Bright Lights, Big Christmas(75)

The dining room featured an oval white marble-top table surrounded by six chairs of a similar design. Kerry set a plate in front of Heinz, with the bowl of soup and the cheese and crackers. When she returned to the table with her own plate, he gestured for her to join him.

“Claudia’s famous minestrone?” he asked, dipping a spoon into the thick broth.

“My favorite,” Kerry said. “I’m going to have to beg her for the recipe.” She pointed at the table. “Heinz, is this a real Saarinen tulip table and chairs?”

He ate his soup and nodded. “Yes. We bought it after my second successful exhibit. I didn’t know much about contemporary design. I’d studied Saarinen in art school, of course, but as I said, George came from money, and he was used to nice things. Everything you see in this apartment, we chose together.”

“It’s all so beautiful. Like what I always pictured an apartment in New York City would look like,” Kerry said wistfully. She added, after a moment, “Now, I guess I can begin to understand why being here, with so many memories of him, was so painful for you.”

Heinz looked away, then went back to eating his soup. Kerry realized she was ravenously hungry and did the same. When she was finished, she took their dishes into the kitchen, and, mindful of the old man’s aversion to bugs, washed the dishes and set them to dry on a tea towel.

“You’ve been very quiet this afternoon,” Heinz said, when she returned to the dining room. “Did you finish the boy’s drawing?”

“Something like that,” Kerry said. She picked up Queenie’s leash, and a plastic bag. “C’mon, girl, let’s go brave the elements.”

“Could I see what you’ve done?” Heinz asked.

“I’d love that. In fact, I think the last bit could use something from you?”

“Oh?”

She went into the studio, got her jacket, hat, and gloves, and the sketchbook, which she placed on the table near the old man. “I’ll be anxious to hear your thoughts.”



* * *



The streets outside were eerily quiet. Traffic noise from passing cars and buses was muted. More snow had fallen overnight and everything in the pocket park was blanketed in a thick white frosting. She greeted Taryn, who was watching as her husband helped the twins build a snowman. Queenie gave a short happy bark of recognition at the sight of the boys.

“You’re still here!” Taryn exclaimed. “I saw that your tree stand had been taken down and the camper was gone, so I just assumed you guys had headed for home.”

Kerry explained about the slashed tires and the impassable roads and Heinz’s health scare.

“I’m sorry about Spammy, and Heinz’s illness, but selfishly, I’m glad you’re still here. I’ll bet Austin and Patrick are glad too.”

“I think they are,” Kerry said.

“Will we be seeing you at all after Christmas?”

Kerry hesitated.

“Never mind,” Taryn said. “I am a hopeless romantic.” She gave Kerry a quick hug. “Merry Christmas, Kerry. I hope you and Patrick find a way to be together, no matter what.”

“I gotta go,” Kerry said, blushing. “Queenie and I have been cooped up inside all day. We both need to stretch our legs.”



* * *



When she returned to the apartment she found Heinz in the studio. He was bent over the easel, paintbrush in hand, but when she walked in, he quickly threw a cloth over whatever he’d been working on.

“You’re painting?” she asked.

“Dabbling. Sit, please.”

She did as he asked and he pointed to the sketchbook. “Kerry, I must apologize. You are an adult and you are perfectly capable of deciding how you want to live your life and pursue your art. I had no right to speak to you the way I did.”

“Sure you did,” Kerry said. “After all, I broke into your home, forced you to let me and our dog stay here, forced you to accept medical treatment. I’d say you have every right to speak your mind. Besides, you were absolutely right.”

“Is this where I say I told you so?” He smiled and tapped the sketchbook. “I saw that you left the last chapter of Austin’s story unfinished. So I took the liberty of assuming you meant for us to write the ending together?”

“Exactly,” Kerry said. She pulled the chair closer to the table and Heinz opened the sketchbook to show her what he’d drawn.

“It’s perfect,” she declared. “Except for one thing I think we need to add.”





chapter 53





The doorbell rang shortly after six and before Kerry could answer, Austin burst into the apartment, followed closely by Patrick, Murphy, and Claudia, all of them loaded down with shopping bags.

“Merry Christmas, Kerry,” Austin called out. “Guess what? We brought lights for the Christmas tree. And presents. And pie!”

“And dinner,” Claudia said, standing in the middle of the living room taking in the view of the apartment. “Wow. What a place. Now, where’s the kitchen?”



* * *



“Oh my.” Heinz looked at the faces gathered around his dining room table, at the remnants of the four-course feast Claudia had provided, and his own half-finished dish of tiramisu.