“Thank you. It’s my Mam’s. Aislinn is her name and she’s the artist of these fine portraits you’re buying postcards of.” Kira tapped the postcards before sliding them into a small brown paper bag.
“Ah. I thought you might be the artist.”
“I am an artist, but in a different medium.” Kira smiled at him, leaving out any more information. After all, he hadn’t been particularly forthcoming with his own details.
“I’m sure whatever you create must be equally as charming.” The man glanced to the windows where the sky had grown darker. “That’s me off, then. Now, you’ve got my mind on scones. A pot of tea will do just the trick. Have a nice afternoon.”
“Same to you…” Kira let her voice trail off into a question, but the man didn’t offer his name. Instead, he hunched into his raincoat as the first few drops splattered to the pavement.
She looked down at the banknote he’d given her. If she wanted, Kira could close her hand around it to see what insights it would give her on the man who had just held it. It was one of her gifts, passed down to her along with a few other more notable traits; it also tended to be one of the trickier tools at her disposal. Particularly where money was concerned. She’d not only pick up on the man who had just touched the money, but also several people before him. An item that passed through too many hands could give a very inaccurate reading.
“I hope he sticks around,” Kira said out loud to the empty gallery as the skies opened up and rain tumbled down. She could do with a distraction or two, and a very delicious-looking man with a good aura would serve nicely.
Chapter 2
“Sure and that girl is just trying to fatten me up now that I’m off my feet.” Looking every inch a ‘girl’ herself, aside from the threads of grey that ran through her hair, Aislinn studied the basket Kira presented her with.
“True. Better not have any then.” Kira turned, bringing the basket with her, and smiled when Aislinn let out a wistful sigh. “Just admit you want one, Mam.”
“Well, I suppose I do want one. It’s tremendously hard to say no to fresh-baked goods. But maybe you can share with me? That way, I won’t eat them all.”
“If I must, I must.” Kira plopped down on a cushioned velvet chair in a deep mossy green color and handed her mother a scone from the basket, along with a little plate. The bedside lamp, its shade done up in stained glass, cast a rainbow of color across the navy-blue wall. Aislinn lived her life immersed in colors, and that had translated to her decorating style as well. Kira, having inherited some of her mother’s traits, was also drawn to color, but she enjoyed the stark contrast of black and white for her portrait photography. The absence of color could sometimes be as startling as its presence.
“You must,” Aislinn ordered with a smile, and Kira finally picked up her scone and took a bite.
“How’s the knee?”
“You’d think I was an invalid,” Aislinn hissed. “Not only did the surgery go well, but I had Gracie and Keelin up here doing their magick on me. I think my knee is stronger than it was when I was twenty.”
“Likely so,” Kira laughed, “but you know how everyone likes to fuss.”
“I’m going out of my mind, I am,” Aislinn said.
“Dad not letting you out yet?”
“I could run circles around the man. Where has he gotten off to now anyway?”
“Um, I think just to the shops,” Kira lied easily, fully aware that Baird was likely having a pint at Gallagher’s Pub.
“He’s not to the shops. He’s at the pub. And it’s because I’m being a miserable twit, is why. I can barely stand myself, so I don’t blame the man for sidling away for a nip of whiskey here and there.”
“You’re not used to taking it slow.” Kira reached over and squeezed her mother’s arm. “It’s totally understandable.”
“That’s enough of me whining. Tell me how things are at the gallery.”
“Today was slow, but that’s just the weather and the time of year. Online orders are up thirty percent from last month.”
“People are spending their Christmas money.”
“That’s my thoughts. Have you considered gift baskets for when tourist season starts?”
“Gift baskets? With art prints?”
“Well, you know, maybe more like a local artisan gift basket. You can add some of your jewelry, some