“Sure.”

“Somebody has purchased her portray.” Her mom pressed her hand to her mouth. “A stranger. A stranger paid cash.”

Lily understood how alien it should be for them, as a result of that wasn’t the world she’d been raised in. It wasn’t the world her mother and father knew. However it appeared that the additional endorsement from somebody who didn’t know her made all of the distinction.

“Massive cash,” her father mentioned. “I’m considering these work of hers that we’ve got round the home are going to be price one thing.”

“Stan!” Her mom turned to him, horrified. “I hope you’re not suggesting we promote them?”

“Promote them? We’re going to maintain them. In all probability a greater funding than a financial savings account.” Her father reached out and patted Lily awkwardly on the shoulder. “Good work, honey. I may not perceive how your mind works, however I love it.”

She felt as if she’d gained the lottery.

Nonetheless, she was eager to reassure them.

“I don’t know if I’m going to make successful of this,” she mentioned, “however I do know I’m pleased. And it’s my accountability to make it work in a method or one other whether or not that’s portray partitions or portray canvases. You don’t want to fret about me.”

“We’re not apprehensive,” her mom mentioned. “Not anymore. We will see how pleased you’re. And Kristen confirmed us {a photograph} of the bed room you embellished. These seashells! Wherever did you get that concept?”

They checked out her as in the event that they had been seeing her for the primary time.

“Let me present you spherical the remainder of the exhibition,” Lily mentioned.

They walked together with her, pausing in entrance of various work, her mom effusive and her father a bit bemused by all of it. They greeted Hannah warmly, and Lily launched them correctly to Todd, who charmed them so fully that Lily fell in love with him over again.

“You appear so snug right here, Lily,” her mom mentioned. “As if that is your world.”

“It’s my world. I match right here.”

Her mom nodded. “We’re pleased with you, honey.”

“Of my work?”

“Sure, we’re pleased with that. However largely we’re pleased with you for standing up for what you needed, and what you knew was proper. While you known as that evening—” her mom swallowed “—effectively, I’m simply sorry we didn’t make that simpler for you. We didn’t perceive. This wasn’t a world we may image. However now we are able to.”

Lily considered what she’d discovered from Cecilia, about shifting ahead. “Thanks for coming tonight. It means every little thing to me.” She gave her mom a fast hug after which stepped again as Kristen approached.

“Moira! There’s somebody you should meet—” She bustled Lily’s mom away and Lily watched as her mom smiled, chatted and tentatively sipped on the glass of champagne she’d been handed.

“Hello there, woman within the purple jumpsuit,” Todd’s voice got here from behind her. “Are you the new younger artist everyone seems to be speaking about?”

She turned. “I feel you should have the flawed particular person.”

“I don’t assume so.” He curled his fingers round her hand. “Let’s get out of right here. I would like some air. I can solely stand a crowd of this dimension for thus lengthy. Frankly I can’t wait to get again to our cottage on the dunes.”

Our cottage.

She checked on her mom and noticed her laughing with Kristen. “I ought to verify on my dad.”

“He’s with my dad. They’re speaking about boats.”

“He doesn’t know something about boats.”

“Neither does my dad. It nearly makes the dialog price listening to, however I would like 5 minutes alone with you.”

They left the crowds behind them, crossed the street and strolled to the waterfront.

“I can’t consider your grandmother is letting us reside within the cottage.”

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