Life Art

"Oh my God, You've got to be kidding me? You're pimping out your friends to keep your geeks happy now?" Kallah couldn't believe it and shook her head with a half-laugh hoping that Amber was kidding.

"It's not like that," Amber said defensively. "You said yourself you're in a rut and I thought you might like a change of pace. He's a great guy honestly."

"I am sure he is, but I am not sure I am I cut out to be a corporate whore, like you," Kallah replied a little angry that her friend had suggested it.

"Nice. You're all class, Kallah," Amber said stung by her words. "Forget I ever mentioned it."

"Mentioned, what?" Louise asked as she sat with them. 

"My wonderful corporate friend here was trying to set me up on a date with one of the geeks she babysits," Kallah explained.

"Wow! You really do go out of your way to offer full service in your HR department," Louise laughed. "You're pimping for the little brats now?"

"Thank you!" Kallah exclaimed, "It's pimping right?"

"It's not. I just like this guy. He's sweet. Comes from a good family, first time in the big bad city, doesn't know anyone, works a sixty-hour week because he is the new guy and has something to prove to all the other programmers. Drives a Porsche..." her voice trailed off as she left the bait about him being rich out there for them to mull over.

"Weighs two hundred pounds, large right forearm..." Kallah laughed thinking of the geeks she knew at work and mimicked a guy wanking.

"Now, now let's not be too hasty," Louise said with a sly smile, "Exactly where does this Porsche driver live?"

"He is so not your type Louise. He doesn't go to clubs or fabulous restaurants just to say they were thee with whatever celebrity is in town," Amber laughed.

"Urg why are the good ones always so shy and reclusive," Louise lamented, "Oh well did I tell you who I saw in The Zoo last night?"

The fourth of the friends, Donna, arrived and the conversation remained firmly on gossip about their lives where they had been who they had seen and the ever present husbands and boyfriends. The disparity in their ages didn't seem to matter and never truly had, Kallah, the youngest and Amber, the oldest of the group were step-sisters though they had not really grown up together. The two others ranged in the decade that stood between the two. Each brought something unique to their weekly gatherings, and each of them treasured the friendship that had blossomed with the other ladies.

As the raucous luncheon broke up, Amber turned to Kallah one last time and spoke quietly, "One date, I'll even chaperone with Bryan. You'll be surprised, I promise, his mother is some sort of artist too. So you will have something in common at least," she wheedled. 

"Okay, fine, but only because I haven't been on a decent date for forever, set it up and let me know when, my calendar is open most of next week," Kallah sighed rolling her eyes as she finally gave in as she always did with Amber.

"Perfect, we'll go somewhere nice but not too nice, comfortable okay?" Amber knew from experience thatKallah's stubborn, independent streak meant she would want to pay her own way and working as a research assistant did not leave much fun cash after taking out living expenses. Amber certainly didn't want her dipping into the money she had scrimped to save for an art school she had been wanting to go to for years. At least not for a blind date.

*****

Amber had been swift to set up a date; she hadn't wanted Kallah to overthink it and change her mind. Amber and her husband, Bryan, sat in a Japanese restaurant with Mason, her colleague from work. Bryan was his usual genial self and was easily able to find common ground with the quiet man who sat across the table from them and engaged him in conversation. 

Kallah walked in several minutes later smiling and apologising for keeping them waiting. She scooted into a chair but not before the young man seated with her friends had half risen at her arrival. Amber made the briefest of introductions before flagging down a waiter and ordering a bottle wine to share.

"How ya been, Kal-gal," Bryan leaned over and kissed her cheek.

"Pretty good, how's you, Bry?" She asked, "Amber forcing you to dress up again?"

"Yeah, but I scrub up all right so who can blame her," he winked at her. "I'm starving what about you Mason?"

"The menu looks great. Do you come here often?" Mason asked.

"We had our first date here," Amber answered taking Bryan's hand. "He scrubbed up well that night too." She leaned over to kiss her husband.

"Awkward," Kallah gave Mason a lop-sided smile. "So what's everyone decided on," she picked up her menu to browse through it.

"Well, as you have been here before what do you recommend?" Mason asked Amber.

"I love the tempura vegetables, but the Yankiniku or Sukiyaki is good here too, according to the carnivore," she smiled. She wasn't a strict vegetarian but had a preference for those types of meals.

"Oh yeah, Yakiniku for me, that Wagyu they use here is amazing," Bryan spoke mostly to Mason. 

"Sounds good, I'll go with what he said," Mason laughed. 

The waiter arrived with the wine, and they ordered. Kallah was surprised that Mason was far from the shy computer geek she had assumed was to be her date, going by the programmer title Amber had given him. Despite her reservations about this whole blind date thing, she found herself liking Mason more and more as the night went on. He was easy to talk to and didn't seem to have any agenda of his own that Kallah could see.

"So have you heard yet?" Amber asked Kallah during a brief lull in the conversation.

"No, but I am hopeful this year. I don't seem to have gotten the automatic Thanks for your interest, but we are not accepting anymore applications letter that usually comes in around this time," Kallah said.

"Well, fingers crossed, Hun," Amber held up her hand showing crossed fingers.

"Every year she applies to attend some summer school for starving artists," Bryan murmured to Mason.

"Not every year just the last two years, and it's not a summer school," Kallah said defensively. "When I was in University, one of my professors talked about a small group of artists who got together at lightning Ridge at the beginning of every summer to offer workshops," She turned to Mason and explained further. "They take about a dozen or so talented people and offer Master classes for a couple of weeks, I heard one of my favourite artists was going to be there again this year, so I submitted a portfolio for consideration."

"She's pretty good," Amber added, "We've got a couple of her originals at home, haven't we?" 

"Yeah, we're just waiting for her to get all famous and stuff, and then we'll sell them for squillions" Bryan nodded and winked at Kallah with a teasing smirk

"What sort of art is your forte?" Mason was genuinely interested.

"I like pastels mostly, charcoals, sketching... painting sometimes. I haven't got an on-going theme, a bit of this and that," Kallah shrugged. "It's one of the reasons I really want to go, plus I could use a break from work."

"My mum dabbles a bit, she is more of a sculptor though, says she likes making the stone softer," Mason said, "She used to drag me through art galleries until I got old enough to rebel against it. I miss it now and then though. Maybe you can show me around some of the good ones here, I am pretty new to this city."

"Oh God," Amber groaned, "Don't feed her addiction she is already disappearing into those galleries far too often for far too long."

"Oh, I am not," Kallah swatted at Amber good-naturedly, "Sure I would like that," she smiled at Mason. "Now if you will excuse me, I need to go to the little girl's room." She stood from the table a little unsteady on her feet and looked at the second bottle of wine seeing that she and Amber had almost finished it by themselves.

"I'll come," Amber sang happily and leaned over murmuring to Bryan before she too stood up and walked with Kallah to the bathrooms. "So, he's nice right?"

"Yes, he's nice," Kallah agreed, "Just don't push it okay?"

"Okay," Amber grinned at her. "Don't get all mad and stubborn the way you normally do when we go out, Bryan is paying the check and the guys are meeting us outside so he can have a smoke before we get in the car." Kallah started to argue, but Amber cut across her words, "Just buy me lunch next time we meet up, okay?"

"Okay," Kallah agreed reluctantly.

*****

Mason had been pleasantly surprised by the blind date setup by Amber. He had agreed because of the relationship Amber had built with him since she had head hunted him from a smaller southern firm he had joined after leaving university. She had helped with his move to the northern city and had taken an interest in his life in general. When she suggested a date with a friend of hers, he had been sceptical. If a girl needed her friends to set her up on a date there had to be something wrong with her he had thought.

He had liked Kallah though; she was bright and funny, not to mention cute. He had called her the following day and setup a date for the following Saturday afternoon. She had suggested the Gallery of Modern Art, which she had called GOMA at first, confusing him. He felt dumb as she explained the acronym. She had just laughed and said she had forgotten he was not from the city.

He had decided not to be dumb again and had done some research about the city in which he now lived. He had liked the location of GOMA and began to look at the fact that it was directly across the river from the city as well as being nestled at the edge of the Southbank Parklands. There was plenty to do if the initial unchaperoned date at an art gallery went well, and they wanted to continue on into the evening.

Mason wasn't exactly the shy guy Amber thought him to be. He was just more a quiet watcher who liked to be comfortable in any given situation or conversation before saying anything. His father had always said it was better to be thought a fool than open your mouth and prove it to everyone. He smiled at the memory. His father had been an island of sanity in his crazy childhood with his free-spirited, eccentric mother who embraced life as an adventure to be lived to the fullest.

It was only as a young adult that he had come to know she was manic. Her highs were long and full of happy times, and her lows became the darkest of times for the whole family. Luckily, with his father's help those times did not last long and after seeing the toll it took on her family she would always agree to go back on her medication.

Believing she would be amused that he had a date with an aspiring artist, Mason decided to give his mother a call. She had laughed merrily that what he had rebelled against most within his own family was what he now found attractive in a possible partner. She had lamented once again the squandering of his own artistic gifts in favour of the lifeless metal and plastic boxes of his computers.

Mason had rolled his eyes and refusing to engage in the years long debate over where his talents lay and asked if she had heard of a summer school for budding artists at Lightning Ridge. 

"Oh Mason, finally!" his mother exclaimed. "But if you want to pursue your talent you don't want to go there, it's just an excuse for some so-called artists to get away for a few weeks and take advantage of their protégé's."

"Don't they invite applications, and run workshops?" Mason was confused wondering if perhaps he had misheard Kallah's explanation.

"Oh, they have to do that in order to get the whole thing funded by the arts council, but generally speaking, only their protégés succeed in winning those coveted spots, I go out there, now and then as a guest artist, but only for a day or two. It's not my scene," she explained. "Your Uncle Paul is the arts council director out there."

"Uncle Paul?" He questioned and hearing a murmur of assent went on, "Well surely if you are doing a workshop it can't be all about affairs of the heart, or dirty weekends in paradise," Mason said with a laugh, "Though with Uncle Paul you would never know for sure."

"I understand that young men don't like to think of their mothers as mere humans with needs, but I have hardly been a nun since your father's passing," she said, her voice fading off as if suddenly reminded of a painful event.

"Ew mum please stop! Plus Dad told me that you only ever had sex once, and that was to conceive me," he chuckled, "and that is what I choose to believe is still the case. The alternative is just all sorts of wrong." Changing the subject quickly again, he asked if she had any pieces on show at GOMA that he could check out while he was there.

Easily distracted she had spoken not only about a piece she had on display there but the work of other friends and artists that she knew and admired. It was much later when he finally said good night to her. He loved his mother, as any son would he supposed, but it had taken him some time to recover from his crazy childhood of artist colonies and his mother's bohemian friends inhabiting their home and stealing any form of normality his father had tried to give him.

At the onset of puberty, he had begun to rebel against anything art related and had gratefully gone off to boarding school far from the roller coaster ride that accompanied living with his mother, Patrice Gallagher: Sculptor. His father had died in a freak car accident during Mason's first year at university, and he had returned home to grieve and look after his mother during that dark time in their lives.

During that time, he came to realise how deep the friendships and feelings of his mother's friends were. He came to understand his mother better through her friends and their interactions, and he came to respect the dedication and emotional fortitude it took to put themselves on public display for other people to judge through their work. He knew he was not that brave or talented despite his mother's protests.

The small group who had stayed to rally around Patrice and her son were incredible at knowing when to push them into the living world again and when to sit back and let them remember and grieve. When it came time for him to return to university he knew he did not have to worry about his mother, his father had seen to it that she had a good agent, and a better lawyer who handled all their finances. She had her friends and a relationship with him that they both enjoyed far more than they had in years.

His thoughts went to the girl he had just met, and he wondered if she was brave with her art or if she was like so many modern artists who thrived on the shock value and revelled in public outrage as much as the art world's praise. Time would tell but what little he knew of Kallah he liked and was looking forward to getting to know her better.

*****

Kallah sat on a stone bench in the terraced garden outside of the northern entrance to the gallery of modern art. She loved it there looking out over the river where the city reared up on the far bank, all stone and glass reflecting the sun's rays back into her shaded spot. She looked at her watch. It was still early, but she looked around just in case Mason too had arrived with time to spare as well.

She looked down towards the parklands and imagined in her mind's eye the bright sails that would be being set up for the twilight markets that evening. She loved poking around the markets; all sorts of strange and unusual items and people could be found there, from palm readers to doll makers, musicians to aromatherapy oils and massages. Maybe, if all went well, they could wander through the markets after the art gallery and pick up something to nibble on as they walked around. That would be preferable than an awkward dinner for two, which was far too much like a real date than what she wanted right now.

He seemed like a great guy just as Amber had said, but she was always cautious when things seemed too good to be true. He was reasonably good looking, in that unkempt sort of way, wealthy, according to Amber, and had a good understanding of art and artists, what more could she ask for in a man? She knew there had to be some major flaw there, so she wasn't about to rush headlong into anything before she found it. ` "Hello there," Mason said as he stepped down onto the terrace she sat upon sitting beside her.

"Hi," she smiled, "They're setting up the twilight markets, have you ever been?" She pointed out towards the few brightly coloured sails being erected in the parklands.

"No, but then there is a lot of the city I haven't seen yet," he smiled. "I am looking forward to seeing the gallery though shall we go in?" He held out his hand to help her up from the spot where she sat.

"Sure," Kallah said and took his hand standing beside him. Neither let go of the others hand as they walk toward the gallery entrance. Mason opened the door and held it open for her, and they entered the cool air conditioned interior. Taking maps they began to walk around the gallery following the suggested tour. Mason talked easily and confidently about some of the works, and Kallah had begun to think he had done some research on the gallery in an effort to impress her.

Kallah sat on a padded bench in front of a sculpture and stared at it. She knew very little about the artist as she was quite protective of her private life, but she had seen her once as she had visited her art college and spoke to a packed auditorium about her work and how she had been discovered. Mason did not join her right away preferring instead to linger at some small sketches on a wall near her position on the bench.

When Mason finally approached her he stood with his back to the sculpture and asked if she was ready to move on to the next gallery. Kallah looked at him quizzically as she stood, "You don't like this sculpture?" 

"Far from it, I love that sculpture," he finally turned to look at it, "But I don't want to dissect and discuss it."

"How come? You have no problem talking about the other pieces you like or even the ones I like for that matter," she was curious.

"Amber told you my mother was an artist right?" It was Mason's turn to look confused.

"Yeah..." she blinked as realisation dawned on her, "Your mother is Patrice Gallagher?"

"I thought you knew," he laughed, "I mean isn't that why you sat there for so long?" She shook her head and gave a half laugh with him. "Amber said she told you my mother was an artist," he said again.

"No, just and artist and you said your mother dabbled in art. She certainly didn't tell me who she was, and you made it sound like she painted as a hobby," she turned to look at the sculpture again. "The other artists you talked about while we walked around, do you know them too?" She asked feeling a little guilty that she had thought he was just posing with some information gleaned from the gallery's website.

"Some better than others, but yeah, I know a couple of them. Most I have never heard of though, you know far more about this place than me," he shrugged as if everyone knew a few contemporary artists.

The tour around the rest of the gallery changed after that moment with Kallah listening to what Mason had to say about certain artists more carefully. Mason had enjoyed her obvious surprise; he had worried that knowing who his mother was had influenced her decision to see him again, but Amber had probably not recognised the name. After all, his mother was not particularly well known outside of those involved in the art world.

They had stayed within the gallery until almost closing time with Kallah wanting to revisit a few of the earlier works he had commented on and asking further questions about the artists. He spoke easily about growing up around a close-knit group of artists who, while not all successful in their chosen mediums, had friends of friends who were or who mentored and inspired them. Kallah became enthralled by the whole idea of growing up in such a household and how wonderful it would it have to be surrounded by all that talent.

"You never wanted to follow your mother into the arts?" Kallah asked as they finally left the gallery.

"Good God, no," Mason chuckled. "My creativity lies in other directions. I seem to have been talking about myself all afternoon, Let's go grab a drink, and you can tell me all about you and how you followed in your parents footsteps." He continued to chuckle as she pulled a face at him.

Holding hands they crossed the street to a small wine bar and took a table on the sidewalk to enjoy the early evening breeze as the sun began to set. They ordered a bottle of a local variety and Kallah, quickly reached for her purse, "Let me get it," she smiled, "I've enjoyed this afternoon. Most people get impatient with me in galleries, so I owe you one for letting me take my time."

"Sure," he said, "I'll get dinner if we stay and you know somewhere close by that's good."

"That's not necessary," she smiled and saw a momentary flicker of disappointment cross his face, so she went on. "Maybe we could go down to the twilight markets and see if they have something yummy there to nibble on while we walk around? I mean if you don't have other plans."

"My night is wide open, so we don't have to do this polite dance. I am happy to follow your lead," Mason said brightly and picked up the bottle and glasses as she paid for it and poured them both a generous measure.

"I love the twilight markets here. They have such a good atmosphere," she smiled. "I still can't believe your mother is Patrice Gallagher. I saw her speak once when I was at college. She was so passionate about her art."

"Passionate is a good word. Probably better than some of the words I would use," he chuckled. "Enough about me and my crazy mother though, tell me something interesting about you?"

"I'm afraid I am very average and boring. I had a normal home and upbringing, well in this day and age. My parents divorced when I was about six, and both remarried. Amber is my step sister though we never lived in the same house. She was already out of school and out of home living her life by the time our parents got married. I never did great at school but didn't fail; I went to art school with grand ambitions and found that there were a lot of people with more talent and drive than me," she gave him a lop-sided smile.

"Art is in the eye of the critic. What some people love others hate," Mason shrugged. "I am sure you are talented or you would never have got into art school in the first place."

"I just want to know more, learn more, do more," she grinned, "It's why I want to go to the Lightning Ridge Summer Workshops so badly."

"Have you heard yet?" he asked thinking about what his mother had said.

"No, but it's a bit early, I should hear in the next month or so, going by last year," she sighed. "I suppose Amber told you that she thought I was crazy."

"Crazy people make the best artists as far as I can see," he laughed genuinely. "My mother is a prime example."

"She seems perfectly lovely to me. Sane, respectable but passionate about her style of art," Kallah defended the woman she didn't know and had only seen once in an auditorium full of art students.

" Amber has told me as much about you as she has obviously told you about me," Mason said seriously, "Which by the sound of things isn't much. I didn't even know you were sisters."

"We don't think of ourselves that way, more close friends," Kallah smiled, "I love her and her pushy ways. I would never have gone on a blind date normally, but I am glad she nagged me into a date a computer geek. You aren't exactly what I was expecting."

"Me too," Mason said genuinely enjoying Kallah's company. "I guess you were expecting a pocket protector and horn-rimmed glasses, something terribly stereotypical like that?"

"More like two hundred pounds and a large right forearm," she laughed as he spluttered the mouthful of wine he had taken. "Well, if you needed Amber to set you up on a date I had to wonder why."

