Free Appointment with a Smile by Kieran York Page A

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Chapter 15
     
    Bethany Cortland’s laugh was jubilant. We were in the midst of a wonderfully lingering dinner at an exquisite restaurant called Chantilly Park. High-end and tucked away in its own enclave, it was perfect and intimate. We sat in a private dining room with yards and yards of lace curtains and delicate antique dining furniture. The walls were alabaster and the feel was light and airy with tints of baby blue and bamboo-colored décor.
    Bethany was indeed as lovely as Esther had described. At first glance, she was chic, trim, and gregarious. The way she carried herself was spirited and self-assured. Her dress was a grade above casual. She wore a pastel purple silk overtop that was neat and trendy, taken in by a golden coin belt. Black wool slacks and matching pump shoes were definitely stylish. Her attire seemed expensive, with what looked to be pricey jewelry. She wore layered gold chains around her neck, and on her left finger, she sported a large, oval diamond cluster ring. Fashionable, yet not ostentatious.
    I imagined painting her portrait. Her eyes, the brightest cerulean blue I’d ever seen, much less painted, glowed like translucent sapphires held up to the light. Her short, elegantly clipped hair was salt-and-pepper with side waves in dark brown. The bridge of her nose, cheekbones, and jawline were slim and nicely formed. With her rosy complexion, I would paint her flesh tones lightly and with a hint of alizarin crimson. Most extraordinary was her mouth. Her teeth had a lustrously white look of being recently polished.
    More than anything, her joyful love of life and positive outlook on the world enchanted me. While Esther and Carrie chatted, I told her she seemed to be at home with herself.
    “Why not?” she said. “I’ve traveled the world over many, many times. So I guess it’s second nature to be at home wherever I am. Do you like travel?”
    “Not so much. I do love London,” I said. “I’ve been to Europe several times but concentrated mainly on art. I’ve been a part of group exhibitions. And all my wanderings took me to museums and galleries to see the magnificent art.”
    “Not even a day off to check the tourist areas?”
    “Naturally, I’ve seen some. To be truthful, I discourage any form of travel when there’s an exhibit opening. Unless it’s in London. I’m not a polyglot. What French and Spanish I know is sparse, and my French is mainly art related. My agent’s job isn’t easy. I’m probably her biggest problem. She usually wins any disputes, and I spend a day or two in a city where I’m totally not at ease. I prefer my own home. It’s a place where my life’s perfect. Everywhere else is strange, I suppose.”
    “Your home sounds completely comfortable for you, Danielle. And Esther said you have a dog.”
    “Clover. Yes.” I took out my phone and pulled up her photo.
    “She’s adorable,” Bethany said with a smile. “Look at those eyelashes.”
    Esther must have been eavesdropping, because she chimed in. “Clover is sweet. It’s Danielle who’s the terrier. I’m also the mutt in my home, compared to Sadie and Aggie.” She looked at the picture. “I just noticed Clover’s lashes are even longer than Fiona’s.”
    “The woman at the gallery?” Bethany asked.
    “Yes. My agent,” I said. “She’s a tad bit showbiz, but she’s a lovely person. And a great agent.”
    Esther joked, “Is ‘showbiz’ a comparable term for garish?”
    “That, too, but she’s been my rock of security.”
    “You like the security of home, of art, and all?” Bethany said.
    “Yes, I do. And you?”
    “Of course. I like being settled with someone mostly. But I also like the adventure travel offers.” The next photo that came up was my home. Bethany looked at it. “Very nice.”
    “Thanks. It’s pretty much an average home by U.S. standards. Bi-level, with a huge backyard. Two acres. Apple trees, a locust tree, and crab apples. Also, a large garden, and