Summer in Eclipse Bay

sponsoring it," Octavia said. "All the entrants receive the same basic supplies."
    "Oh, I see." Gail relaxed visibly. "Thank Miss Brightwell for the crayons and paper, Anne."
    "Thank you," Anne repeated in the barest of whispers.
    "You're welcome," Octavia said. "I'll look forward to seeing your picture."
    Anne tightened her grip on the art supplies and said nothing. She still looked as if she expected the crayons and paper to vaporize in her arms.
    At that moment, a familiar silver BMW pulled into the small parking lot at the end of the row of shops. Octavia's stomach fluttered. She glanced at her watch and saw that it was almost five-thirty. Nick was right on time.
    Gail gave Octavia a grateful smile. "I don't know if Anne will actually do a picture for your art show, but she loves to draw and paint. She will definitely use the supplies."
    "Excellent," Octavia said. She looked at Anne. "But I really hope you'll make a special drawing for the show. If you do, you can choose the color of the frame."
    "You're gonna put it in a frame?" she asked in astonishment.
    "Of course."
    "So it will look like a real picture?" Anne pointed toward the framed paintings hanging inside the gallery. "Like one of those?"
    "Yes," Octavia said. "It will look like a real picture because it will be a real picture. Just like one of those inside my gallery."
    Anne was clearly dazzled by the prospect.
    "Come along, Anne," Gail said. "We have to stop at the store and then we have to go home to help Grandma fix dinner."
    "Okay."
    Anne and Gail moved off toward the small parking lot. Nick was out of his car now, walking toward the gallery. He wore a long-sleeved, crew neck tee shirt and a pair of jeans. The snug fit of the shirt emphasized the contours of his strong shoulders and flat belly.
    He paused to greet Gail and Anne with a friendly nod and a few words. When the short conversation was finished, Gail and her daughter got into an aging Chevrolet.
    Nick continued toward the gallery.
    Edith came to stand on the sidewalk next to Octavia.
    "Such a sad situation." Edith shook her head and made a
tut-tut
sound when Gail and Anne drove past them down the street.
    Octavia waved at Anne, who gazed fixedly at her through the car window. Hesitantly the girl raised a small hand in response.
    "I assume you're talking about Gail and Anne?" Octavia said, watching Nick.
    "Yes. Gail is the daughter of Elmore and Betty Johnson, the folks who run Johnson's Nursery and Garden Supply. She was such a pretty girl back in high school. Bright, too. Went off to college in Seattle." She paused and smiled at Nick when he came to a halt in front of her.
    "Afternoon, Mrs. Seaton. Nice day."
    "It is, indeed. I was just telling Octavia how Gail went off to college in Seattle and ended up married to that investor fellow who left her a couple of years ago and ran off with the decorator who redid his office."
    "I'm afraid I didn't keep up with the gossip at the time," Nick said in a repressive tone that was clearly meant to change the subject. "I had my hands full in Portland."
    "Gail got almost nothing out of the divorce, they say," Edith continued, oblivious to the unsubtle hint. "Word is her husband stashed all his assets on one of those little islands in the Caribbean, declared bankruptcy, and left the state. Never sees his daughter, of course."
    "Poor little Anne," Octavia said.
    "Ready to go?" Nick said pointedly to Octavia.
    She glanced over her shoulder and saw that her potential clients were still contemplating a purchase. "In a few minutes."
    "Gail lost her job in Seattle a couple of months ago and now she's back here in Eclipse Bay. She's living with her folks while she looks for work. Money is tight."
    "She's job hunting?" Octavia looked down the street. Gail's Chevy had disappeared around a corner. "Is that why she was in your shop?"
    "Yes. Unfortunately, I had to tell her that I just don't do enough business to warrant hiring an assistant. I gather she's tried several other places with no luck."
    "Hmm," Octavia said.

Chapter 5
    The middle-aged couple left a short time later with their newly acquired seascape wrapped in brown paper.
    Octavia set the security alarm, locked the door of the gallery, and dropped her keys into the spacious bag that hung from her right shoulder.
    Nick gave her an enigmatic smile and put on his sunglasses.
    She would have given a lot to be able to read his mind at that moment, she thought. Then again, maybe it was better not to know