"Well, I am new in town and I am not into loud bars or night clubs. I am too awkward to pick up a girl while doing the grocery shopping or on the bus to work, not that I take the bus," he seemed a little taken aback, but recovered with, "I guess I wondered the same thing about you. Why haven't you got someone in your life to stop Amber from setting you up on blind dates?"

"I'm fussy," she laughed and sat back in her chair with her glass of wine as if daring him to argue with her.

"Can't be too fussy, you're here with me aren't you," he laughed with her. She poked her tongue out at him and drained her glass of wine. They continued to banter through another glass of wine each talking about their lives and getting to know each other a little better.

Feeling relaxed and in a buoyant mood they walked hand in hand down to the parklands and the brightly lit kiosks of the twilight markets. They walked slowly, stopping often to look at the various displays. They found a small barbeque hut and got some chicken skewers to nibble on as they wandered through the myriad of brightly lit stalls.

Kallah became entranced with some beautiful handmade candles while Mason spent a lot of time talking with a garrulous old man who created puzzle boxes that appeared impregnable until the secret revealed itself. They barely noticed the passing of time as they moved through the rows of stalls until they finally broke free into the fresh air and walked back along the river bank back towards the gallery.

"Did you drive," Mason asked into the silence that had fallen between them.

"No, I hate parking in here. Amber said she could pick me up if I gave her a call. I hadn't realised we would be out so late though," she laughed. "This has been one of the better dates I have been on in a long time."

"I can take you home," he said lightly, then seeing her thoughtful expression added, "No ulterior motive, just a ride. It's only our first date after all."

"Okay, but it's our second date if you think about it. When do those sort of expectations kick in?" She teased.

"I believe there is a third date rule," he said seriously, "but then I am the socially inept computer geek your sister had to nag you into dating. So what do I know?"

"You're asking me, a fussy spinster?" Kallah laughed.

"You should call Amber and let her know you're fine, and then we can take our time walking back, and I will drive you home," Mason said guiding her to one of the benches that lined the river bank. He waited for her to dial the number and greet Amber before stepping a few feet away to give her some small amount of privacy. He could hear her laughing as she made a quick phone call and raised an eyebrow at her as she approached him after putting her phone away.

"She asked if you were coming back to see my sketches," she explained laughing lightly, "I told her you were such a gentleman you hadn't even tried to kiss me yet." Then she placed a hand on his cheek and leaned up to brush her lips over his. "Sometimes it's best to get that first one out of the way," she whispered and smiled. 

"That was nice," he murmured, "But I am sure we can do better than that for a first kiss." A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, and he lowered his mouth to hers again. Kallah closed her eyes feeling the strength of his arm holding her close and the slow kiss deepening as she parted her lips under his. It was like one of those movie moments where the girls' foot popped up except of course hers didn't in reality. Instead, she melted under the intensity of that one long slow kiss. 

"Wow," she said a little breathlessly, happy that his arm had remained around her waist. "Better indeed." He grinned down at her before hugging her to him. 

"This had been one of the better dates I have been on, so relaxed and enjoyable. Thank you, Kallah," he finally let her go but kept an arm around her waist as they began to walk again. 

"I know what you mean," she smiled, "It's been easy just to be myself with you. I am glad we did this rather than going out to dinner or some typically awkward first date."

"We did the awkward dinner with Amber remember," he laughed. "You still owe me a dinner date though. When you got a bottle of wine, I said I would take you to dinner, and I don't think those skewers we had at the markets count."

"That would be nice," she smiled.

"Any preferences?" He asked.

"Well, as I took over today, with the gallery and markets, you can choose. I am not that fussy really. I would like to know more about what you like to do, unless of course, you really are an axe murder under all that gentlemanly charm. I am a bit squeamish about blood, and it takes forever to get it out of my clothes."

"There goes that idea then," he chuckled. "Okay, something with no blood, I think I can manage that if I have to. Anything else you're squeamish about, heights... bugs... snakes?"

"No, I can handle creepy crawlers if I can see them. Its only when bugs and spiders jump out unexpectedly I get a little worried," she laughed.

They continued to banter and laugh as they walked through the parking garage to his car. Mason opened her door for her but before she could slide into the seat, he pulled her into his arms again and kissed her deeply. Breaking the kiss he smiled down into her eyes and helped her into the car.

They drove back to Kallah's place talking about the city they lived in and where they both lived, which was surprisingly close considering the size of the city. Pulling up in front of her apartment block Mason got out and opened her door for her offering to walk her up.

"That's not necessary," she laughed.

"I don't want to ruin my gentlemanly reputation by leaving you here on the footpath like a stray cat," he took her hand and walked toward the building with Kallah shaking her head. At her door, he kissed her goodnight in a long deliciously slow melding of lips as he held her to him. He had a way of making her feel like a weak-kneed schoolgirl being kissed by her crush. She felt the fluttering butterflies in her tummy increase with the strength of his arms around her and his passionate kisses.

"So I'll pick you up tomorrow about three, we'll do something fun before dinner," he murmured into her ear as he hugged her close. 

"Mmhmm," she mumbled not questioning that tomorrow was too soon for another date.

"Good," he kissed her lightly a last time, "Sweet dreams, Kallah."

"See you tomorrow," she smiled and he turned bounding back down the stairs.

*****

The following day they had gone zorbing. She had started to protest, but he had teased her into being strapped into a big ball and being flung down the hill. She loved the experience so much that they did it several times each before he took her to a tiny restaurant right on the beach that she had never heard about before but had the best seafood around. They had then taken a romantic walk along the beach before returning to his car for the trip back to the city. Once again he had been a gentleman leaving her at her door with the promise to call her the following day.

They spoke each day and went to a small gallery opening for a friend of his mother's together during that first week. The following weekend they had picnicked in the botanical gardens where they ran classic movies in a public open air arena. Once again throughout the weekend the chemistry had been electric between them but aside of the kisses and some chaste fondling it had gone no further. They spent Sunday rummaging around in the country style markets on the northern edge of the town.

The weekly lunch with her friends had been excruciating for her as they dissected her first dates on so many levels, and she had realised that the issue of his wealth had never come up. She paid for things they did just as he did and aside of the sports car he drove he was never showy about it. He treated her like a lady and there seemed to be no expectations about when she would sleep with him much to Donna's disgust. 

"You have to sleep with him soon, if you're not compatible in bed then you will have wasted all this time on dating a dud when you could have been looking for someone who could rock your world," she had counselled Kallah.

"Well, judging by the kisses and well... stuff, I don't think that is going to be a problem," Kallah had blushed deeply and rolled her eyes at her friend. In her mind though, she wondered if she should test that theory this coming weekend. They had well over the obligatory three dates after all. She smiled to herself and considered how she would bring it up with him.

She decided she would make a move this weekend if he didn't, and considered whether she could suggest a weekend at home to him or maybe offer to cook for him on Friday night and see where it went from there. She called him after her lunch with her friends and smiled as she heard his happy greeting.

"Hello cutie. How was your lunch?" Mason had asked cheerfully

"Great thanks!" Kallah replied equally cheerfully. "I was wondering, would you like to have dinner at my place Friday night? We could rent a movie and have a quiet night in, just the two of us."

"Are you planning on getting me drunk and having your wicked way with me?" Mason chuckled.

"Maybe," she felt herself blush but it was what she wanted after all.

"That sounds wonderful, but there might be a slight hiccup to your plans to take advantage of me," he continued to laugh, "How about I pick you up after work this afternoon and explain it to you."

"Okay," she said dubiously and began to worry that he didn't find her attractive enough to sleep with her. 

"Great. Pick you up around five thirty out the front," Mason hung up. If he had picked up on her tone, he hadn't shown it, and Kallah worried through the afternoon if he thought she had come across as too pushy or he didn't like her that way despite the passion of their kisses.

At five thirty, she was waiting outside auction house for which she worked. She heard his car before she saw it and smiled as she climbed in beside him and leaned over to kiss him. 

"Where are we going?" Kallah asked as they pulled onto the freeway.

"My place," Mason said without looking for her.

"Oh," she was confused.

"There is something I have to show you before the weekend," he chuckled, "I am not planning on taking you up on your offer to get me drunk and take advantage of me, well, the afternoon." Kallah blushed and gave a small laugh. They pulled into the driveway of a well-kept house in a green leafy suburb that ran along the river. He rushed to open her car door for her and led her into the house through the back door.

It was remarkably clean and tidy for a bachelor's house she thought amused with her stereotypes of how bachelors lived, but she followed him through the kitchen to the living room where he guided her to the couch. She watched as he walked to an ornately carved chest and withdrew several albums before sitting beside her.

"You went to art school, so I know I don't have to explain this, but I feel like I should," Mason began sounding unsure of himself, "Naturalism as a style of art means being honest about a subject rather than idealising it."

"Yes realism. I did a paper on it," Kallah frowned wondering where this was going.

"Well, my mother and her friends tend to take the natural part of naturalism or realism a little more than most. Natural fibres, a natural diet, and being au natural," he smirked and handed her the top album. "This is my family, such as it is with assorted adopted aunts and uncles, etc...."

He sat back and watched her face as she opened the album and began slowly to turn the pages. She smiled after the initial shock, and he saw her linger over a photo in which he had posed. He wasn't embarrassed about it, but it felt odd. He had grown up around nudity; it was commonplace in his life and he thought little of it. For him, nudity was quite different and distinct from intimacy but he had found that very few of the women he had dated viewed it that way.

Mason like Kallah, and with her suggestion that perhaps it was time to become more intimate, he had decided to get this out in the open. Also, because he knew without a doubt in his mind that his mother would show up unexpectedly at the worst time to see a girl who was taking up so much of his free time and past girlfriends and not reacted well when confronted by his mother and her friends.

"These are wonderful," she finally whispered, "Whoever took them has a great eye." She held out her hand for the next album. "That's the first time I have heard nudism explained in terms of an art movement though," she grinned at him. "Has it ever worked for you before?"

"No," he said softly, "Mum and her friends usually scare away the girls I have dated. They can be a little over the top and pushy. Most girls think the nudist part is just weird, and more often than not too weird for them, but that eccentric bunch can be a little hard to deal with on a lot of levels." He took a deep breath realising he had made his point without having to say his heart had been broken more than once, and this was a major reason for it in his eyes.

"I've never dated anyone before who knew the difference," he chuckled, "I tend to stay away from those temperamental artistic types." She smacked his arm lightly and continued looking through the album. 

"So you're telling me about this now because...?" She asked focusing on the photos.

"Well, you intimated that you wanted to move this relationship along so to speak, and I thought you should know what you're getting into," he shrugged. "If we visit there," he pointed to a photo of a large country house, "Clothes will be optional, and if mum comes here and I have no doubt she will sooner rather than later she won't bother covering up much here at home."

"I see," she looked up at him. "I modelled for a life art class once. I think nudity isn't as shocking as it used to be." She wasn't sure about how she felt about visiting the home of a nudist, but it certainly didn't change the fact that she liked being with Mason a lot and wanted to see where it went from here. She didn't have hang-ups about her body, so it didn't bother her that much."

"So you aren't going to make polite excuses to leave now and then not return my calls because my home life is a bit dodgy?" Mason asked seriously making Kallah burst out laughing. 

"Were you hoping to scare me away with this little disclosure? You're going to have to do better than that of you plan to give me the brush off. Subtleties don't work on me," she continued to laugh.

He grabbed her then, taking her in his arms and kissing her deeply and murmuring, "You had your chance and didn't take it, now you're stuck with me."

"Until you run away from my crazy family," she grinned and leaned in to kiss him again.

Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her gently but passionately once again. Kallah wrapped her arms around his shoulders matching his kiss with her own their tongues rolling in a delicious dance with each other. He pressed forward until she lay back on the couch, her head resting on the well-padded arm. Mason kissed down her neck and torso as he unbuttoned her shirt leaning back slightly as he peeled it to the sides revealing a pale pink satin and lace bra holding up her generous breasts.

Manoeuvring his hand beneath her to work at the clasp, he lowered his head to the soft flesh of the tops of her breasts kissing lightly there. The tight band of material holding the bra in place finally came free, and he pushed it up and exposed her chest fully to him. He took his time exploring each nipple, sucking them between his lips into his mouth and rolling his tongue around them sending tendrils of pleasure through Kallah. She closed her eyes and arched her back enjoying the sensation as he lowered his hands to begin to remove her tight pencil skirt without her getting up.

Lost in the attention of his skilful hands and mouth Kallah revelled in the feelings he gave her. She felt the snap of a button giving way and the zip of her skirt lowering. She wiggled and manoeuvred at the touch of his hands so that he could move it down her bare legs and discard it. Placing a supportive hand behind her back, Mason pulled her up slightly and kissed her deeply as his free hand removed her shirt and bra and lowered her back to the couch hovering above her still fully dressed.

She moaned softly into his kisses as his hands explored her breasts and body lowering down to the panties she still wore. Her hands tried to lift the shirt he was wearing, so he sat up looking down on her nearly nude body and grinned as he pulled it over his head discarding it to the floor beside them. Remaining sitting he lightly ran his fingers up her ribs and around the swell of her breasts causing her skin to become goose-bumped. Looking up into his eyes Kallah could see the desire in his eyes, and it made her melt inside with the need that rose quickly within her, she reached for him then and he leaned back down to kiss her.

She ran her fingers down over his chest to the belt of his pants, and he rolled them both slightly, so he was lying alongside her on the wide couch. As she fumbled with his belt, his hand dipped under the band of her panties and began to rub gently at the smooth outer lips of her pussy. They continued to kiss as Kallah finally broke through the confines of Mason's pants and began to massage his cock through the soft cotton of his underwear. 

Mason's fingers began to move and press in under the folds of flesh in her pussy. He noted how wet she was from his teasing of her body, her pleasure even more evident to him now than the soft moans and mewling noises she made. He was enjoying this first slow exploration of the girl below him, and he ran his fingers over her swelling clit, smiling at the quiver it elicited in her body. He continued to tease her as her hand moved below the waistband of his underwear to circle his cock and stroke him gently eliciting a low groan of his own.

Kallah moaned and bucked as he left his thumb to rotate and tease at her clit, the fingers of his hand curling around her pussy and pushing one inside. Using their hands alone, each began the rocking, pumping motion of sex until with two fingers crammed into her tight pussy Kallah arch up and back calling out her orgasm to the room and shaking with its impact. 

Mason swallowed her cried with deep soul-searching kisses until she bucked up hard against him, and they fell to the floor below the couch. Grinning having fallen on top of him, Kallah began to follow the path that he had taken on her body. She kissed down his neck as her hands worked his pants down over his hips. She kissed down his chest as he stroked her hair, manoeuvring to kneel beside his legs and pull both his pants and underwear away. He lifted his hips and kicked the pants away as they reached his ankles.

His more than ample cock stood up from his groin proudly, and she reached out fondling gently and guided it to her lips. Surprising him, she did not take it immediately into her mouth but rather extended her tongue and licked from under the head of his cock, down the shaft and over his balls making him groan deeply with pleasure. She repeated the motion in reverse and swirled her tongue around the tip and flutter her eyelashes as she looked up at him. Over and again she teased him until finally she lowered her mouth over his cock and began to suck.

It took only a few minutes before he groaned and pulled her up wrapping his arms around her he rolled her to her back practically tearing her panties from her squirming body. He entered her without preliminaries and began to pound long deep and hard into her willing body. Kallah wrapped her legs up around his hips, overwhelmed by the aggressive passion in his fucking she rocked her hips to meet his thrusts and mewled loudly in pleasure.

"Fuck!" he roared as he came minutes later. Pushing into her harder and harder until he finally collapsed on top of her wrapping his arms around her. She buried her face in his shoulder breathing heavily and holding him tightly as they both came back down to earth. Mason rolled off her to his back letting her breathe again and smiled. 

"Wow," she breathed, "I was beginning to think you didn't want to sleep with me after your reaction to my invitation to dinner on Friday. I guess I got that wrong."

He chuckled and rolled back toward her kissing her deeply, "I've wanted to do that since the first night we met. Speaking of dinner though I am starving, come on let's see what's in the kitchen." Kallah stood and went to gather her panties, but he shook his head, "You may as well get used to being naked at home with me if we are going to be a couple." He grinned at her and raised a questioning eyebrow.

"I can handle it if you can." She replied with a grin to equal his taking the hand he held out to her. She hadn't felt this comfortable and confident with a boyfriend before, and she savoured the feeling at that moment. 

"Wait," Kallah attempted a straight face as she said, "Does this mean we can be facebook official?" Mason groaned and rolled his eyes at her. "I'll take that as a yes," she burst out laughing but continued teasing him. "Well, you being a computer geek and all I thought you would want all your geeky friends to know you have a girlfriend."

"They will make me their king, and then I will have no time to spend with you," he teased her in return.

"Better not then, I don't want to be shelved just yet," she winked.

*****

Kallah and Mason spent the next two weeks in the blissful coupling of new lovers, blocking out the rest of the world in favour of exploring each other. They rarely spent a night at Kallah's small apartment both travelling into work in the city and home again together. It had just been so natural and easy between them that when she had her weekly lunch with her friends and Louise pointed out that she should just move in with him and save the rent on her apartment she had blinked in dumbfounded recognition of the situation.

"You're more than just dating; you're practically joined at the hip," Amber had laughed. "What are you going to do if you get into Lightning Ridge this year? Take him in your luggage?"

"I don't know," she said contemplatively. "I haven't thought about it recently."

"It's a lot of money for art lessons, no matter who they are from, but I don't want you to give up your dreams for a guy," Amber said seriously.

"Don't be silly," Kallah rolled her eyes, "If I got in I would go. Of course, I would. I have wanted to go to Lightning Ridge for forever." She wasn't sure it was as important to her as it had been though. She had barely touched her sketch book or pastels in the last month that she had been seeing Mason.

"When was the last time you worked on anything new, even a sketch?" Donna asked shrewdly seeing Kallah's thoughtful expression.

Kallah looked at her friends and laughed, "Oh my God, is this an intervention?"

"No, but we are your friends. We love that you're happy but just don't lose the real you in favour of becoming us," Donna said.

"No matter how rich or well hung he is," Louise put in with a wink making the other girls laugh. The focus then turned to Louise and her latest conquest but Kallah remained introspective and wondered if she was losing part of herself in her relationship with Mason.

The lunch broke up shortly afterwards, and the women went back to work, Kallah though, spoke to her bosses and went home early. She called Mason and told him that he didn't have to pick her up and that she just wanted a quiet night at home alone to catch up on some stuff she had let slide while she had been spending so much time at his place.

He had sounded confused but agreed that a night to catch up on things was a good idea and said he would call her later. When she got home, she gathered her mail from several days of not being home and put it on the table. Then she went around opening every window in the stale apartment. First things first, she thought and began gathering her laundry and starting to clean the small space. She had never thought about just how small it was before spending so much time at Mason's house, but now as she cleaned she was grateful.

