Forged in Fire: Chapter 20

Carmen De La Pica Morales was overwhelmed by The Porter Gallery experience. She’d followed her instincts and selected Bette as the gallerist to debut her show and that instinct was proving itself to very valuable. Her sister and business manager, Carolina was in attendance and stayed by her side throughout the evening. She was grateful for her big sister’s presence.

Bette was charming and enigmatic. She was beautiful; in picture-perfect makeup and a dazzling smile. Bette was dressed in a white, fitted gown with a plain, strapless bodice. There was a split up the middle from the ankle to her mid-thigh and it was filled with a billowing flow of colorful, ruffled fabric. She seemed to float around the room; moving from group to group with a nearly effortless ease.

During the last show, she’d stayed by Bette’s side. But it was quite different to be a date and spectator than it was to be the center of attention. Carmen was both elegant and comfortable in an off-shoulder top that was designed to look like it had been splashed with varying colors of paint and pleated, wide-legged white slacks. Her long hair was pulled back into a ponytail and pulled over her right shoulder. She was grateful that her top was long and had pockets. She kept her hands inside them when she felt nervous.

The large crowd was finally thinning out and Carmen exhaled deeply as she stood in front of her favorite piece. It was titled “Hidden Joy”. As her dark brown eyes studied the details of her work, an elegant, older woman moved to stand beside her.

“You are quite talented,” said the woman.

The response from Carmen was now automatic. She’d been repeating it all evening. “Thank you, very much. It’s my passion. I hope that comes across in the finished product.”

“Indeed, it does,” the woman replied. Her voice was calm, yet it trembled when she spoke. As though the threat of tears had closed her vocal cords.

Carmen stared at her. “Are you alright?” she asked.

The woman’s hazy blue eyes were focused on the painting. Carmen could see the woman’s pupils shift as they followed the curves and lines in the piece. In the center was a woman, holding up an infant. The child was lifted in the air, his feet dangling and his face set in a gleeful smile. It appeared that the woman was his mother. Her strong hands held up the baby, her hands looked soft against the infant’s corpulent belly; baby fat hugging the sides of her hands.