When she awoke, she decided she better go be sociable. She hopped in the shower and got dressed. After leaving her room she saw Candy sitting on the couch, painting her toe nails.
“Hi Candy.”
“Oh hi. You’re Jared’s girlfriend. Sharon?” Candy said motioning her to sit down.
“Suzie. Yeah. I am actually going up to visit with Helen do you want to come?” Suzie asked.
“Nah. I’m good. This place is amazing though right? If I knew Jeff’s parents were loaded I would have hooked up with him a lot sooner,” Candy exclaimed.
“Oh? How long have you two been together?” Suzie asked.
“Since last weekend. A bunch of us were partying and my ex was being a douche. So Jeff punched him and took me home.” Candy laughed and continued. “Then he said he wanted me to come with him this weekend. It is not usually my scene but he’s hot right.”
“Yeah, all the Tiefson men are pretty damn good looking,” Suzie agreed. “Nice eye candy.”
“And your Jared, wow. I told Jeff he could look so good if he cleaned up a bit, like his brother,” Candy said. “You better keep an eye on him. I bet all the girls try for him.”
“Yeah. I guess,” Suzie replied. “Anyway I am going to head upstairs, see you up there later?” She acknowledged Candy’s reply and headed upstairs, laughing to herself about their interaction. Now she was going to Jared’s mom’s painting studio. This might be a really weird day.
On her way outside, Suzie stopped in the kitchen where delicious smelling coffee was ready in the pot. She helped herself to a cup and savored the hot bitter taste while she sat taking in the whole cabin. It had seemed impolite to stare last night with everyone around but this place was a palace. A huge stone fireplace climbed up through the vaulted ceiling. A crystal chandelier hung above her head and every section of the place was elegant yet inviting. Even with the grandkids’ toys lying about, it looked like a picture out of a magazine. Savoring the last few sips out of her cup, she cleaned up after herself and went outside. Suzie crossed the large yard, and followed the stone path to the edge of the forest.
What she saw there stopped her in her tracks. It was her dream studio, with the exact same floor to ceiling windows, on the edge of a pine forest on a hill overlooking a lush valley. For a moment, her eyes became wet with tears as she took in the pure beauty and coincidence of finding this place. From the moment she started painting she had envisioned such a studio, but then she stopped painting to get a job and pay bills and life got in the way. She stood there with her mouth agape, lost in reverie. Then Helen opened the door and waved her in.
“I am so glad you’ve come dear,” she said. “Come in, tell me what you think. It is not too often I have a fellow artist in my midst.”
“Oh I am no artist. I dabbled in University. It is barely a hobby,” Suzie stammered, her eyes drawn to the huge colorful canvases surrounding her.
“Regardless, I would love someone to paint with me. My boys stopped painting with me long ago and my silly husband thinks it is purposeless; the world is full of enough beauty he says. How I love them all. I knew one of my boys would bring an artist home, just didn’t think it would be Jared.” Helen rambled, drawing Suzie into the room and clearing a cluttered easel.
While she chatted she set up another easel and canvas, and directed Suzie to the choices of brushes. Suzie’s eyes sparkled and she had no intention of protesting further. The rich paints and picturesque landscape called to her to release the emotion on paper. Paint the feeling of it. This place made Suzie feel so passionate.
“You’re quieter than I expected,” Helen said, after a quiet period of painting had passed. “Jared led me to believe you were quite the chatterbox, always telling him and your co-workers what to do.”
“It takes me a while to get used to large groups,” Suzie responded. “Your boys put on quite a show.”
“Aren’t they amazing? So similar and yet so different.” Helen shared a small story for each of her children and described their childhood with a smile. The next few hours flew by as Suzie chatted with Helen and focused on her painting. By mid-afternoon they were hungry and ready for a break. They went back to the house and sat on the deck. Helen brought lunch and Suzie went to invite Candy to join them. She did, bringing with her a bottle of wine and three glasses. Sitting around the picnic table, Candy poured three glasses and handed them out.
“To the women in the lives of these Tiefson men,” she said as she raised her glass.
“I’ll drink to that,” Helen said energetically.
Snacking and chatting, Suzie felt herself warming up to these two women who just yesterday were strangers. It was probably the wine talking, but Suzie was glad to have some girl talk for a change. Later in the afternoon, Melissa and Tracey returned with the kids. As the day wore on, they could hear the boys, all riled up, returning from their paintball adventure.
They were filthy, covered head to toe in bright colored paint splatter. Loudly cheering, fist bumping and high-fiving, Jared and Jeff had obviously been on the winning team. The older brothers were exhausted and made their way up the deck stairs. Helen, who had been in the kitchen bringing snacks out, came rushing outside.
“No way. Get off my deck with that mess. All of you boys get hosed off before you step one foot in this direction.” She pointed at the water hose coiled up beside the deck.
Candy refilled their wine glasses and nudged her in the direction of the hose. All six men had removed their shirts and were rinsing paint off their head and chest. It was like something out of a firefighter calendar. All of the brothers were ripped with muscles and Suzie and Candy both enjoyed the show.
“Well-built men, hey ladies?” Tracey startled them from behind.
“Wow,” was all Suzie could reply as the Tiefson boys showed off to their admirers on the deck. Suzie loved how laid back everyone was and the playful banter that went on. She was actually enjoying herself (maybe it was all the wine) and when Jared finally reached the deck and asked her how her day was, she answered quickly and with excitement, “Fantastic.”
“More importantly who won the game?” Candy asked.
“Team twins, won again.” Jeff swagged over to the table and stood behind Candy. “Though Jared almost fucked it up for us and I had to carry the team.”
“Yeah we let you win,” Jason said, joining them. “If Jeff doesn’t win he is miserable for the rest of the weekend.”