Page 10 of Theo of Golden

“And you are Minnette. Thank you for coming. I was not at all certain you would be here. But I’m very grateful.” He chuckled. “Please forgive me if I am a bit nervous. I’ve been afraid that at seven o’clock a policeman would arrive and put me in handcuffs and send me far away. Instead, I have the pleasure of meeting an angel. I am very happy to see you.”

So “old school,” Minnette thought. And so wonderful.

She detected his accent.

“And it’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Theo.” Any apprehension Minnette might have had about the meeting was already dispelled, and she felt badly that Theo had himself been frightened about the prospect of an unpleasant outcome. “But Mr. Theo, please tell me, why are you doing this? I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t understand why we’re here.”

Minnette had not intended to be so abrupt, but it was the question that had vexed her since she’d received the old man’s letter.

He inhaled deeply and nodded. “Yes, I suppose it must seem a bit strange. If you have a moment or two, maybe I can explain. I don’t mean to take your time if you’re in a hurry. Here is the portrait.”

He gestured toward the wrapped picture.

“Yes, please tell me. I’m not in a hurry.”

They stepped toward the bench. He waited for her to sit first, and then they sat, angled slightly toward each other. The fountain exhaled a silver mist, like fairy dust, as the first bestowal began.

The first of many.

CHAPTER 7

Derrick finally freed himself from Tony — not an easy thing to do when Tony wanted to chat — and hurried back to the sidewalk. It was minutes before seven o’clock, and he knew Minnette would be eager to move on.

When he stepped outside, she was not in front of the book shop where he had left her. He looked down the sidewalk. No Minnette.

Then, looking toward the fountain, he saw them: the old man and the attentive face of his young wife, already absorbed in a conversation entirely their own. The moment had the elements of a storybook: stately oak, gleam of water, pastel hues of springtime, spectral sunlight. Derrick remained where he was and stood out of sight — not that either of them was looking around at the moment — and watched them intently from the thirty or so yards that separated them. After a few moments, he walked inconspicuously to the median and sat on the bench across the fountain from them. From there he continued to observe them through the cascade of water, convinced that whatever else the old man might be, he was not a danger.

“So, why am I doing this? Yes, it is a fair question. I have never done something quite like this before.”

Theo laughed inaudibly to himself, at himself. His smile widened; the lines around his eyes multiplied and deepened as he looked at Minnette.

“And I don’t know that I can tell you exactly how the idea occurred to me or why. When I saw all the faces there on the wall — I looked at them for hours — I felt something for them, as if I knew all of you somehow or wanted to know you. A good artist can make one do that, you know? The display is beautiful, of course — I’m sure you’ve seen it, yes? — but the portraits, at least to me, all seemed to belong somewhere else. Not on the wall of a coffee shop, at least not for long. I intend to buy all of them one by one and send them to their homes.”

He paused and looked at his hands, at the wrapped portrait. Minnette said nothing, so he continued, his voice barely audible above the street noise and fountain. “Well, honestly, I was surprised that so many of the portraits had not yet been bought by their rightful owners, ones like you. Or at least by someone who loves you.”

Minnette nodded, smirked, and rolled her eyes. “Funny you should say that. My husband was supposed to buy mine weeks ago, but he kept putting it off. It is very nice of you to do this. I was a bit suspicious when I first got your letter.”

Theo nodded. “I’m not surprised by that at all, and I am happy for your bravery. Maybe this is a way for me to make some friends here in Golden.”

“You said in your letter that you’re a newcomer here. Are you here to stay? Do you have family here?”

The old man paused and squinted with a tilt of the head. “I’m not so sure. But I’m happy to be here for now, and I like the town very much. Have you lived here all your life?”

It would occur to Minnette later that Theo had artfully evaded her inquiry and somehow kept the conversation focused on her. He was a flurry of questions, all very appropriate and asked in a tone of genuine interest. His eyes were fixed on hers, unwandering, and he leaned toward her in a way that suggested total presence. She told him briefly of her childhood and education, her work as an accountant, her marriage five years ago to her high school sweetheart, and a bit about her life in the community. Her answers were general but enough to paint a picture of her world.

Theo condensed it into a simple summary. “Your life seems like a very happy story, yes?”

Minnette answered hesitantly. “I suppose so. Not perfect, but mostly… pretty happy.”

Theo sensed there was a longer, truer answer. Her voice was tinged with regret but he dared not pry. He would take only what she offered.

“So, Mr. Theo, have you given any other portraits away?”

“My dear, you are the first.” A broad smile covered his face.

“Really? Well, I’m honored. But why me? Why did you choose this one first?”

Theo nodded, gratified by a confidence that seemed, in so short a time, to exist between them.