Canvas of Dreams

A new beginning

4 am Mark wakes up, feeling like he has slept for days. His clothes from the night before are splayed over his bed where he undressed, being too exhausted to discard them in the laundry basket as he would usually do.

Eager to take on the day that lies ahead, he gets out of bed and heads toward the bathroom to shower. A grin plasters his face when he notices a smudge of faded red lipstick still on his lower lip from the heated kiss between him and Kathrine last night.

After showering, he heads downstairs for a quick breakfast and coffee before going for a jog down to the lake and along the shoreline, needing to burn off the excess excitement he feels as memories coupled with the idea of seeing her again flood his mind.

For the past two years, he believed that he would never feel love again. Whenever a woman looked at him he would see Emily's betrayal playoff in front of his eyes, instantly killing whatever chance that woman might have had. How all of that changed in a matter of hours is beyond his comprehension, but what he knows for certain is that he fell hard for Kathrine.

When He returned from his jog the sun was beginning to break the horizon, poking its golden rays out from behind the mountains across the lake.

After another shower, a quick look at his schedule and Mark was off, taking a leisurely route through town before reaching the hotel, doing his best to avoid passing Emily's apartment.

"I didn't think I'd see you here so soon," Cheryl said, greeting Mark at the elevator when he exited.

"I wanted to get a headstart on the day is all," He replied.

"So, how was the date?" Cheryl asked. Her curious smile outshines the LED lights of the gallery.

"It was amazing, I owe you big for that restaurant reservation. Come to think of it, we have the rest of the day open after we visit your gallery. How about I take you out for a coffee and a slice of pie?" Mark asks.

"That sounds great, especially now that you're back from your two-year tour of war," Cheryl mocks.

"Was I that bad?" Mark asks, faking concern.

"How honest do you want me to answer that? Anyway, I have your painting stored in the lobby, do you want to drop it off on the way to my gallery?" Cheryl asks.

"Yes, thank you. Will we use my car today? I have a few things to take care of and can use your opinion on it, once we're done with the work at your place of course?" He replies.

"Shouldn't I be the one to make all the requests?" Cheryl teases.

"Hey! I'm the one that makes you money," Mark retorts as the two exchange laughs.

With the painting safely loaded in the back of Mark's SUV the two of them start their trip to Cheryl's gallery, checking in on sales and orders, rearranging some of the older pieces to make room for others and ensuring the the task list for the coming week is updated for Cheryl's receptionist.

"Where to now?" Cheryl asks as she locks up.

"Well, first I need to drop off the painting, then I need your help with decor ideas for the house. I'm planning on moving back into town," Mark replies as he escorts Cheryl to the car.

"An artist that needs help with choosing colours and fabrics, just doesn't sound right," Cheryl mocks.

"I just want a woman's opinion, is all. I haven't been in there in two years, God knows what state of chaos that house has found itself in by now," Mark answers without humour in his tone as memories of that time flood his mind.

The auction finished earlier than expected. On the way home from the gallery, Mark decided to surprise Emily with some wine, her favourite Thai take-out from the local supermarket and a couple of different chocolate bars. It was something of a tradition to have supermarket take-out for a small celebration in their household ever since Emily moved in after college.

The strange car in the driveway did not bother Mark as much, he was used to Emily having over friends at odd times, he did however find it odd to see that no lights were on except for their bedroom, Emily always kept a few lights on whenever he was not at home.

As he entered the front door his world started crumbling, he could recognise that giggle anywhere, and whenever the giggle stopped, a moan of pleasure followed.

Mark set the bag of wine and snacks down gently on the kitchen counter and quietly made his way towards their bedroom where he came to a halt in front of a closed door where he stood for a minute, deciding in agony on what to do next.

The door's key was in the lock, they left it there for when they were both away they'd know where it was to lock the bedroom door and make it harder for someone uninvited to reach Mark's safe. Mark quietly turned the key, careful not to disturb his girlfriend and her lover, locking them in. Next, he took his phone from his pocket and switched on his voice recorder, just a few seconds was all he needed to capture the sound he once loved but now despised.

With his jaw clenched, Mark desperately fights back the urge to barge into that room and tear everything and everyone apart, instead, he makes the decision to call up the one person in this world who he had left to trust.

"Meet me at Oakley's," Was all he needed to say for Trevor to know that it was urgent.

"Half an hour Marky boy," Trevor's response came as Mark dropped the call.

Next Mark sent a text to Mr. Radcliff to which he attached the recording. "Come and collect your daughter," Was all it read.

Halfway to the bar, his phone rang through his car's stereo.

"Mr. Radcliff," Mark answered the call

"You okay son?" the concerned voice came through.

"I'm good, sorry to be a bother this late sir," Mark replied.

"How about Emily, is she okay?" Radcliff asked sounding even more concerned.

"Have you spoken to her yet?" Mark asked.

"No, I called you the moment I got the text and that f*****g recording," Radcliff answered, failing to hide his disgust.

"If you hurry you might still catch the two in bed, she didn't even realise I was home. you might have to kick in the bedroom door to get them out though," Mark replied before dropping the call.

Tears ran down his cheeks as he drove the last couple of miles to Oakley's where Trevor was already waiting with an order of whisky in the parking lot.

"You okay bro?" Trevor asked when he saw Mark wiping his face, "What happened?"

"You'll know soon enough," Mark replied as he took the drink Trevor handed him before making his way inside.

when they reached the bar his phone rang. "This happened," Mark told Trevor as he put the phone on speaker and placed it on the counter.

"Babe I'm so sorry!" Emily's voice came over. "Please help, my dad is going to kill him!" she calls out again.

Mark remained silent, sipping his whisky as Trevor sat wide-eyed next to him, even the bartender was struck silent as he heard what was happening when he neared them to ask if they'd like anything else.

"Baby, just say something, please, I'm really sorry, I was stupid, it won't ever happen again I promise!" she calls out again as Mark hears the sound of glass breaking.

"Are you done packing?" That is all Mark replied before he dropped the call.

"I'm sorry bro, I never expected this horse s**t," Trevor finally said after a couple of minutes of silence

"Here, on the house man," The bartender slid a tall shot of tequila across the counter. "It fixes nothing but it might make it feel less broken tonight."

When Mark and Cheryl entered the house they were both amazed at how clean it was despite what had happened on the last day Mark spent there. While Mark went to the safe to put away the painting, Cheryl made her rounds through the rest of the house so that she could help him with some suggestions for the makeover.

After a couple of phone calls to landscapers and painters, the two of them head out for lunch and discuss the remainder of the day's plans before the last night of the exhibition and auction starts.