Paint on Canvas

April wandered the Sun Room, examining everything in the room, even a photo album of his past works. 

He stood there and watched the beautiful April Klein grace his workspace with her presence and go through the book. He’d

indeed recognized her name and avoided saying as much.

She owned several art galleries across the Eastern Seaboard and in Canada. She’d not present at any events in Art Scene. 

Many in the art scene speculated

on her presence lacking from events. 

April flitted about in the company of the influencers of the industry. 

The art crowd

didn’t understand

her disappearance, and many speculated.

Daniel now knew where she went when she disappeared.

Though, he didn’t have a why. 

“These are amazing, but your recent work seems so different. You’re trying something new?

Is there some other reason for it?” 

“I want to say I’m trying something new because I’m bored. However, that would be lying. I am not feeling it. You know what I mean?” 

“You need a vacation from your work.” 

“That’s what my agent says. But I’ve been on vacation for the past year and nothing. Nothing has changed. This…”, He pointed at the painting he’d just started before coming here. “This is a waste of my time.” 

“I’ll admit it’s not like the others, and it is missing something. But I think you aren’t getting what a vacation is. Or, more than likely, your agent told you to do something wrong. You, Sir, need a getaway. And I think tomorrow night’s festival will be the perfect getaway. We, that’s you, and I are going out and painting this town red. No, no, there will be no arguments. We are going out and we’re going to experience everything.” 

“As friends or as a date? I’m not sure what you are thinking.” 

“Great.

Come on,

just so you can find out.” April had a broad smile on her face as she put down the photo album and linked their arms together and pulled Daniel from his work. “You’ve lost the fun of putting life on the canvas. Oh, 

can

fix that.

You just get out live a little. It’s often something that prominent artists encounter. They are so busy getting their life expressed on the canvas that they run out of inspiration. That’s where I come in. We live and breathe life, and it’s our job to remind artists like you what you often forget. This is my life’s blood. I live to breathe life into artists.

Then I let them do what they do best,

and we’re doing that.” 

Daniel was in shock. Still surprised him at having encountered April at the Inn. Shocked when she sat with him. All but catatonic that she stood there admiring his work. He couldn’t believe that April was interested let alone actively help him.

This was all too much for the man, so he let April pull him from the Sun Room. She took him back to the Dining room, sat him down, ordered a couple of drinks and a dessert full of chocolate and cinnamon with two forks.   

With a broad smile and a twinkle in her eye, April waved her fork between the dessert and Daniel. April encouraged Daniel to start eating when the dessert that lay in between them. “Eat. You look like you need sugar and alcohol. Come on, it’s best when it is still warm. This is one of my favourite desserts here.  But I think almost everything here is excellent.” 

He didn’t know what else to do. April was so nice and encouraging. He kind of felt guilty, pretending to not know who she was.  

Before she had sat down with him, he’d been questioning himself as to whether it had been a fluke, and he wasn’t really as talented as everyone thought. He’d all but convinced himself to quit, but he’d stumbled on it when he realized he didn’t know how to do anything else. 

Now here he sat eating and drinking with an art influencer. She may not make art, but she knew art on a level many only dreamed of.  If she thought he just needed inspiration, then he’d be crazy to reject her opinion.  April now wanted to show him what she thought would inspire him to make new paintings.  He was scared and intrigued at the same time.  

“Now, I think that we won’t talk about art or business or inspiration or any of that.  We’ll just let things be and go with what amuses us. Just have fun and absorb it all. Live it all, just you and me.” 

Daniel blinked, taking in April’s rushed words. She was just so excited. “I guess. It’s just I have less than three months to finish about three more paintings for my next exhibit.” 

“Bah, art sucks when there are deadlines, and your agent should know that.  No, if you need more time, then we’ll make more time for it.  Perfection doesn’t have a timeline or an expiry date. Art is perfect in the time it takes to make it.” If nothing else, April firmly believed what she was saying.  Daniel felt himself getting sucked in and nodding in agreement with her every word.  This was a woman that knew what she was talking about and what he felt was exactly what she was saying. 

The deadline on his art loomed upon him. It was putting pressure on him to do things he just couldn’t complete under pressure. 

That’s when he decided that he was going to take time off and screw his deadline. Daniel needed a getaway, and he was going to take it.  He’d enjoy himself and let her guide him in recharging his creative battery.  He was excited for the first time since he was told that his agent had booked him here. 

“Alright, we’ll try it your way for now.  So, what happens at this festival?” 

“It’s a version of a festival of lights. It happens every year, and it celebrates the return of light after the longest night of the year. The light symbolizes hope, life and the future.” 

“But what happens?” 

“People gather, and there are all sorts of events like ice skating by firelight, a legendary peppermint hot chocolate, an ice sculpture contest, and so many games. I think the ice skating and the ice sculptures would really interest you. The lighting each year is an amazing sight to see. There are booths where the artisans from around here display their wares. Even the town’s firefighters get involved in all this.” Daniel watched April gush over this festival, and she did make it sound like something that had to be seen. 

“Okay, you have convinced me that this festival is the be all end all of the year. I guess I’m just going to have to see it to believe it.” Daniel smiled again in April, and she held her glass up to toast to their first adventure. 

“To the search for life and inspiration.” 

Jody sat at her table in her quiet corner when Daniel and April entered the Dining room again. She watched them sit down and order again. April was the first to talk, it seemed. She was excited and so animated compared to what Jody had seen years before. Something had definitely changed. Daniel sat there listening with a glazed over look in his eyes. Until April had spoken enough and Daniel had processed her words.   

Maybe… Maybe something would happen between Daniel and April. It would not be the first time two people have met at the Blue Moon and left as a couple. In fact, the Inn had several return guests that that exact thing had happened to. Now, though, most were happy family trips. 

Oh, Gabby would be so happy. Jody really believed that she lived for making people live happy and satisfying lives. Oh, as Gabby called it, “The best life that one can live.” And she’d always have this smile on her face, like she had some secret hidden in her head somewhere. 

Jody knew she should mention something to Gabby. Because right now, Gabby was distracted with the front desk and probably doing something to prepare for the festival tomorrow night.  This time of year, Gabby was going crazy keeping up with everything.  There was just so much going on that anyone could be overwhelmed easily. 

So, Jody decided she’d finish her meal, and then as she was going to leave, she’d stop off at the desk and mention the good news to Gabby. 

That’s when Jody noticed movement at the entrance to the Dining room.  Billy Jones was standing there. Crap, Billy was Jody’s ex-boyfriend from high school, and he’d moved away years ago.  Jody had believed they would get engaged after high school and get married.  But no such luck.  He’d just up and left without ever saying goodbye to her.   

Now here he stood looking about the Dining room when his eyes fell on Jody. She tried desperately not to blush as she quickly turned her eyes away from him.  She had to just finish her food and get the hell out of there.  The time for listening to his excuses had long since passed, and she had no interest in talking to him. 

So, when he began walking towards her. She all but fled through the kitchens. Being too upset was her only excuse.

Seeing him again caused her to not think straight.