"I promise." She slid into his arms, wrapping herself around him. "Friends again?"
"Always and forever, friends."
As she began to doze in Kevin's arms, Tanya debated whether to tell him her latest secret, then decided it wasn't the right time. She wasn't certain if it would ever be the right time.
* * *
"Tanya, I have a request," Kevin said. He adjusted the knot in his tie with a critical eye. "I have to leave on business again, but I'd feel much better if I knew where you were. At least some of the time." He turned to her with a smile. "I know your so-called guardians have been gone a lot lately, no?" Tanya nodded, her arms wrapped around her knees, her chin on her knees, curious about the direction his request might take. "I'd like you to come work here, in my villa. It would be wonderful to have a real artist available when I needed her." He grinned. "Yes, needed. I need you to advise me in the selection of the most important pictures, only the best, to include in my books. I'd need your advice on a regular basis." He tilted his head to one side and gave her a whimsical grin. "The suggestions you gave me for the draft of my latest collection earned much praise from everyone who saw it."
Tanya blushed, ducked her head, and grinned in return. "Sure, why not? I'll talk it over with Edda and Charles, though I doubt if there will be any problems. I'm alone in the house a lot lately, anyway."
He nodded, bent toward her and kissed the tip of her nose. "Good. That way, at least, I'll know what you're doing with your days."
The telephone rang, startling Tanya. Kevin lifted the receiver. "Yes?" he said.
He frowned, glanced at Tanya quickly, then away. "What can I do for you?" He listened to the response, stood and turned his back on Tanya. He walked across the room, trailing the phone cord behind him. "I don't know. I'm not sure I want to do that. There's really no reason." Again, he glanced at Tanya. "That's right," he said firmly. "I am." He listened a moment longer, his frown deepening. "If you really insist." He paused. "Yes, the usual. The Grand Palais." He slammed the phone down and stared at it for a moment, then turned to Tanya.
"Business?" she asked.