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  ~ CHAPTER 4 ~

  The two weeks crawled by. Joan was besieged with requests for prints. The show had been the most successful by far. She was pleased. She spoke several times on the phone with Allan about the possibility of touring. In no uncertain terms she told him that it would have to wait until she had more work to present the public. Firmly in the driver’s seat on this one he backed off but offered other idea’s which she agreed to. It meant more traveling but greater exposure, then in a couple of years the grand tour with her works. It would all have to build.

  Joan had meetings with Craig and it was discussed about the possibility of bringing Adam into the firm in a year when he graduated from college. It was up to Adam. Joan would not interfere. It was his choice. The job was there but only if he wanted it. Bryan already had indicated he did want a position in the firm. Craig had several assistants already working for him but family could be trusted absolutely and he looked forward to sharing the burden with his brother’s some day.

  She checked her email morning and night. Some day’s there were several emails, and other days depending on Grace’s schedule, there were none. They still called each other daily if possible. Joan had given Grace her personal number, as well as the email addresses, her business number, and even her cell. Grace in turn had given her her home number, the number at UCI and her beeper number. Her first email gave Joan her email address. A few times they even caught each other on line and chatted.

  Joan thought a lot about Grace as she worked. She was painting every moment she could. The idea for the mother with child had expanded to two panels, mother with child, and father with child. They were a match. In just a few strokes she captured the beauty of it all. She knew without a doubt that these were some of her best. She was anxious to continue on to other works after these were done. To capture the other idea’s that she had had. Working long into the night she was getting by on naps and looked it. Even when she would lay down to sleep she would think about Grace and the things they had said and done. She couldn’t keep the doubts at bay. She began to think she had imagined it all. She was sure Grace had thought her inept or stupid. Even discussing it a little had been difficult as Grace was sure to say she was imagining things. Joan was sure that she had to of been disappointed at her ignorance. She tried instead to imagine what she could do to make Grace happy. Not just sexually but all across the board, spiritually, mentally, physically. This at least she felt up to. She and Grace were very compatible intellectually. It was what had drawn them in the first place.

  Grace could sense Joan’s doubts and knew that the only way to supress them completely was to BE there. No matter what she could or would say the only way was to show her how she felt. Telling her that she was falling in love with her would have less meaning over the phone, over the internet, or by email. Being THERE would be what counted. In the meantime she checked out the possibility of transferring to a hospital in the Wausau area. She just sent out a few feelers to get the lay of the land. She wouldn’t commit until she was certain where this relationship with Joan was going. She too was anxious for her vacation to start. The two weeks apart were agony for both of them.

  Joan started her third work since she had come home the morning before she was to pick up Grace. She had done all her preliminary work, prepping the canvas, drawing some of the base lines when she stopped for lunch. It was really breakfast as she had forgotten again to eat. It was then that she realized that the apartment was a wreck. It wasn’t that the place was dirty, she was neat by nature, but it could use a dusting and a vacuuming, thoroughly. Joan called Craig to get the cleaners they used for their rentals. The cleaners agreed to send a crew instead of just one person to be there that day. She’d end up paying double she knew. When they were finished though the carpet had been shampooed, the wood had been polished, the dust had disappeared. They even did the gallery downstairs which had really needed it. Yoshi wasn’t too happy to have the people around but even she had to admit that the windows had needed scrubbing not just cleaning.

  Joan was happy to be driving down Highway 51 to pick up Grace in her Mercedes. Craig had had it detailed while she was in California and keeping it clean hadn’t been hard. She parked at the airport and walked in to wait. You weren’t allowed to wait at the gate anymore for security reasons so she sat in the lounge sipping soda. The flight was finally announced and she waited near the concourse. Grace was one of the last people off the plane. She walked right up to Joan and gave her a big hug. For someone who didn’t want demonstrative affection in public it was one whopper of a hug. Joan gave her a huge smile. They both talked at once in their happiness to see each other. Walking over to the baggage claim they talked a mile a minute, sometimes interrupting each other. It took forever for the bags to begin rolling on the conveyor belt but they didn’t mind. For two people who talked almost daily they still had a lot to catch up on. After catching Graces two big bags (she was staying for only two weeks right? Joan thought) they each carried one to the Mercedes. Grace admired the little red convertible with gold highlights. It was a real classy car. An antique too by the look of it, but kept in good order. It almost made Grace wish for one but she was partial to her Jaguar. They put the bags in the trunk and headed into the car. Joan unlocked her door and reached across to unlock Grace’s. She was pulling back when Grace grabbed her hand to keep her on her side of the car. Grace got in, shut the door, and pulled Joan into her arms for a very passionate kiss. It went on for awhile before Grace would let Joan back up.

  Blinking fast Joan was breathing hard. She looked around to see if anyone had noticed her kissing this beautiful woman. She knew how it made Grace feel but she didn’t regret Grace’s impulsive action. Fortunately the weather was too cold to have the top down and no one had noticed a thing.

  Grace watched Joan look around and laughed to herself. Asking her “There now, does that get rid of some of your doubts?”

