Two

AFTER A WEEK of attempting to bask in the glow, Kate and I got back to work. We needed a lot of pictures ready for our shows during the holiday season. Six months away!

It was fun to work on something creative for a change. Working on the mural of Tent City became—not drudgery, but ... The inspiration and creative part was done before I faced the eighty-foot-wide wall. I didn’t want to produce anything on that scale again. I started inspired, became overwhelmed, spent most of my time panicked, and concluded with relief. I don’t want to spend my life in that cycle.

“Will it disturb you if we work in the studio at the same time?”

I was going through my Bacchanalia sketches to decide which piece I wanted to work on next. It was too bad Pet had sold at the first exhibition. I only had photos of it to refer to as I worked on the rest of the suite. I had three canvases that I’d managed to sketch during rainy days and I wanted to bring my models back for additional posing. Today I was working on the overall theme—sketching and visualizing.

“Of course not,” I said, happy to have company in the studio. “Uh ... Who is we?”

“Willow, Sunday, Rainbow, and me,” Kate laughed.

“How did you end up with such a normal-sounding name?”

“Mama got to me before the hippies did,” she laughed. “And who ever said Katarina Mirela Holsinger was a normal-sounding name?” I kissed my lover and we lost our place in the conversation.

“So,” I said, regaining my breath, “what are you four working on?”

“I’m going to try to put them together in a portrait,” Kate said.

“Their whole bodies?”

“Doc wants me to work on capturing more on my canvas than my pinpoint vision.”

“You mean you’re going to paint something larger than the mole next to Rainbow’s left nipple?” I laughed. “I love that piece, by the way. I love everything you paint, Kitten.”

“Yes, but maybe Doc’s right. I need to explore more abstraction and see how the rest of the scene fits. My sibs have agreed to help me.”

“Well, I don’t mind. I don’t have anyone scheduled for posing until next week. I’m just working on the story-flow,” I said.

“You won’t be distracted by their beautiful nude bodies?”

“Nude? You’re doing them nude?”

“Their request.”

“I’ll do my best not to stare ... all the time,” I panted. The three sixteen-year-olds were beautiful kids. They’d relaxed into our household in the month they’d been with us, picking up chores and responsibilities as naturally as if they’d been raised with us. I still loved the image in my mind of the three of them dancing naked in the background as Kate and Wendy danced near my drums. I might have to paint that.

The day in the studio was fun. I had half-a-dozen sketchbooks with roughs and sketches of the various tableaus in Bacchanalia and a large, comprehensive sketch that I was ready to paint on an eight-by-four-foot canvas similar to the mural wall rendering. Something held me back and I hadn’t started yet. I’d erased portions and added new vignettes. It still wasn’t there, but it was getting closer. I wasn’t sure I’d have the whole thing for a show in December, though.

I spent most of the afternoon in my chair in the studio, making notes and sketching out additions. I was perfectly positioned to watch Kate pose and draw the three teens. I tried not to stare, but they were all so damned beautiful. I don’t mean model-like beauty like Lissa, but a fresh innocence that lit their faces when they looked at each other. It inspired me and I started sketching.

Kate had built a set from cushions and the chaise that we often used. It was the kind of scene I’d create, with lots of drapery and soft, low light. Sunday sat with Rainbow lying across her and Willow partially on each of them. They seemed to take joy in being naked together, even though their sister was watching and sketching them. I went for a cup of coffee and passed behind Kate. I laughed to myself. The three were sprawled in front of her on the chair, fully nude, but Kate’s drawing only showed their faces as they looked at each other, talking softly.

As I returned to my chair, Rainbow’s eyes followed me. I went back to sketching and caught a motion out of the corner of my eye. I looked up and saw that Rainbow was still looking at me with an evil glint in her eye. Ever so slowly, her legs parted. From Kate’s perspective, I doubt that she noticed the minor shift, especially as focused as she was on their faces. From my angle, I was looking directly into her crotch. Lying on her left thigh, like an arrow pointing the way, Willow’s erection twitched occasionally. And damn, the kid’s hung! They were aroused, even though they kept their pose for the most part.

We worked for about four hours. As everyone got dressed, I asked if they’d be up for another posing session. I got grins all the way around.

“I think I’ve unleashed monsters,” Kate sighed.

“We think you’re wonderful,” Sunday said. “Thank you both—and the whole family—for letting us come to live with you. Even if Rainbow is a big tease.” Rainbow had the good grace to blush and I promised I’d tell Kate about it later.

“Anybody speak Spanish?” I asked as I opened a letter that had come in the mail.

“Silly boy,” Allie said. “You know that I do. Oh look! I got one, too.” She ripped her letter open and began to read. “La Federación Internacional de Racquetball y la Federación Dominicana de Racquetball tienen el honor de invitarlos a participar en el IRF CAMPEONATO MUNDIAL ELITE DE RACQUETBALL—SANTO DOMINGO.”

“Right,” I said. “What’s it mean?”

“You know what it is,” she laughed. The whole family gathered around and Allison translated. “The International Racquetball Federation and the Dominican Racquetball Federation have the honor to invite you to participate in the IRF ELITE WORLD RACQUETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP—SANTO DOMINGO.”

“Hey, it’s no more expensive than Opens. Just a hundred bucks to register,” I said.

“Registering isn’t the expensive part of this tournament,” Lissa laughed. “You have to get there, first.”

“Where is Santo Domingo?” I asked.

“World map time,” Melody sang. She had her laptop open with a map in one window and airfares in another. “Here we are. That little island just east of Cuba.”

“That’s a long flight,” Allison said.

“You guys have your passports?” Kate asked.

“It’s still never been used,” I said.

“You’ve never been out of the country?” Allison asked. Disbelief was written all over her face. I just shook my head.

“We’re all going to start traveling soon,” Melody said. “But look at these airfares.”

I looked at the screen and gasped.

“That’s one of the reasons I’ve never been out of the country! A thousand bucks just to fly coach for ... what? ... twelve hours? Oh man.”

Chapter 3 »