Page 18 of The Artist

Alexis closed her eyes and huffed out a breath.“Why are you calling me so early, Mom?”

“Early?It’s eight o’clock.”

“Not in Aspen.Where are you, anyway?”

“Oh, silly me.I’m sorry, Ally.We’re in New York.We got in last night and I guess I wasn’t thinking about the time difference.”

Alexis pushed her red curls off her face.“What are you doing in New York?”

“We’re taking that cruise I told you about.”

After sitting up, Alexis swung her legs over the side of the bed.“What cruise?You never said anything about a cruise.”

“Sure, I did.Remember when I told you Dad and I wanted to take a cruise to Italy?”

“Mom, I was fifteen when you said that.”

“Yes, well, we’re taking it now.”

“How am I supposed to put those two things together?Something you told me nearly fifteen years ago with you taking a cruise now?That makes no sense.”

Her mother sighed.“You really are a bear first thing in the morning.I couldn’t wait though, because we’re boarding in a few minutes.I just wanted to tell you we’re leaving, and we’ll be gone for a month.”

“A month!What did you do with Roscoe?”

“He’s with the Adamses.He’s fine.He’ll get to play with Chloe every day.Nothing could be better for him.”

“So you called me to tell me about the cruise.Anything else?”

“Well, yes.We got a strange call yesterday from some lawyer.He wanted to know if we had any investment in your gallery.Your father told him it wasn’t any of his business and hung up.Still, we thought it was odd and that you should probably know about it.”

“Thanks, Mom.I do want to know about it.Horace has been stepping up his harassment lately, but I have someone on my side now who will hopefully make him stop.”She realized her left hand had formed a fist and made it relax.

“Well, I hope you’re right, dear.I have to go now.Our group is being called.Love you, sweetie.Dad says he does, too.”

“Love you both.Have a good time.”

“We will.Bye now.”

The call ended.

What was Horace up to now?Why would he think my parents had anything to do with the gallery?And what will he do if he learns they do?