A Rose To Remember

It has been a hard week moving to a new city, and a new house. I have an art show coming up that I’m not ready for and all these boxes to unpack. I was beginning to think I’ll never get it done.

“There's the doorbell. I hope it's the cavalry coming to help me.”

Thank God! It's Benita, my new neighbor, we met two days ago when I moved in. She is a kind and fascinating lady, she owns a smoke shop. She has her niece running the store so she can be semi-retired. She is an elderly lady with a smile that lights up the room, and I love to hear all her stories. Benita has seen how stressed I am to get my house unpacked and set up. She has offered to come and help me today.

Benita brought lunch with her, so we sat down to eat before tackling the rest of these boxes. She told me about the man that lived here before me. His name was Justin, he was an author. They were good friends and spent a lot of time together. She was crushed when he died of an accidental overdose. She said he had been hiking with friends and fell and hurt his back. The doctor had put him on pain pills and muscle relaxers. Justin liked to drink and ended up taking too many pills with his alcohol. Benita said he had published his 9th novel, and it was a hit. She is going to bring me a copy to read.

Thanks to Benita, I have everything put together now, allowing me to finish getting ready for my art show. There will be very influential art critics there to see my work. This art show can make or break me.

I still need a big showpiece for the show. I’m stuck, and I don’t know what to paint. I set up the canvas getting ready to paint, praying I can come up with something…..nothing, not a damn thing! I’ll go to the Italian restaurant that Benita was raving about and get dinner. Maybe getting out of the house and having a good meal will get the creative juices flowing.

I walked into the Italian restaurant, it was like stepping into little Italy. So authentic, and the food smelled amazing. I was seated immediately and served water and breadsticks with the menu. I ordered lasagna, a salad, and a glass of wine. They treated me like royalty. This is a great restaurant to have a romantic dinner with someone special. I've been so busy with my career, I haven't given a thought to how lonely I've been.

When I arrived home, I found Justin's book tucked inside the screen door. I put my pajamas on and poured a glass of wine. I got comfy on the couch and started reading the book. It was so good I couldn’t put it down. I ended up reading it cover to cover.

I woke up on the couch, it was noon. I went outside to the back porch with a cup of coffee. The roses needed pruning, I started working on them. They were beautiful red roses, maybe I can paint them. I was busy with the roses when I heard the side gate open. I thought it was Benita. When I turned around it was a man, he startled me.

“Hello, my name is Jay. Sorry, I scared you. I wanted to stop by and welcome you to the neighborhood,” said Jay.

“Hello, my name is Lilly. Nice to meet you, Jay,” said Lilly.

He was a very sexy man, I was quite attracted to him. Jay helped with the roses, and we talked for hours. It was like we had known each other for…..ever. We talked about my upcoming art show. I finally mustered up the nerve to ask him if he would let me paint him, he agreed.

We went into my art studio, I set him up to paint. It was magical! It was like my brush knew every stroke to take. In no time, the painting is done. I couldn't believe how great it turned out.

“This is it! This is the painting I needed for my art show.”

I turned around, Jay took me in his arms. We looked at each other, and I melted into him. Those blue eyes of his captivated me, his kiss filled me with longing. We made love right there in my art studio…again and again.

I woke up naked in my art studio. Finding a single red rose beside me. I got up and looked everywhere for Jay. He was nowhere. I was feeling confused, asking myself if this really happened or….. was it a dream. I turned around to see the painting. Yes, it was real! The painting was as magical as I remembered.

I took a shower and made breakfast. After all that amazing sex, I am famished.

Benita came over to ask me if I had time to read Justin's novel. I told her how much I enjoyed it. I told her what had happened last night. She gave me a shit-eating grin and wanted to see the painting. I led her to my art studio to show her.

I am shocked when she let out a scream.

“It’s Justin! That is a painting of Justin!” said Benita.

“Benita, It can’t be….. he’s dead.”

I told her he said his name was Jay, not Justin. Benita showed me Justin's novel. His name in the novel was J. Bermingham. I hadn’t noticed. She said he used a pen name when he wrote his novels. His privacy was important to him. If you noticed, his picture is not in the book either.

I have never seen Justin again, but I think of our magical night together often. It was pure magic. I know Justin still comes to visit me. He leaves me a single red rose.