  Smiling wryly Joan nodded and hugged her “I’m so glad you are here. I hope you won’t be bored.”

  “Bored? With you? Never!” Returning Joan’s smile, Grace gave her a wink.

  Joan started the engine and drove them to her gallery. She and Grace carried the bags to her stairs but instead of going up they turned and went into the gallery. Joan introduced her to Yoshi, her gallery manager and secretary. Then she showed her the prints and a few originals she had hanging there. Many of the originals were shipped to the Malibu gallery for showing there after they had been copied for prints. The whole process was what made Joan’s works sell. She’d make an original piece. It would then be copied by a digital camera in minute detail. This camera would go over the original inch by inch, faithfully storing each brushstroke and dot of paint. It would all be recreated in the prints which then were mass produced by a printer. The original would hang in either gallery depending on it’s appeal, mostly they went to Malibu as more people would see them there. The original camera print would then also be put on the website advertising the coming prints. Orders would be taken there. Later as Joan produced a new catalog these prints would be added to it. This was the secret of her success. Getting it out there, marketing the prints, backing it all up with the website and then the catalog. It was why Allan was anxious to get her on tour. It made a tremendous amount of money.

  Grace admired the smaller gallery. The one in Malibu was twice this size but Joan felt in a small town like Wausau that there wasn’t the market there was in Malibu and they didn’t need a lot of space here. They did a lot of the shipping here though and occasionally Yoshi hired help with that. If Joan eventually did the tour more help would be needed full time.

  After showing her the gallery, Joan took her upstairs to the apartment and showed her around there. Leaving her bags in the bedroom, Joan showed her the loft where her creations came to life. The Mother and child and Father and child were standing on easels in one corner. They took Grace’s breath away. She hadn’t seen work like this. It was so raw, so appealing, so incredible. She kne
w Joan’s work from admiring it over the years and the catalog. Now that she actually knew the artist she took even more interest and had read about Joan on the internet. She knew that these two pieces were by far Joan’s best work thus far. She studied them for a long time. Finally, Joan cleared her throat to get Grace’s attention.

  “I take it you like them?”

  “Like doesn’t even begin to describe what they make me feel.”

  Not sure where Grace was going with that, Joan decided she DIDN’T like the work and shrugged it off. Some works meant more to her than other’s and some people just didn’t like ALL her work. Grace looked up in time to see Joan turning away.

  “These have got to be the best you’ve ever done” she stated.

  Thinking Grace was placating her now, Joan shrugged and began studying the other piece she was currently working on.

  Grace walked over to study it too. Never having seen a work in progress she could see a lot more went into it than she realized. It wasn’t even half finished but the beauty of it came through in just the rough that Joan had done. This one was of a sunset and if Grace wasn’t mistaken it was one as seen in Newport Beach, near where she lived. Turning to Joan she quietly said “Wow, you are really talented Joan.”

  Joan turned to her. She had heard this all before over the years. As well as being told how horrible some of her pieces were. However, compliments from this particular individual meant more to her. Searching Grace’s face to see that she was genuinely sincere she smiled.

  Grace took this opportunity to pull Joan into her arms and kiss her. Lightly at first but with growing warmth. Her hands weren’t still either. They caressed through Joan’s shirt up and down her back. Joan held her across the shoulders, tightly, afraid this would end. A long time later they stopped and just looked at each other.

  “God, I missed you.” Grace stated. “I didn’t want you to leave at all, but when I see what you create I see that your work is important” she gestured to the Mother and child and Father and child paintings. “I would never keep you from creating such as that.”

  Blinking back the tears that threatened Joan realized how silly she had been. Imagining things. Grace had been open and honest right from the start. She had told Joan what she thought about her paintings before AND after she knew who she was.

  Putting her arm around Grace’s waist she led her out of the loft and through her spare room. The spare room had been converted into a library of all things. Joan had a collection of books, video’s, and tapes in this room on shelves that lined the walls, top to bottom. Grace stopped to admire some of the titles. They found that they had author’s in common as well. Some of their movie tastes were the same and even some of their music. Selecting a movie, they moved into the living room and started the movie. Joan went to put together some supper. Here in the Midwest it was breakfast, lunch sometimes called dinner if it was hot, and supper. When she had been in CA it had been breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Grace didn’t care as long as they ATE. The plane food had been gross.

  Joan put together a fruit salad to accompany thinly sliced steak and vegetables. A nice carafe of juice she brought to the table. The talked all through the movie while they ate their supper. After the meal Joan rinsed the dishes and put them in a small dishwasher that sat on top of the counter. It would take two loads to get everything washed but it was convenient. Grace opened a bottle of wine and they sat on the couch continuing their conversation through the movie. As it was a movie they both had seen before it didn’t really matter how much they paid attention to it.

  They talked long after the movie was over. Joan switched to the music only cable channel and they listened to that. Finally Joan was hiding a yawn when Grace suggested they go to bed. Showing Grace to the bedroom they each carried in one of Grace’s bags. Giving her half the dresser and half the closet space hadn’t been hard as Joan didn’t care about clothes too much and so didn’t keep a lot of them. While Grace unpacked, Joan went into the bathroom and changed for bed. Stripping she put her clothes in the hamper and pulled her nightgown over her head. It came to her knees. As she brushed her teeth Grace walked into the bathroom. Raising her eyebrow at the invasion however minor, Joan tried to smile around the toothbrush.

