Silver Linings, стр. 75
“Don't say that, Mattie,” Ariel instructed fiercely. “It's hardly as if you're pushing pictures of matadors painted on black velvet, you know. You're developing the next generation of important collectors, making them aware of great artists such as Flynn and thereby expanding their consciousness of art in general.”
“My God,” Mattie murmured. “My sister has turned into a raving supporter of art for the masses. I don't know if I can handle the shock.”
“You're teasing me,” Ariel complained.
“I know. Sorry.”
“It's all right. I deserve it.”
Mattie looked at a smiling Flynn. “She's really appalling when she's in her noble repentant role, isn't she?”
“Appalling, all right. Fortunately, that's one of her least favorite acts.” Flynn grinned at his wife.
Ariel stuck her tongue out at both of them and then chuckled happily. “I told Flynn about the baby, Mattie.”
“And that settled the matter of what I'm going to paint for a while,” Flynn stated firmly. “Pretty exciting, isn't it? Imagine me being a daddy. I went out and bought a set of watercolors and brushes for the kid this morning.”
“You're going to be a terrific father,” Mattie told him. For the first time she allowed herself to wonder just what sort of father Hugh would be. Probably an overprotective one, she decided. But definitely a committed one. A man like Hugh took his responsibilities very seriously.
She remembered what he had once said about his own childhood in the heat of an argument. She knew instinctively that he was the kind of man who did not repeat the past, but rather learned from it and thereby changed the future.
Men like Hugh were very rare in the modern world. Perhaps they always had been.
The walls threatened to close in again. Mattie took a grip on herself and several deep breaths. She had some time. She did not have to make any decisions right now at this very moment.
The office door opened and Hugh sauntered in carrying an open bottle of Mattie's favorite mineral water.
“This place is sure crowded a lot lately,” he announced. “Every time I come in here I trip over a past, present, or future member of the family.”
“Speaking of family,” Ariel said coolly, “on behalf of Flynn and myself, I'm warning you that you'd damn well better take good care of Mattie. I don't know what she sees in you, but as long as she sees something she wants, you'd better behave. Make her cry a second time, Abbott, and you'll regret it.”
Hugh glowered at Mattie. “Promise me you won't cry under any circumstances,” he ordered. “I can't stand the idea of having to explain myself to these two and Emery Blackwell and Charlotte Vailcourt and your parents and God knows who else happens to think you need protection from me.”
Mattie grinned wickedly, feeling suddenly light-hearted. “Looks like you'll have to watch your step, won't you, Abbott?”
“The stress is definitely beginning to take its toll on my good nature.” He drank the remainder of the mineral water in one gulp and made a face. “Christ, this stuff is awful.”
“Why drink it?” Flynn asked curiously.
“Mattie thinks it's better for me than soda pop.”
“What you need is a good cup of espresso,” Flynn said. “Come on, I'll buy you one. I'm celebrating.”
He had been joking back in Mattie's office, Hugh told himself later as he stood watching her choose fresh broccoli at a stall in the Pike Place Market. But the truth was, he was getting a bit stressed out.
Maybe stressed out was not quite the right phrase. Maybe what he was feeling was a little old-fashioned guilt.
Hugh did not like guilt. For most of his life it had been an alien emotion. Usually he was sure enough of himself and of his own personal code of honor that he did not experience guilt. Regrets, yes, but not guilt.
He knew his present uneasiness had not been caused by the rash of folks, such as Emery Blackwell and Ariel, who had felt compelled to warn him to treat Mattie well. Hugh already knew he was going to treat her well. Hell, he would protect her with his life, if necessary, and he would see to it she never went without. When it came to the basics, he was sure he would make a good husband for her in the old-fashioned sense.
The problem was that while parts of Mattie were delightfully old-fashioned, there were other parts of her that were very modern. Very sophisticated. Very New Woman.
Hugh wondered again, as he did more and more frequently these days, if his long-range goal of dragging Mattie away to the islands was really the right thing to do. She looked so at home here in Seattle, he thought as he watched her move from the broccoli to the piles of red, orange, yellow, and purple peppers.
Damn it, she was happy here. He could hardly deny it. She was also financially established here. And independent. She had friends, family, a career, and a lifestyle. She mingled with artists, writers, and businesspeople, all of whom accorded her a lot of professional respect.
Compared to all that, Hugh knew he did not have a lot to offer out on St. Gabriel. Silk was right. The days of dragging intelligent, accomplished women off to the frontiers were over.
It had all been a lot easier in the old days. Hell, it would have been a lot easier last year if he'd had the sense to take Mattie up on her offer the first time around.
“Wait until you taste these peppers sautéed in a little olive oil and with some olives and capers,” Mattie said in a confidential tone as she paid the produce dealer. “Fantastic. It'll be great served with focaccia or this great potato and cabbage soup I make.”
“Mattie?” Hugh took the sack of broccoli and peppers from her as they started toward another stall.
“Hmmm?” Her attention was clearly on dinner.
He did not know what to ask or how