The sun had begun to set. She had the laundry in the drier, and her apartment smelled fresh and inviting for the first time in weeks. She went through her freezer and came up with some frozen leftovers to go with a bottle of wine she had and set them to defrost as she finally sat down with the small bundle of mail. Assuming most would be bills she opened her laptop on the table beside them and opened her online banking. She had barely spent anything in the last two weeks, and her account balance looked quite healthy but she also knew that was about to change. Remembering her father's financial advice about paying herself first, she transferred funds into her Lightning Ridge account. She had saved more than she needed to go, but the extra would come in handy for supplies and assorted other things she was sure. She then began to open her mail and pay the bills.

She pulled out the letters that she knew to be the telephone and electric bills first. Toward the bottom of the stack was a plain white envelope that had been addressed by hand, and she looked at it curiously. She couldn't make out the smudged stamp of the sender on the back of the envelope, so she opened it hurriedly hoping it was her invitation to the summer workshops.

"Dear Miss Kallah Sanders, Due to the overwhelming number of applicants to the Lightning Ridge Summer Workshops this year, we would like to invite you to further your application by attending a weekend life art workshop..."

Kallah squealed with delight, racing through the rest of the letter about dates and how to take up the offer made to her. An email address and invoice accompanied the letter, and she quickly accepted the offer and transferred the application fee, quoting the receipt number for them. Grinning from ear to ear she called Mason to tell him.

"Hey gorgeous, I was just thinking about you," Mason answered.

"I have the best news," she blurted and proceeded to tell him about the weekend workshop.

"That's great," he said but his tone was disapproving.

"I thought you would be happy for me," she accused.

"I am, I said it's great, didn't I?" Mason repeated in the same flat voice.

"Then why are you giving me that tone, Mason?" She was confused by his reaction.

"I just, well... I don't think it's the right sort of workshop for you..." he seemed to be measuring his words, and Kallah lost it.

"What I am not talented enough?" Hurt and anger coloured her voice.

"No, I mean yes, I just well, mum said that Lightning Ridge is just an excuse for old men to take advantage of pretty young protégé's and..." Kallah cut him off.

"So I am not pretty enough?" She accused.

"No, that's not what I said," Mason became frustrated. "I just don't want you to get into a bad scene that's all."

"Well, it's too late I have already accepted and sent of the application fee, so you can like it or lump it," she said angrily.

"You didn't even talk to me about it first?" It was his turn to sound wounded.

"Stupid me, I actually thought you would be happy for me," Kallah was close to tears.

"I am it's just..." he tried without succeeding as she cut him off again.

"Forget it Mason, you obviously don't know me at all if you ever thought I would turn down an opportunity like this," Kallah hung up angrily. "Fuck!" she swore at the empty room, "How could he not understand what this means to me," she picked up the letter and reread it, trying to find the enthusiasm she had before talking to him, but it dissipated completely. Amber was right, she lamented, she had been losing part of herself being so wrapped up in Mason.

Forgetting the food she had been defrosting Kallah poured herself another glass of wine and cleared off the table. Gathering her sketch book and supplies she laid them out on top of her old drop cloth and sat looking at a blank page. "I got in on talent not because some misogynistic pig wants to check out my ass," she said to the page and picked up a soft charcoal.

Kallah lost herself in the feel of the charcoal and the lines it created before being startled by heavy thumping on her door. She tried to ignore it, but it was persistent and finally she got up and opened it a crack.

"Let me in," Mason said softly. "We need to talk about this."

"I think you said it all don't you?" She gave him a flat unfriendly stare.

"You wouldn't let me finish a sentence. Now let me in, please," there was an edge to his voice. Kallah stood back and opened the door wider. "I know this means a lot to you, I'm sorry. The first words I should have said were congratulations, way to go, or something like that but they weren't and I can't take them back, but please let me explain."

"I don't understand why you couldn't just be happy for me. You know how much I want to do this," she said frustration clear in her voice.

"I am happy that you are chasing after the thing you want to do. I love that you have that passion in your life, but life art classes made me worry. I have been around artists and creative people all my life and things aren't always what they seem," he sighed loudly. "That's my baggage, not yours and I am sorry. You will be great, you'll be amazing, I know that. I am happy for you."

"Baggage?" She asked softly.

"Mum and I didn't always get on so well," Mason admitted not elaborating much. He watched Kallah carefully, "I really do care about you, and I just... well I would miss you." his voice faded off again, and he took a step toward her. "I know you're talented," he indicated the pictures on her walls that he knew she had done herself.

"You said something about Lightning Ridge on the phone, like you didn't approve of me going there," she hadn't quite let go of her anger about the earlier conversation. "I am not some naïve little school girl I know what life art entails, I am not about to be seduced by anyone in an old paint-stained smock."

"Forget I said anything. It's your career, and you should experience all of it, I was just surprised by your call that's all. You sounded strange on the phone this afternoon and then you told me this news, I just... look I am sorry. I should have been supportive not raining on your parade," Mason apologised again.

"I'm sorry too," Kallah finally gave in, "I haven't had a boyfriend quite like you. Most of the guys I have dated would have been planning a macho bonding weekend with their mates by now."

"Well, that is on my to-do list for tomorrow," he smirked at her. "Right after you tell me when this wonderful weekend begins, and we have the obligatory makeup sex." 

"Not so fast," Kallah laughed and stepped back. "This was supposed to be my night to catch up on things, without distractions."

"I won't distract you much," he grinned and took another step toward her.

"You're already distracting me," she reached out and put a hand on his chest. "I can't think straight when you're around," she shook her head and gave a girlish giggle instantly regretting it as his arms wrapped around her and pulled her close to his body.

"No one has ever fit so perfectly in my arms," he murmured into her hair. If he was honest with himself, he had already fallen in love with her and the thought of losing her over this had felt like a stabbing pain in his chest. Her smile though and more so her giggle had lifted that weight and pain and he found him letting the tension subside as he held her to him. "I need to know we're good," he whispered looking down into her eyes.

"We're fine," she laughed. "It may not have been entirely your fault," she admitted thinking about the lunch that day and why she had come home to be alone. Mason looked at her curiously, and she explained about how she had felt after lunch with the girls and her worry that she was losing an important piece of herself.

"Why didn't you say something, if you felt that way?" he asked softly.

"I guess I didn't realise until it was pointed out. I love being with you, but we have been so wrapped up in each other that the things I would normally make time for I just haven't," she said. "It's not anyone's fault it's just what happened and then I got the letter and you seemed so against me going and doing the weekend down there... I guess I just felt... all wrong." Mason picked her up and sat them both on the couch, kissing her deeply.

"I would never make you choose, and I am so sorry you felt that," he sighed and held her hands in his. "I guess it's my turn to explain properly." He gave a lop-sided smile. "My parents had one of those truly, madly, deeply loves. It was ferocious in its highs and its rocky lows, and as I grew up, I saw how much my Dad compromised for her. I resented her a lot for her erratic moods and locking herself away with her art. For the dramatic tantrums and fights that occurred. It wasn't until after he passed that I began to have an inkling of just how much she had given up for him, or put up with from him."

"They met through my Uncle Paul; he had always been big on the art scene and discovered my mother's talent when she was still in school. They had a brief affair and then she met my Dad. It was the seventies, you know free love, sex drugs and hard rock. Paul never let that sort of life-style go, he is what I would describe as the epitome of a dirty old man; though he would probably prefer the term lothario." He could see her trying to make sense of what he was trying to say. 

"I know I am saying this the wrong way, but a visit from Uncle Paul and his cronies was always a catalyst to a huge fight between my parents. Mum was always a bit of a free spirit, and Dad had always tried to dampen that side of her nature, keeping her to himself out in the country away from her friends in the art world. It wasn't ever overt or mean it is just what happened," he shrugged. "I would never want to do that to you, I promise but onto the point of my story."

"Whenever Mum felt the need to escape she would run to Paul, and whatever artist commune he had to go to at that time. She was deemed too old for him by then probably. He likes his artists and models young and nubile by all accounts. They remained close though, and he always welcomed her with open arms. He eventually settled down and opened a permanent art colony of sorts. He got funding from the Arts Council to hold workshops twice a year and invited his friends to run the workshops. In reality though the artists and Paul himself chose young, good-looking people to attend along-side would be lovers and the whole thing usually dissolved into some sort of orgy by the end."

"And you think if I go to a summer workshop for artists it's going to be like that? You think I am so easily influenced into sex, drugs and whatever else you think goes on at these things? Lightning Ridge has a great reputation, nothing like that goes on there," she shook her head, "and if it did I am a big enough girl to just say no."

"Firstly, yes. I know you are very well equipped to look after yourself, I am not saying that," he said carefully.

"Then what are you saying?" She was becoming angry and frustrated again. 

"I just don't want you to find yourself in a compromising position, because you have ingested something you weren't aware of," he tried to put it delicately.

"Lightning Ridge has a great reputation, you're worrying about nothing," she tried to calm her feelings more than his. "Have a little faith in me."

"I do, I will, I just wanted to explain my initial reaction," he gave up stopping short of telling her explicitly that Paul Vaughn, the director of the Lightning Ridge workshops, was his uncle. She would find out for herself soon enough. "I'm sorry I over-reacted, I had thought that if you didn't get in again this year I could ask Mum and her friends to give you a Master class in what you wanted to do."

"I want to go to the workshop because I am good enough to get in on talent, not because my boyfriend nagged his mother into putting on a workshop for me," she shook her head disappointedly. "Why would you do that?" her voice was scornful and accusing, "You just assumed I wouldn't get in?"

"I didn't mean it like that, shit, I am just trying to help you because I love you, and you keep on throwing it back at me like an insult. I can't believe I told you all that stuff, and you are still acting like the wounded party here. I give up. I've apologised and explained, and you haven't listened to anything I said properly. Maybe you were right... Fuck it, just forget it. I'm done," For the first time in years he had lost his temper with a girlfriend, "You're good enough. I know it. Your friends know it. You just have to believe it. You don't need validation from some horny old prick to make it so. You don't need validation from anyone if it's what you truly love to do!" He got up and walked to the door. 

"You couldn't even see what I was trying to tell you. Call me if you ever work it out," he left leaving her speechless with tears in her eyes.

"I love you too," she whispered at the closed door.

*****

Kallah hadn't called him the following two days. Instead, she had dragged herself through her work days and poured her misery into her art. She missed his presence in her daily life, but she didn't want to give up her dream of going to Lightning Ridge either. He hadn't exactly said, don't go, but he may as well have with his long story and worries about it. She could look after herself; she didn't need him watching over her and telling her what to do. 

He had said he loved her, and she believed she loved him but, she wanted to go, and she wanted him to be happy about it and she knew he never could be. Her mind flipped between missing him and acknowledging that she did indeed love him, to righteous indignation that he more or less said that she had been offered the weekend workshop because she you young and pretty rather than because of her talent. She was miserable, and she lay in bed late on Saturday morning replaying their fight in her mind again and trying to convince herself that it was for the best she found out how he really felt before it went any further.

She heard her door open and sat up bolt upright in bed, relaxing only as she heard Amber call out, "Tell me you aren't still in bed, it's almost lunchtime for God's sake." Kallah groaned and pulled the blankets up over her head. She could hear Amber rustling about in the other room, and she finally got up and walked out with a scowl on her face. 

"This is a bit more of Mason than I ever expected to see," Amber held up a pastel chalk drawing that Kallah had spent the night working on. "It seems he has more assets than I thought or did you take artistic licence with that part of his anatomy." 

"Jealous?" Kallah growled snatching the picture from Amber's hand.

"Not at all, a bit miffed that you didn't call me and tell me something was up though," she turned and took in the mess around her. "He isn't faring much better. He has been positively awful at work. So spill it," she commanded, "You know you want to tell me, may as well get it out of the way."

Kallah let everything out, coming home early after their lunch on Wednesday, finding the letter and her excitement, his reaction and her hanging up on him. Amber just let her talk it out as it ran through her mind. She heard about the uncle and story of his parents that seemed somehow disjointed from the rest of the story.

"Then he said he loved me, and if I ever worked out what he was saying to call him. I am not stupid I can see he was telling me not to go without saying it outright. It was just so weird, he said he was sorry and to go, and then he would warn me about... urg, it doesn't matter I am going. I accepted and paid the fee for the weekend workshop."

"Have you still got the letter?" Amber asked suddenly.

"Of course and an email acknowledging my acceptance and placement in the workshop," Kallah got up and rifled through a basket of mail to locate the letter, "See it's all official or are you going to tell me I am not talented enough to get in as well."

"Did he ever actually say that? Or is that your interpretation?" She looked at the letter and narrowed her eyes at Kallah, "You know you do that a lot assume you know what people are saying and not listen to anything they really are saying. I asked to see the letter not because I don't believe you got in, not because I don't think you have enough talent but because of this," she pointed at the signature on the bottom.

"Now I only got your side of the story and didn't hear all the details I am sure he gave you but it didn't take a genius to work out that his uncles orgy-fest was, in fact, at Lightning Ridge. Why else would he have reacted like that, why else would he have continued to try and warn you after apologising and trying to make it better? If he didn't care so much about you, he would have just let you go and find out for yourself rather than risk another argument."

Kallah stared at the bottom of the letter, Paul Vaughn, Arts Council Chairman, Lightning Ridge. "His last name isn't Vaughn its Bell," she said knowing as she said it that it was a weak argument.

"For such a smart girl, sometimes you can be remarkably dumb," Amber shook her head. "The first thing you thought of when I asked for the letter was that I didn't believe you got into that school. When have I ever doubted that you would eventually? I may not have liked the amount of money it cost, but I never doubted you would. I didn't deserve that, and if you were that quick to judge Mason, I guess he didn't deserve a lot of the things you said to him either."

"Well, it's too late now I should have called him but I didn't because I didn't understand. He should have just told me, not given me a long winded story," she clung to the last shreds of righteousness she could. "I'm still going," she straightened her shoulders, "I can look after myself, I am not that dumb and naive."

"Right at this moment I am finding that hard to believe," Amber gave her a hard look. "Now the only way I will be happy about you going is if he goes with you, so find your phone and call him and tell him what a dumb ass you have been."

"I can't, I just..." Kallah looked lost, "I've left it too late."

"It's never too late. You obviously love him," she indicated the pictures and sketches littering the room, "He has said as much to you. What's your problem? Why can't you admit you were wrong and say that you're sorry?"

"I don't know what to say," she admitted.

"Be a grown up for once and just be honest. You're not at school anymore Kallah. You can't be the over-emotional drama queen anymore. What's the worst that can happen?" Amber began searching the counter top and table for Kallah's phone.

"He can tell me I am too high maintenance and to leave him alone," Kallah finally admitted to herself that she didn't want it to be over. Lying in bed that morning she had still allowed her assumptions to feed the hurt she felt and convince herself that she was better off moving on. Here with Amber as the voice of reason though, she knew she loved him and wanted to work it all out with him.

"I sincerely doubt that will happen. He has been such a sad sack the last two days at work." Amber encouraged her. "Now where is your phone."

"I have it on charge, what about all that stuff you and Louise said at lunch about giving up my dreams for someone else," Kallah said plaintively.

"He's proven the opposite hasn't he. He said he would ask his mother to organise a master class for you if you wanted it so badly," Amber called after her, "Or are you worried that you aren't good enough and trying to blame everyone else for your insecurities?"

"I am good enough I am going to this weekend workshop aren't I?" Kallah shouted angrily.

"Then stop worrying what everyone else thinks and do what you need to do for god's sake. If I listened to everyone else I never would have married Bryan, and that's the best thing I ever did," Amber shouted back at her. "At least you won't have that problem if mother ever meets Mason, shit, he will be treated like royalty." She rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Now who's being a drama queen," Kallah said scornfully. "Everyone loves Bryan."

"Yeah now, but it wasn't always that way," she smiled lopsidedly. "Honey isn't better that we care too much than not care at all. No one wants to stop you following your dreams, but it wouldn't hurt to listen to some advice now and then instead of taking it all as criticism." She hugged Kallah and looked at her seriously, "Call him, you know you have to, if only to apologise for not hearing what he was trying to tell you, because you were too wrapped up in what you wanted to do."

"Couldn't I just text him?" Kallah delayed.

"I give up," Amber fished in her bag and pressed a few buttons, "Hi Mason? Yeah, it's Amber; Kallah wants to apologise for being a dumbass, hang on," she held out the phone to Kallah who gave her a murderous look while taking the phone.

"Hi, I understand now," she said quietly shaking her head at Amber's frown of disapproval. 

"That's not an apology but I will let you get away with it as long as there is great makeup sex coming my way." Kallah could hear the amusement in Mason's voice and smiled. She should have known he would make it easy for her, but she had to tell him what was on her mind first.

"Well, that depends on how you react to the fact that I am still going. I will just be careful and more aware than I might have otherwise been thanks to you," she blurted quickly and held her breath.

"I knew you would still be going. All I wanted was for you to know what you were going to, I didn't want you to get in a bad scene," he said seriously.

"I realise that now," she admitted. "Amber had to take a bludgeon to my ego for a little while for it to sink in, but I get it. I understand what you were saying," she let herself smile.

"I'll be over soon so you can to make it up to me?" he said in a low voice.

"Yes," she giggled, "Just give me time to get rid of Amber and cleanup a little."

"Okay, I will count to ten and then I will leave," he laughed and hung up.

"I guess he is on his way over," Kallah couldn't keep the smile from her face.

"Now thank me and ask me nicely to help you clean up this mess," Amber smirked holding up the nude Kallah had drawn of Mason. "I am not sure he would like me to have seen this."

"I somehow doubt he is that shy," Kallah laughed but began gathering things and stacking them on the table with her art supplies. After a several minutes cleaning she suddenly realised how she looked and gave a cry of dismay, making Amber look up at her.

"I look dreadful. I can't do this now," panic began to rise in her voice.

"Go shower, I'll just clean these few cups and straighten up the last little bits," Amber offered.

"Thank you Amber," Kallah ran her hands through her tangled hair, "For everything."

"You're welcome, but one day you will have to put aside that stubborn pride of yours and admit you were wrong on your own," she laughed.

"I know but until then I have you right?" She hugged the best friend she had ever had, grinned and scooted off to the shower.

"For now," Amber called after her.

Kallah stopped briefly in her bedroom and pulled the bed together and rushed about picking up clothes from the floor. Finally satisfied, though not happy, she stepped into the shower, leaning forward, her hands pressed against the front wall of the cubicle. She closed her eyes letting the hot water cascade down over her head and body.

She heard the shuffle of the shower curtain and felt the presence of someone beside her, watching her. "Good morning," Mason said. "It just so happens that I was on my way over here when you called," She could hear the amusement in his voice without looking up. "Amber is letting herself out."

