"Any expositions?" Jeff asked.
"Just one, local," she replied. She didn't mention she had sold each and every one of her works. "At the moment, I'm in no rush to chase after fame. I may have a few more pieces by the fall." She shrugged.
"How did you and Kevin meet?" Jeff asked.
"It was my luck," Kevin answered as he hung up the phone. "We bumped into each other, you might say. I found an artistic advisor on my doorstep." He grinned at her. "Inexpensive, too."
Marta appeared in the doorway, the white of her apron gleaming against her black uniform. She frowned, then hurried to Tanya. "Is Tobia a bother?" she asked, concerned.
"Oh, no, Marta. He's become my little friend. Yesterday he came to my place. He hid above the trellis on the terrace and jumped directly onto my shoulders when I went outside." She stroked the cat, gave him a quick hug, and handed him over to Marta. "He needs a bell, so he doesn't scare me half to death." She laughed.
Marta smiled as she gathered Tobia into her arms. "Mr. Matwin, dinner is ready. I can serve it any time."
"Thank you, Marta, we'll be seated shortly." He looked at Tanya. "Sure you won't stay?"
She smiled and shook her head. "No, thank you, Kevin, I really must be leaving. It was a pleasure meeting you, Jeff…Eleanore."
Her empty house awaited her return, with no sign of Edda or Charles.
Kevin merged his last write-up with the illustrations into a single file, then mailed it electronically to his Shoppe using the usual File Transfer Protocol. He heaved a sigh of relief, glad the editorial portion of his job had been completed. With this piece scheduled to appear early in the fall, he could now relax and follow the printing cycle upon his return to Toronto.
Jeff Moore contacted several banks concerning financing on their new laboratory. The concept of reproducing works of art on compact disk would be an expensive endeavor. Kevin left the Riviera to join Jeff to discuss the terms of each proposed loan.
* * *
"Eleanore," Vanessa White said, "I'm so glad I caught you at home. It's Vanessa, dear. How are you?" She smiled into the phone receiver.
"Oh, Vanessa! I was just about to call you. You'll never guess who we just saw." Eleanore's voice sparkled with delight, prepared to share a bit of gossip. "And he has a new girl, too. Just a child…"