Letting Go Read Online Free PDF Page A

for a guy.”
    “Well, that’s sexist. If I ’m a guy it doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate art, does it?” Only when she saw his grin, she realized he was teasing her. Again.
    “I didn’t mean it like that. A nd you were right about my poppies.” She blushed.
    “I painted another one,” she said, the words fast as if she hoped he wouldn’t hear her.
    “What do you mean?”
    “Do you remember what you said about the painting I gave to Jamie?”
    “Sure.” He looked at her as if he couldn’t understand where she was going with this.
    “I painted one with a path of trampled poppies winding through the field.” Harper looked at her and he grinned widely. She didn’t know whether because of her blushing or because of what she’d admitted.
    “You were right. It is better like that.”
    “Of course I was right,” he said.
    “You don’t have to be so smug about it,” Isabelle said, to cover her embarrassment. She didn’t know why she told him. She hadn’t even told Jamie. It was her secret. And now Harper’s. She couldn’t trust him not to tell Jamie. He would do it to gloat, if for no better reason. She considered asking him not to do it, but then changed her mind. As well as she knew him, that would only spur him on.
    “Can I have it?” Harper asked after a while.
    “Huh?”
    “The second painting? With the trampled poppies? Can I have it? Please.”
    Her mouth was already open to utter an excuse, say no, but his ‘please’ sounded so genuine that she hesitated. “Why?”
    “It would mean a lot to me.” He looked like he meant it.
    She was torn. She’d wanted to keep it for herself as a reminder that she had to look at things from a different perspective if she wanted to create true art.
    “I promise to hide it from Jamie,” Harper said.
    “Can I trust you?” she asked as if she’d already decided.
    “Yes.”
    “Okay.”
    “Is that a yes?”
    “Yes.”
    He smiled at her, a real, soft smile. “Thank you, Isabelle.”
    She felt warmth in her cheeks again. But this time it wasn’t from embarrassment but from feeling contented. Admired, even. It felt good. Like this was the true beginning of her artistic career.
    ****
    Although Isabelle felt mortified, she had to ask him to stop. Because of the chaotic experience at the airport, she had forgotten to go to the restroom before they left. She really needed to go now.
    “Could you pull over at the next gas station?” She hated how she sounded small and timid, but she knew Harper would make fun of her for this.
    “What for?”
    “I drank a milkshake at the airport,” she said as a way of an explanation.
    He sighed as if she had asked him to carry her all the way back to Atlanta.
    “Girls. ”
    “It’s just a short stop.”
    “Whatever.”
    They drove on in silence and Isabelle was flooded with relief when she saw the sign for the next gas station coming up soon.
    Harper pulled up a few yards from the restrooms and he jumped out before she even opened the door. She felt a light drizzle on her face as she got out.
    “I thought you’d wait in the car,” she said.
    She had to walk slow: she needed to go so badly, it hurt.
    “I’ll stretch my legs. Got a problem with that?”
    She shrugged and turned towards the restrooms. She hoped the interior was cleaner than the outside. The sidewalk in front of the entrance was littered with empty cigarette packs, bottles, tissues and other debris of modern life. If she were blindfolded, she could be convinced that she was already inside, judging by the strong smell of urine. Isabelle made a face but braved the filth and smell. Two steps from the entrance, she stopped and reconsidered.
    “Harper, could you hold this for me?” She took off her jacket, guessing that there wouldn’t be anywhere decent enough to put it down inside.
    He hopped up to her and took hold of the jacket. He threw it across his shoulder.
    “Careful. My phone’s in there,” Isabelle said.
    The inside was just as