place.”
Lexie squeezed his hand harder than he thought she could for someone so small.
He leaned down to her. “I don’t care if you don’t win one of their stupid prizes. I think you’re the best artist in the world, and I’ll take out an ad telling everyone.”
“Okay.” She tried to smile, but it wasn’t working well.
They announced third place and then second, and, with each announcement, Lexie’s grip grew tighter.
“And now,” Anatole Rudman said, “we come to our first place winner. This artist is long overdue the recognition for her work. If not for some behind the scenes maneuvering, she would have received it three years ago. The Savannah Art Show judges and this gallery are proud to announce our first place winner tonight. Lexie Walker, please step forward.”
When she didn’t move, Killian nudged her. Her eyes were so wide he wondered they didn’t fall out of her head.
“Did they actually call my name?” she asked.
“Sure did, sugar. And your fan club wants you.”
Loud applause had broken out, with people all around them clapping with enthusiasm. , Rudman smiled at her and motioned for her to come forward, so Killian guided her close to where the man stood.
“Lexie, this has been too long in coming,” he said in his slightly accented voice. “But it is my very great pleasure to award to you first place in the annual Savannah Art Show. Your exceptionally fine piece of prairie art makes an incredible statement in the art world.”
He handed her a crystal obelisk on a wood base, the name of the award, her name, and the date etched on it. Killian was sure Lexie would drop it in her totally dazed state, so he put his hand beneath hers to support it. Finally, she managed to speak.
“Thank you so much for this. I thank the committee, the judges…” She looked around the gallery. “All of you. I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”
“One more thing.” Andrew Speight, Rudman’s partner came forward. “Part of the first place prize is an opportunity for a one-woman show. Anatole and I would like that show to be here, at this gallery.”
Killian thought his wife looked ready to faint, so he put his arm around her and pulled her close to him.
“I think I can speak for her,” he said, “and she accepts this very great honor. When the shock wears off, she’ll want to sit down and talk with you about it.”
“Of course. If the two of you are going to be here tomorrow, we’d like you to have lunch with us and discuss dates and details.”
Killian nodded. “Of course.”
“Right now, I think we should let the lady enjoy her well-deserved success.”
Lexie finally pulled herself together enough to express her thanks. When he was assured she’d be okay on her own, he went to find Vivian Salton and conduct a little business.
“By the way,” she added when their deal had concluded, “please tell Lexie that Rick was not supposed to be at the event last night. He talked one of the young interns into making a badge for him so he could get in. When you buy your success and you don’t have the talent, it quickly shows. He’s been a huge failure in the art world. I think he thought he could still control her and ride her coattails. The committee has taken care of that. Family influence only goes so far. And the intern has been duly chastised, let me tell you.”
“Thanks. You can bet I’ll make damn sure she knows.”
She studied him for a long moment. “I have to say, Mr. Walker, she’s chosen very well. I hope you know that you have, too.”
“Believe me, I do. I nearly screwed it up because I was so stupid, but that won’t happen again.”
“Good, because that wife of yours is going to go far in the art world.”
He took great pleasure in just watching her for a while as she blossomed more and more, chatted with guests, with the other artists, with the judges. Then she went back to look at the painting, at the ribbon placed beside it…and the little
Lexie squeezed his hand harder than he thought she could for someone so small.
He leaned down to her. “I don’t care if you don’t win one of their stupid prizes. I think you’re the best artist in the world, and I’ll take out an ad telling everyone.”
“Okay.” She tried to smile, but it wasn’t working well.
They announced third place and then second, and, with each announcement, Lexie’s grip grew tighter.
“And now,” Anatole Rudman said, “we come to our first place winner. This artist is long overdue the recognition for her work. If not for some behind the scenes maneuvering, she would have received it three years ago. The Savannah Art Show judges and this gallery are proud to announce our first place winner tonight. Lexie Walker, please step forward.”
When she didn’t move, Killian nudged her. Her eyes were so wide he wondered they didn’t fall out of her head.
“Did they actually call my name?” she asked.
“Sure did, sugar. And your fan club wants you.”
Loud applause had broken out, with people all around them clapping with enthusiasm. , Rudman smiled at her and motioned for her to come forward, so Killian guided her close to where the man stood.
“Lexie, this has been too long in coming,” he said in his slightly accented voice. “But it is my very great pleasure to award to you first place in the annual Savannah Art Show. Your exceptionally fine piece of prairie art makes an incredible statement in the art world.”
He handed her a crystal obelisk on a wood base, the name of the award, her name, and the date etched on it. Killian was sure Lexie would drop it in her totally dazed state, so he put his hand beneath hers to support it. Finally, she managed to speak.
“Thank you so much for this. I thank the committee, the judges…” She looked around the gallery. “All of you. I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”
“One more thing.” Andrew Speight, Rudman’s partner came forward. “Part of the first place prize is an opportunity for a one-woman show. Anatole and I would like that show to be here, at this gallery.”
Killian thought his wife looked ready to faint, so he put his arm around her and pulled her close to him.
“I think I can speak for her,” he said, “and she accepts this very great honor. When the shock wears off, she’ll want to sit down and talk with you about it.”
“Of course. If the two of you are going to be here tomorrow, we’d like you to have lunch with us and discuss dates and details.”
Killian nodded. “Of course.”
“Right now, I think we should let the lady enjoy her well-deserved success.”
Lexie finally pulled herself together enough to express her thanks. When he was assured she’d be okay on her own, he went to find Vivian Salton and conduct a little business.
“By the way,” she added when their deal had concluded, “please tell Lexie that Rick was not supposed to be at the event last night. He talked one of the young interns into making a badge for him so he could get in. When you buy your success and you don’t have the talent, it quickly shows. He’s been a huge failure in the art world. I think he thought he could still control her and ride her coattails. The committee has taken care of that. Family influence only goes so far. And the intern has been duly chastised, let me tell you.”
“Thanks. You can bet I’ll make damn sure she knows.”
She studied him for a long moment. “I have to say, Mr. Walker, she’s chosen very well. I hope you know that you have, too.”
“Believe me, I do. I nearly screwed it up because I was so stupid, but that won’t happen again.”
“Good, because that wife of yours is going to go far in the art world.”
He took great pleasure in just watching her for a while as she blossomed more and more, chatted with guests, with the other artists, with the judges. Then she went back to look at the painting, at the ribbon placed beside it…and the little
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