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Mary [Ekholm] Francis
(c) 1997
�Yes, thank goodness. And I managed to paint him looking cheerful and mischievous.� Robin chuckled. �When he was in one of his pouts, I sketched a caricature of him with his bottom lip hanging out and his eyes all scrunched shut. He wanted to keep it, so I told him he could have it as soon as I managed to finish painting a portrait his mother would be satisfied with. He had a few angelic mornings after that, just enough time for me to get on canvas the look that would make his momma happy.�
�And now?�
�And now I�m painting the governor and his wife.�
�Of Minnesota?�
�Are there any other states?�
�I can think of one or two.�
�Of course, it�s Minnesota. If it had been anywhere else, I would have said so.�
�Of course. And how are the governor and his missus?�
�Very cooperative. They wanted their portrait painted from a photo, but I told them I preferred to paint live subjects. They kept sending over pictures, and I kept refusing to use them. Finally they agreed to pose, but only if I would work in the early morning so they wouldn�t have to rearrange their schedules.�
�My sister forced the governor to do things her way?�
�The governor and his wife.� Robin giggled, then became serious. �If you were going to interview the governor, wouldn�t you insist on talking with him in person?�
�We both do our best work with live subjects, don�t we?�
�Can you work out of San Diego as well as you can from St. Paul?�
�My agent is in New York, and I�ve done work for magazines on both coasts. Have Dramamine, will travel.�
�Go where you will be happy, Mary. Don�t go somewhere just to make someone else happy.�
�You sound like a psychiatrist.�
�Or a big sister.�
�I�m the big sister, remember?�
�Uh-huh, so set me a good example. Show me how to deal with men like Daddy and Michael.�
�How�s the portrait coming? Of the governor and his wife.�
�They are such a sweet couple. The first morning, they walked into the studio set up for me, and they posed perfectly. I told them I didn�t need a formal pose. Instead of her standing with her back to him, I had her turn so the three of us form sort of a triangle. They can look at each other, and I can see both of their faces. I told them to talk about old memories, especially the ones from their first years together. They spent the entire hour talking about their first date. When they talk about those early years, they look so young and happy. I�d give my right arm to have a partner to share a love like that with.�
�So would I,� thought Mary as she stared at the river. The sun was nearly hidden behind the western bluff. The afternoon boaters had gone home. The breeze had died out, and the still, dark water reflected the last rays of the sunset. Mary knew the river, knew there was a powerful current that could sweep a swimmer half a mile downstream before she realized she was in danger. �The sailboats are gone,� she said to Robin.
�I should be gone, too. Bob and I are going to a movie at the mall. I promised to meet him there at 7:30. If I leave now, I won�t be more than a few minutes late.� Robin pushed her chair back and stood up. �Did the waiter bring our check?�
�He brought it with the sandwiches. I�ll buy. Say hello to Bob for me.�
�Will do.� Robin turned and nearly ran into a tall, dark-haired man.
�Good evening, ladies.� he said in a deep voice.
�Hi, Michael. Nice to see you again. Gotta run. �Bye, Mary. Thanks.�
Michael picked up the check. �I�ll take care of this.� He looked at Mary. �It�s too cool to sit out here now that the sun has gone down. Come inside where it�s warm.� He motioned toward her cup and the pot of coffee. �Leave them. I�ll have our waiter bring fresh coffee.�
Mary�s mind flashed snapshots of her father and Michael so rapidly that she felt dizzy and nauseated. She�d never before needed Dramamine when she had both feet on solid ground. Suddenly Michael seemed so much like her father that she wanted to shake him and yell, �Stop it; stop it; stop it!� She snatched the check from his hand. �I�ll take care of this.�
�We can add it to ours,� he said. �I haven�t had dinner yet.� He looked down at the barely-touched croissant that lay on her plate. �You need to eat something, too.� He put his arm around her waist and began to steer her across the patio. �I�ve decided not to move to San Diego. I can make just as much money here in Minnesota, and I know you don�t want to move so far away from your mother.�
�My mother is doing just fine. I can fly back to see her any time.� She smiled to herself and stood up straighter. Her voice lilted, �I�m moving to San Francisco as soon as I can find a place to live out there.�
Michael stopped. Mary didn�t. She left him standing there, in the dark.
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