Joy Argento - Carrie and Hope by Joy Argento Read Free Book Online Page A

topped off the outfit. Satisfied with the way she looked, Carrie went into her art room.
    She was still thumbing through a stack of drawings, when the doorbell rang. Hope was a few minutes early. She put the drawing she was holding back into the big drawer and pushed the drawer closed.
    She went to door to let her company in. “Hi,” she said to Hope.
    “I brought wine,” Hope said, handing Carrie a bottle of red wine. “I hope red goes with Italian food.”
    “Come on in,” Carrie said, stepping back to let Hope pass. “I thought you didn’t drink.”
    “I don’t, but I didn’t want to come empty handed. So I got you a bottle of wine.” She took off her coat. “Is red all right?”
    “You didn’t have to bring anything. But, that was very sweet of you. Yes, red is great and this is a very good wine,” Carrie said, reading the label.
    Carrie took Hope’s coat and hung it on the tall wooden coat rack that stood behind the door. Carrie noticed Hope’s pink button down shirt tucked neatly into her dark denim jeans. “I love that shirt,” Carrie said.
    “Thanks. It’s new. I don’t usually wear pink but I liked this shade.”
    “Very nice. Come on in. Can I interest you in a glass of red wine?” Carrie asked, with a smile, holding up the bottle that Hope just brought.
    Hope laughed. “No, but a glass of water would be great.”
    “I can do better than that. How about some juice or soda pop?
    “I actually prefer water, if that’s all right.”
    “Of course that’s all right. Would you like ice and lemon in it?” Carrie asked.
    “Sure,” Hope answered.
    “Make your self comfortable,” Carrie told her waving toward the living room. “There are some appetizers on the coffee table there so help yourself, and I will be right back with your water.”
      Hope went into the living room and looked around. Several pieces of framed art hung on the cream colored walls. Two were still life paintings and another was a painting of an older woman sitting in a wooden rocking chair. Her gray hair and wrinkled skin gave away her age, but her eyes still held the wonder of youth. A collie sat beside her, her hand gently resting on the dog’s head. A framed photo of the same woman standing beside Carrie hung on another wall. Carrie looked about ten years younger in the photo.
    “Is this your grandmother?” Hope asked as Carrie returned to the room and handed her one of the two glass of water that she held. “Thanks.”
    “Yes,” Carrie answered. “That picture was taken when I graduated from college. The painting of her,” Carrie said turning towards it, “I did a few of years ago. That was her dog, Duchess.”
    “It’s beautiful. All of these paintings are. You are very talented.”
    “Thanks. I have some drawings in the art room that I wanted to show you, too. Some of them are figure drawings. They are really rough, but it will give you an idea of what I want to do if you decide to pose for me. We can take a look at them after we eat. Supper is in the oven now.”
    “It smells wonderful,” Hope said as she sat on the loveseat. Carrie sat down across from her on the matching blue couch. She sipped her water before setting the glass down on a coaster on the coffee table.
    “It should be ready soon. Help yourself to some cheese puffs. It’s my grandmother’s recipe.” Carrie nudged the plate closer to Hope. “How did your visit with your son go?”
    Hope picked up a warm cheese puff. She held it in her hand while she answered Carrie. “It was really nice. He surprised me by bringing home a new girlfriend.” She took a bite of the food she held. “ Mmm , this is so good.”
    “Thanks.” Carrie helped herself to a cheese puff. “So, you didn’t know he had a girlfriend or you didn’t know he was bringing her home?”
    “I didn’t know about her at all. He changes girlfriends as often as I change my underwear…and I do that at least every week.” Carrie laughed. “He doesn’t usually