"Morning," she replied, hearing the rustle of his clothes as he began to disrobe. She still had not looked up at him feeling guilty for their argument after her talk with Amber. "I'll be out in a minute," she mumbled the cascading water taking her voice with it.

"That's okay I will join you. It's perfect finding you all wet and waiting for me," he chuckled. "This is a wonderful way to start making it up to me," he slid in behind her, "Just stay right where you are." Kallah felt the familiar excited butterflies fill her belly as he stood close without touching her.

Moments later she felt his hands on her head, massaging her scalp and temples. He was right behind her, their bodies barely touching. He reached up and unhooked the showerhead, so it dangled on its hose, spraying into the bottom of the cubicle. He took her shampoo and began to lather up her hair, massaging her head again again. She murmured appreciatively.

He first massaged the shampoo into the top of her head, then, with both hands on either side of her head; he massaged back from her temples, behind her ears and down to her neck. He worked his hands back up to her temples, retracing the same route. He reached for the showerhead. Holding it in one hand, he used the other gently to massage and rinse the shampoo from her hair. Once the last of the lather slid down the drain, he turned the streaming hot water on her body.

He aimed the hot water at the base of her neck, and then he swept it from left to right then back again, working slowly out over each arm then back to her neck. He started down her back, lower and lower with each pass. Her eyes still shut; she concentrated on the hot water splashing and streaming down her body, shoulder blades first, then middle back and finally her lower back. It was like a deep massage for her.

He had concentrated on her lower back for a few moments before he resumed his spraying back and forth again down over her ass, across the backs of her thighs and calves, down to her feet. Alternating again, he applied the hot water to her calves, thighs and ass once more in sweeping strokes, standing up as he did finally to redo her back. The water stopped and was once more spraying the bottom of the cubicle. Her skin felt alive, and her body tingled with pleasure. The soft, clean smell of soap reached her as he began to lather up a washcloth. He began to bathe her, starting with her right arm, which, along with her left, remained firmly on the front wall of the shower. 

He rubbed the soapy cloth up her arm to her shoulder then kneaded it back down to her hand, completely covering her arm in rich, aromatic suds. He repeated this on her left arm and then concentrated on her neck and back. She felt the soft cloth slide back and forth over her shoulders; his fingers following close behind, massaging and rubbing, releasing her tension. She tilted her head back slightly, breathing deeply, her mind following the washcloth lower and lower on her back, accompanied by his dancing fingers. He began to knead and massage her ass as he continued his journey toward her feet. He treated each leg individually, the top of her thigh, then behind her knee, lower to her calf and finally her ankle, then starting at the other ankle, all the way up to the top of her thigh. 

Her body was awake and alive, and finally, she stood at his prompting to face him, following his instructions to keep her eyes closed. Not being able to see him she focused instead on the hot steam, the aroma of the soap and the feel of his hands on her body. She felt his hand on her face tracing her eyes and nose, then her cheekbones, lips and chin. The soft cloth continued to apply the lather in small circles over her face, until he tilted her head back, and gently wiped the cloth over the delicate lines of her neck. With the utmost care, he rinsed the soapy film from her face and neck before moving on.

He was mapping her body, seeking out every nuance and curve, watching the way the water and soapy bubbles cascaded down her body. His hands and the cloth went then to her chest, just above her breasts, making long strokes back and forth from the shoulder to shoulder. He held the cloth in the middle of her chest just above her breasts and squeezed it, releasing a rich stream of soapsuds. He watched as the suds slid between her breasts, traveling slowly at first, gravity adding speed. They slithered down her stomach, just to the left of her navel, hitting the top of her thigh. There the suds slipped between her legs and travelled the rest of the way to the floor on the inside of her left leg.

He squeezed the cloth again, this time over each breast, depositing a healthy dollop of suds. She felt his hand delicately spread the suds out, his fingers dancing around her erect nipples massaging her breasts. Her body was tingling again but along with a noticeable quiver now. He spent some time enjoying the feel of the firm mounds of flesh and the hard nubs that almost begged for his touch. He heard her small whimper when he took his hands way making him smile.

He lathered the washcloth once more and returned to her body, starting just below her breasts on the top of her stomach. He washed in circles, around and around, feeling her feminine contours and working his way down, his free hand following close behind. The lower he got on her stomach, the smaller the circles he made. Her breath was beginning to shorten as he neared her pussy, the anticipation starting to take over. He reached her abdomen, just above her pussy, and then he stopped, eliciting another small whimper. 

Her eyes flickered and looked into his face for a moment before he shook his head, "Not yet, close your eyes and relax," he said in a low seductive voice which only made her hotter. 

He switched to her left thigh, starting high on her leg, washing up and down from the top to her knee on the outside working in, his freehand mirroring the washcloth. As he neared her inner thigh, she involuntarily opened her legs, her pussy already beginning to throb. The cloth slid up and down, barely brushing against her lips before sliding back down to her knee. He moved down to her calf, her body aching, wanting more. He bathed her calf and then washed her ankle. 

She steadied herself with a hand on his shoulder as he picked up her foot and massaged and bathed it. He splashed water on it to rinse off the soap to avoid her slipping. Still steadying herself, she lifted her right foot so that he could begin his soapy ascent up her right leg. He lathered up her calf, working his way toward her thigh. He started on the outside once more, long strokes from her knee to the top of her thigh. She opened her legs more as the cloth rode up and down her inner thigh, just brushing her soft pussy lips. 

Her eyes still closed she felt him standing in front of her. He placed the washcloth just above her pussy and with simple wrist movements he began to wash her pussy, sliding the cloth deep between her legs then back up to her lower stomach. She felt herself rocking her hips opposite to the motion of the cloth, rubbing hard against his hand as he moved back and forth and then he stopped. Her knees buckled a little when he removed his hand; she had been pressing into it so hard in her need. 

She stood there waiting, breathing hard and then she felt the soft hot spray of the shower on her chest. He rinsed her off, spraying back and forth, the water and soap cascading down her body, heading to the drain. He rinsed each breast individually his freehand caressing and playing. She felt his mouth intermittently covering each nipple, licking and sucking them, sending tingling chills up her spine. He sprayed and rinsed her stomach, pausing briefly over her pussy before continuing over the tops of her thighs, down her legs to her feet. 

Breathing heavily, she turned and braced herself once more against the front wall of the shower, her body aching and beginning to quiver in heat and expectation. She felt the spray on her neck and shoulders sending hot water tracing down her back in streams. He sprayed slowly back and forth, rinsing the soap from her back, then down over her ass, rinsing and massaging each cheek with his freehand. He rinsed each leg in succession, from the top of the thigh to her feet. 

He let the showerhead dangle as he touched her hips, pulling her back from the wall. She slowly bent at the waist, still bracing herself against the front wall with her hands. He touched his hands on her inner thighs, and she spread her legs wide for him, arching her back. He picked up the showerhead and directed the spray at the small of her back, holding it there momentarily, before drawing a line directly between her cheeks, and over her ass until it sprayed only on her pussy. She pushed her hips back toward the spray and felt his finger find her clit, massaging small circles on it. She felt the hot water pouring into her as he held the showerhead close and the water almost filled her up. She pushed back harder against it and then it was gone. 

He replaced the showerhead in its cradle above her, directing the hot spray at the small of her back. Her eyes still closed she felt a light tapping on her pussy. She knew it was the tip of his cock. He traced her lips with his cock, feeling the water pour off her ass and splash on him. He rubbed the tip up and down the groove between her swollen lips. She felt this and immediately pressed back, taking him deep inside her, squeezing down hard on him. He grabbed her hips and started to pump his cock hard and deep inside her. She met each one of his thrusts by pushing back hard, feeling his cock drive deep inside her pussy while the hot water rained on the small of her back. 

Harder and faster, he pumped into her, the sweet smell of soap lingering in the air. Her pussy on fire and nipples aching for attention, she used the inner muscles of her pussy to grip his cock with each thrust. He reached for her shoulders for more advantage and drove his throbbing cock harder and deeper inside her as he come close to the edge. A few more deep thrusts and then he held his cock inside her, pulsing as he shot hot streams to mix with her cum. 

Kallah pushed back to him, her pussy contracting as she came with him, the hot pulsing water still hitting her back sending water cascading over her ass and his cock and balls. She used the wall to keep on her feet as her legs shook and eventually, she turned and faced him, opening her eyes properly for the first time. She fell into his arms, the water splashing in her hair. They kissed deeply as he held her tight to his body. 

When they released, he smiled at her and said "I've missed you." 

She kissed him again and grinned, "This make-up sex thing is amazing, what can we argue about next." He smacked her ass, it sounding loud in the small cubicle and she squealed more out of surprise than any sort of pain.

"Nothing at all," Mason said softly and bent his head to kiss her again.

*****

Over the following weeks, Mason and Kallah made an effort to give each other the space to pursue the things they liked both together and individually. They met each other's friends properly and became overall less insular while falling for each other more deeply. 

The weekend workshop at Lightning Ridge was less than a week away when they arrived home to Mason's house after work to find a small party in full swing out on the back deck over-looking the river.

"Darling," a big breasted semi-naked woman cried out approaching Mason her arms wide.

"Mum, you should have let me know you were coming?" Mason embraced the woman as Kallah, and the other members of the party looked on.

"What and ruin the surprise?" Patrice gave a full-bodied laugh, "You would never have let me meet this beautiful creature I have heard so much about." She released Mason and pulled Kallah into a close embrace. "It's wonderful to finally meet you," she grinned releasing her.

"Nice to meet you too," Kallah blushed at being hugged so tightly by a practically nude woman. The half a dozen people on the deck, laughing and sipping a sunset coloured cocktail, were all topless and had thin colourful swathes of material tied about their waists haphazardly.

"Why don't you kids go and get comfortable and I will pour you a drink," Patrice suggested, "Then you can tell me why my son has been hiding you from us all."

"It's not as if you live just around the corner mum," Mason rolled his eyes.

"That could be arranged you know," She smiled wickedly.

"Let's go get changed before she decides to move in here instead," he shook his head and steered Kallah away from the festive little group while his mother laughed merrily and returned to her friends outside on the deck.

"At least they tried to cover up a little for your benefit," Mason grinned.

"Lucky you warned me, or I might have done more than blush when she hugged me," she gave a soft laugh, "But when in Rome..."

Mason looked at her with a raised eyebrow as they walked into the bedroom, "You know you can stay fully dressed," He said softly, "Just because they don't, doesn't mean you can't wear a kaftan or something equally covering." 

"After all these weeks of keeping me nude when I am here, and now you tell me I can wear a kaftan?" she smirked at him.

"Not around me!" he amended quickly, "It's never worried me before, but I just feel like I want to keep you to myself for a while longer." He tried to explain. 

"That's all you had to say," she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. His words touched her. They were still figuring each other out, and it was hard to include other people in their world at times. "I don't know about a kaftan but I think my sarong will work and keep you happy at the same time." 

"Remind me to buy you a kaftan tomorrow," he laughed and released her. "Do me a favour?" He asked tentatively making her frown at him.

"Don't mention Lightning Ridge to Mum or her friends. She tends to interfere sometimes, and if you want to do this on your merit and talent, I don't want her to ruin it for you. She won't mean to but..." he shrugged, "I just don't want another misunderstanding."

"Thank you for telling me," She said softly knowing that he still wasn't happy that she was going but not standing in her way. "I won't mention it." She finished wrapping the colourful sarong around her body and tying it in place. Mason had stripped down to his boxers and had stood back to watch Kallah dress.

"You look great," he smiled and swept her into his arms. "Don't get too carried away with that mob though, we both have to go to work tomorrow." He kissed her and smiled, "Now brace yourself." They walked back through the house noting the mess in the kitchen before heading out onto the wide deck.

"Darlings," Patrice greeted them enthusiastically, "Come, come, grab a drink and get comfy so we can grill you." She winked at Kallah as Mason groaned audibly. "You had to know once your cousin met her, that I would be here to see who has been keeping you so busy and by the looks of things happy."

"We've met before," Kallah said taking a drink and moving towards the small group seated on comfortable padded chairs. "I attended a talk you gave to a group of ravenous art school students a few years ago. We spoke after it for a little bit. I was never a sculptor though. I would rather have a blank page to fill than try and get a block of stone or wood to talk to me," she laughed.

"Here, here," a middle-aged man in the party joined the conversation, "I'm David," he leaned forward to take her hand and brought it to his lips. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Stop flirting with my girlfriend Uncle Dave," Mason rolled his eyes.

"A little bit of competition never hurt anyone," David grinned at Kallah who couldn't help but giggle. "These sculptors can be such temperamental people. I'm a much safer bet." Recognition flared in Kallah's mind. She was sitting with David Fielding, and she froze momentarily unsure of what to say and not wanting to come across as a gushing fan of his work. 

"I saw some of your Golden Wattle series recently, but I have always preferred the Music and Angels series," she smiled in acknowledgement of his talent, "They must be amazing in reality I haven't ever made it to see an event featuring them."

"Get Mason to bring you down anytime. I have some that I didn't sell in the collection," he seemed pleased that she had recognised him and knew his work.

Each of the other four members of the party was an artist of some reputation though none as great in Kallah's eyes as David Fielding, and she sat back enjoying their company and sipping on the strong cocktail. She talked about working as an assistant researcher in an auction house and that she specialised in Antipodean and The Angry Penguin artistic movements.

This information was greeted with murmurs of appreciation from the group who then got into a debate over the original ideologies of the Antipodes. The artist who formed the movement did so to protest abstract expressionism extolling the virtues of figurative art and members of David Fielding's family numbered amongst them, so in the end they all deferred somewhat grudgingly to him. 

"So do you dabble yourself in the creation of art or are you more of a connoisseur like most art historians?" Dorothea Blackman asked Kallah.

"I dabble a bit, I like charcoals and chalky pastels mostly but occasionally I take on the oils and canvas when I have time," she smiled. "I thought I might do that next time I have a break from work."

"Good, don't waste your talent like that one," she gave a nod of her head towards Mason. Kallah was surprised by her words but said nothing, instead looking back into the kitchen where Mason stood deep in conversation with his mother and Brandon Smith while they prepared some food for the evening meal. "Now Annabeth, on the other hand, wanted nothing more than to be an artist like her Aunty Pat but just didn't have the talent. It's such a shame really."

Kallah liked Mason's flamboyant cousin Annabeth. To call Annabeth eccentric was to understate it, she owned a gallery they had visited for a show within the first weeks of dating and had since met up with her and her partner for dinner. She smiled at Dorothea, throughout the whole evening, Kallah never gave much thought to the fact that the four older women remained topless, and all six of the group wore only small swathes of material that barely covered their genitals and asses. It was only as Dorothea spilled a little of her drink and mopped her naked breasts with a napkin that Kallah came back to reality.

It was very late by that time she felt the first stirrings of fatigue and yawned discretely. She wasn't discreet enough though, and Mason appeared beside her, wishing them all a merry night and took Kallah to bed.

"I kept waiting for the grilling," Kallah laughed, "but they were all lovely, especially your mum."

"Of course, they were; they kept you busy while they grilled me," he chuckled and rolled into bed taking her in his arms.

"Aunty Dot distracted me by telling me you were wasting your talent, I didn't know you were an artist," she said softly.

"That's because I'm not. I'm a computer programmer. You know how family is, they think everything you do is wonderful," his hands stroked down her sides and back.

"Not my family," she grumbled then amended by saying, "Except Amber."

"So when do I get to meet this family of yours? You have met mine now," He said softly knowing she was not fond of her parents.

"I guess when I get back after the weekend," she said reluctantly, "or when we have time after that." She gave herself a loophole. Mason kissed her then, deeply and passionately, but she put her hand on his chest and broke the kiss, "We can't not with all of them out there," her eyes were wide. 

"Sure we can," he lifted her leg up over his hip so she could feel his erection between her legs.

"No, I really can't it's all I can think about, yuck," she pulled a face even though she knew he would barely see it.

"Fine but I am not going to pretend to be happy about it," Mason cuddled her close and gave a small chuckle, "You'll have to make it up to me."

"Again!" she feigned reluctance but she knew it was always as pleasurable for her if not more so when she had to make something up to him.

The following morning the house was eerily quiet. Kallah wasn't sure where they had all slept or who shared what rooms, but she tried not to think about it as they quietly stole out of the house. The went to have an early breakfast at the Coffee Club before going into work.

Mason took a half day at work and worked from home the rest of the week. Intrigued Amber called Kallah and fished for information about this sudden visit from his mother. They decided to go for lunch even though their weekly lunch with the girls wasn't until the next day.

They had been chatting and eating for some time when Amber said, "Tell me, is she really as crazy as Mason makes her out to be?"

"Gosh no, she's and her friends are just enjoying life. They certainly have some alternative ways but all in all; they are great people," Kallah enthused.

"Alternative how?" Amber pressed.

"Well, they believe clothes should be optional for a start," Kallah whispered.

"Ew, wrinkly old people in the nude?" Amber pulled a face.

"It's not as bad as that," Kallah said without thinking about it, "You don't even notice it after the first initial shock."

"You got naked with them!" Amber laughed loudly drawing attention to their table.

"No, I wore a sarong," Kallah blushed deeply.

"Oh my god, you have to invite me over," Amber exclaimed, "This is too fabulous."

"It's not my house or my family to do any inviting," Kallah grimaced.

"Oh, come on," Amber looked unhappy. 

"I'll talk to Mason," she said around a mouthful of pasta. "I'm not sure how he would feel about it."

"You talk to Mason tonight suggest a barbeque or something, a dinner out at a restaurant, I don't care I just really want to meet them," Amber pushed again.

"Fine but I doubt he will say yes," Kallah said and changed the topic. "Is Bryan finished looking at my old car?"

"Yeah, he says it will be good to go Friday morning he just has to replace the filter or something," Amber said not liking the change in conversation. "I know it's only a weekend but you will be careful out there won't you?"

"Of course," her phone rang and she grimaced and checked her watch. "Sure I will be back in five, I am sorry I just lost track of time, I was having lunch with a prospective buyer who... Yes I am on my way." She hung up and looked at Amber in panic, "They're at work!"

"Mason's mother?" Amber asked incredulously.

"Yes and asking for me by name," she groaned.

The two women grabbed their bags and hurried out of the restaurant and practically ran the block and a half back to the auction house. Kallah stopped at the doorway and looked at Amber, "Why are you here?"

"You had lunch with a buyer dumb ass; it's why you're late remember, duh!" She laughed and followed Kallah through the door.

"They walked into the floor room manager's office together and Kallah smiled, "I wasn't expecting to see you today," she walked forward and kissed Patrice's cheek and then David's. "Mason never said a word."

