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  David wandered around the new space; a blank canvas ready to be created. “I think we should keep the ceilings high and drop the lights, giving it a more contemporary feel.”

  “That’s very different than the existing gallery though,” Audrey questioned.

  “Exactly!” grinned David. “We can keep the more traditional art in the existing gallery and use this side for the modern, more eclectic pieces.”

  “So two completely different galleries under one roof?”

  “Yes! And we can feature more artists; known and unknown, and really fill this place with life. Even the furniture should be art!”

  Audrey couldn’t help but feel the excitement radiating from David.

  “Let me sketch it out for you,” he offered.

  “That’d be great. Then we can meet with the interior designer and get moving on this.”

  “And I will start scouring the streets looking for our next big discovery.”

  *****

  That evening David sat in his apartment, Freckles on his lap, eating his leftovers from Sunday dinner. His mom had packed up two full meals for him and he was very grateful.

  After watching Jeopardy, a standard nightly ritual, David walked to his desk in the corner of the room to retrieve his laptop. As he lifted it from the desk, several papers fell to the floor. Bending down to pick them up, he found the power bill he’d been looking for.

  “Better pay that now,” he muttered.

  As he collected the other papers, he picked up a business card. Lindsey Dardin, Executive Chef.

  “Oh yeah,” he nodded. “I remember her.”

  He sat back on the sofa, power bill and wallet in hand, and pushed Freckles away as she tried to sit on the keyboard of his laptop. He quickly paid his bill and then opened Google and typed in Lindsey’s name.

  She was in fact an Executive Chef. David smiled to himself wondering why he had googled her. It’s not like she would have lied. Then he searched for the community college she’d told him about and found the list of continuing education classes. Sure enough there were several cooking classes listed, ranging from ‘Introduction to Cooking’ to ‘Advanced’. The fees were nominal and there were many schedules to choose from.

  David read through all the class descriptions and decided that perhaps he could start with a course for beginners.

  “It couldn’t hurt,” he chuckled. “If I just learn how to make toast I will be ahead of the game,” he told Freckles. She just meowed at him.

  *****

  Audrey Atherton was thrilled with the progress of the gallery. The contractor had constructed moveable walls so that they could reconfigure the layout with each new exhibit or show. It had a loft feel with exposed brick, high ceilings, drop down lighting and a stained concrete floor. It would have felt cold and uninviting, but David and the interior decorator had chosen comfortable furniture and throw rugs throughout the space that warmed it up, giving it a comfortable modern vibe.

  After David had wandered through the Metropolitan Museum of Art a couple of weeks ago, a visit he made whenever he could, he had met a young woman outside selling her art to anyone she could. David had struck up a conversation with her and was truly interested in her work. She painted with oils, not at all unique, but her images were soulful, interesting and she obviously had an amazing talent. He had given her his card and she had given him her name and phone number. Now, as David stood looking at the bare brick walls, he envisioned her art hanging before him.

  Lou, as she called herself, was self-taught. Her nose and lip held gold rings and both ears had many holes poked through them. Her hair was short and blue and David had thought she looked like a jewelry-clad smurf. But oh how she was talented. Most of her pieces were of people, faces mainly. She captured such emotion; her paintings were a window to the soul. He would bet she wasn’t any older than about twenty one or twenty-two, but she painted with a deep maturity he had rarely seen. Her work would be perfect for the unveiling of the new gallery.

  “What are you staring at?” Audrey asked him.

  “I am picturing what should be hanging on this wall.”

  “And do you know what it is?”

  David nodded and grinned. “I believe I do.”

  *****

  Later in the morning, David’s mother, Maureen, arrived at the gallery with lunch for her son. She brought him food regularly, not because he was too poor to buy his own lunch, or too inept, but to ease her guilt.

  “I did you boys a great disservice,” she’d said on many an occasion. “I took care of you and waited on you hand and foot, thinking I was being the best mother I could be. And now look at some of you! You can’t sew on a button or make yourself a sandwich! Matthew would throw out a shirt before he would replace a button, and my David? He’s going to starve to death. I just know it!”

  “Hi Mom,” David smiled. He kissed his mother’s cheek and took the brown bag she offered.

  “I’m on my way to see Janie and the children,” she said. “So I thought I’d bring you lunch.”

  “You know you’re just enabling him,” Audrey chuckled as she came to say hello.

  “Good morning Audrey. You look lovely, dear. How are you?”

  “Fine, thank you,” Audrey smiled.

  “How’s the renovation coming along?” Maureen asked.

  “Brilliantly!” Audrey beamed. “David’s ideas were spot on and I’m anxiously awaiting the opening in a few weeks.”

  “Which artist are you showcasing?” Maureen was curious.

  “I’m in the middle of securing that,” David replied. “I hope to have her locked in by the end of the week.”

  “Anyone I know?” Maureen asked.

  “Nope.”

  “Oooh, I’m intrigued,” his mother said.

  “Me too,” grinned Audrey. “But I completely trust you David. You haven’t let us down yet.”

