Gallery of Hearts

Chapter 3

I pull the door open and a little bell jingles as I enter.

"Ivy!" I hear Marco yell behind the counter. He's looking at me with a big smile on his face. 

"Hi Marco!" I respond. "How are you?"

 "Can't get any better. You want your usual?"

"That would be perfect. Thanks." I sit down at one of the tables. My usual order is - get this - a slice of margarita pizza. Nothing out of this world, I know, but it's nice to know that someone remembers what I like and how I like it. 

"How's your painting going?" Marco shouts from the kitchen. I told him when I started the new project last week but forget about that. I'm about to tell him about getting chosen for SoSpec's exhibit. I ran my portfolio by him before I submitted it to them. He doesn't have any background in art but just hearing him say he loves it is all I need to hear. He's the perfect viewer. He gives compliments, interprets my pieces, relates to them, and points at the colors he likes best. He's almost too perfect. A critique hardly ever leaves his mouth.

"Actually I have some news." He sticks his head out from the kitchen with a curious look upon him. "My art got picked to be in SoSpec's exhibit!" 

"You're kidding!" He shouts. "That's incredible news!" I can't help the smile that spreads across my face. Hearing it out loud sounds even less real. Marco makes his way around the counter towards me. He wraps his arms around me. "I didn't doubt you for a second Ivy. I would've bet money on you being selected." He steps back still grinning. 

"Well you were more confident than me to say the least. I'm so shocked." He rolls his eyes and waves his hand around like he's airing out my words. 

"I knew you had it in you. I'm going to check on your pizza. We're celebrating!" I laugh and push a piece of my blonde hair behind my ear. I sit back down and wait for him to bring my slice out. The place was quiet since I came after the lunch rush. This is my preferred time to stop by, either this or after the dinner rush. This way Marco isn't as busy and it feels like I have the place to myself, whether I want to sketch or just sit in my own thoughts. 

In a few quick minutes, Marco brings me my slice of pizza and takes the seat across from me. He asks me to fill him in and I tell him everything starting from receiving the email to seeing where my creations would be hung up, including Oliver and his tasteless opinions in art. The phone starts ringing and Marco goes to answer it, leaving me at the table with just my crust left. I finish it and throw the plate out before going to the register and opening my wallet. Just as Marco has my order memorized, I have the price memorized. As I unzip it, Marco gets off the phone and starts to shoo me away from the counter. "There's no way I'm letting you pay today. I told you we're celebrating! It's on the house." 

"No way, Marco. Let me pay."

"Nope! The last time you let me give it to you for free was the first day you moved into your apartment, your first margarita pizza in my restaurant."

"And I've loved it ever since. Are you sure?"

"More than. I'm sure you've got work to do. You have a painting to finish for the exhibit." I close my wallet and walk to the door.

"Thanks Marco! See you!" I wave at him and push the door open to head back home.

♡

I need to continue the wedding painting from today before I can work on my new center piece so I pull out a few brushes and paints I saved from earlier in tiny, clear plastic cups. I grab more white and squeeze the bottle the way you would squeeze a tube of toothpaste to get the rest of it out. I pick up some blues and greens too. I start adding more brushstrokes and focus on the sky first, carefully blending the clouds out into the hues of blue. I move to parts of the grass, each stroke becoming a blade swaying in an unseen breeze. I add highlights to illuminate the golden sun shining down. I finish working after a few hours and Sunny is at my feet ready for dinner. I clean my brushes and give him his food. I'm not hungry myself and honestly just feel ready for bed. I took a quick shower and changed into my Pjs. Sunny meets me at the bathroom door and trots off to the bedroom. Once I'm under the covers, I grab him and cuddle him between my arms and fall asleep.