Bring Me Fire (14 page)

Chapter 27

On Saturday, Sky’s mom came to the city and they met up for lunch.

"Your sister told me to tell you she says hi," Lydia said. "She wanted to be here, but she’s spending the day at the spa."

"
The spa?" Sky asked.
"It’s a friend’s birthday and she and a group of her girlfriends took a limo up to Napa and they’re spending the day at the spa. Quite the birthday extravaganza if you ask me, but the girl’s parents have money, so I guess it’s not a big deal."

"
Sounds like fun." Sky picked up the menu and started looking at the options. Lydia cleared her throat.

"
There is something I wanted to talk to you about."

"
Yeah?"

"
Yes. And I don’t want you to think I’m meddling."

Sky closed the menu and set it down.
"Oh, boy. This should be good. What is it, Mom?"

"
Your sister tells me you have a boyfriend."

"
I do."

Lydia took a sip of her water and pursed her lips in such a way that Sky knew she wasn’t entirely pleased. She clasped her hands together, then unclasped them and placed them in front of her on the table.

"Is it also true then, that this man happens to be your employer? This former actor or something?"
"Yes."

"
Oh, Sky. I was afraid you were going to say that. Sky, sweetie, you know that your father and I are thrilled you have a job. But don’t you think it’s perhaps not the best idea to be dating your boss?"

"
If this was a long-term job, yes. But it’s not."

"
What do you mean, it’s not? Are you about to become unemployed again? Is he going to
fire
you? What kind of man fires his own girlfriend?"
"Calm down Mom, he’s not going to fire me. The job is just going to run its course. You know, I was hired to help him get his art in order, and I’ve been doing that, and once it’s done, I’ll have to find another job. It’s not a big deal."

"
Is he really that actor your sister’s obsessed with?"

"
I guess so. But he’s actually a really down to earth guy. With a great appreciation for art."

Lydia smiled.
"Well, he must at least have
some
good taste. He is going out with you, after all."

"
Aw, thanks, Mom. I’m sure you can meet him at some point. As long as we keep Robin on a short leash."

"
We’re just glad that everything seems to be going well for you. That’s what’s most important."

"
Things are going pretty well. I’m going to this art auction next week. It’s a pretty big deal."

"
Are you going to be buying anything?"
"I’m not, but Josh probably will."

"
That sounds very exciting."

Sky hesitated. She was still conflicted over what to do about the fake painting.
"Mom," she said. "Can I ask your opinion on something?"
"Of course, sweetheart."

"
I happen to know that one of the paintings at the auction is counterfeit. They’re selling it as an original when I know it’s not. I also happen to know someone who is planning to bid on the painting."

"
My goodness, Sky. How do you know this?"

"
It’s not important."

"
I’d say it is. And if someone is trying to sell something that isn’t what they say it is, why, maybe you should go to the police. And certainly tell whomever it is not to buy the painting! I can’t believe you’re asking me about this. It should be a no-brainer. We raised you to know the difference between right and wrong didn’t we?"

Sky stared at her mother, surprised to see that she actually looked upset.
"Mom, I didn’t even get to ask the question part yet."

"
The question part is going to be whether you should say something, isn’t it?"

"
Yes, but..."

"
There are no ‘buts’ about this, Sky. You’ve got to do the right thing. And I think you know this. I’m curious, though, as to how you’re so certain that you know this painting isn’t the original."

"
Josh has the original, I've seen it myself. And the question I wanted to ask, Mom, and would really appreciate if you’d listen to, is: the person who is going to bid on this painting is Ashley, my old boss. And she..."

"
Sky, it doesn’t matter," Lydia interrupted. "It doesn’t matter
who
wants to buy the painting. If you know it’s a fake, you should tell them. You doing the right thing should not be conditional. I don’t think we need to talk about this anymore."

"
Okay," Sky said. "I didn’t realize you’d feel so strongly about it."

"
Of course I’m going to feel strongly about you doing the right thing. What kind of parent do you think I am? I might not know a whole lot about this art world, but I do know you need to do the right thing."

"
I hear what you’re saying, Mom. I really do. And I’m going to tell her, okay?"

"
Good." Lydia nodded and reached over and patted Sky’s hand. "Good."

After they left the restaurant, Sky thought more about what her mother said. Yes, in theory, her mother was correct. Whether she did the right thing or not should not be conditional; she should just do it. But what her mother didn’t understand was that Ashley very likely didn’t want to hear anything Sky had to say to her. Nor did her mother know about the rumors Ashley had been spreading. Sky supposed she could’ve told her about them, but she knew that would only upset her. So she should do the right thing. She just wasn’t exactly sure how that would go over.

She kept walking, thinking about the auction, and Ashley. It came to her suddenly as she stood on the corner, waiting for the light to change. She would tell Aidan. He would listen to her.

She stepped off the curb and went left instead of continuing to go straight. She walked into
Prelude
, and was greeted by a young woman she didn’t recognize, a girl who didn’t appear to be much older than she was.

"
Hi," Sky said. "I was wondering if Aidan was around."

"
He just stepped out," the girl said. "He went to go get a latte and he had to do  some other errand. I forget though, where he said he was going."