"Oh, he is busy working on a project. It's good to see him being creative again. He probably won't even notice we've left," Patrice laughed softly. "Now Darling when you told us about your work here, and your specialty in Antipodean art David thought it might be time to get some of his father's stuff appraised. It's just sitting around gathering dust in his storage room," she shook her head, "Such a waste when art like that needs to be looked at and appreciated."

"Wow really? I would love to see them, I mean if you give me the opportunity to appraise them for the auction house," she amended realising Geoffrey Andrews the manager was watching her closely.

"That's why I am here to see if they will let you visit me to appraise them rather than me having to box everything up and freight it here," David said. "I had Hermia email me through a few photos of some of the ones I have lying around. She's a bit excited that I am thinking about making some room in the old shack."

Kallah approached the desk where he had arranged the photos for her. Amber took the opportunity to introduce herself to Patrice, "Hello, I'm Amber," she said in a friendly tone.

"Hello Darling, are you a friend of Kallah's?" Patrice shook her hand warmly.

"Yeah, I have known her for a long time now. I know Mason too, I work with him," Amber laughed, "I introduced the two of them."

"Oh, well you're the one to thank then. I haven't seen Mason quite so happy in a long time," Patrice said quietly, a smile lightening her face." He has even started a project for the first time since he was a boy."

"He is working on a few projects for work from home, but I am not sure any of those is his, per se," Amber seemed confused.

"Oh no, a sculpture, he works in wood, says it feels alive under his hands. He never like the stone I work with, complains it is too cold and hard," she laughed, "I like it that way, like it's a frozen moment in time that I am creating."

"I didn't know he was a sculptor," Amber said confused.

"More of a carver but he's very good. He just hasn't shown any interest until..." she looked over at Kallah. 

"I don't think even Kallah knows that. Or if she does she didn't tell me, and she tells me everything," Amber frowned. "She is quite good too. She had an invitation to some workshop out at Lightning Ridge that's apparently extremely hard to get into." 

"Well, well, they didn't tell me that," Patrice's whole demeanour changed as she said, "I guess we all have out little secrets, the question is why?"

"So darling, what do you think, would you like to travel back with us on Friday? David lives quite close to our little farm," Patrice said walking over to the desk. 

"I can't this weekend I am sorry I am going to a wo... world away. I can't change the booking sorry, but next week sometime or the following weekend, I could come with Mason maybe," she offered helpfully.

Amber realised as Kallah stumbled over her words that she had said the wrong thing. They didn't want Patrice to know possibly because of Paul Vaughn and what Mason had said about his workshops. She looked at her watch and grimaced; she had to get back to work.

"I'm sorry I have to get back to work, call me Kallah," she said giving her a strained look before turning to Patrice, "It was lovely to meet you I am sure we will see each other again. Sorry to interrupt your meeting Mr Andrews, I only came to make sure she wasn't in trouble for my delaying her over lunch, and I am sure had we met it would be a pleasure." Amber smiled at David.

"Good to see you again Amber," Geoffrey nodded at her. As soon as she got outside she sent Kallah and Mason a text message confessing her disclosure. "I am not sure why you didn't tell her, and I didn't realise it was a secret, but Patrice knows Kallah is going to Lightning Ridge, so sorry."

"Shit!" Mason cursed loudly and stormed out of his makeshift studio in an old garage back into the house. He stared at his guests narrowing his eyes. "You couldn't have stopped her just this once?" Mason shouted at the startled faces that looked back at him once he had looked around and confirmed that his mother and David were both missing.

He picked up his phone and called his mother, infuriatingly she did not pick up. He called Kallah's phone letting it ring out twice before she picked up on his third call. "Hey Gorgeous," he said as she answered controlling the anger he felt. "I need to speak to mum urgently, and she isn't answering her phone, is she still there?" He waited as Kallah passed over her phone and heard his mother's uncertain greeting. 

"I asked you not to go there today. Why would you do that?" Mason demanded.

"David wanted some appraisals and who better, I thought..." she began weakly.

"If you think I am mad now try me if you interfere with Kallah's trip out to Lightning Ridge. There isn't a bridge built that could cross the void that would open up between us," he threatened.

"Darling, I don't think..." Patrice tried again.

"Don't you get it mother? It doesn't matter what you think now, if you can't listen to me about going there today why would I listen to you? This is exactly why I don't tell you anything anymore, the first little bit of leeway you get; you go too far, every single time. Tell you what, prove me wrong, don't say a word about Kallah going to Lightning Ridge to a single soul."

"That's not very fair," Patrice said through gritted teeth.

"Isn't it?" She was silent. "If I lose Kallah because of your interfering mother..." he left it hanging.

"Okay, we will talk when I get home," she said finally.

"Put Kallah back on, please," he said shortly. He waited as the phone passed between the women. "Hey gorgeous, I'll pick you up after work and you can start making last night up to me," he smiled hearing her giggle and agree on the other end. "Good, see you about five thirty then." He hung up and turned to his mother's friends who had listened to the whole conversation. All people he had known as Aunts and Uncles his whole life and who he looked on as a family.

"I love Kallah. She has wanted to go to Lightning Ridge for a long time. I have warned her about what happens there and to be on guard. I swear if any of you meddle or help my mother to interfere even in the slightest, there will be no invitations to the wedding, no babies to spoil, nothing! Not just becauseI am angry but because Kallah will never forgive me, and mother can put another notch on her belt, of relationships she has ruined" he shook his head at their bewildered looks and went to have a shower.

He knew he had over-reacted, but he couldn't help it. Memories crashed down on him at that moment, and he could see the new life he had made for himself here, far away from his crazy family about to degenerate into the series of bad scenes his young life had been. He cursed himself for trusting is mother with a key and an open invitation to his house but he had thought they had finally moved past all her games. "Shit, shit, shit!" he let the words reverberate in the shower stall.

Shutting off the water, she towelled off and pulling on a pair of boxers headed back downstairs to apologise to the people he loved and had treated badly. He walked into the living area; only James had remained sitting there, but he looked up and smiled as Mason entered the room, indicating a couch for Mason to sit on.

"Look I am sorry about earlier, I over reacted but it's just..." he ran his fingers through his hair.

"You are so like your father," James laughed. "You are a passionate man. All of your emotions on the surface, quick to anger, quick to love but equally quick to calm and forgive. We know you were just blowing off steam. So come show me this masterpiece you are working on while we talk and wait for your mother to come home and tell you she is sorry, yet again."

"Nice try Uncle Jimmy, but I am not ready to share yet," Mason chuckled. "Why does she keep doing this, he shook his head. It's not even that I care so much that they went there today, I half expected she wouldn't listen to me."

"So what's the problem then?" James asked into the brief pause.

"Kallah wants to go to Lightning Ridge, to the summer workshops. I didn't think she would get in, I mean we all know Uncle Paul has his own agenda there," Mason almost groaned. The thing is she got offered a weekend workshop to further her application..." James attempted to stifle his derisive chuckle and let Mason keep talking.

"When she told me, I wasn't as thrilled about the idea as she had thought I should be, and I said some things I probably shouldn't have," he admitted. "We didn't speak for a few days, it was hellish, and I realised that I had already fallen in love with her then."

"So she is still going to this weekend workshop then," James asked thoughtfully, "Better a weekend than a week or month. I am sure it's all on the up and up, Paul usually has someone he has been grooming for a while in mind each year to fill the role of model and muse."

"Yeah, that's what I told myself," he gave a lop-sided smile, "She is not some star-struck immature girl who would get sucked in by his name and connections so while I was not exactly happy that she was going, I wasn't going to interfere in any way. He amended himself after a moment, "I promised I wouldn't interfere in any way."

"I see and Patti, the ultimate meddler, knows now?" James watched as an anguished looked passed over Mason's face, and he nodded. "That's hardly your fault now is it?" 

"No. But you know she won't be able to help herself, and Kallah is sensitive about doing this on her talent. She doesn't want anyone there to know that we are dating," Mason explained. The older man nodded but said nothing and they lapsed into silence.

"Come on ready or not you need to show me what you are doing in that shed, it's probably the one thing that will stall your mother's good intentioned interfering, if it's got half the passion in it I assume it has, that is," James stood and stretched.

Mason knew it was true; his mother could be obsessive about any little project he attempted, especially if he asked her advice, but he really wasn't ready to share this, he wasn't sure he ever would be. The risk of letting his mother see it was that she would take over, get too involved and then the passion he felt for it would dissipate, and it would be yet another unfinished relic for her to lament over.

"Nah, it's too personal to let mum take it over," Mason shook his head.

"Geez kid, tell you what, final offer, show me, and I won't tell her where her phone is hidden," James grinned. "It'll be our secret and you can rest easy we will make sure she doesn't call Paul, I swear. Dave isn't a moron he will bring your mum straight back after that phone call you made earlier."

"It's barely more than at the idea stage; there is nothing to show," Mason tried to put him off once again.

"All the more reason to show me," James laughed not being deterred, "Hurry up before your mum gets back." He began walking toward the back shed.

They were still in the back shed when Patrice and David arrived home, but they hurried out and back into the house so see them. David was enthusiastic about Kallah's talents and her eagerness to visit his home and appraise his gallery pieces. Patrice was quiet not looking directly at Mason as if hoping to avoid the conflict she knew was coming.

True to his word James had taken things in hand when Patrice arrived home. She was suitably demure and apologetic and swore that she would not interfere with Kallah's ambition to attend the summer workshops at Lightning Ridge. Mason was dubious but left to pick up Kallah from work entrusting his Uncle's to keep a lid on his mother's capriciousness.

He pulled up in front of the auction house and reached over opening the door for a smiling Kallah. "Hey, gorgeous," he greeted her.

"Hey handsome," she smiled leaning over to kiss him, "How's your day been?"

"Drama filled. How about you? David showing up at work must have been a surprise," he said tentatively not sure if she thought it was a good or a bad thing.

"Oh yes, some of the pieces he has in his collection are amazing, I can't wait to see them in reality. Pictures are great and all but to stand before a canvas and be able to look at the brush strokes would just be amazing. I told him we would come down for a long weekend soon. I hope you don't mind," she looked up at him with her enthusiasm plain on her face.

"That's great," he laughed, "You can poke around that dusty old house and I will catch up with some old friends."

"You don't think your mother will do anything to ruin my chances to get into the summer workshops?" she asked tentatively acknowledging the text she got from Amber and his strange phone call earlier that afternoon.

"No, I've made it clear that you want us to stay out of it, and by us I mean all of her friends as well," Mason answered with a hard tone in his voice. He may have defended her dream to attend the workshops, but that didn't mean he was entirely happy about it.

"Thank you," she said quietly and reached out a hand to stroke his thigh as they drove. "So back to my place so I can begin making last night up to?" Kallah grinned.

"Hell yes," Mason laughed relieved that today hadn't seemed to have fazed her at all.

*****

On Friday afternoon, Mason drove Kallah out to a small airfield to meet the light plane that would take her out to lightning Ridge. Mason had convinced her with Amber and Bryan's help not to attempt the drive out to Lightning Ridge in her old car by herself. So she paid an extra fee that would cover the air travel to and from the workshop as well as supplies whilst there so she only had one small bag of luggage to worry about. Mason carried it for her to a small check in counter.

"Have fun, you'll be amazing," Mason said quietly pulling her into his arms. "I miss you already." She grinned up at him and kissed him hugging him back. 

"It's only a weekend, and I will call you whenever I have time," she laughed and kissed him again. "You have to let me go," she whispered squirming against his arms that still encircled her tightly.

"If I have to," he sighed dramatically making her laugh. 

"I love you," she caressed his cheek and looked into his eyes, "I'll call you when I get there."

"Love you too," he watched as she walked out onto the tarmac convincing himself that she would be fine. 

Kallah looked over her shoulder before she went through the door of the small aircraft and waved one last time. She was excited but not as excited as she thought she would be to be going down to meet Paul Vaughn and the other artists who ran the workshops. There was a small part of her that resented the fuss Mason had created around this trip. His mother had never said a word about knowing and he had been nothing but supportive since that one initial argument, but that had been enough to sow the seeds of doubt in her mind.

She sat beside a flamboyant character called Sally. Sally had turquoise coloured hair, piercings in every conceivable place that Kallah could see, and her clothes looked mismatched and garish. When she spoke though it was with a posh accent and she laughed happily as they spoke about their excitement of being invited to the workshop. There were four other young people on the plane who were as equally enthusiastic and the two-hour flight seemed to melt away as they got to know each other a little better.

The plane touched down on a rural airstrip in what they saw through the windows as the middle of nowhere. No houses or buildings seemed to be in sight just one large steel shed that the plane inched into slowly. They alighted and grabbed their bags heading in the direction instructed and onto a small minivan. The landscape was barren but as they drove the scenery became filled with gum and acacia trees and lights twinkled in the distance against the darkening sky.

When they finally got to their destination the girls piled out in front of an old wide veranda that wrapped neatly around a large country house. An older portly gentleman came out welcoming them with his arms spread wide in greeting.

"Welcome, welcome, come on in and get settled, and then we will do a big meet and greet," he invited, and he showed them to their rooms. There were two to a room and Kallah, and Sally decided to share the first room they came to letting the others sort out the rest. Kallah quickly texted Mason to let him know she was sharing a room with another girl, and she was safe before moving on. His answering message had wished her luck.

Once rooms had been assigned, and baggage stowed away they went to a large open plan living area where several others awaited their arrival. The six newcomers found seats among the others where they could find space and wait for the older gentleman, who Kallah assumed to be Paul Vaughn to get proceedings underway.

"I encourage everyone to get to know each other over the evening meal we have set out for you on the back veranda. There are twelve of you who have been invited here to add to your portfolio's, only four will receive offered places in the upcoming summer workshops," he paused and let that information sink in. "Each of you has a unique style that my colleagues and I have agreed deserved a closer inspection than just what you have sent us thus far."

"I would like to introduce you to your mentor's for this weekend, if you do not recognise the faces immediate I am sure you will recognise the names," he motioned to his left and a dark skinned man stood and nodded to the group. "Kick Richards, Bryce McCabe, Harry Hart and myself, Paul Vaughn." At each man's name a new person stood up and nodded to the group. The shirt Kick Richards wore highly amused Sally but with Mason's warnings reverberating in her mind Kallah frowned at it. A black T-shirt with large bold white letters proclaiming, "White girls can hump" made her uneasy, and she cursed that Mason had put her on edge and tried to get into the light atmosphere of the group.

"Now if you wouldn't mind introducing yourselves and letting everyone know a little of your style," he waved his hand to the girl sitting closest to his left and took a seat. Kallah listened as several girls all stood and introduced herself.

"Most the students are girls," she whispered to Sally as it suddenly dawned on her looking around the room, that only three young men sat amongst the group.

"The guys probably all got a free pass into the summer workshops," she rolled her eyes, "Private school boys clubs, wealth and power can still buy their tickets into anything they want. The rest of us have to pay our dues."

"What about the guys who don't have all that?" Kallah laughed at her new friend's view of the world.

"Not motivated enough to apply or save the cash," Sally shrugged non-plussed before she stood to introduce herself. "I'm Sally," she said demurely, "I am obviously the shy conservative wallflower of the group," she smirked at the gathering. "I admire Kick's shock art greatly but I am not that brave and tend towards more traditional means of making a statement." She bowed and took her seat nudging Kallah into an animated leap from the couch.

"I am Kallah," she blurted as she stumbled to her feet. "I probably admire the work of the Antipodes and that of the Fielding family. I guess I would classify myself as a figurative artist, and I am looking forward to this weekend." She sat as soon as she finished, a little intimidated by the big names of the art world who would be judging and critiquing her work this weekend.

As the last girl finished speaking the whole group adjourned to the rear of the building to a large long table with trestle seating. The table was laden with platters of fruit and salads and an array of poultry and cold meats. Several flagons of wine dotted around the table, and the merriment of the evening began in earnest.

Kallah took a seat close to Harry Hart and several of the other students and listened avidly to the surrounding conversations finding little opportunity to add anything to the constant stream of voices. It was with some relief that Kallah looked up as Paul called the table to attention by tapping his knife on a glass.

"This weekend will go by in the blink of an eye, and we wish to give you all every opportunity to show us your talent and personalities. To that end we have a small evening workshop to start us off, if you will follow me," He smiled benignly and lifted his arms, and the lights illuminating the back veranda changed and swung out into the dark depths of the surrounding landscape. He walked down the stairs and across the well-manicured lawns towards what Kallah could see as she got closer were easels and canvases illuminated by the spot lights that now pointed in that direction.

Beyond the easels was a small dam surrounded by skinny paperbark trees. The tree's wispy branches that hung low to the water created ripples in such a way that the moon that was nestled in a small space between the tops of the surrounding trees distorted in the dam's water. Kallah was entranced and approached the easel that held her name happily. She found herself sitting between a young guy with a friendly smile and girl she hadn't really had a chance to talk with so far.

Kallah studied the supplies, oils, a palette and a variety of brushes and other bits and pieces. A picture was already forming in her mind of just how she would like to capture this scene when her hand curled around a small bundle of pencil thin charcoal on the bottom of the box making her smile. She began to outline her idea on the canvas losing herself in the moment. Bryce McCabe walked between her and the girl beside her and smiled at them both before motioning the guy on Kallah's side to move closer.

"This weekend is not about playing it safe, it's about stretching yourselves and how you view the world around you. Each of you have impressive portfolio's that you sent in with your applications, it's why you are here. I will be your mentor for the weekend, and I want you to immerse herself in the people and the landscape that is this little piece of paradise," he said with authority. "I would like the three of you to each get one of the places available in the upcoming summer workshop," he said including the young man on the other side of Kallah.

At that moment, there was a squeal of excitement, and three naked women ran and jumped into the cool clear water of the dam followed by a strolling Kick Richards. Bryce sighed audibly and nodded toward the noisy group, "You may, of course, approach any of the mentors for guidance, but I will be consistently monitoring your progress and offering constructive criticism as will the other mentors will to their protégé's."

"Thank you," Kallah said simply in response. "It will be wonderful to work with you."

"Of course, it will," he winked at her. "Find a point of reference something unexpected and bring it to the fore, surprise me with what you see before you," he turned and walked over to where Paul stood surveying the group. 

"That was a little intense. I'm Tim, by the way," the young guy beside Kallah grinned at the two girls. 

"Kallah," she returned his smile and turned to the other girl.

"I'm Cora," she said softly her face remaining passive. "I had hoped to get Harry as a mentor," she pursed her lips making her look peevish. "I guess I have to work with what I've been given," she said in a tone that bordered on petulance making Tim raise his eyebrows and look at Kallah.

"I'm going to go down to the edge and get a better look at everything in the scene," Kallah said lightly and moved from her stool to walk down to the dam. She could see the greenish-blue tinge of Sally's hair as she watched the small group skinny dipping. Not wanting to intrude on the small groups obvious fun without getting in the water herself Kallah looked around peering into the trees and up into the sky. She had spied a strange chrysalis hanging from an overhead branch and reflecting back light as if made of metal when a spray of water from the dam hit her making her squeal and jump back from the edge.

