Chapter 24: Jade
I couldn’t sleep last night. I was so excited about Raine’s Father. I wonder what he is going to do. I hope he figures out a way to contact him that isn’t dangerous. I go to the Coffee shop and bring along a fresh canvas. I need to create and clear my head. Raine meets me there with his guitar. He plays some of his Dads songs while I paint. Skye hangs with us a little while on her break. Hope came along with her laptop, and she is working on her novel. This is a nice place for creative people to hang out. At about noon, I tell Hope and Raine that I want to talk to them privately about something. So, we go over to their house for some lunch.
I tell them about Miss Mary from the shelter and that she suggested they get some counseling to deal with their past. Hope seems willing and positive. Raine, not so much. He doesn’t want to talk to anyone about it and he says he’s fine. I don’t see how he could possibly be fine after what he’s been through. But I don’t push. I remind them both that it is all completely confidential. I also recommend the lawyer and let Hope know that they could at least talk about possible ways to prosecute Ezekiel. I give her both of their cards and leave it in her hands to decide what to do with the information.
Raine and I go into the office, and he tells me all about the conversation with his Grandfather. He is so excited that his Dad may actually want to meet him one day. I'm enthralled with the story. That poor man lost the woman he loved, and he searched for her. Then to find out she was pregnant with his child. That is so sad. I really want them to meet. But it is easier said than done. We talk about possible scenarios, how they could play out and what the consequences of each would be. He has his Father’s address, private email, and cell phone number. He is holding the note in his hand like it’s a million-dollar bill. Precious and yet burning a hole in it at the same time.
I head home after just a short while. I need to prepare for the auction this weekend. I look through my closet and pick out a cobalt blue cocktail dress that reminds me of Raine’s eyes. Then I write a short essay about the pieces I submitted. It gives the meaning and some back story to the artwork. They are each of a different woman and child at the shelter. They all gave permission to be painted and have no threats to their safety. I tell just a little about each of the people. No names or specifics. But it will give some interest to the pieces so that more people will bid. The more people bidding, the more the shelter will get.
Friday night, Dad and I make dinner for Hope and Raine at our house. “Raine and I have decided to attend the auction tomorrow,” Hope announces. Dad’s face goes pale, and I am gawking at her. There are always reporters and photographers there. I don’t think it’s safe. Obviously Dad doesn’t either. “Are you sure you want to do that Hope? There is a lot of publicity surrounding this event,” Dad tells her. “We both want to be a part of such an amazing event. And we want to be with you and Jade on her big night. I know how much this charity means to both of you. And we want to support you.” She states. “I know you both support me. I don’t need you to physically be there to know you care. I don’t want anything to happen to you,” I tell her. “Jade, we can’t barricade ourselves in the house constantly. That’s why we decided that Raine will go to school to get his diploma. In our last cities, we hardly ever went anywhere. And yet we were discovered,” she tells us. “We will just keep a low profile. If we see cameras, we will duck out. We really want to be there. This is a worthy cause.”
The next evening, we pull up to get them at about six. Raine comes out of the house in a black suite and blue tie. He looks amazing. Those eyes twinkling back at me and that killer smile. Oh man, I have never seen him dressed up before. It’s a good look on him. He should wear a suite all the time. Unless of course he is shirtless down at the beach. He should definitely dress like that more often too. Okay, time to come back to reality. Was someone talking to me? I have no idea.
We get to the auction a little early. they needed me to look over my artwork and check that they are displayed properly with the correct information on each piece. Now that I'm here, I am extremely nervous. I have 5 pieces in the auction. What if no one likes them? Or maybe they won’t sell for very much and the coordinators are disappointed in my contribution. Then they won’t ask me to do it next year.
Raine comes over to me and places his big warm hand on the small of my back. Suddenly all the nervous tension leaves me. My mind calms, and all I think about is Raine and his masculine smell. Did he put cologne on? Nice. I take a little whiff. He laughs, then nuzzles his nose into my neck. “You smell nice too Jade,” he whispers his deep gravelly voice in my ear. Okay, so I’m not nervous anymore. I just want to wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. Can we just leave now?
“Relax baby. Your work is beautiful and will bring the shelter tons of money.” That’s all I needed to hear. “Thank you.” Dad and Hope come in the room and Raine drops his hand from my back. I miss the touch instantly. Hope is very impressed with my work. Dad is beaming and proud. We have come here for this event for years. He used to come and look at Moms work like that. That makes me proud.
Pretty waitresses are walking around with little appetizer platters. I take a couple. Then a man in a tux offers us Champagne. Dad gives me the eye and I pass on the drinks. Maybe next year. I notice a guy with a camera. He looks like a reporter. I nudge Raine. He whispers to his mom, and they turn their backs to the guy. This could work. We just need to keep a lookout. Soon a band starts playing music. It’s pretty good. Not like Raine good, but good enough. Some of the older women and men in tuxedos are dancing. This is nice. I enjoy myself. Until the actual auction begins. Then I feel sick to my stomach.
They have been through about 4 other artists when I see them bring out my pieces. My palms start sweating. They line them up, side by side. The spotlights are directed at each one. The director comes out and reads my description of the pieces. She introduces me as a volunteer at the shelter and as the daughter of renowned artist Autumn Monroe. Everyone claps. She asks me to stand. I do so. I think I am going to pass out. But I'm too excited to see what happens next. Raine is clapping and grinning widely. Then they start the bidding. They start it off at $500 for the first piece. Then I hear everything in hyper speed. All I can concentrate on are the numbers going up and up. “Can I get $3,000,00? Going once…” Then from the back, “$3,500.00!” Then from the right side of the room, “$4,000.00!” Wow, this is exciting. “Okay, we are at $5,000.00, Are there any more bids? Going once, going twice, sold for $5,000.00” I can’t believe this. Last year, my one and only piece sold for $1,500.00. This is so exciting. Then the next four pieces sell for $5,500.00, $4,500.00, $5,000.00, and then $6,000.00 respectively. $26,000.00 total just went to the shelter because of me. I am glowing. Dad is so proud of me, giving out hugs.
The rest of the auction continues, and I don’t hear anything else all night. I'm just walking around on my little cloud. This is the most exciting thing I have ever done. I am so proud of this moment. I really helped those women. Something I did will change the course of someone’s life for the better. The reporters take a few photos of me. And of me and Dad since he has also been a donor to this charity for years. Raine and Hope just slip away into the background for a while.
Dad and Hope are inside schmoozing for a little while and Raine and I step outside to get some air. He tells me how proud he is of me and that my pieces were worth every penny. I'm totally pumped right now. He’s holding my hand. Then I see a bright flash out of the corner of my eye. I'm pretty sure someone just took a photo of me and Raine. No, this can’t happen. I spin around looking for the culprit. There is no one else out here with us. I'm frantic. Raine grabs me by the shoulders. “Jade, relax. It’s done. There isn’t anything you can do now. It’s probably not a big deal. They don’t know my name or who I am. It probably wasn’t even a reporter. It’s okay.” He tells me.
We go back inside and get Hope and Dad. I tell them that I need to go. In the car I explained about the photo. Dad seems nervous. Hope just brushes it off like Raine did. “Don’t worry Jade. It could be nothing.” I think she’s just trying to make us feel better. I hope she’s right though. I will feel horrible if that photo gets published or posted somewhere.