Hannah's Blessing (36 page)

No, he corrected himself. The Malibu house should be the first to go. He had not set foot in that house since Diana and Hannah had left. The last time he had been there was to collect his Christmas present. It was a gift he immediately packed away since it hurt too much to gaze at the faces that still haunted his thoughts.

Devlan opened his center desk drawer and pulled the one hidden photo he kept of Diana and Hannah free. It rested just beneath the engagement ring he had never had a chance to offer her but never had the heart to return. A tender smile creased his lips as he stared at the well-worn picture. It was of Hannah and Diana on a Sea Doo in Hawaii. They were carefree and laughing, looking so much alike and having such a good time. It was a photo he treasured because he knew Diana had been happy with him then. There was no mistake or lie in that photo. She had been happy – both of them had.

The vibration of his mobile brought Devlan from his reverie. He put the picture away and shut the door with a satisfied sigh. It was slightly reassuring to note that it pained him less when he stared at the picture than it had a few short months ago. Perhaps he truly was healing.

“Yes?”

“Devlan, it’s me… Roxanne.”

Devlan’s shoulders sagged at the sound of her voice. Following his heart attack, he had told Roxanne about his planned engagement to Diana. Shortly after that, Mrs. Maclean had told Devlan about Roxanne’s visit the night Diana had left, but still Roxanne denied any involvement in her disappearance. Her continued refusal to divulge what had been discussed that afternoon was still a tender spot with Devlan, and he placed some responsibility for Diana’s disappearance on Roxanne’s shoulders. With the trust in their relationship so damaged, they had maintained a polite distance since.

“Hello, Roxanne. How are you?”

“I have tickets to a charity function tonight and wanted to take you out.”

“I can’t,” he answered quickly. “I’m swamped here.”

“Really, Devlan? Everyone is talking about you. They say that your heart attack at Christmas took all the fun out of you. Just come to this one thing. It’s an auction for AIDS research, and it’ll be lots of fun. Besides, you need to spend some of your money.”

Devlan sighed. It was not his heart attack that had wounded him so deeply, and they both knew it. “Who’s putting it on?”

“It’s the Holmes’. Esther and Thomas. You know them.”

“Yes, I know them,” he said shortly. He rapidly blinked his eyes against the memory of Diana that first dinner they shared after seeing Thomas and Esther.

“Well, they found a place in Scottsdale that sells all kinds of artwork and artifacts. Treasures really. The artist donated a bunch of stuff for Thomas’ AIDS cause a couple of weeks ago and they threw this together. You’ll love them.”

Indecision tore at Devlan. The idea of staying in town at his desk held no appeal to him, especially when his thoughts were again consumed with Diana and Hannah. But a night out with Roxanne was undoubtedly just as emotionally exhausting.

“Dev, come on. You’ll really like this stuff. The guy may be an unknown now, but he’s sure to get your attention.”

“Fine, what time?”

“Eight o’clock.”

“I’ll see you then.”

~

A light drizzle began to fall as Devlan slipped from the Bentley into the posh hotel. They mingled with the crowd briefly before moving into the banquet hall, and that was where Devlan saw the unknown artist’s first piece.

His breath stuck in his throat at the artist’s rendition of the desert. The saguaro cacti were exquisitely painted, as were the organ pipe and prickly pear, all bearing the faces of children. But there was also a blond water sprite, soaring high within the clouds in a flowing blue dress that matched her eyes. The water that trickled from the jug she held gave life to the children below.

A chill passed through him as he stared at the sprite. She bore an eerie resemblance to Diana, so much so that his breath caught in his chest yet again. Forcing himself to look beyond the sprite, he realized that it was a moving piece. It depicted nicely the tenuous balance of water and life in the desert. Devlan loved it.

“You see,” Roxanne whispered. “I told you. You do love his work, don’t you? I can see it in your face, darling.”

Devlan glanced at Roxanne, his eyes shuttered. “I admit that it’s stirring. We’ll have to see.”

He guided Roxanne to their table and sat down heavily. So much for assuming he was on the road to recovery. He was envisioning Diana everywhere. First he conjured her and Hannah in an airport, and now in some stranger’s oil painting. It had to stop, he mused as he gave himself a mental shake. He needed to get on with his life.

“Here’s your program,” Roxanne said, handing him a catalog of the artwork up for auction.

Devlan flipped through it, hurriedly finding the page. “Brad Vember?”

“Yes, that’s the one from Scottsdale.”

“Never heard of him.”

“He’s still pretty local, but his pieces are huge and sell for a lot of money in Arizona. Everyone’s hoping this will help get him worldwide. They say he’s the next great realist.”

Devlan stared down at the shots of the paintings. Once again there was the blond sprite in the desert. It was the only one the female model appeared in. There were some of children as well, a dark boy and light girl. But nothing moved him like the first desert scene, the one he dubbed ‘Diana’ in his head.

For most of the evening Devlan sat motionless, watching the proceedings through bored eyes. Roxanne bought some nice pieces, but Devlan waited for the large painting. Whatever the cost, he would have that painting.

“Are you going to buy anything?” Roxanne whispered as another piece was sold. “There are only a few more.”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, right now.” Devlan straightened in his seat and watched attentively as they produced the painting.

“That one?” Roxanne snapped. “You like it only because the woman is a blonde.”

Devlan gave her a withering glance. “No. It’s a beautiful piece.”

“Ladies and gentleman, may we start the bidding at two thousand please?”

Devlan signaled, as did a dozen others. “Great,” he muttered. “I’m obviously not the only one who appreciated that painting.”

“Lots of men prefer blondes.”

