The Maureen Persona

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

“It’s gorgeous,” Lenore gasped at the painting as Megan unwrapped it.

“Do you think Gerald and Renee will like it?” Megan asked.

“They’ll love it,” Lenore assured her. “I knew you had a talent for art, but I had no idea you could do this. It’s almost like it’s in 3D,” Lenore tilted her head to the side and took a few steps back.

“If you think this one is good you should see the one I did for the auction,” Megan’s smile broadened.

“I heard about that,” Lenore turned her attention to the open doorway as Jonathon and Edward entered. “The auction is for a charity for kids isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Megan took the painting and placed it back into the oversized box. “It’s a charity that supports a child’s love of painting, among other things.”

“Sounds like something near and dear to your heart,” Edward said as he stood beside Lenore and slipped his arm around her waist.

"It is," Megan confirmed. "Painting is therapeutic for me and I know it can be for others if given the opportunity.”

“Mrs. Honeywell texted me,” Jonathon pulled out his phone and scanned through his phone history. “The third party offered an additional five thousand to his first offer for the piece.”

“The answer is still no,” Megan stated without hesitation.

“That’s what I told her,” Jonathon smiled.

“How much did he offer to begin with?” Lenore asked.

“Twenty-five thousand,” Megan informed her.

“So with the additional five, he’s willing to pay thirty thousand?” Lenore said in amazement.

“And it’s sight unseen,” Jonathon said as he shook his head.

“Do you have no idea who it is?” Edward asked as he started toward the door.

“No idea at all,” Megan shook her head. “But if someone is willing to offer that much for a painting sight unseen they must not have more money than they know what to do with.”

"They can give it to me," Lenore laughed as the foursome stepped into the backyard. "I can think of several things I can spend that kind of money on."

“And what would you buy,” Edward asked Lenore as they sat down in the gazebo overlooking the small fish pond separating the backyards from each other.

"Well one thing, I'd get you that antique Corvette you've always wanted," Lenore said kissing him on the cheek.

“That would be for me,” Edward shot his wife a mischievous look. “What would you buy for yourself?”

“Nothing,” Lenore countered with a grin. “If you’re happy I’m happy, though I wouldn’t be opposed to going on a cruise, as long as it was just the two of us," at that moment Lenore's pocket started to vibrate. Reaching for her phone Lenore glanced at the screen and excused herself.

“I’ve got to say I’ve heard a lot about you,” Edward said as he sipped his glass of sweet tea. “You are not what I expected.”

“What did you expect?” Megan asked leaning back in the rocking chair.

"Well Lenore said you lived in New York so I imagined you to be a typical New Yorker, Proud, bossy, and loud."

“You can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl,” Megan smiled. “I’m sure Lenore had told you about Maureen.”

“She has,” Edward nodded.

“Well Maureen is as close to being a New Yorker as I will ever be,” Megan smiled.

"And Maureen is a Brit," Jonathon said as he looked at Megan.

“That was Gerald,” Lenore said sitting back down beside her husband. “He and Renee are on their way over.”

“It’s been years since I’ve seen him,” Megan shook her head. “I wonder if he’ll recognize me.”

“You’ve changed,” Lenore spoke up. “But you haven’t changed that much. You still look like the Megan Witherspoon we all know and love.”

“That’s because she isn’t Maureen Withers at the moment,” Jonathon chuckled. “She has a completely different personality when she’s Maureen.”

“Why don’t we introduce Gerald and Renee to Maureen,” Lenore suggested.

“I don’t know,” Megan shook her head. “I wanted to leave Maureen behind while I was here.”

“It’ll be fun,” Lenore begged. “Gerald is always bragging about how nobody can pull the wool over his eyes. Besides I’ve never seen you as ‘Maureen’ the famous artist.”

“I guess I could bring Maureen out, if only for a little while,” Megan looked at Jonathon who gave her a grin.

“If you’re up for it so am I,” Jonathon stood and offered Megan his hand.

"Thank you," Megan placed her hand in his. "I need to change clothes first, and wear something more Maureen appropriate."

"This is going to be so much fun," Lenore giggled as she watched Jonathon and Megan head inside the house. "Gerald will never see this one coming." Edward looked at his wife and rolled his eyes.

*

"Gerald," Lenore opened her arms to give her cousin a warm embrace. "I was wondering when you were going to get around to visiting."

“Well unlike some people,” he gave her a sideways glance. “Some of us work for a living.”

“You won’t believe who’s staying in the house next door for the next few weeks,” Lenore wrapped her hand around her cousin’s arm and led him to the sitting room at the back of the house.

Gerald entered the sitting room and was taken aback by the woman sitting on the sofa conversing with Edward, Lenore’s husband. Dressed in a red wrap-around dress complemented by a wide-brimmed hat sitting atop her head the woman oozed sophistication. When she turned to look at him her eyes were hidden behind a pair of oversized sunglasses.

“Maureen,” Lenore stifled a giggle. “This is my cousin Gerald and his fiancé Renee.”

“Charmed,” the woman held out her hand expecting Gerald to take it, which he did and gave it a timid shake.

“Pleased to meet you,” Gerald spoke then took a step back.

“I’m sure you are,” the woman spoke in an English accent. “Come,” the woman patted the empty place beside her. “Sit beside me Gerald, we have much to talk about.”

“We do,” Gerald said as he sat down a comfortable distance away from her and took Renee’s hand pulling her closer to his side.

“But of course,” the woman leaned back and lowered her sunglasses to look at Gerald without the impediment of the shaded lenses disrupting her view. “Lenore tells me you are to be married in a few weeks, is this true.”

"Yes," Gerald looked lovingly at Renee and squeezed her hand. "It's true.”

“I see,” the woman clicked her tongue. “Then there is only one thing I have to say to you,” the woman leaned closer to Gerald and removed her hat. “I’ve got your back.”

“What did you say?” Gerald arched away and stared at the woman as she removed her sunglasses revealing her face.

“Megan?” Gerald exclaimed in disbelief.