Second Chance Girl
Page 38

“Hey, Carol. Thanks for coming up here to pick your piece. I would have brought a few down for you to choose from, but I didn’t know what you were looking for.”
“I’m happy to make the trip,” she said as he led the way through the house. “You’re being so generous.”
“I’m glad to help. I only wish we’d thought of this a few weeks ago. It would have saved you setting up all those little change collection cans around town.”
She had a brief impression of tall ceilings and large rooms before they walked out back. A covered pathway led to a studio. They entered a large foyer. She caught a glimpse a work space similar to the one back in town but instead of going in there, Ronan pushed open another door.
“I’ve been building the Millie fund for a while now, but it’s been slow going,” Carol said. “Being able to auction something like—”
Ronan flipped on a light. Carol hadn’t known what to expect. Storeroom in her mind meant shelves with things like paper towels and canned goods. This room was filled with tables covered with the most exquisite glass artwork. There were vases with flowers, abstract swirls, fish and horses and a few dancers. Everywhere she looked, she saw something more beautiful, more amazing.
Some were colorless, others vibrated with color. A few stood on the floor and soared nearly to the ceiling. Others were so small, she could hold them in the palm of her hand. She saw a collection of miniature animals that had an almost angled shape to them. It took her a second to realize they were glass interpretations of Natalie’s origami.
“Anything interesting?” he asked.
Carol turned in a slow circle, then stopped in front of Ronan. “I couldn’t begin to choose. Everything is too wonderful.” She thought about what Natalie had said. “Would it be too weird to ask you to pick for me?”
Instead of answering, Ronan walked over to a table and pointed to a tall statue of a crane about to take flight. The wings were spread, the head raised. She could practically feel the breeze generated by the movement.
“This one. It will have international appeal and will bring a higher price.”
Words designed to get her heart beating faster, she thought, but she couldn’t get past the magic inherent in his work.
“How do you do it?” she asked softly as she gently stroked one of the legs. “How do you make it move even while I know it’s not alive? Mathias did the same thing with the little Millie statue. It’s uncanny.”
“Mathias showed you the giraffe he’s been working on?”
She turned back to Ronan. “He gave me one.”
Something flickered in his eyes and for a second she would have sworn he was going to smile. His expression returned to careful neutrality. “Creating the illusion of movement is a lot about technique and some about talent. I won’t bore you with the details. So this one?”
She nodded. “Thank you so much for your generosity. This is the most amazing gift.” She swallowed against sudden and unexpected tears. “Millie’s been lonely and I’ve been worried about her. This is going to allow us to get her a herd so she can have friends again.”
Ronan took a step back. “Ah, yeah, it’s fine. I’m glad she’s going to be happy. I’ll let Atsuko know which one you’ve chosen and get her some pictures.”
“Thank you.” She hesitated. “Do you need some kind of tax receipt? We have a nonprofit. It’s registered with the state and everything.”
This time the smile was fully formed. “Your dad already took care of it.”
“Oh, great.”
Ronan walked her back to her car. “You know your way down the mountain?”
“Yes.”
He stopped by her Jeep. “Carol, did you know that Ceallach is coming to Del and Maya’s wedding?”
The change in subject surprised her. “Sure. Your mom and dad are traveling. That’s why Mathias has Sophie. They’re going to be here at the end of the month.”
Ronan stared at something in the distance. “Make sure Mathias has put the pieces together on that. Having Dad around is going to be hard on him.”
“Won’t it be hard on all of you?”
“Yes, but we’re not targets. The parents will be staying with him.”
She stared at Ronan. “What do you mean about him being a target?”
He met her gaze. “Those bowls and dishes he makes? They’re not him. He’s hiding—something he would never admit, even to himself.” Ronan hesitated, as if deciding how much to say. “He has more talent than all of us. He was always going to be the famous one, not me. Then something happened and he couldn’t risk it anymore. Ceallach wouldn’t let him. No.” He shook his head.
“That’s not right. Ceallach tried to destroy that part of him. He has to find his way back to who he was or he’s never going to be whole.”
She couldn’t believe what he was saying. Or that he was saying it to her. “I don’t understand. If you’re worried, you should talk to him.”
“I can’t. Not anymore. But you can. You should.”
“Why me?” She had no idea how to define her relationship with Mathias, but talking about him being broken by his father was so far out of her purview. She would have no idea where to start. “I’m not family. I’m just a friend.” And not the least bit special.
“You need to let him know you’ve got his back. He’ll want to know that, so he can get through the visit.”
“Why me?”
“Because he gave you Millie.”
“The glass piece or the herd?”
The smile returned. “Both.”
He opened her car door, as if they were done talking. As Carol couldn’t think of a single thing to say or ask, she thanked him again for the contribution and left. When she reached her office at the animal preserve, she still had no idea what on earth Ronan had been talking about...or what she was supposed to do to help.
* * *
CAROL TOLD HERSELF that her frustration and concern were about the complex zoning regulations in the state of California, but she had a bad feeling she was lying to herself. While there were unexpected roadblocks, so to speak, they weren’t the reason she couldn’t stay focused on her work. Instead she had something else...or someone else...on her mind.
She wasted an entire morning trying to get the right people on the phone, then went out to hang with Millie. Walking with the beautifully gangly giraffe often put things in perspective. But this time, Millie didn’t seem to be working her magic. Or maybe the problem was Ronan’s words had been too powerful.
She couldn’t forget what he’d said about Ceallach and Mathias and their troubled relationship. Was Mathias’s father the real reason he created dishes instead of art? She knew that Mathias and his father didn’t get along, but now she wondered if the rift went much deeper than she’d ever realized.
Mathias was always so upbeat and charming. Of course he had issues—everyone did. But she sensed what Ronan had been talking about went deeper and did a lot more damage than the usual “My parents never understood me” of most people’s youth.
She decided she needed a distraction and drove into town. Maybe a quick visit with her sister would help. But instead of driving to Violet’s store, or the hotel where she was spending most of her days while Ulrich recovered, Carol found herself at the art studio where Mathias worked.