"Kallah, come in the water is exquisite!" Sally called out having gotten her attention.

"No thanks, I think I have just found my focal point, and I want to get started," she grinned at her new friend and walked back to her easel. She realised a small table with wine and platters of fruit and cheeses had been brought down for the group and taking a small bottle of water to sip on she sat back at her easel. She immersed herself in the image that formed in her mind as she painted over her initial idea begun before Bryce had come to talk with them.

Too impatient to wait for the paint to dry Kallah began building up the background layering the paint and blending colours in a way that it became blurred and indistinct. She lost track of the time and was startled when Sally appeared beside her looking at the canvas with a tilted head. "Interesting," was all she said before nudging her friend. "Come on we're packing up its beyond late, finish it in the morning, the first class doesn't start until ten."

Kallah looked around and noticed only one or two others still at their easels and let Sally help her with her things as she carted the box of supplies and her wet canvas up to their room. Kallah noted that it was well past three when she finally fell into bed exhausted and realised she had forgotten to call Mason to say goodnight. She quickly texted, "Good night my love," and smiled at his immediate response, she knew he was worried but nothing he had warned her about seemed to be on the agenda unless a little skinny dipping counted, and she hadn't done that.

A creature of habit Kallah as usual woke early and unable to get back to sleep got up to shower and get ready for the day. There were three individual shower stalls in the large bathroom with lockable doors. One was already occupied, and she could hear the tell-tale sniffles of crying as she approached the stall beside it.

"Are you okay?" Kallah called out tentatively.

"Oh, um yeah sure, too much to drink last night," she other voice said quietly.

"We've all been there," Kallah laughed, "You'll feel better after breakfast." She started the water and revelled in the hot shower washing away the dust and grime that came with her travel yesterday and a long night they had had. Her thoughts flew to Mason and the way his hands washed her when they showered together as if memorising each curve and nuance of her body. Eager to continue with her painting from the night before, Kallah didn't linger and stepped out of the cubicle to stand at a basin alongside the woman who was obviously still distressed.

"I'm glad someone else here is an early bird, let's put our stuff away and grab some breakfast, you'll feel much better," Kallah smiled encouragingly. "I'm Kallah by the way. It's so hard to remember everyone's names after such a short introduction, and you're, Tracey?" The woman nodded and gave a lop-sided smile.

Several minutes later they entered the kitchens where a small team of cooks was getting things ready. "Cereal is over on that table," A middle-aged woman waved her hand. "Bacon, eggs, tomato, hash-browns over there," she pointed to another table. "Help yourselves," she smiled. A third small table had been set up with an odd conveyor belt type of toaster and a range of breads and spreads.

"This is great! Thank you," Kallah enthused. She toasted some multigrain bread in record time and helped herself to the hot food from the covered bays while Tracey seemed to follow along behind her doing the same as if on auto-pilot.

They sat out at the long table on the veranda, and Kallah grinned, "I love breakfast food, you don't have to feel guilty for not eating vegetables or salad." Tracey gave a small laugh and nodded in agreement. "My boyfriend is into all that natural stuff, but I swear green health shakes can never compare to good old bacon and eggs." Kallah piled her bacon and egg onto one piece of toast and then sandwiched it with the other before biting in with an appreciative moan.

"You're right," Tracey laughed, "This is supposed to be a summer getaway from the real world. I'm gonna think of it like Vegas and as we know from the movies, what happens in Vegas..."

"Stays in Vegas," Kallah finished for her. The two women talked about their art and why they had wanted to come to the weekend workshop. They had finished eating with still no sign of the other artists, so Kallah suggested they grab their canvases and supplies and do a little work on what they had started the night before.

"I think I am just going to take a walk, it's beautiful here," Tracey replied, "I'll help you carry your stuff out though."

Kallah's phone rang as she was gathering her canvas and box of supplies from the night before and smiled as she answered it. "Hello you," she felt the warmth of his reply even though he was so far away.

"Hey there, cutie, I wasn't sure of you would be awake yet it was pretty late when you messaged me," she could hear the concern despite the teasing words.

"It's beautiful here, I just got a bit lost in painting and forgot the time. I'm sorry I messaged so late," she said.

"You can let me know you are thinking of me anytime, anyplace," he chuckled. "I have been thinking about you all the time since you left."

"It was only last night silly," she responded with a laugh.

"Really? Seems much longer," his voice was thoughtful, and she laughed.

"I'll be back tomorrow night. Why don't you go out with the guys you work with tonight, you are king of the geeks now thanks to me," she teased him.

"Mum and her friends are still here, I think James wanted to stay in the city for a few extra days. Amber finally talked me into having her and Bryan over for a few drinks, I'm not convinced it was a good idea," he explained.

"I'd love to see Bryan's face when he meets your mum." Kallah laughed.

"Well, come home and you can," he said lightly but Kallah could hear the forced laugh.

"Don't worry about me being here everything is going well, I have met some great people, one of the girls is waiting for me now so I better go," She didn't want to have this discussion again. "I"ll call you later when I have time."

"Okay," he said slowly, "Miss you."

"I love you Mason, please don't worry," she said overly brightly.

"I love you too, be careful," he said softly and then he was gone. Kallah put her phone away and went to find Tracey.

They walked out the back to where the easels from the night before still stood and in the warming morning summer sun and Kallah let herself look at the scene in the cold light of day before immersing herself in the canvas.

"That's an interesting take on the scene," Bryce McCabe disturbed her bubble of concentration looking up into the trees for the chrysalis that appeared on her canvas dangling between willowy branches before the moon as if being cradled by the visible crescent.

Kallah looked back at the house and saw that everyone was now on the veranda. "I guess I should re-join the other's for whatever is planned for today."

""Yes, please," Bryce nodded finally looking directly at her. "You can leave that here to dry if you like it will be safe." They began to walk up to where the others were finishing breakfast. "Did you have breakfast?" Bryce asked.

"Yes, thanks. I'm an early riser. I wasn't alone though, Tracey was up early too," she smiled.

"Oh? We thought she might have been sleeping late. Do you know where she went?" Bryce asked.

"She said she was going for a walk. Isn't she back yet?" Kallah was concerned.

"I am sure she just lost track of time, Paul will send someone out to find her," Bryce said reassuringly. "We keep an eye on the ones we chose to mentor here."

"Is Paul her mentor?" Kallah asked with a sinking feeling remembering the tears in the bathroom earlier that morning.

"Yes, we each have three, and you are one of mine," Bryce put his hand in the small of her back in a familiar way and guided her to a seat near Cora and Tim. 

Paul addressed the grouped saying that they would have the next few hours to work on the pieces they had begun the night before with their mentors or begin something new. "It is expected that by the end of the weekend, each candidate would submit a minimum of three and a maximum of six pieces if you wish to continue your summer workshop experience," he explained. Then he went on to add, "Each group would be asked to model for at least one session during the weekend as Kick's group had done the previous evening." There would also be an opportunity in the hour before lunch to talk with the other mentors and get their feedback on any work done, thus far, as well if it were needed or wanted.

Kallah could see Cora nodding her head and remembered the conversation of the previous night. Cora had been disappointed to find that Bryce would be her mentor; Kallah was sure she would make use of that time to seek out Harry Hart. Kallah, on the other hand, found herself wondering if David Fielding would consider mentoring her when she visited him to appraise the pieces he wanted to sell or at least have a look at her work. 

Bringing herself back to the moment, she listened to the plans for the day and instructions on where the extra supplies were kept and made available to those that needed them. She felt a little concern that Tracey had not reappeared by the end of Pauls instructions but put it out of her mind deciding to seek her out over lunch later that day. Bryce gathered his protégés for the morning session suggesting they return to the easels near the dam to begin the time they had been given.

Bryce suggested they each look at each other's work and give a critique, bearing in mind the theme of the weekend. Kallah had not wanted to intrude on her fellow artists as they worked and realised to her own chagrin that they had both used the skinny dippers of the night before as the focus of their piece while she had all but ignored them.

Once again the time flew by as Kallah began to adjust her painting of the previous night. The chrysalis glinted in the sun when she sought out its location once again, and she smiled. Using her knowledge of her new friend Sally, she began to paint her into the dam like a muted colourful watermark; a humanlike reflection of the chrysalis that hung in the centre of the painting glinting in the moonlight.

Happy with the final overall effect she achieved from the layering of paint onto the canvas she stood back and welcomed further criticisms from her Bryce and the two others in her small group. With little time to spare and affording her new friends the same courtesy of critiquing their works Kallah picked up a new canvas and began to sketch a new idea for the scene onto the canvas. All too soon for Kallah they were asked to return to the larger group for an informal chat, open critique and further instruction before a light lunch. 

Kallah caught up with Tracey, who smiled shyly. "I am sorry I was a worry this morning," Tracey began.

"Oh, don't be silly. We have all had one too many drinks and lived to regret it," Kallah laughed. "I am just glad you are feeling better."

"There you are!" Sally almost shouted as she approached Kallah and Tracey, "Come critique me," she grinned and led them over to a large canvas. The garish red and black painting was an environmental message meant to shock and possibly disturb as against a blood red sky a swirling black hole of a damn seemed to be swallowing everything around it including blackened human shaped tree who seemed to have faces frozen in a scream worthy of Edvard Munch.

"I am not sure how I am supposed to feel, its frightening," Kallah stared at the piece.

"That's awesome, if you feel anything at all it's awesome, but I was going for scary," Sally pursed her lips studying her canvas.

"Maybe it's not so frightening, maybe it's just a reminder that sometimes you just have to accept things you don't like, and then it gets easier to deal with," Tracey said thoughtfully, making the other two women turn and look at her. She laughed then, "Oh don't mind me, I am just..." she waved her hand and changed the subject. "Did you get yours finished, Kallah?"

"Yeah, I think so, but I find it hard with oil paint to just leave it alone once it's done," she laughed and led them to where her canvas stood leaning against the rail on veranda.

"Ooh, look at me all shiny and pretty," Sally grinned, "I like it!"

"Wow, that's amazing," Tracey breathed, "I don't have nearly enough talent to be here. I think I am almost embarrassed about what I have done so far. 

"You're drop dead gorgeous though; it's not like you need great talent for people to pay attention to your work," Sally teased but a look came over Tracey's eyes, and she didn't smile at all.

"Come on then your turn," Kallah said encouragingly, "I bet your painting is awesome!" They walked over to Tracey's canvas and stood for a moment without saying anything. Heavy trunks in the foreground marred the scene where water and reflected light showed through the barricade at intervals with small glimpses of flesh. It gave a disconcerting peeping tom point of view that felt wrong to Kallah, and she struggled to find the positives about it to say out loud. Sally wasn't as subtle as her friend, saying exactly what Kallah was thinking and asking if she felt uncomfortable about the skinny dipping. 

"Not at all," Tracey said, "It was just... I guess it must have been the wine, I think I had too much or something."

"It reminds me of a children's book I had, Red Riding Hood where the wolf hid in tree's waiting to grab the girl and drag her off," Sally shivered. "If you were looking to get an emotional reaction then you got me," she smiled and turned to Kallah, "She is gorgeous and talented, we should hate her now." Her laughter took any sting from the words and Tracey finally joined in the laughter.

They did a tour of the room looking at each painting, Kallah noticed that Cora had cornered Harry Hart and was flirting outrageously with him as he commented on her piece. There was something just so off-putting about Cora that Kallah knew they would never be friends the way she was with Sally. She hoped they would keep in contact after the weekend regardless of who got into the school. She liked Tracey but more in a big sisterly way, where she felt protective and wanted to help her.

The three young women sat together during the lunch and joined in the friendly banter about the table. Tim had joined the table close by, and Kallah found herself liking him more as she got to know him. Towards the end of lunch, Bryce stood and called his group to follow him inside. The large living area looked cavernous as it had been cleared of its usual furniture and setup with easels all facing a small table with several stools and a chaise lounge.

"I thought it best to use this time for our turn to model as you will in part be able to spend some time on your own work between poses. We will be encouraging people to look at specific muscle groupings so having to stay still will be done in fifteen to twenty minute poses with breaks between. Initially, all three of you will poses then we possibly will do to two at a time or one depending on your fatigue or the difficulty of the pose," Bryce was very formal as he gave them their robes and suggested they go change.

"No point in being shy at this point," Tim chuckled and began by pulling off his shirt. Kallah shrugged and joined him, agreeing with his sentiment, but Cora took the robe and disappeared. The rest of the larger group came in slowly just one or two at a time as Tim and Kallah sat on the stools at the table with their backs to the audience and sketchbooks before them on the table. Bryce had not wanted them to be disadvantaged by their time as the models for the group which was why he had chosen this session and furnished them with their equipment.

Kallah was comfortable in her own skin. She knew she was neither as gorgeous as Tracey nor as plain as some of the girls she knew. She and Tim spoke quietly about how they came to apply for the summer workshops and ended up modelling nude for a life art class. Cora ignored them as she entered and went straight to the chaise, dropping her robe quickly she lay down facing the back of the couch and open a small paperback to read shutting out the rest of the room. Tim followed her movements but looked back at Kallah and rolled his eyes. 

"If everyone is ready," Paul said stepping between the models and the group. He went first to where Cora lay stroking a finger down her spine and talking about to curve and the way the muscles bunched at certain places in the position she held herself. He moved to Kallah and Tim speaking of the differences in physiology between the male and female form. His hands continually brushed her skin and turning her head she noted that he barely touched Tim. None of it was provocative, but it made her uncomfortable, and she cursed Mason for putting suspicious thoughts in her mind. She was more relaxed and at ease with Bryce when he came up during the pose time and placed his hand in the small of her back while he leaned over and spoke to her about her sketch.

When a break time was called Kallah pulled on her robe, trying to tell herself that her misgivings about Paul were only due to Mason's concerns and that he had done nothing that should worry her as much as it had. 

Tim didn't bother covering up, but Cora belted her Robe tightly before moving from the chaise lounge. Kallah draped her robe over her shoulders and moved about the room looking at sketches while sipping water from a bottle. Tracey approached her with a sad smile and took her hand, "Looks like your next, good luck," she whispered and moved away before Kallah could ask what she meant. A moment later, Paul took her by the elbow and guided her back to the front of the room. 

"If you could just stand in a position that comfortable for a moment," Paul said softly and took a step back to study her. She found she didn't feel comfortable with his constant gaze seemingly appraising her, so she settled for putting her hands on her hips and taking a solid stance. Paul stepped forward his hands softly brushing the contours of her body as he repositioned on of her arms and the tilt of her hips.

"There think you can hold that for fifteen minutes?" Paul asked gently looking into her eyes. She nodded not trusting her voice. She felt his presence as both menacing and kindly at the same time. Unable to sketch in this position she found her mind wandering to Mason and his warnings. She tried to tell herself that his warning was the only reason she felt so uncomfortable with Paul, who for all intents and purposes seemed charming, with a friendly kindness for the students at this workshop. It was more than that though she admitted. She didn't like the soft brushes of his hands on her flesh as if reflecting an intimacy they didn't have. He didn't just move her into position or highlight a muscle group in a detached, clinical way as had happened when she had modelled at college. His touch was almost caressing, and it made her uneasy that Mason's concerns were more than just rumours of what went on at the summer workshops.

By the time her pose finished, she had convinced herself once again that her suspicions were just a part of Masons misgivings about her attending the workshops here even for the weekend. She had nothing to worry about and after this modelling session she would just stay away from Paul Vaughn unless in a large group. Bryce seemed genuinely interested in her work, and she hoped to get to speak more with Harry Hart about his work while she had the opportunity.

Tim took her place to pose, and she watched as Paul gave him instruction rather than touching him to put him into the pose required, but told herself that it was probably just a guy thing. She felt she was right about that as he watched Paul treat Cora to similarly if not quite as intimately touching her when she took her place on the floor blushing modestly. Kallah took the time to survey the group of students as they relaxed and chatted between the poses. They were each young and good looking in their own way; there was a vast array of size shape and colouring as well as style for such a small group.

Once again she pushed away Mason's words of being invited because she was young and pretty and concentrated on her sketch book. She had some fairly decent sketches of figures by the time she was called back up to pose with Tim again and with the helpful instruction on muscle groups she believed she had finer detail in her sketches than she had previously achieved.

The final three poses were pairs, she and Tim, then she and Cora and finally Cora and Tim. When the session was complete they were given free time to continue working or relax before dinner. Kallah felt the pressure to produce three complete pieces of art before she left the following afternoon, so she decided to gather her things and head back out to the dam. She found it peaceful there on her own, and she liked seeing how the shadows changed the look of the still water and surrounding trees at the different times of day.

Returning to her room for her painting supplies, she looked at the canvas she had finished that morning and smiled. She was happy with it and happy enough with the idea she had begun for the second canvas. She grabbed her box of supplies and the canvas she had started that morning before stopping and slipping her phone into her pocket. She wasn't sure she wanted to hear the worry in Mason's voice and have it feed her irrational uneasiness around Paul Vaughn, but she also missed him dearly. She wished could have been there tonight when Bryan and Amber met Patrice and her friends properly.

"Where are you going?" Tracey asked as she passed her in the hall.

"Back down to the dam, I wanted to get a bit more work done," Kallah said cheerily.

"I won't get into the summer workshops now anyway," Tracey said sadly, "But I'll come too if you don't mind the company."

"Of course, you will. Don't be so pessimistic. Come paint with me, we can make sure we both get our three pieces done. Maybe we can talk Sally into coming with us as well," Kallah said overly brightly, "I'll see what she says and meet you down there." Tracey nodded, and Kallah headed back to the living area in search of Sally.

Sally declined the offer but said she would come and see what they were up to and fetch them for dinner in an hour. Kallah set herself up and looked at the scene in the afternoon light. She had grown up as a city girl and couldn't imagine living without the comforts of that life but at times like this she thought it might not be so bad. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out her phone and called Mason; he was a country boy at heart, so maybe he could appreciate how she felt right then.

"Hey cutie, I was just thinking about you," he answered on the second ring. "I am missing you terribly."

"I miss you too," she smiled widely just hearing his voice.

"You will have to make this up to me you know," his voice has lowered suggestively.

"I am looking forward to it," she giggled. "So have you got everything ready for tonight, I wish I could be there to see the fun. Bryan will be the life of the party I am sure."

"So come back. I can have a plane there in a couple of hours," Mason chuckled. "James will use any excuse he can to fly his new bird as he calls it."

"No," she laughed, "I'm enjoying it here, aside of missing you. I never liked working with oils before, but my mentor Bryce is great with technique and suggestions. It's been wonderful really." She went on to tell him about the scene in front of her and her ideas. She left out the afternoons activities thinking that he wouldn't be happy about his uncle getting a bit touchy with her while she was nude. 

"My friends here, so I better get back to work. Have a great time tonight, don't let Bryan drink too much. I love you," she said as Tracey arrived and set up her easel.