  *****

  David had left Lou several messages on her phone but she hadn’t returned any of his calls, so after he’d closed up the gallery one evening he headed uptown to see if she was in her usual spot in front of the museum. As the days got longer, the artists stayed later, giving them more opportunity to try and make a meager living. He only had an hour or so ‘til sunset so he needed to find her quickly.

  She wasn’t where he had found her before. David wandered around and asked a few of the other vendors if they’d seen her. He finally found a man who knew her.

  “Lou’s dad got really sick and I haven’t seen her since he went to the hospital a few days ago,” he told David.

  “Which hospital?”

  “Metropolitan.”

  “Thanks,” David said and went to hail a cab.

  As he walked into the hospital a few minutes later, David wondered what he was doing. This girl’s dad was ill and he was tracking her all over the city to talk to her about a gallery opening?

  “Can I help you?” the receptionist asked.

  “Um…yes…I’m looking for a Mr. Borsten?”

  The woman behind the desk typed something into the computer and said he was in room 4352. David made his way to the elevator and again questioned what he was doing, but he pushed the button and the doors closed and he was quickly on the fourth floor looking for the room that hopefully held Lou and her father.

  He knocked on the closed door and a female voice responded, telling him to come in. He hesitantly opened the door to see blue hair and relief washed over him.

  Lou turned around and her expression told him just how surprised she was to see him.

  “What are you doing here?”

  David attempted a smile and took a couple of steps into the room to see an old man lying in the bed, his eyes closed.

  “I’m sorry to intrude, but I’ve been calling you and then I went to find you and they said you were here.”

  Lou turned back to her father. “I’ve been…busy,” she whispered.

  “Is there something I can do?” David asked.

 
Lou shook her head. “The diabetes has not been kind. He’s just lost his right leg.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry,” David replied, not knowing what else to say.

  “Yeah, me too. Our apartment is on the third floor and our building doesn’t have an elevator. Wait. That’s not true. It does have an elevator. It just hasn’t worked for the last fifteen years.”

  David didn’t have any idea what to say to that.

  “I don’t know what we’re going to do.” Lou shook her head and sighed.

  “Your mother?”

  “Mom died about ten years ago. It’s just been me and dad since then.”

  “I’m sorry,” David said again. “Please, let me help…somehow.”

  “I don’t think there’s anything you can do. Tomorrow I guess I’ll be down at the VA trying to figure something out.”

  “The VA?” David asked. “Your dad’s a veteran?”

  “Two tours in Vietnam,” Lou said. “He was drafted when he was eighteen.”

  “I’ll be right back.”

  David stepped in to the hallway and pulled out his phone. His brother Paul would help. He had all the connections and he would get this ball rolling.

  *****

  “I don’t understand,” frowned Lou. “It’s not that we aren’t incredibly grateful…but…how?”

  David and Paul stood in the small hospital room were Mr. Borsten looked as confused as his daughter.

  “Our non-profit organization has dozens and dozens of connections through the city, and thousands throughout the country, to make sure that veterans, like yourself, get the medical treatment they need, and in your case, Mr. Borsten, also a change in living accommodations. I can assure you that this new apartment is well equipped to take care of your needs,” explained Paul.

  “But how will we pay the difference in rent?”

  “Don’t think about that Dad,” said Lou. “I’ll figure it out and take care of it.”

  “Not necessary,” smiled Paul. “Your rent for the first six months is taken care of, and after that, it is just the same as you were paying before.”

  “That can’t be right!” exclaimed Lou. “It’s a bigger apartment…a nicer apartment in a nice neighborhood. It can’t be the same rent.”

  David gently placed his hand on Lou’s arm. “That is what this organization does. It takes care of our veterans. There are lots of people who choose to, let’s say, subsidize your rent. Your father did a great service for this country…one we cannot repay…but now at least let us try.”

  “We don’t need your charity and…”

  Paul interrupted her. “This isn’t charity. Not by a long shot. This is allowing us to repay a debt we owe to your father. Please take the apartment.”

  Mr. Borsten looked at his daughter. “There’s no way I can walk up stairs, Poo. I need an elevator when I get out of here and I need doorways wide enough for my wheelchair.”

  Lou nodded and smiled at her father. She turned to Paul and David. “Thank you,” she conceded.

  Relief flooded David. He really had wanted to help Lou and her father. That was genuine. But he also wanted her stress and worry gone before he asked her about the exhibit of her work he wanted to do. He wanted to reduce the number of obstacles in his way.

  Paul made sure Mr. Borsten had all of his contact information before he left and then he said his goodbyes. David was relieved his brother had been able to accomplish so much in just two days.

  “Lou?” David said. “Would you mind walking me out?”

  “You don’t know the way?”

  David grinned. “Yes I do, but I wanted to talk to you about something.”

  “David, thank you very much for everything you’ve done,” smiled Lou’s dad.

  “Oh, it wasn’t me! Paul is the one who made it all work.”

  “Well, I’m grateful to both of you,” he smiled.

  “You just concentrate on getting better,” David said as he left the room with Lou.

  They walked down the hall to the elevator and David pushed the down arrow. “I have something to ask you,’ he began and turned to Lou.

