Page 48 - The Letter By Ann Newhouse

Much to my surprise the gallery owners were very pleased with the first of my paintings. As it turned out they had a client hoping to open an Irish Ale house in the town and they were looking for Irish style memorabilia. My paintings were perfect. As I drove towards the village I decided it was time to terminate my position at the bar, I’d have a chat with Penny then and there.
‘Amber good to see you’, Penny scooted around the tables getting them ready for the lunchtime rush.
‘Penny I need to have a talk with you’, I motioned for her to follow me out back. ‘Amber, is everything all right?’ she asked with a worried frown.
‘To be honest, I have taken on another project and I’m thinking now I may have taken on too much’ I explained about the gallery and how it had always been a dream of mine to paint full time.
‘That sounds wonderful, I didn’t know you painted, I’d love to see your work’, she said with genuine interest, ‘Maybe I could commission you to paint the pub?’
‘Please stay for lunch. We can have a girly chat while I have Rex and Jenny working in the bar. We may be busy tonight and not get a chance’, with a smile and without waiting for me reply she went to the bar to inform Rex that they not be disturbed.
It was nice to sit and chat to Penny, we spoke about our dreams and hopes rather than what other people needed or wanted, it was refreshing, we hadn’t sat and chatted like that in a while. Before I knew it though it was time to start my shift.
‘I’m off’, Rex called as he made a dash for the door leaving a strong aroma of aftershave wafting behind him.
‘A hot date!’, I teased cheekily as Rex squeezed past me.