"I love you too. Call me whenever you need to, anytime," Mason said and then he was gone.

"I called my boyfriend too," Tracey smiled. "He doesn't understand why I came here. He thinks that it's silly to want the approval of these people. They aren't art critics they don't buy or sell art. He thinks I should just do my own thing and have a gallery showing and wallah I will be a discovered talent." She shook her head. 

"Yeah, mine wasn't thrilled about me coming either," Kallah nodded, "But we're here now so we make the best of it and see what we can produce."

The sun was setting as she continued working on layering her background. The oil paints seemed to move with her mind as she let herself be drawn in once again until the brilliant pinks and oranges of the sunset took away the light making it almost impossible to continue. She looked over at Tracey's canvas. She saw a slightly distorted version of herself in the standing pose she had done, naked but for a hooded red cloak. Beside the version of herself stood a large wolf, tongue lolling in its mouth as a paw trailed vivid red scratches over one breast. Kallah was startled and gasped making Tracey turn to face her.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Tracey said looking between the canvas and Kallah's startled expression. He always just seems so predatory doesn't he? It's that soft voice and the feather light touches," She continued explaining her depiction of the wolf and Kallah realised she was talking about Paul Vaughn.

"Yeah, it's a bit unsettling," Kallah nodded but suddenly realised Tracey was speaking from experience. "Did he umm, do something? I mean to you?"

"Seems the only way I was getting to the summer workshops was by playing nice," Tracey said sadly. "I was going to go home this morning, but you changed my mind. You were right, even if it's only the weekend we should get as much as we can out of this experience."

"Oh god," Kallah buried her face in her hands, "Mason was right!"

"What?" Tracey asked.

"My boyfriend tried to warn me that Paul Vaughn was a sleaze-bag, but I didn't believe them," she shook her head. "I was so determined to do this my way, ugh."

"Ah, didn't like the casting couch then," Sally said matter-of-factly as she joined the two of them down at the damn.

"You too?" Kallah was horrified that she was so naïve about this place. 

"Sure it's all part of the Lightning Ridge Legend," Sally laughed. "God knows I have slept with enough losers in my life one more won't hurt."

"I couldn't do it," Tracey said sadly, "I couldn't do it to Lachlan. Cheating it cheating..." her voice trailed off. "It's not like he forced me or anything, just made it clear that to get into the full summer workshop..." she shrugged.

"It's just a means to an end, but I reckon whether your here for a weekend or a full summer workshop it'll still look great on your resume," Sally shrugged. "It was an easy choice in my view. I have always been a fan of Kick so falling into his bed was just what I wanted." She grinned at the two stunned girls, "You pretty types are always far too uptight."

"That's what I thought this morning. It's still doing a workshop here, and despite the legend, it goes a long way in the art world," Tracey sighed.

Kallah had stayed silent; both horrified and stunned by Sally's disclosure. She had no intention of trading on Mason's name or family but if Paul came near her again, she would use it like a stun grenade. 

The evening meal was served around a great bonfire on the east side of the property where a large clearing made it safe despite the wooded surrounds. The three people being mentored by Harry Hart were given face and body paint after dinner and encouraged to go tribal as music played loudly in the background. Unsurprisingly to Kallah several others joined in the rhythmic dancing around the fire but having been offered several glasses of wine which she politely declined Kallah retreated slightly from the frivolity close to the fire and moved closer to the house. 

Paul walked over to her and handed her a glass of wine, "Here, this will help you relax and get into the spirit of things," he said with a smile standing much too close to her for her liking. 

"No thanks," she waved it away politely and took a step back.

"I can make your application go ahead very smoothly, or..." he tilted his head and held out the glass to her again.

"And, there it is," she sighed. "I really wish you hadn't have said that, I mean, have you put something in that drink to help me relax?" She eyed him. 

"No, it's just a glass of wine," he seemed to take offence at her words. "You seem very anxious this evening, and I thought you could use a drink," Paul continued to crowd her with his bulk. 

"Tell you what. You drink half, and I will drink the other half," she smiled innocently.

"I am not sure you understood me when I suggested that your application could go ahead..." he spluttered as she held up her hand and cut him off.

"I understood very well. I was just trying to give you a chance to redeem yourself and prove that Mason wasn't right all along," Kallah sighed.

"What?" Paul seemed genuinely dumb-founded. 

"My fiancé, Mason Vaughn... well we haven't told anyone that we're engaged yet. We were waiting for the ring to arrive," she lied easily feeling that fiancé would hold more weight with this sleaze ball than simply boyfriend. "He practically begged me not to come here. I thought he was just over-protective and jealous. You have no idea how stupid I feel right now, thinking I got my invitation because you saw some talent in my work." 

"Patrice could never keep a secret like that, as soon as she knew you were coming she would have called and told me. Of course, if you really did know Mason, you would know that about his mother. I imagine you met them once at one of her showings. This story of yours is a fairly pitiful attempt to smooth your way into the summer workshops, but you picked the wrong man to try to dupe. I should punish you for telling lies like a little girl, a spanking perhaps?" Paul leered at her seeking to press his perceived advantage.

"Shit, I give you every possible out, to try and redeem yourself and you, offer to spank me? Are you fucking kidding me? I have no intention what so ever of hurting Mason by telling him he was right about what a letch you are, but there is someone I have no problem telling," she pulled her phone out of her pocket. "I can't believe I was so stupid as to think Lightning Ridge was a legitimate art school." She fumed and walked back towards the bonfire where more people could see her, and she felt a little bit safer, not that she thought he would go so far as to use force but... She shook her head in anger at her herself more than anyone else. She turned back to Paul, who was watching her with a smirk on his face. "Am I the only here who didn't know this place was just a casting couch for the big show?"

"Hey cutie, didn't expect to hear from you this early," Masons voice came down the phone. 

"Hey handsome, I actually rang because I need to ask David a question, can I talk to him for just a minute, please?" Kallah said attempting to keep her voice as normal as possible despite the mix of emotions she was feeling.

"Sure, hang on, I will put him on," she could hear the uncertainty in Mason's voice as he walked across the deck.

"Oh Mason?" she called before he could hand the phone over to David.

"Yeah?" he answered curiously.

"Will you marry me?" she giggled quietly.

"Sure, just as soon as you get back.. Here's David," he laughed.

"Hello," David said.

"Hi David, I just need a small favour if you don't mind," Kallah watched Pauls face. He seemed slightly less sure of himself.

"Sure honey, what can I do for you?" David asked curiously.

"Well, being close to Patrice and Mason I assume you know Paul Vaughn?" Kallah had walked back towards Paul, "I was wondering if you could tell Mr Vaughn that any further suggestion regarding spanking me is truly inappropriate given my relationship with his nephew."

"Oh no! He didn't try and ... wait let me guess... smooth the way for your application?" David groaned.

"Almost exactly the same words he used," Kallah let out a breath she had been holding. She hadn't been sure if asking David would have been the right move. "Would you mind having a word to him about exactly how I know you?"

"Of course honey," David replied and Kallah held out the phone to Paul. She listened to the one sided conversation realising that she would never have been invited had he known who she was. Talent didn't play a part in his decision making as all the invitee's here had talent in their chosen mediums.

He handed the phone back and Kallah after a time, and she could hear David still laughing, "That was priceless honey, welcome to the family. Mason's prowling around here and Patrice is going to burst, I am afraid you may have opened a can of worms."

The phone rattled a little as it switched hands, and she heard Mason's worried voice, "Everything okay there?"

"Of course, it was just that I needed David to settle a small debate for me," she turned to look directly at Paul, "It went smoother this way. Honestly you have nothing to worry about."

"If you say so," Mason replied dubiously then burst into loud laughter. "You can't take it back now; David has just announced our engagement to the family," he continued to laugh. "So when you get back I expect you to sweep me off my feet and get down on one knee and all that. I want to the works, romance me."

"Maybe not the moment I get back, I have a bit of making things up to you to do. Plus I'm not prepared I haven't got you a ring or anything yet but when you least expect it, bam baby, romance overload. I promise," Kallah grinned into the phone.

"Sounds great! I better go before Mum and Amber plan the whole wedding for next weekend. Call me later, cutie," Mason said and then he was gone.

Kallah realised she would much rather have been there than here. She felt lighter though, more relaxed. She hadn't realised how tightly she had been holding onto her ideas about this place and what it meant in her own mind rather than accept Mason's warnings. Now that her anxiety was gone, she felt quite unconcerned that she probably wouldn't get invited to the summer workshops. She did however have one more night and most of tomorrow to make the most out of this weekend, so she headed back inside to the living area, leaving Paul staring after her.

Kallah gathered a large canvas from the storage room and placed it against a wall that held a drop sheet from earlier that evening. Kallah found large pots of acrylic paint, wide brushes and lining them up beside the canvas she began. The night grew long, and people came and went commenting and critiquing. Harry Hart stayed some time with her enjoying the way she was treating the canvas and offering helpful suggestions.

Kallah smiled when her phone rang, and she saw it was Mason.

"Hey handsome," she said softly aware that some people had gone to sleep while she had immersed herself in her canvas.

"You were supposed to call me," he accused.

""Aww I am sorry I just started painting and lost track of time again," She sat on the floor in front of the large canvas listening to the familiar voice of the man in the portrait before her. 

"You've been awake all night?" he asked.

"I guess. What's the time?" Kallah blinked and looked around for a clock.

"It's about six. You should get some sleep," Mason said, worry creeping into his voice again.

"Yeah probably," she said softly and stood stretching her body. "I guess I will take you to bed with me and you can tell me a story while I fall asleep." She yawned and walked toward her room. 

Sliding into bed she smiled and whispered good night letting Mason's voice croon her to sleep as he told her a story about a crazy girl who loved to paint.

*****

Sally attempted to wake Kallah up for breakfast at about nine, but Kallah waved her off claiming to not be hungry, but Sally was persistent. "Come on it's the last day. Get up. You can sleep when you're dead."

Kallah dragged herself out of bed, still covered in paint from the night before she grabbed her towel and went to have a quick shower.

She felt better as she walked through the living area to grab what was left of the breakfast buffet. Making herself a bacon and egg sandwich she hurried out to the deck and sat near Sally, to listen to the day schedule as Paul stood up and addressed the group.

The morning would be spent in figure studies again in the small formal gardens at the front of the property. Each of his group would take turns to pose. In a change to the itinerary, a small group of frequent guest artist's wold be arriving to critique and give advice to any student who would like the extra input from experts. Kallah took small mouthfuls of the sandwich she had made and listened to the chatter around her as people questioned which artists would be arriving. 

At any other time, she would have hoped that it was the friends of Patrice coming, well-known in their own right most of them, but she knew Mason had made it clear that they were not supposed to interfere with her time here. Of course, she had invited that interference herself the night before by calling and asking David to intervene on her behalf but after all that had happened she doubted that they would come so she joined in the speculation with the others.

They slowly made their way from the back deck to gather their supplies and move to the front gardens. Kallah stopped in the living area where her canvas still stood from the night before taking up a vast amount of wall space. She eyed it critically, following the contours of the face and the down over the physique she knew so well. The life art session where she, Cora and Tim had been the models had helped her in shaping the angles of his body in a better way than she had in the past. In her mind women were all soft curves and men tended toward hard angles. Yesterday though, as she had listened to the tutorial where they had discussed the muscle's groups using Tim as the model had shifted her thinking somewhat. She found that by softening the angles slightly she had managed to capture how Mason appeared in her mind's eye with a reasonable likeness.

As it didn't seem to bother anyone overly where it was, she didn't move it but left it to dry thinking that if she had time she would return to it to add finer detail that afternoon. Fortunately, she had completed the first canvas, and she had a series of sketches from yesterday she could turn in along with this canvas if she had time to complete it. It didn't matter in the long run she knew after the conversation with Paul last night but she sis want to hand in the required three pieces regardless. She felt less pressure to ensure she created in every minute of the day though as she made her way out to formal gardens.

The models appeared to flutter and hide amongst rose bushes and hedges, and Kallah smiled as they lent themselves to her theme. Eager to complete another piece and show her versatility, if only to her friends, Kallah chose to work with her favoured medium of chalk pastels. As so easily happened this weekend Kallah lost herself in a vision she was creating on the canvas.

"I've been waiting to see your technique in this medium," Bryce said from behind her. "I was very taken with the portfolio you submitted and the gentle touches you seem to have with colour blending."

Startled from her bubble of concentration Kallah looked up at the man who had narrowed his eyes scrutinising her work. "I was stretching myself while I was here, you know taking the opportunity to explore other mediums while I had people to help me with technique," she smiled, "but I do love the feel of the chalk on my fingers."

"It shows," he nodded. He ran his fingers over the tray holding the rainbow of colours and rubbed the dust between his fingers. "I hear that you're newly engaged, congratulations."

"It's not official or anything yet," she held up her left hand. "No ring or anything."

"You could have avoided this weekend and just gone to the summer workshops you realise, Paul has never been able to deny Patrice anything she wanted," Bryce said with a strange edge to his voice.

"I know it sounds dumb but I wanted to get in on my own. I hadn't heard the rumours or legends about the summer school. I feel pretty stupid to be so naïve as to believe it was all about the art," she sighed and watched as Bryce pulled up a stool.

"You don't need validation, that canvas in the living room is a testament to that. What you seem to need is a community where you feel safe to explore your talent, and that is what Lightning Ridge is about. It's why I come so often to mentor here," he looked at her then rather than at her canvas. "Look at what you have accomplished in two days just by leaving your everyday life behind and concentrating on your art. Imagine what you could do in weeks just being allowed indulge without the demands of everyday life." 

"That's true I guess. Mason does have a way of capturing all my attention," she grinned. "He is encouraging though, in his own way, of my art." She felt the need to clarify that he was supportive of her.

"He'd have to be blind not to be, but I know Mason he's a good man. I recognised him in the portrait you left for all to see and the girls to giggle over," he smirked. "Seems you're a very lucky girl indeed, aren't you." He finally let his chuckle out making her blush.

"I am indeed," she said quietly but smiled widely. "How do you know Mason?" she asked.

"I've been friends with Paul and Patrice for longer than I care to admit," he continued to chuckle. "A vast majority of us have all met at one gallery or museum, or but the few community art councils like this tend to gather the same characters together time and again so that friendships form over time." He saw her look around, and dubious expression cross her face. "Don't let Paul's lack of a moral compass colour your view on all of us, he would never actually force himself on anyone..."

"Telling a girl he can smooth the way or make it harder for her is forcing himself on her," Kallah interrupted but spoke quietly despite the anger of the comment.

"When girls say no he walks away, and I know it doesn't make it any better but he only approaches candidates that have already proved themselves enough to get a place in the full workshop. I would expect more than half of the people here will get in. It's a particularly talented group; we are just looking at whether they can commit to it and keep up a good pace. Coming out to summer school and working on just one piece or not at all is what we try to eliminate by doing this. We need to know that the places are taken by people who will use the event to its fullest, especially when so many apply," Bryce explained.

"I guess that makes sense," Kallah said thoughtfully.

"Your roommate might need a warning," Bryce looked over at Sally, who was chatting happily. "You don't get in just because you jumped into bed willingly with Kick. He doesn't have to promise them anything," his chuckle emerged again. "That guy has girls throwing themselves at him everywhere he goes."

"He seems like such a pig though," Kallah shook her head making Bryce laugh loudly.

"He is!" The laughter continued even after Harry came over to see what the laughter was about.

"What's going on?" Harry asked with a smile knowing that it was rare that Bryce let down his guard and relaxed around the candidates preferring to hold himself aloof and keep a professional distance. 

"Kallah was just making an observation about Kick that I found amusing," Bryce said with laughter still in his voice.

"I better go check on Tim, stay and chat Harry I believe you have friends in common with this girl," Bryce said and stood from the stool leaving it free for Harry.

"So how well do you know Mason?" Harry asked, "Judging by that portrait in there you know him better than I ever did." He grinned as she blushed. 

"Does everyone here know everyone who is in the art community. Mason isn't even an artist, and everyone seems to know who he is," she laughed.

"Even though his mother is fairly well-known, in some circles Mason's work is regarded very highly," he said in reply. "That aside I happened to go to the same boarding school as he did though I was a couple of years older. Our fathers were old boys there, you know how it goes."

"He never talks about people he knows aside of when we are at the gallery. He just seems so far removed from it all, but everyone seems to know him better than I do," she frowned. "That doesn't bode well for our future does it," she pulled a face.

"Well to be fair his mother is Patrice Gallagher. She is, shall we say, no shrinking violet," he grinned. "He was never into all the publicity that came along with having a mother like his though. It was rare that he accompanied her anywhere. He tended to shy away from all of that probably why he chose a corporate word over the art world in the end."

Kallah didn't say anything she just nodded that she understood and lost herself in her thoughts of Mason as she added more detail the canvas before her. She didn't even look up when she heard Cora's irritated sounding voice address Harry.

"Seems like everyone is watching Kallah today, could you come look at what I have done so far please Harry?" Cora whined in her nasal tones her lips pinching together as if she tasted something sour.

"Of course," he said pleasantly, "I'll catch up with you later Kallah."

Kallah was tired and having completed what she believed as a fairly good canvas she decided to go have a nap before lunch and then try to finish off the large canvas in the living room with fresher eyes that afternoon before she left for home.

*****

In Kallah's dream, Mason had climbed into bed with her and wrapped his arms around her. She sighed happily and snuggled close knowing she belonged there. She felt him nuzzle at her neck and purred contently not opening her eyes to look at him so as not to break the dream. 

"I missed this," he murmured into her ear huskily and her eyes popped open.

"Mason! You're here! I was dreaming..." she pinched him making him yelp.

"Hey, you're supposed to pinch yourself not me," he laughed and rubbed his arm.

"What are you doing here? You weren't supposed to come, remember?" She looked up into his eyes glad, despite her words, to see him and feel his arms around her.

"You blew that deal when you called and invited David into your little weekend away," he frowned at her. "Plus I thought I would give you the chance to propose properly," he grinned at her.

"I already did and you said yes. Trying to back out of it now?" She teased him.

"Not at all. I just want witnesses, but judging by that enormous canvas in the living area, I think most people realise you have a thing for me," he laughed at the horrified look on her face. "I'm flattered in more ways than one even if you did exaggerate a little." He took her hand and placed it over his semi-hard cock.

"Maybe a bit more than a 'thing' for you," she placed her free hand on his cheek and leaned forward to kiss him, letting the kiss deepen as they moulded to each other.

"There you are," Patrice bubbled barging into the room without knocking. 

"Mother!" Mason groaned.

"Everybody is waiting for you and they're starving, there will be enough time for... that, later," Patrice waved an arm airily.

"Now Kallah darling, Amber and I were thinking you should have two engagement parties, one in the city and one down on the farm. What do you think?" She had taken Kallah's arm and steered her from the room as soon as she stood up from the bed leaving Mason to trail along behind them.

