Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74467 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74467 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
In between brush strokes, or color changes, she surveyed the crowd. She smiled at couples as they walked by, some seemingly more in love than others. Eloise thought about her and Kiel and thought they’d be the type of couple who held hands constantly. The type who would share food, finish each other’s sentences, and laugh at corny jokes. She enjoyed thinking of them in the future, even though she knew once summer was over, they’d be done as well. They both had places to go, things to do, and neither of them would ask the other to change their paths.
Eloise caught sight of a man who looked identical to Kiel. She smiled, knowing it was his father—and if it wasn’t, then Kiel had an older doppelgänger out there. Eloise watched him for a minute and was about to turn away when Kiel and his mom came out of a store. A pang of jealousy coursed through her. It came out of nowhere. She saw parents with their child or children every day, multiple times a day. Why did seeing Kiel with his parents make her feel like she was missing something in her life?
“Because they support him no matter what,” she said to the birds.
The three of them walked toward Ida’s lemonade stand and waited in line. Eloise would wait and see if Kiel noticed her. If not, she wouldn’t be mad. He needed to spend time with his family. After all, that was the entire reason he was on vacation with them.
Eloise’s heart ached, and she rubbed her chest. Tears pricked her eyes. The emotional overload was because her family had abandoned her. Her parents put themselves before her. Unlike Kiel’s parents. From what she saw, they doted on him, especially his mother.
They hadn’t talked about her parents yet, other than them being divorced and her mom moving the two of them to London. Eloise hated the subject of her broken family. It made her weep for the family she once had and tainted her idea of marriage, even though she was beginning to find herself fantasizing about a future she and Kiel could have in another life.
Her heart sang, despite the earlier ache she felt. She quickly put her brush to the canvas and painted the scene in front of her. At any time, Kiel could turn and spot her. Or maybe he had, but because he was with his family, he chose not to come over. Eloise wouldn’t let that bother her. Not now.
When the Colliers rounded the corner, Eloise considered following them, but she had to finish. The piece missed one component—the sunset. She glanced at her phone. She could pack up and head toward the pier, where she’d get a better view of the setting sun, or she could wait.
“Pack it up,” she muttered.
As soon as she stood, she saw Kiel. He stared right at her as he walked toward her. Next to him were his parents. Eloise swallowed hard and did her best to fix her hair, which she assumed was a mess.
“Hey,” she said as he approached. He didn’t make a move to greet her in the way they said goodbye this morning, so she stayed where she was.
“How’d the day go?” He eyed her easel.
“It started off rocky, but I finished on a strong note.”
“Would you like to meet my parents?”
Eloise nodded and reached into her bag for a rag to clean her hands. “I’m sure I’m a mess.”
“You’re beautiful,” he said as he turned and waved his parents forward.
When they were close enough, Eloise stepped out from behind her easel and rubbed her hands down the front of her romper.
“Eloise, I’d like for you to meet Emmett and Leona, my parents.”
She stuck her hand out and shook theirs. “Mr. and Mrs. Collier, it’s very nice to meet you. I hope you’re enjoying Seaport.”
“Please, call me Emmett and this fine lady on my arm, Leona.”
“We love Seaport,” Leona said. “Kiel tells us you’re a painter.”
“I am or trying to be. I mean, I guess I do paint, but I’m not sure when I can classify myself as one. I haven’t sold my first piece yet.”
“I told her I’d buy all of them,” Kiel said. “I don’t know shit about art, but I love everything I’ve seen of hers.”
“You’re biased,” Eloise muttered, but couldn’t keep the smile off her face.
“The gallery down the street is the one Eloise’s aunt owns. We walked by it today, but I didn’t see you there, so we came down this way.”
Eloise smiled. He’d brought his parents to meet her, in the place she felt most comfortable. She wanted to hug him, kiss him, and do naughty, naughty things to him.
“What’s her name? Maybe I’ve heard of her,” Emmett said.
“Margaux Harris.” Eloise pointed to the mural behind them. “She painted that last fall.”