Roxanne rolled up her catalog and tapped it angrily on her knee, but Devlan ignored her. His concentration remained on the bidding war that went on in front of him. It finally boiled down to two, himself and their host, Thomas Holmes. Devlan shot him a quick glance, and the older man raised his program in response. Devlan smiled and raised his bid, finally causing the man to back down amid awed gasps and cheers.

“I can’t believe you spent that much on that painting,” Roxanne snapped, huddling down within her seat.

Devlan came to his feet and bowed to the cheering crowd before sitting back down and grinning at Roxanne. “You said yourself that it was for charity.  Eighty isn’t really all that much.”

She grunted in answer and continued to scowl as Devlan pulled his checkbook from his inside suit pocket. “I’ll catch up with you in a few minutes,” he said.

She nodded and came to her feet, preparing to give her information to the woman on the side. Devlan watched her go with a feeling of immense relief. While he was glad the evening was almost over, he was also pleased to have found this new treasure. He couldn’t wait to get it home and take a good look at it, and he was just signing his name when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Congratulations, Devlan!”

Devlan turned around and came face to face with Thomas Holmes. “Why Thomas, it’s good to see you.”

“Ah, baloney. You’re just happy to outbid me on that painting. Priceless, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it’s very nice.”

“I saw the lust on your face the minute it went up for bids. I knew you’d get it.”

“Then why’d you let me spend so much?” Devlan asked, chuckling.

Thomas threw back his head and laughed. “It’s for charity, isn’t it? Besides, that’s hardly a penny in your bucket.”

Devlan nodded solemnly, though his grin was wide. “True.”

“There’s one thing that I know that you don’t,” Thomas continued.

“What’s that?”

“I know the artist, and he has another piece just like that one in his shop in Scottsdale. His model was sad to see this one go. She really had an attachment to it, probably because of the children in it. Brad went right to work to get her another one.”

Devlan’s curiosity was peaked. “Who’s his model? His wife?”

“No, a good friend, shall we say?” Thomas’ eyes glittered with mischief, and Devlan frowned at his evasiveness.

“You’ll have to get me his address. I’ve been doing some work in Phoenix lately. Maybe next time I’m in Scottsdale, I’ll check out his shop.”

Thomas looked satisfied and began to slip back into the crowd. “You do that, Devlan, ol’ boy. His address is stamped on the back of the painting. It should also be on your receipt.”

Devlan glanced down and nodded. “I’ve got it.”

“Good. Oh, and I’ve called you a couple of times but haven’t heard back from you yet.”

“You have?” Devlan asked with a frown. Had Kathy given him messages from Thomas? He really could not remember.

“Yes. I heard from Diana recently. She contacted me. We have a few things to go over with you.”

Devlan’s head snapped up. “Wait a minute,” he said, reaching for Thomas’ arm. “Diana called you?”

“No,” Thomas said, grinning. “Actually, I saw her just a few weeks ago.”

“In Los Angeles?”

Devlan’s heart began to pound furiously in his chest. Excitement flooded through him. Could it be? Had she come back?

“No. She’s got a new job now and is doing fine. Hannah looks great; she’s in the first grade now… Devlan, Diana hired me to represent her against you.”

Suddenly the evening’s jubilation seemed to drain out of him. Although not overly surprised, Devlan was still a little hurt by her newest action. What had he done to wrong her so terribly?

“Against me? Did she say why?” he asked, his voice hoarse.

Thomas’ face softened. “Let’s discuss this in my office, not here with all these people around. We’ll need a bit of privacy when we go over things. I have a lot to share.”

Though it took every ounce of strength in him, Devlan straightened and stood tall. Putting forth one of his best business-emotionless faces, he gave a nonchalant shrug. “I understand completely,” he said evenly. “I’ll have my lawyer contact you in the morning.”

Thomas cocked his head to the side and contemplated Devlan. “That’s a real special painting you just bought, Devlan. Go home and enjoy it.”

Devlan nodded, but his excitement was gone. When he again turned his attention to the waiting young woman, his words were curt. “Have that delivered to my office.”

“Yes sir, Mr. Doyle,” she replied with a smile.

“Thank you,” Devlan said, walking away. He wanted to find Roxanne and go back to his office. He had a lot of work to do. And work was the only way to erase Diana from his mind.

~

The painting arrived the following evening. Kathy had stayed late that night, and she opened the door to his office with a curious look on her face. “You have a delivery, sir.”

Devlan glanced up as the men entered with the painting safely wrapped and balanced between them on a dolly.

“Come in,” he said, rising from his chair. “Put it in the other room, next to the couch.”

“What’s going on?” Kathy asked, following the men.

Devlan watched them remove the painting from the dolly and carefully stand it up. In addition to the blanket that covered it, the piece was wrapped with tan paper to protect it from the elements.

“I bought a painting last night,” he replied. “Thank you.”

The men nodded and slipped back the way they had come, leaving Kathy to watch Devlan with a frown. Together they slowly unwrapped the painting, and Kathy gasped as she took in the scene. “My God, it looks like...”

Devlan glanced at her. Kathy had stopped suddenly and bit her lip to keep the words in. “It’s okay,” Devlan said with a smile. “I liked the comparison of water and desert, life and death. That’s why I bought it.”

She snorted and came to her feet. Her lip curled as she stared down at the painting. “Sorry sir, but I don’t buy that for a minute.” As Devlan opened his mouth to speak, she put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “Why don’t you stop being so damn stubborn and just go find her? Stop torturing yourself and admit that you’re still in love with her.”

At his angry glare she softened her tone.

“How can you go on with your life if you don’t have the answers you’re looking for? That’s the hardest part, sir. You should just find her long enough to ask why. Then move on.”

Devlan chuckled. “Really, Kathy. You need to get your nose out of those romantic novels. You make it sound so easy.”

“It is that easy, especially when I know Roxanne and how she works. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if she chased that special woman away.”