"I'm not sure we are ready to announce it to the world yet, I mean he hasn't even met my parents," Kallah looked over her shoulder at Mason, who just shrugged and mouthed the words, "I warned you," silently.

"Nonsense, you two are so right for each other it would be criminal to delay the celebration of your love and commitment to eachother. Just leave everything to me," Patrice wrapped an arm around Kallah's waist and pulled her closer as they walked.

"Patrice, thank you, but no. I would like Mason and I to do this our way and if that is a bit slower than everyone else wants then so be it," she untangled herself from Patrice's arm and went to Mason. "We will let you know when we are ready to make an announcement, okay." She looked up at Mason and saw the merriment in his eyes as he looked at his mother.

"I told you, Mum. You won't be able to bulldoze her like you do me," Mason said barely keeping the amusement from his voice.

"Well, let not worry about the details right now. We can discuss that on the way home," Patrice said as if Kallah had not objected at all.

"I tried to hold her back mate," James said apologetically to Mason. "You know once we opened Pandora's Box we were never going to get it shut again."

"She's a force of nature, wreaking havoc where ever she goes," Mason laughed enjoying the moment and adoring the girl beside him even more for the way she was handling the situation.

"Now if you would like to take your seat, Miss Sanders," Paul said as he stood to address the group. Mason scowled but let her go, and she took a seat at the long table. "As you can see this afternoon's guests have arrived early so on with the introductions," Paul said officiously. He introduced James and Dorothea first citing some of their works and exhibitions and though most of the group did not know of them they were welcomed warmly. He introduced Patrice as an imminent expert of sculpture and Mason also mentioning that he was a sculptor of some note along with several of his works, before introducing David Fielding whose reputation preceded him in any artistic community.

"We will leave you to your lunch and be available to anyone who would like to discuss their work through the afternoon in the living area," Paul announced and began to usher the guests back into the house.

"Oh no, that won't do at all," Patrice announced. "Mason be a darling boy and grab a few chairs from inside I am sure these lovely young people won't mind if we join them."

"As you wish," Paul said appearing none too pleased but acceding to her wishes.

With the older members of their group settled at each end of the table Mason squeezed onto the bench seat beside Kallah apologising to those on either side of them.

"Tell me, Mason," Sally leaned across the table to speak to him as soon as he sat down. "Would you say that the portrait Kallah painted of you..." she nodded her head toward the interior of the house, "... is anatomically correct?"

"Nothing is as exact as the real thing," he waggled his eyebrows at her suggestively. Kallah shook her head in mock disappointment but the effect was ruined by the smile she couldn't help as it spread across her face.

"I am not so sure," Sally said dubiously, "Maybe you should pose for us, and we could check... I mean, we could do a portrait study of you ourselves."

"This is my roommate, Sally," Kallah introduced them properly. 

"Sadly I had to give up my modelling career when I started dating this insanely jealous and temperamental artist, you understand I am sure," Mason said with exaggerated emotion.

"Oh my," Sally played along as Kallah began to splutter protests, "However do you put up with that?"

Mason leaned forward conspiratorially and whispered loudly, "Great sex!" He winked and sat back with a self-satisfied grin.

"Good grief," Kallah groaned in mock exasperation. She should be mad that he was here, but she couldn't be. She had missed him and the way he just made everything so easy for her. He wasn't at all fazed by the portrait or Sally's comments, not that he had ever been shy about his physique, but she hadn't been sure how he would react to the canvas on display in the living area.

"Just to even the playing field for you a little," Tim interrupted their conversation from the other side of Mason, "There are quite a few nudes of that temperamental artist you mentioned around the place if your interested."

"Is that right?" Mason smiled widely. "Thank you very much..." he looked at Kallah, who supplied a name.

"This is Tim," Kallah laughed.

"Tim, my new friend," Mason repeated the name and clapped him on the shoulder, "Did you by chance do one yourself?"

"I have a few sketches," he said modestly but I have had the opportunity to peak at some of the other canvases. I think if you ask that girl," he pointed at Tracey, "you won't be disappointed. She's one of the better portrait artists here."

"Everybody here is talented, I guess that goes without saying," Kallah added. 

"We'll I know you are," Mason said thoughtfully, "But now I feel I need to see a little bit of the others work to be sure what you say is true, starting with my new friend Tim and his friend Tracey."

"I thought you came out just to see me," Kallah laughed.

"I did," he smiled and leaned down to kiss her softly. Then she turned and looked at Sally nodding slightly and whispering loudly, "Temperamental." Making the people around them laugh.

People began to move around the table wanting to talk to the guests, a few sought out Mason, and he was pulled into conversations about sculpture and working with wood. Kallah was still surprised by the fact that he had made it seem to her that he had no real interest in the arts aside of being a patron, yet some of these people seemed to know of him. His dismissal of his family's comments about his talent had made her leave the subject alone but after this weekend she knew she needed to know more. 

Paul appeared behind them, "Mason, could I have a word?" He said seriously and as Mason got to his feet Kallah worried about the events of the evening before and how much Mason knew exactly.

"Nice guy," Tim spoke as the space between them opened up after Mason's move from the table.

"Yeah, he is," Kallah smiled and turned her eyes from Masons retreating to Tim.

"Can I ask you something?" Tim said tilting his head.

"I guess, but I reserve the right not to answer if I don't like the question," Kallah laughed easily.

"Why would you want to spend all this money to come here, with half-arsed artists like Paul Vaughn when you have all that talent at your fingertips?" he sounded incredulous.

"I didn't realise David and Dorothea were part of Mason's family until this week," Kallah said defensively, "I applied for this year's summer workshops before I even met Mason come to think of it."

"Don't get me wrong, David, Patrice even Dorothea are stars in their own right but I would have paid this much to sit down with Mason and a block of wood for the weekend and talk to him as he worked his magic," Tim said.

"Mason never told me he was a sculptor and when Dorothea told me he was talented I asked him about it and he said it was just proud family boasting as if it wasn't really true. Honestly I have never seen anything he has done," she frowned. "That sounds bad even to me, like I am self-absorbed or something. I met him through a friend; he works for her, and he's a computer geek. He never once said..." her voice trailed off.

"Computer geek?" Tim chuckled. 

"He's a programmer for a big software firm," Kallah said. "I have never seen him do anything remotely artistic," she was beginning to realise just how little she knew about him.

"To be fair there is much of his stuff around and unless you live on the central coast, you probably won't have seen what there is of his stuff on display. Tell you what, give me your email address, and I will send you some photos," Tim offered seeing a strange look on her face.

"That would be great thanks," Kallah agreed and pulled out her phone to get his details as well.

"I was serious though about not wasting your money. Like you said we all have enough talent, this is more about networking and having Lightning Ridge on the old biography. You have all the expert help you want at your fingertips and could probably find it in any medium just for the asking," he laughed.

"You don't think it would be bad to trade off my boyfriend's name or use his family like that?" Kallah asked unsurely thinking of the stance she had taken so strongly with Mason.

"Hell no," Tim laughed, "What's the worst they can say if you ask them for some help?"

"I guess," Kallah laughed. "I just, you know, wanted to do it, well get into the workshops on my own, because I am good enough not because mason arranged it for me."

"Do you like your own art?" Tim asked.

"Of course," Kallah shook her head at the question.

"Then you're good enough, for this workshop, for galleries, for anything and anybody who might want to judge your art. You can't please everyone but if you like it, chances are someone else will feel the same way and there you go you have your first fan," he grinned. "I have a feeling you already have your first fan though."

"Tim you have been a better mentor in the last ten minutes than Bryce has been all weekend. Just for that, why don't you come over one weekend I will supply the block of wood and the magic worker, and you can supply the pizza and beer," she grinned at him.

"Hell yes!" He almost shouted.

Sally leaned over the table laughing, "Seems everyone is claiming to be your new best friend." Kallah looked confused and looked around the table. There were probably only four people she had real conversations with this weekend and one of those, Cora; she didn't even like very much. "Be prepared to be inundated. It's not what you know it's who you know." She laughed again as Kallah pulled a face.

"I think I might just go for a walk down to the dam, if Mason comes back can you tell him where I am?" Kallah said to her friends and got up to leave the table. "Thanks for the chat Tim you have given me something to think about."

Kallah only made it a few steps when she was stopped by Patrice calling her name and waving her over. Kallah smiled and made her way to the end of the table where Patrice and Dorothea sat.

"So your good friend Cora here has been telling us that you have already invited her to your engagement party," Patrice said with a raised eyebrow.

"That would be a bit hard. Mason and I haven't had time to discuss it, let alone plan one yet," Kallah said looking directly at Cora.

"What I meant was... that I was sure you would invite me once your plans were settled," Cora explained looking away from Kallah and back to Patrice.

"Seems you have made a lot of friends in your short stay here," Dorothea smiled.

"A couple, yes, would you like to meet them?" Kallah offered.

"Very much excuse us would you please," Dorothea spoke to Cora whose expression had become tight and pinched once again. Kallah called Sally and Tim over along with Tracey and introduced them to the two women just as Mason re-emerged from the interior of the house. Kallah glanced at him with a worried expression, but he only smiled in return and put an arm around her. 

"Ah, this is the girl I meant to catch up with, Tracey isn't it," Mason said surprising the young woman who had taken a seat near Patrice.

"Me?" Tracey seemed mystified by the statement.

"Yes, you," Mason chuckled, "I hear your work this weekend is something to behold. Any chance I could get a look at your canvases?"

"Mason's showing an interest in painting, I think I would like to see too," Patrice looked at the girl.

"They...they're in my room," Tracey stuttered nervously, looking from Patrice to Kallah and back to Mason.

"Maybe you could bring them out?" Mason encouraged.

"You don't have to if you're not happy with them," Kallah said seeing her hesitate.

"He just wants to see the nude you did of Kallah," Tim chuckled. "Come on I will even chaperone you."

"Stay, mother," Mason said as he followed the two others into the house.

"Why don't you show us what you have done this weekend, Kallah," Dorothea said distracting Patrice from following Mason.

"Sure why not, I'll bring the other two pieces out and meet you in the living room," She stood from the table and went to gather her things. She had been thinking of asking David about her original piece so she would be bringing them out anyway, she thought.

The two women had been quietly appreciative of her talent offering minor critiques when Mason came and slid his arms around her from behind and whispered in her ear. "Wanna get out of here?"

"More than anything," she murmured back with a smile.

Mason pulled her away from the small group that had started to form in the living room, and they made their way out of the house and down toward the dam. They had walked a little in silence both trying to find the words they needed.

"I'm sorry," they both said simultaneously.

"Me first," Kallah held his hand tighter and he nodded starting to walk with her again. "I should have listened to you and not taken your warnings about this place so personally. I just couldn't believe it at the time and for not talking to you last night, but I thought if you knew... well I didn't want to fight, and I didn't want you mad at your Uncle because I was an idiot." She sighed, "I really am sorry, Mason."

"I never wanted to stop you chasing your dreams and I shouldn't have tried. You have done some great work here and made some cool friends from what I can see," Mason said quietly.

"There you go making it easy for me to make things right between us again. My life just seems easier when you're around," she stopped walking and turned to hug him.

"I don't believe having my meddling mother in your life is making things easier," he chuckled. "My turn," he took a breath. "You sounded so exhausted and strained when I spoke to you this morning I was worried, especially after last night so when James offered to fly us down here in his plane, I said yes. It's not actually Mum's fault we are here. I know you wanted to do this yourself, but I couldn't help..." his words cut off as she kissed him. 

"I'm sorry I lied to your uncle about being engaged and then asked you to marry me the way I did. I just thought fiancé sounded better at the time than girlfriend, but he didn't believe me anyway because your mother hadn't taken out a full page spread in the family newsletter or something," she laughed lightly still unsure of how seriously he had taken that proposal. 

"There was another reason," Mason said quietly, "Why he wouldn't have believed you." Kallah looked up at him curiously but said nothing. "My grandparents were originally from here, opal miners. Did you know Lightning Ridge is the only place you can find black opals?"

"It came up when I researched this place. They're so beautiful if we had have been closer to town I would have gone and looked around for a small one to take home," she said enthusiastically.

"Mother has a beautiful ring that was my great grandmothers, though she doesn't wear it much these days. You should ask her to show you next time we are down there, its spectacular. I think I have only seen one better than hers. It was my grandmothers," Mason smiled and pulled a small box out of his pocket. "Now if you get down on one knee and propose to me properly it will be yours." Kallah gasped her eyes fixed on the box her mouth opening and closing speechlessly.

"I know you asked me to marry you because of the situation. I know we probably should wait; we haven't been together that long after all. I also know how I feel about you and how right it felt when you asked. I had no hesitation when I said yes, and I would marry you tomorrow if that's what you wanted. So I claimed my grandmother's ring from Paul," he slowly opened the box for her to see the black opal and diamond ring. "We can have a long engagement to work all the details out but, say you will marry me despite my strange family."

"I was supposed to do it. You wanted the works remember," Kallah said with a quiet breathlessness not daring to reach for the ring. 

"Right at this moment all I want is you," he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

"I love you," she whispered between kisses. "Your family is nothing, wait until you meet mine." Then she disentangled herself from his arms and got down one knee. Mason put a hand on his chest and gasped in mock shock at her actions. "Everything you said is true, we probably should wait; I probably had the wrong motivations when I asked last night, but when you said all I want right at this moment is you has never been truer for me. Make me the happiest girl in the world and marry me please, Mason, my love," she said formally.

Mason knelt with her then and took the ring from the box, "Nothing could make me happier." He slipped the ring onto her finger easily and kissed her pulling her down into the grass beside the dam. "I love you too."

*****

A full year after returning from her weekend at Lightning Ridge Kallah stood before the brightly lit gallery and smiled. She had not taken up the invitation to return to the summer workshops that year instead she had gathered her friends together once a month since that weekend and planned this night to perfection.

In truth the exhibition had been Mason's idea after the first weekend they had spent with Tim, Tracey and Sally. He had, with Tim's prompting, unveiled the project he had been working on in the old shed. Kallah despite the photo's she had received from Tim had her first real insight into just how talented Mason was and was mesmerised by the intricate carving she saw for the first time.. 

He had created a carved triptych hinged together to form a decorative screen. On the two outer panels delicately wrought was her own image as a woodland nymph, the centre panel though was an intimate portrayal of a satyr with Masons face locked in lovers pose with herself as the nymph. It was startling and intimate and seemed in some places so delicate as to be almost translucent.

He and Tim had got into an in-depth conversation about how to display it with back lighting and framing when Sally asked where this display would happen and suggested a gallery space. Mason shook his head and laughed off the suggestion, but Sally persisted.

"I'll make a deal with you," Mason had said at some point after too many beers and not enough pizza. "You four come up with half a dozen pieces each and I will get Annabeth to give us a showing in her gallery." The idea had built like wildfire after that statement and Mason not realising that this was a challenge they were all eager to accept began to regret his words.

Kallah smiled at the memory and the consequent planned that ensued. The opening night was to be an invitation only event, no critics or press to bring down the mood of what Kallah had secretly planned for Mason with the help of her closest friends. The challenge for her had been getting everyone to commit to attending the opening without having to reveal the real reason or letting on to Mason why this was so important to her to just have the people they loved there. 

Mason was returning from parking the car, and she shook off the memory to watch as he walked toward her. She knew without a doubt that he was her soul mate and that she was already living her happily ever after with him.

"Are you ready for this?" He asked as he came to stand beside her.

"You have no idea how much," she smiled, but the butterflies in her tummy seemed to turn into flesh-eating moths as soon as they started toward the doors. 

Inside they met up with the friends with whom they had dreamed up this exhibition and amongst the excited babble Anna-Beth and Amber, who had been roped into help reassured them that everything was perfect, and they had nothing to worry about. The guests arrived in a flurry of excitement about the new exhibition, and when Kallah could see the main players in her secret plan had arrived, she told Mason she had something to take care of and disappeared from his side.

"Do you think Bryan managed to get him in place?" Kallah asked nervously twenty minutes later as she stood between Amber and her other two long-time friends Donna and Louise.

"If he hasn't already he is under instruction to bodily pick him up and plonk him there when the music starts," Amber laughed. "Just worry about what you are doing and leave the rest to us."

The extended intro began to play through the speakers and the door they stood in front of opened slowly. In a carefully choreographed dancing walk, the four women created a path through the startled crowd to the centre of the room. On cue, Kallah lifted the microphone and began to sing the opening lines to the Al Green classic she had chosen for this moment.

"I'm... I'm so in love with you..." she could hear the nervousness in her voice as Mason's face came into view before her. "Whatever you want to do... Is alright by me..." The girls began their harmonies as the music continued to play, and murmurs from the watching crowd of friends and relatives died down. "'Cause you... make me feel so brand new... And I... want to spend my life with you..."

The four girls went through the carefully choreographed movements through the room with Bryan and Eric ushering Mason along to where he needed to be. As they approached the final destination of the dancing walk, Kallah continued to sing, "Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad, lets... let's stick together..." the music faded out and taking a big breath she got down on one knee and took his hand.

"Mason, I messed up my first proposal but I want you to know I meant it then as much as I mean it now. Will you marry me?" Kallah produced a small box and opened it holding it out to him.

"Yes! Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes!" he flapped his hands around effeminately in a parody of so many women being proposed to. "Ooh put it on, put it on," he held out his hand to her as the room erupted in laughter.

"There's a catch," she snapped the box shut making the crowd gasp and Mason frown at her. "You have to marry me right now, here, tonight."

"Someone find me a justice of the peace!" Mason yelled into the room causing more laughter.

"I just so happen to have one of those right here," Anna-Beth said walking forward, her arm linked with that of a distinguished looking gentleman. Mason's jaw dropped open, and he turned to look at Kallah.

"You planned a wedding?" He was incredulous.

"No backsies," she warned with a wide smile, "Especially when Simon came all the way to be your best man."

"No way!" Mason's eyes searched the crowd and found Simon had already moved to stand just behind him. They embraced tightly while laughing loudly. 

The crowd settled as Mason turned back to Kallah, who had taken the minutes in which his friend had kept him in a tight, back slapping embrace to peel off the basic black dress she had worn to the opening revealing an ivory sequined dress. 

"Ready?" She grinned. 

"Yes!" Mason grabbed her and kissed her.

"I think that comes at the end of the ceremony," Kallah laughed.

"I don't care," Mason laughed and kissed her again before turning and facing the Justice of the Peace.

"You planned a honeymoon too I hope," Mason grinned.

Kallah giggled by didn't answer as the simple ceremony commenced. She was beyond happy. All the dreams she had in the last few years had all culminated in this night of nights. After tonight she would have a successful exhibition of not only her own but her friends and new husband artwork to build upon, she would be married to her soul mate and they would have a honeymoon that would last the summer and beyond.