Chapter 18

Finn

When I walked into my apartment I started pacing.  First around the living room, then into my studio looking at the paintings I had completed or started for my next show, my show at Juntado.

He said he'd never met Garrett before and I could easily confirm that with Garrett.  He said Garrett didn't know he had any connection with me and didn't know I had any connection to Juntado.  I looked at my watch, it wasn’t all that late and I had Garrett's personal cell…I remember him telling me he was a night owl. 

I found his name in my contact list and quickly pressed the button.

"Finn!"  He answered right away sounding pleased to hear from me.  "Tell me you've just had divine inspiration and are calling to tell me about a new idea for a painting that will rock the art world."  Wow, he sounded kind of tipsy.

"Garrett, have you been drinking?"

He began chuckling, sounding so un-Garrett-like.  "I'm downtown at Cappy's sharing a few drinks with an old college buddy.  Why don't you come join us!"

"Um, I can't tonight Garrett, sorry.  Listen, I won't keep you long, I just have a couple of questions.  We may have a mutual…friend…in common and I just wanted to see if you knew him."

"Shoot."

"Who owns Juntado, who hired you?"

"To be honest, I'm not quite sure.  I was interviewed and hired by a guy named Evans…George Evans.  He's the manager of the holding company, but I guess it's some sort of joint venture…you know where the company is owned by a large Corporation…I don't know, it seemed too complicated for me.  I'm an art guy, not an MBA and the offer was sweet, they offered two month's salary up front, I had the contract reviewed by my own lawyer and they were giving me pretty much free reign to run it with just a basic set of guidelines.  They said my reputation spoke for itself."  He let out another chuckle.  "Fun in the sun in L.A."

"Yeah, that does sound like a pretty sweet deal.  And where did you hear my name?  From this Evans?"

"No actually, I've got a buddy who's a collector in New York, I thought I told you, he has ties with a little gallery in Brooklyn, the Grieg Gallery, didn't you do a small show there a year or so back.  He'd been following you ever since, has a few of your paintings."

"Yeah, I remember Grieg, great place, nice people.  Samuel Perelli runs it."

"Yes, Samuel is Marty's cousin."

"Marty Perelli?  I've met him, nice guy.  I know exactly which paintings he has, he talked to me for an hour about his fascination with my perspective," I laughed remembering my long conversation with the very short round man.

"Sounds like Marty, he's talking about flying out for the opening, so you'll get to meet him again…but don't worry, I won't leave him alone with you…talk your ear off that bastard."

"Ah, he's alright."

"So Finn, come join us!  I'll buy you a drink and you can tell me all about the new paintings."

"Rain check  Garrett, I've got something going on tonight that I need to take care of.  But thank you!  Thanks for the information…it clears up a lot."

"No problem, and I'm holding you to that rain check!"

"Night Garrett."

"Arrivederci Finn-ito!"

Have another drink Garrett, I thought to myself as I hung up the phone with a chuckle.  Okay, so that part checks out.  Garrett gave me the show completely based on my work and reputation in New York.  How did I feel about the rest.  The insurance policy…all this time I thought my Dad had set it up.  It never struck me as odd because that was something my Dad would have done…if he had known...But…he hadn't known and money was tight at the time, he probably couldn't have afforded an insurance policy.

"I'm such a naïve bonehead," I said out loud.

Okay.  So how did I feel about what Nico had done.  I tried to put myself in his position.  Like, what about Liam.  Of course, I don't have romantic feelings about Liam, but I care about him and as his mentor I would want to make sure he could continue to paint…heck, I was even planning to help him pay for college when the time was right, I was selling my paintings as fast as I could make them and their value was getting higher each show, so money would not be a problem.  His talent needed to be nurtured…so I felt the need to take care of Liam after such a short time of knowing him and without all the other feelings even coming into play.

I knew how much Nico loved me and how much he felt he had hurt me…and just the way Nico is…he would move heaven or earth for the people he loved.  It was something I always admired about him.

