An Emergence of Green by Katherine V Forrest Read Free Book Online Page A

body grew more acclimated she waded around in unwelcoming foreignness, feeling the water pull on her legs, dragging her steps.
    “We need to be careful today,” Val said, eyeing her. “You don’t have a trace of tan. We’ll stay in the shade.”
    “That’s the deep end,” Carolyn objected.
    “Don’t worry, you’ll be perfectly safe. I guarantee it.” Val waded over to her, steering the green raft. “Go back up the pool steps. I’ll hold the raft, you slide on.”
    The raft was solid support, the front section tilted to form a pillow. “Good,” Carolyn said with a sigh of relief. She paddled carefully, then more bravely.
    Val climbed out, tossed in her raft, dove in after it, hoisted herself onto it, and paddled over to Carolyn, who was laughing delightedly as her own raft bucked in the turbulence Val had created.
    “Sold a painting today,” Val said. “Second one this month.”
    “That’s wonderful. Congratulations. Do you do pretty well with your work?”
    Val laughed. “Not even close. I belong to the great common denominator of artists—few of us in any field ever make much money. I’m always surprised at what sells, though. I never offer Susan anything I don’t think is good, but very often what I consider my best work sits for months.”
    “Who’s Susan?”
    “My agent. And friend. She has part interest in a gallery just off the beach in Venice. She comes from money; she can afford to indulge her tastes—fortunately for me. She shows women artists exclusively, which hurts her business and her prices. Men do rule the world of art, and the majority of them ignore the artistic vision of women. They give validity only to masculine experience.”
    She inspected Carolyn’s shoulders. “You’ve already got a pink flush.” She seized Carolyn’s raft and with her free hand paddled vigorously into the shaded end of the pool. The hand remained on Carolyn’s raft. “Okay? I’ve got you.”
    “Fine. I feel perfectly safe.”
    They drifted into a wall; with a casual kick of a foot Val propelled them away. “Two years ago, Carrie, I had to borrow money from a friend to take Neal to Atlanta for the cremation services for his father. It was one of the low points in my life. Richard’s child support had been erratic, to put it kindly, but at least it did come once in a while. I’d had lots of jobs of course, all of them low paying—there aren’t many opportunities for a woman trained only in the fine arts.” Holding Carolyn’s raft firmly, she pillowed her head on one arm. “But Richard left insurance. Amazingly enough. Two policies, both small, but I’ve managed to keep the money intact. I’m one of the few people besides the rich that high interest rates have helped. It’s not easy, not by a long shot, but I’m damn lucky. The interest pays the rent, a few other expenses. Unless there’s a catastrophe the money’ll be there for Neal when he’s ready for college. I don’t live in terror like I did before. Ever been poor?”
    “Not really. My father left when I was nine and we had to move to an apartment, but we weren’t really poor…But Paul was. He never talks about it.”
    Val nodded. “A child can feel so ashamed. Let me tell you, when you have no money you fear everything. Every little rattle in the car makes your heart stop—you can’t survive in this town without a car. I’m happy I have Neal, but a child is an obligation like no other. Just when you think you can finally buy him a decent pair of pants or take him out for a meal, electricity goes up or some appliance breaks.”
    She sighed. “There were times I’d pray to sell a painting—I didn’t know how long I could put food on the table. Money you can count on, even just a little, can make such an incredible difference…” Intently listening, Carolyn tried to imagine herself alone, with a child.
    Val said, “I’m starting to sell; it’s beginning. We’re going celebrating tonight. Neal’s favorite place is