“It does. You’re an artist with a lot of talent, and you’re soon to be my wife. I’d happily cancel the appointment if you’d prefer.”
Kim looked around the room, unsure of what to do.
“I don’t know.”
“Do you want to talk it over with your mother before you make a decision?”
She nodded.
Kurt handed her a cell phone. “I’ll be in my office. Let me know what you decide.”
Kim dialed her mother’s number. Esther answered on the third ring.
“Kurt, what’s the matter? Is something wrong?”
“It’s not Kurt. It’s me, Kim.”
“Honey, what’s wrong? How are the wedding plans going?”
“They’re going well.” At night, they made their decisions. They had settled on a church, in their home town, the irony of it. She was wearing a white wedding dress at Kurt’s demand. As far as he was concerned she’d been a virgin bride.
“Good. Good. I know some places where you can find the best lemon cake, and let’s not forget the flowers. Roses or daisies?”
“We’re not sure. Flowers aren’t that big of a deal.”
“Oh dear, every woman should have flowers.”
“Mom! It’s actually work I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Oh, work. Your art, of course.”
Kim rubbed her temple, and explained what was going on and how she was feeling. “Of course, I want you to be involved in the wedding. Kurt and I have handed most of it. If you want to deal with the cake and flowers, you can.”
She heard her mother’s excitement. “I’d love to do it. Of course I would. Don’t you worry about a thing, sweetie. Now, back to your art. There is no right or wrong answer to this. Do what you think is best. Yes, I know it’s an awful answer. You wanted me to tell you what to do. Your art is your world. You make the decisions on what works for you. What inspires you? Ask yourself all the right questions. What inspires you? What makes you draw? How do you feel at the thought of going to these places for people? Will it be forcing your craft, or enhancing it? Art is not something that can be taught. Drawing and painting can be taught. Art, emotion, love, all of it, it’s down to a feeling, and that, my dear, cannot be taught. That’s what is inside you.”
Kim had her answer, and after saying goodbye to her mother, she hung up the phone, staring at Kurt’s hateful image. This was not the man she was marrying. This was not the man she fell in love with.
Putting the cell phone on the counter, she grabbed her pallet and started to mix the paint with her finger. Staring at Kurt’s face, she knew exactly what to do. What she loved about painting was everything could be changed. His face could be transformed into a scene of beauty. There was room for faults within painting. It only made the artist work a little harder.
Her life had taken a huge turn from the girl she was ten years ago, to the woman she was now. There were really no comparisons. Even Kurt was different, and she couldn’t keep thinking he was that same guy. She didn’t think that, and that was why she had to change this picture.
She would do the current commission pieces, but after that, no more. Her art was her soul, and she wouldn’t draw or paint for the sake of it.
****
Kurt collapsed back against his office chair and released a huge sigh of relief. They had been going through their wedding stuff, and he was exhausted. He knew planning their wedding was tiring out Kim. She’d picked her dress, they’d picked their church, and they’d also picked their honeymoon. There was so much to plan, and he hated it. What was the point in picking flowers? Then he had to think about his best man. It was easy of course, Noah.
Rubbing his eyes, Kurt wondered if he should have taken her to Vegas. It would have been a hell of a lot easier. Their parents were involved now, so everything should be better.
He fired up his computer and started to do some work. There were times like this when he left Kim to make her own decisions. She never needed to paint again. He’d support her for the rest of their lives.
For the next couple of hours, Kurt worked, going over several emails, and dialing up his manager to make sure certain investments were still going ahead. He wasn’t there every single day, but he was still in control.
At the end of the day, he frowned when he saw the sun had already set, and it was in fact dark. The light of the screen had distracted him, and now he got up and stretched.
“Kim?” He called out her name, wondering where she’d gotten to.
Kurt had expected her to come and find him. He drew the curtains in his office, and started turning on a couple of lights. The kitchen was completely bare, so he went to the only place where he’d be able to find her.