“Home,” he repeated, unaware he’d said the word aloud until she nodded and smiled.
“That’s what drew us both here, I suspect,” she added. “We’d lost more than our spouses. We’d lost our homes, and that feeling of familiarity, of belonging. My house ended up selling quickly, and I realize now that was a blessing. I should have known I couldn’t live in the same space that I’d shared with my husband with all the memories. It would be like facing that loss every time I walked through the door.”
“I hear you.”
After Julia stepped away from the large windows overlooking the city, Heath gave her the grand tour. He noted how Julia studied and appraised each room.
“Do you mind if I make a few notes?” she asked.
“Not at all.” He led the way to his home office and grabbed both paper and a pen.
Julia stood in the doorway, surveying the room. When he gave her the pen and pad, she immediately started writing.
After viewing each room, she made a second journey through the rooms, adding to her notes. “This kitchen is amazing,” she said, coming to stand behind the long white marble countertop that faced the view. The stainless-steel appliances and white cabinets were behind her.
“The way the light comes in and floods the living area makes this entire area stunning,” she added.
“I was drawn to that myself,” he said.
“Other than a few accents and decorative additions, I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“What do you think?” he asked, once she’d finished, curious to hear her thoughts.
Julia guided him back into each room, giving him a detailed list of what she would suggest in the way of accessorizing the area.
“You did a good job choosing the furnishings,” she told him. “They show your personality in every way.”
This was news to Heath. “And what’s my personality?” he asked, interested in hearing her thoughts.
“You’re a man’s man. Big. Bold. Intelligent.”
He laughed. “You’re saying that because my office computer has two monitors.”
Smiling, she shook her head. “It’s far more than that,” she said, and didn’t elaborate. “How do you feel about my suggestions?”
Everything she’d recommended suited him fine, and he told her so.
“What’s your budget? I shop economically and promise not to spend money needlessly. The reason I ask is that it gives me parameters, so I know how much to spend in each room.”
Never having worked with a decorator before, Heath wasn’t sure what to tell her. “I don’t have a problem with anything you suggested. The one thing I would ask is to preview any paintings you purchase.”
“Perfect. There’s an art show coming up at Gas Works Park this weekend. If you’d like, we could go together and check it out.”
“I’d like that.” Although he didn’t admit it, he’d enjoy any activity that gave him more time with Julia.
* * *
—
They met midmorning on Saturday. Julia greeted him with two coffees and handed him one.
He grinned as he accepted it. She’d been serious about buying him coffee, and serious about being friends and not dating. Now that he was coming to know her, he was inclined to bend the no-dating rule. He’d wait and see how she felt after she’d had a chance to know him better.
Gas Works Park was located on the north end of Lake Union and south of the Wallingford neighborhood, which meant they would need to drive. After Lee moved out, Heath had foolishly splurged on a red Ferrari convertible. He sold it after a year, kicking himself for the indulgence. These days he drove an electric car, which was far more practical. And, frankly, better for the environment.
It worked well that they arrived at the art fair early enough to find parking, which was never easy in the Seattle area, especially on such a glorious July summer day. The artists had set up displays all around the nineteen-acre park. It would take more than a day to visit every booth.
Julia wore a yellow summer dress with a white short-sleeved sweater and a big straw hat to shade her from the sun. With her round sunglasses and her smile, it was hard to keep his eyes off her. He couldn’t remember seeing any woman look more relaxed or lovely.
He soon learned shopping with Julia was an experience. He was inclined to see something he liked and buy it. Not Julia. She had her notes and her tape measure and collected photos with her phone. It surprised him that she knew several of the artists personally. It was apparent that Julia was well respected and genuinely admired.
They broke for lunch, eating deli sandwiches, which he insisted on buying, seeing that she was giving of herself and her time. As they sat in the air-conditioned deli, sipping their drinks, Julia reviewed the paintings, pulling each one up on her phone for him to appraise again. She’d made meticulous notes about each one, the artist, the asking price, and the location of the booth.
“I’d purchase every one of these,” Heath admitted.
“You don’t have the space.”
“I know.”
“I like the old-world navigation painting for your home office,” she told him.
That had been one of his favorites. He’d been drawn to it immediately. “How much was the asking price again?”
“Twelve hundred. However, I know the artist and believe I can persuade him to lower it to nine hundred.”
“I would be willing to pay full price.” And he would, without question.
“This is why you have me. I will get whatever you need, cheaper than what you would normally pay. It’s what I do, and I’m good at it.”
“That’s a twist. A woman who saves me money.”
Julia grinned and shook her head. “Now, that was a sexist comment if I ever heard one.”
“Forgive me. I’m old-school. Be patient, I’m learning.”
“Good.” She patted his hand, and he felt an immediate surge of warmth and electricity shoot up his arm.
* * *
—
For the next hour, they made their decisions about which paintings to purchase. When they finished, Heath was pleased, eager to finalize the deals that afternoon.
When they returned to Gas Works Park, Julia went to work. She claimed she was good at negotiations, and she was. With finesse, she was able to get each and every painting he decided on, at a price below what was listed. Heath had the feeling these talented artists recognized having Julia Jones purchase one of their art pieces was a positive career move.