  Her face lost all color and she looked like she was going to be sick.

  “What is it?” David asked.

  “Look,” Lou frowned. “You’re a really nice guy and all and not bad to look at, but…”

  David threw his head back and laughed. His outburst stunned her into silence. “You think I’m asking you out?” He laughed some more. “I’m almost old enough to be your…older brother!”

  Lou was instantly relieved. “So you aren’t…”

  “No!” David chuckled. “No!”

  “Oh good,” Lou exhaled.

  David collected himself and started over. “The gallery I work in, the Atherton, has recently expanded and I have a perfect place to show your pieces. I want you to consent to exhibit your work with me, well, the gallery.”

  Lou was speechless. Her eyes about popped right out of her head as she studied David to see if he was really serious.

  “Lou,” he said. “Come back to earth.”

  “You want to show my pieces?” she whispered.

  “I do,” he smiled.

  Lou jumped into him, all but knocking him over, as she threw her arms around his neck.

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” he grinned.

  3.

  That evening, David walked into the commercial kitchen located in the community college. He had registered for the Adult Continuing Education class, Introduction to Cooking. It was a twelve week course and the instructor was some guy he’d never heard of. He would have liked to attend one of Lindsey’s classes, but Thursday evenings were the best for him, and she wasn’t even teaching a class this semester.

  He looked around the room and at the people that were milling about. It appeared that most were there as couples, but there were a few singles, about twenty people in all. There were work stations in the room; David counted twelve of them. Each station had two ovens built in under the counter and a four-burner cooktop in the center of the island, dividing the work space in two. Several stations were already occupied with couples eager to begin. As David began searching for an open one towards the back of the room a man’s voice caught his attention.

  “Good evening, everyone. I’m Gavin, your instructor. If you could each find a station, we’ll begin.”

  David walked to the closest vacant workspace and a young woman came from the other direction and joined him.

  “This spot taken?” she asked.

  “Nope! All yours,” David smiled.

  “I’m Gwen.”

  “Nice to meet you Gwen,” he said as he shook her hand. “I’m David.”

  Gavin interrupted their introductions as he began to explain the course to his students. David and Gwen turned their attention to the front of the room.

  “This is a course that will introduce you to the basics of cooking. Most of you probably feel lost in the kitchen and in this class all that will change. Kitchen equipment, appliances, and grocery shopping will all be covered in this course. But, naturally, you are all here because you want to learn how to cook, and we’re gonna do that too!”

  Gwen giggled. “I’m so excited!” she exclaimed.

  David chuckled. He wasn’t. He really didn’t want other people to see just how inept he was in the kitchen.

  “Tonight, we are going to learn about knives,” Gavin continued. “Open your drawer and pull out the knives.”

  David did as he was told and followed along with Gavin as he named the knives and what they were for. David figured his two steak knives at home were probably insufficient and he’d need to purchase a nice set at some point. He followed along as they cut different kinds of foods with each knife, understanding each knife’s purpose and its design. They cut fish and bread and tomatoes and a myriad of other foods, all with different knives and it was quite informative. Gwen often giggled and proclaimed, again, how excited she was to be there. By the end of the two hou
r class, David felt as though he had actually learned something and was relatively happy with Lindsey’s recommendation.

  “After next week’s class you’ll have hopefully mastered the basics,” Gavin finished up, “and then we will go over the menu that we will be preparing during this course. I think you’ll be surprised.”

  The students all clapped and cheered at the thought of actually making something edible. Apparently most of them were as useless as David in the kitchen. Somehow the thought comforted him.

  *****

  The next morning Janie met him at Macy’s.

  “Thanks for coming,” David smiled and kissed her on the cheek.

  “Of course!” Janie said. “How can I help you?”

  “I need to buy some knives.”

  “For what?” Janie asked, looking very confused.

  “Well,” he began, “I’ve enrolled in a cooking class and I realized last night at the first class that I have two steak knives in my kitchen and if I’m going to learn to cook, I’m going to need some stuff, knives being first on the list.

  “Bravo!” exclaimed Janie. “Good for you! But you know that you’ll always be welcome for dinner.”

  “I know,” chuckled David. “You have been extremely generous with your invitations. If it wasn’t for you and Katy and mom I think I’d have starved by now.”

  Janie took David’s arm and they wandered through the store to the housewares department.

  “Where are the kids?” David asked, finally noticing Janie was alone.

  “Ella is with your mom. They’ve got a whole day planned. They’re going to the zoo. Ella has been begging her to go for weeks and the weather is finally nice enough. Maureen surprised her this morning. I would’ve thought you’d heard the screams of excitement,” Janie laughed. “And Christopher is at home with Matt. When I left, Christopher was riding around on Matt’s back and he was ‘neighing’, like a horse.” Janie grinned and added, “And Matt was the one ‘neighing’, not Christopher!”

  “Matt’s at home? On a Friday morning? Is he sick?”

  Janie laughed and shook her head. “He doesn’t go to the office on Mondays and Fridays anymore. That’s not to say he isn’t in his office at home on those days,” she chuckled.