Seventeen

“OH MY GOD!” she gasped. She stood studying the painting. “Oh my god,” she repeated. She moved back from the painting and then moved forward again.

“Oh my god.” She sat on the foot of my bed. “She’s crying for you. God, Tony, why is your girlfriend crying for you. She’s begging you. Oh my god.” Tears ran from Beth’s eyes.

“Beth. Hey Dumpling,” I said as I stroked her shoulder. “That isn’t my girlfriend ... exactly.”

“Exactly? What does that mean? Wait!” Beth hadn’t stopped looking at the painting since she sat down. I’d seen her look at my paintings before and she was looking for what I’d hidden. I often put shapes in the leaves of a landscape or hid treasures among the rocks I painted and Beth had become an expert at finding the hidden images. I’d been surprised that, as far as I knew, no one had found the shadowy figure in the doorway of the Rhapsody Suite painting during the gala. I didn’t do it as much anymore, but I knew she’d spot what I’d put in the painting of Allison. “They’re watching her. No. They’re watching you and her. They love her. They love you both. Tony, what happened?”

“It’s not a tragedy,” I reassured her. She could see the images of Lissa and Melody I’d painted into the shadows. They were always there when Allison and I were together. I don’t know if Allison could see them, but everywhere I looked I saw my lovers. I’d painted them into the picture because they were as much a part of it as Allison was. “I’m going to call them now, so please be patient while I get them on the line.”

“Them? You have more than one girlfriend, Tony?”

“Hey, I’ve changed a lot, but I’m still your Pogo,” I said, “just like you’re my Dumpling.” I dialed Melody first and her sleepy voice answered on the third ring.

“‘Lo?”

“Hi, darling. I know it’s late, but I need to get you and Liss on the line and introduce you to someone.”

“It’s one o’clock in the morning,” Melody said. Then she seemed to spring awake. “Is she with you?”

“Just be patient, Meddy,” I said. “I’m going to put you on hold and dial Lissa now.” I did and Lissa was considerably more awake.

“Hello, Lover,” she said. “Kate and I are sitting on the deck watching the stars. Are you home from your party?”

“Hi, sweetheart,” I said. “Yeah. Let me connect Melody. I want to introduce you to someone.” I cut her squeal off before I connected to Melody. When I was sure I had them both I put them on speaker so Beth could hear and I sat beside her.

“Okay,” I started. “Lissa and Melody, I want you to meet my best friend from high school, Beth Carpenter. Beth, these are my girlfriends, Lissa and Melody.”

“Hi, Beth!” Melody shouted. “We saw your picture. Wish we were there with you.”

“Um ... Hi ... I guess,” Beth said.

“Oh yeah, I’m Melody, out in Boston,” she said.

“And I’m Lissa, back in Seattle,” Lissa added. “It’s nice to meet you, Beth.”

“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Beth said. “Are you really Tony’s girlfriends?”

“Sure are,” Lissa said.

“Beth, we’re all in love with each other,” I explained.

“You always were an odd one, Pogo,” she answered.

“Who’s Pogo?” Melody asked.

“It’s a nickname. We grew up calling each other Pogo and Dumpling,” Beth said. “You two are in the background of the picture, did you know that?”

“What picture?” Lissa asked.

“Well, I was saving it as a surprise,” I said. “I’ve been working on an oil painting of Allie. And yes, the two of you are benevolently watching over her.”

“That’s not it, Pogo,” Beth broke in. “It’s not benevolence. I can see the love in their eyes. How do you do it?”

“Do you mean how do we love each other?” Lissa asked. “It’s just so easy.”

“Do you know anything about art, Beth?”

“Wait. Who is that?”

“Oh, sorry. I’m Kate.”

“Are you a girlfriend?” There was some giggling on the other end of the line.