"F ck!"  I jumped up.  I needed to get back there!  This changed nothing.  Or it changed everything…my thoughts were running a mile a minute again.  It didn't change the way I felt about him.  It changed everything I felt in the last few years…Nico didn't abandon me and he wasn't only a part of my past.  He was my future too.  The last 3 years were only a little blip on the radar, we were meant to be together.  Money doesn't matter, I could easily pay him back for everything…but I didn't need to.  If we were together what's mine is his and his is mine anyway.  It's all superfluous to what really matters.  He and I.

I grabbed the keys from the counter where I dropped them, grabbed the jacket and ran to my door.  I'd call when I got to the marina, all I could think about right now was getting down there.

Making sure I had everything I needed I threw the door open.

And I gasped in shock.

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"SURPRISE!!!!

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"Chris…what are you doing here!?"

"We came for the show!"  I looked behind Chris and Thomas stepped out.

"But it's not for a few weeks!"

"I know, I know, silly bear."  Chris laughed and picked up a bag and walked past me into the apartment.  Thomas shrugged his shoulders sheepishly and did the same.

"We got sick of New York, it's just too damn hot in the city this time of year!  I sold a bunch of paintings recently, I'm on a roll," he said crooning the last few words.  "So…we thought we'd have a little vacation, before the opening.  You know, do all sorts of touristy stuff."

I still stood there in shock.

"But don't worry, we know you probably have  a lot to get done before it, so we won't be in your hair, I promise.  We can even go stay in a hotel if you need your space…like, if you know a decent cheap one."

I rolled my eyes, "no, you're staying here.  You guys can go see L.A. and the area during the day while I'm painting and we can do stuff together at night."  I gave each of them a big hug.  "I'm glad to see you guys, I missed you!"

"Are you sure, you sure, you're not mad?!" Chris asked.

"Yeah, man.  We won't be in your hair, promise," Thomas added.

"No, I'm not mad!  This will be great!  Hey, you guys want a beer?" I asked, walking to the kitchen.

"A beer would be great," Thomas sighed sitting down in a chair.  "We've been flying or waiting in airports all day.  We had two stopovers."  I pulled three beers out of the fridge and popped off the bottle caps before I joined them.  Chris sat down in Thomas' lap and kissed the top of his head affectionately, while Thomas wrapped an arm around his middle.

"You guys can have my room and I'll sleep on the daybed in the room I use as a studio, my bed is much bigger.  I'll change the sheets for you after my beer."

"Are you sure?"  I nodded, taking a big swallow.  "We can help then," Chris said.

We hung out and caught up and then I showed them what I was working on before Chris helped me change the sheets while Thomas was showering.  "You guys look happy," I told him.

"We are…I'm  on cloud 9 Finn, Thomas is amazing…he's handsome and smart…he's like the perfect boyfriend and the best part…"

"What?" I asked, "or will I regret asking you to tell me…don't tell me something I won't be able to unhear."

"No…no, I was just going to say, that the best part is that he loves me as much as I love him.  I'm so lucky Finn!"

"That's great.  I'm glad you two found each other.  That kind of love is hard to find, when you find that, you have to do everything in your power to keep it."  I stood up and threw the old sheets in the hamper.

"I know right…I tell him how much I appreciate him every day…and how special he is.  Words only make a difference if you speak them."  My friend Chris, the philosopher.

"I like that Chris…I might use that some time," I grinned.  "It's late, you guys must be exhausted.  I'll leave you to it."

"Thanks Finn," Chris came over and gave me a tight hug.  "Thank you."

I just laughed, "it's nothing Chris."

"No, being with you…it made me ready…for when I met Thomas.  I don't know if I can explain…"

"I get it dude.  I'm so happy for you guys."

"I hope you find someone like Thomas…"

I just grinned.  I wasn't ready to talk about it.  No, the first one I wanted to talk about my feelings with was Nico.  Then, if he was on the same page as me, I'd be ready to tell anyone and everyone.  I looked at my watch, it was past 2:00 in the morning.  Nico would be asleep so I grabbed some clothes from my drawers and left Chris.  I used the guest bathroom to clean up and change into a pair of sleep pants and a t-shirt.  Luckily I had put sheets on the day bed when I set it up so I was able to flop down and bury my head in the pillow.  The slight smell of paint in the room was actually comforting.  It was part of me now and I breathed it in, probably the way a sailor breathes in the scent of the sea.