Wildflowers

Chapter 48

Chapter: 48

We get back into the car and we light a cigarette and drive away. We drive up the coast on the PCH. The views are amazing and It's nice to spend with Patrick for the weekend. After about two hours, we come across a white modern ranch at the end of a long drive way. We pull up and Patrick grabs our bags and I grab my purse and we head inside.

'Hello?' Patrick calls and Julia and Robert come into the living room.

'Hey guys, welcome' Julia says giving each of us a hug. 'You two will be in the guest house out back, i'll show you' she says, smiling.

We follow them through the modern white living with large couches, a fireplace and this purple carpeting.

We walk past the white modern kitchen with an island with 6 stools. There is a dining table in front of some floor to ceiling windows. We walk through two large doors to the pool. It takes off a good part of the yard and it has a connection hot tub. There is wooden table and a fir pit in the corner of the yard. There is a sandy path leading down to the beach. We walk to the white building that has windows and two glass doors.

Julia opens the doors to reveal a large room with a queen sized bed, two end tables and a bathroom.

'I thought you two could use some time alone' she says and we smile.

'This house is beautiful' I say and Patrick sets down our bags on the bed.

'Come to the main house whenever you get settled, and we can start dinner' she says.

'Wow, this place is amazing' I say to Patrick.

'Yeah this is going to be great weekend' he says kissing me. We unpack a little and I freshen up my makeup and add little of my perfume. We walk hand in hand to the main house. Nancy and Rick are here and as soon as they see us they give us both a hug. Julia tells us there is a private chef for the weekend. We sit down at the table out side which is set for dinner.

'Hello, I am Chef Christopher and I will be your chef for the weekend. Today we have chicken or steak on the grill, grilled corn and oven roasted potato's' he says.

'We will be starting with a tomato salad' he says A waiter brings out the salads and some bottles of wine and we all toast to Julia and Robert before taking a sip.

The salads come out and they are delicious. We talk during dinner before out main course comes out. I get the chicken and Patrick has the steak.

'Jo, dear has your mother purchased any more art?' Nancy asks me and I nod.

'Yes, she has gotten a Rothko. She found it while she was in New York on business and couldn't leave it behind' I say, then taking a sip of my wine.

'Really? he's the modern one with he smears everywhere right?' She asks me.

I giggle 'Yes, that was a great description. He's one of her favorites' I say.

'Now tell me dear, if I'm not being too forward, what does a piece like that go for?' She asks me.

'I would say around $10,000, but my mother had a piece years ago, painted by a man named Tissot, she bought from auction along with several of his other paintings for about $1000, each. She thought they are dreadful, just totally ugly but just last week she sold one for $33,000. She has several of these paintings in storage and will wait to sell them when the market is hot' I tell her.

'And how do find out which of the cheaper painting will be worth something?' She asks me.

I shrug 'You don't, it's a gamble every time, you just have to do research and feel things out' I say taking another sip and she looks impressed.