  “Hurry up, I’ve got to use the bathroom” Grace mocked. For effect she hopped on one foot.

  Laughing through the toothpaste, Joan spit and rinsed out the sink. Grabbing some water into the palm of her hand she rinsed out her mouth and wiped it on one of the bath towels. Exiting the bathroom with a wink over her shoulder to Grace.

  Joan had the bedclothes turned down by the time Grace came out of the bathroom. She was sitting on the right side of the bed reading the newspaper. Looking up she saw a lovely sight. Grace was in a cream colored satin gown that emphasized her narrow waist and high bust. It was very effeminate and extremely sexy. With a matching robe hanging over the ends of her shoulders she looked as though she just stepped out of a catalog. Joan caught her breath. Shrugging off the robe unselfconsciously and tossing it across the foot of the bed Grace slipped under the covers. Slipped being the key word as her satin gown and the satin comforter weren’t compatible and the comforter slipped right off her. Joan started laughing hysterically. The next thing she knew she was being pelted with a pillow. Her papers slid to the floor when she tried to defend herself. Both of them ended up in a tangle of bedclothes, laughing and breathing hard.

  “So WHAT is so funny?” Grace demanded in between laughs.

  “You are, here you look so sexy and sophisticated in that nightgown, right out of Victoria’s Secret and then you slip into bed slipping right off the covers. It’s a good thing I don’t have satin sheet’s or you’d have slipped right on your ass.” Giggling uncontrollably she could not continue. An occasional snort could be heard in her laughter in attempts to get oxygen to her lungs. This had the effect of making her laugh harder.

  Grace laughed with her for awhile at the image portrayed then laughed at her when she heard the snorts. Finally Joan calmed down and wiped the tears from her face.

  “Gawd, thank you, I needed a good belly laugh” she smiled.

  “Well, I’m glad I could oblige” Grace answered dryly.

  That didn’t help things as Joan started laughing again. Grace couldn’t help but join her and eventually they both stopped. They found they were still wrapped in the sheets around each other. Joan took advantage of this moment to caress Graces face along her jawline. Closing her eyes Grace pressed her face against Joans hand. Joan reached up and lightly kissed her on the lips. Grace increased the pressure and opened her lips, deepening the kiss. Her hand slid up Joan’s thigh to find that there was no underwear to form a barrier. One thing led to another after that and awhile later they lay in each other arms panting from their exertions. After the first time Grace showed her something she had brought. Some toys to enhance the experience. Fascinated, Joan asked countless questions. A lot of the answers caused her to say “REALLY, no kidding?” much to Graces amusement.

  Joan wondered why in all the years she had been married that he hadn’t been able to bring her to this state. She was grateful to Grace for teaching her that it didn’t have to be as it was, for showing her what there was and more.

  Graces thoughts were quite different. She wondered if she should tell Joan that she was falling in love with her. That she hadn’t ever felt this way about another person. Never felt this way about another woman. She was afraid to tell her too soon. What if Joan didn’t feel that way about her? What if Joan didn’t want a commitment? For now, she decided, I’ll wait and see. The two weeks had just started, she would just take it day by day and enjoy it. Pulling Joan’s head onto her shoulder she snuggled close and went to sleep. Joan soon was nodding off too.

  ~ CHAPTER 5 ~

  The two weeks were a lot of fun. Joan took Grace out riding in the Mercedes. A couple of days were warm enough to have the top down. People couldn’t help but smile at the beautiful women in the red convertible
driving along. Joan with her brown hair and red highlights, Grace with her blonde hair streaked. They were both attractive, striking women in their own ways. Joan kept her hair tied up in scarves or leather tied around it’s length to keep it out of the way. Grace let hers fly in the wind her curls getting curlier and tangled.

  Joan took her to the river for a picnic. She showed her around the town from the mills to the stores. A real small town feeling. Grace likened it to a hug. She actually found it quaint and liked it. Perhaps she should transfer to the hospital downtown. She’d decide after she got back from the trip. They went to the small museums, to Mennonite shops, to quaint little family owned restaurants. Joan even took them to an old time cheese factory laughing hysterically at Graces face when she walked through the door and smelled it for the first time. They spent a lot of time just talking, getting to know each other and their lives. They had so much to share. It was like being back in school and getting a best friend again.

  The third night Grace was there Joan took her to a restaurant to meet her boys. For some reason Grace was really nervous. She had no family that she could introduce Joan to and she knew how important her boys were to her. She spoke with such pride about their accomplishments. The bragging rights of all parents. Joan had chosen a nice little fish fry in a family owned bar. She joked that she always knew when she was in Wisconsin that there would be a bar on 3 out of 4 corners. This was almost true. Walking up to the picnic table with it’s red checkered tablecloth Grace was pleased to see three good looking men rise upon seeing their mother approaching.