Sky smiled.
"That’s okay. I think I’ll just leave him a note." She paused. On second thought, it would probably be better to just stop in another time. This wasn’t the sort of thing she’d tell someone in a note, and she certainly wouldn’t leave him something requesting that he give her a call. "Actually," she started to say.

"
What are you doing here?"

Sky turned at the sound of Ashley’s voice.

"Oh, she stopped in to talk to Aidan," the girl said. "But I told her he stepped out; she was just going to leave him a note. I guess now that you’re here, she can just tell you!" The girl beamed at them, oblivious to the cold stare Ashley was giving Sky.

"
You’ve got something to tell my husband?" Ashley asked.

"
Well, it was something I really wanted to tell you."

Ashley took a step closer to her.
"I don’t think there is anything, and, let me repeat myself, 
anything
, that you could say to me right now that I would be even remotely interested in hearing. You need to leave. Right now."

She crossed her arms across her chest. The girl’s mouth dropped open.

"...I..." She looked at Ashley, then down at the ground. It was like her brain froze; she couldn’t think of anything to say. There was nothing to say.

Chapter 28

"
Well, you tried," Conner said, sounding gleeful, the following Monday when Sky told him about what happened with Ashley. "And I think you got your answer. Now we’ll get to go to the auction and watch her bid all of her money on a painting that we know is fake."

"
I don’t understand why she hates me so much," Sky said. "I really don’t."

"
Girl, what are you so distraught over? So someone doesn’t like you. Big deal. She doesn’t sound like someone that I’d want to be friends with anyway."

"
It’s not that." Sky shook her head, frowning. She wasn’t even sure why it bothered her so much that Ashley had such a strong dislike for her. What did it matter? "I don’t know exactly what it is. I guess I just really don’t like the idea that there’s someone out there who doesn’t like me, for really no reason."

Conner raised an eyebrow.
"You never slept with her husband, right?"

"
No! No, I didn’t. I mean, we got along really well. We were good friends. Her husband’s really great! There’s no denying that. But I never slept with him and I just don’t understand why she still hates me so much."

"
She’s jealous. It actually has nothing to do with her husband, I’m sure."

"
It doesn’t?"

"
Of course not. She was thinking that she’d get rid of you, start spreading some nasty rumors, and prevent you from ever getting hired anywhere ever again. At least in the art world. But instead, her
husband
gives you this great referral and you get an even better job. Does she know that Aidan was the one who told you about the job?"
"I don’t know. I don’t think so. I mean, that doesn’t seem like something he’d tell her."

"
But she might know. She might’ve figured it out. And even if she didn’t, the rest of it has to piss her off. That not only do you have this great job, but you’ve also got an amazing boyfriend out of the deal, too. It probably pisses her off beyond belief and just seeing you is another reminder of it. So it doesn’t surprise me in the least that she’s acting like this. I've met her many times over the years and she has always been a little sharp around the corners, shall we say." Conner gave her a satisfied look. Sky couldn’t help but laugh.

"
Sounds like you’ve go this whole thing figured out."

"
Well, it’s not that difficult. Maybe it’s hard for you to see the situation because you’re in it, but if you take a step back, you’ll see that if this were a contest, babes, you totally won."

"
I never win anything."

"
This time, you did. Josh is nuts about you. I hope I meet someone someday who’s as into me as he is to you!"

"
You will. How could you not? You’re a total catch."

"
Thanks, sweetie. Too bad you didn’t have a dick, then we’d be all set."

Sky laughed.
"Hey, could I use your expertise sometime? Would you help me pick something out for the auction?"

"
Of course. I’ve actually got something good in mind. Want to go when we’re done here?"

"
That sounds good. I think some retail therapy is exactly what I need."

Josh laughed when Sky told him she and Conner were going shopping for her auction outfit later that afternoon.

"
This is turning into quite the event," he said. "I didn’t realize that brand new outfits were required."

"
Well, they’re not," Sky said. "I mean, I’m sure I could go wearing any old thing, but it’s my first time, and it seems like something people might dress up to. Or at least wear something nice."

"
Maybe you should wear something completely scintillating to distract potential bidders from engaging in a bidding war with me. Something low cut, sparkly. Sequins?"

"
Sequins?" Sky laughed. "Well, Conner's going to help me and I'm sure he would agree that sequins would probably be a bad idea."

Josh snorted.
"I'm not sure that Conner would ever think that sequins are a bad idea. No, you are right to take him. He has impeccable taste. Have a good time, and I’m sure whatever you decide on will look great. I’ve got an idea, though. Why don’t we go out to dinner before the auction? We’ll make a night of it, okay? It’ll be fun. You can pick where we go to dinner."

"
I can?"

"
Sure, why not."

"
So I could pick the most public, busy restaurant ever and you’d go?"

"
I wasn’t aware there were restaurants that weren’t public."

"
You know what I mean."

"
Yes, you can pick whatever restaurant you want. A busy one, a not busy one, whatever you want."

"
Is this like a date?"
"It is. Have we ever been out on a formal date?"

"
I don’t think I’ve ever been on a formal date."

"
Well I’d say it’s time that finally happened. Does that sound good to you?"
Sky grinned. "Why yes it does," she said.