broke her ankle,” Gary said. “What’s her name again, Susan?”

“Heather. Like the plant — Heather.” She looked at Laurel, amused. “He can never remember first names.”

“Didn’t need to know first names until I retired,” he teased back. He turned to Laurel and explained, “Aboard ship, all you need to remember are last names.”

Any other time, Laurel might have kidded him about his memory, or remarked to herself what a sweet marriage they had, but she only had ears for this latest news. Heather and John are dating?

She had wondered about all the time John was spending up at Stu and Virginia’s place, but this was very unexpected! Bubbly, shallow Heather and brooding, intellectual John? It didn’t seem to fit, but then what did Laurel know? The state of her own love life certainly indicated that she was no expert.

“Serves James right for running off,” Gary went on.

“What do you mean?” Laurel asked tentatively.

“Why, just when he could have made his move on that girl and she couldn’t run away, he took off like a shot. Benwick swooped right in and took his place before James could bat an eye.”

“Was James upset?”

“You know, I don’t think he was. That’s why I feel I can joke about it, I suppose.”

“You shouldn’t provoke my poor brother like that.” Susan pushed playfully on Gary’s shoulder. “I think James was a little worried at first. After the accident, we really thought . . . He was so worried about Heather, talked about the accident constantly and even after he left, he kept calling to check on her. Then there were all those flowers, and he sent her the cutest balloon when she came home.” She shook her head. “I started to think he had fallen for her.”

Laurel felt a familiar bolt of hurt strike her heart.

Then Susan chuckled. “I wasn’t the only one, either. I think Stuart even asked him what his intentions were toward the sister, half-joking of course. But then James told me he had a long phone call with Heather, and he made his position on their friendship clear.”

“Yes,” said Gary, lips twitching, “the dreaded ‘friend’ speech.”

“I see.” But Laurel didn’t see.

“He must not have cared about her that way,” Susan broke in, eyeing Laurel in a careful, appraising kind of way.

Laurel’s heart was pounding as if she had just run a marathon. One of her big questions had just been definitively answered. James didn’t start something with Heather, and now she’s with John.

Maybe it meant nothing, but her heart surged when she realized the door of opportunity was not slammed shut as firmly as she had feared.

“Where are you off to, my dear?” Gary wanted to know. “Can we tag along?”

With some difficulty, Laurel pulled her thoughts back to the present and managed a smile. “I’m on my way back to the gallery. Would you like to join me?”

“That sounds like a perfect way to start the afternoon,” Susan agreed.

Laurel walked beside them, but her mind was far away. She sent her love out toward California, although she wasn’t sure he was there anymore. Wherever he was, she hoped that the call of her heart was strong enough to find him and bring him home.