“Betty? There’s been a change in plans. Rainey has decided to go home to Colorado. I’m leaving now and won’t be back from Paris with Diane until next Saturday. Call me if there are any problems.”
He phoned Andy to bring the limo around. Soon John and Mac had joined them for the ride to Payne’s sister’s house. He wanted to say goodbye to his niece in person.
Nyla happened to meet him in the hall and told him Catherine had gone over to the grandparents for Sunday dinner.
“Can I give her a message?”
“That’s all right. I’ll phone her over there. While I’m here, will you get me those paintings of Rainey’s?”
“You bet. Just a minute.”
While Payne waited, he called Catherine’s cell phone.
“Hi, Uncle Payne!”
“Hi, sweetheart. I’m glad I caught you.”
“Me too. I guess I left that romance at your house, but when I called Betty, she said she hadn’t seen it. Do you have any idea where it might be?”
He frowned. “I remember Diane asking you to hand it to her. Maybe she still has it. If she does, I’ll make sure it gets back to you.”
“Thanks. How’s everything going?” she whispered.
He swallowed hard. “Better than expected.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’m taking Diane to Paris with me in the morning.”
“She’s actually going to go on your jet with you?”
“That’s right.”
“Maybe this means—”
“Whatever it means, it’s progress,” he broke in. “Because of it, Rainey has decided not to work for me after all. She left to go back to Colorado a couple of hours ago.”
A long silence ensued. “She was going to draw Linda’s portrait on Tuesday.”
Payne didn’t know about that. “Tell Linda that Rainey would have done it if she could have.”
“I will,” she said in a quiet voice. “Uncle Payne? Are you all right?”
Don’t ask me that, sweetheart. “I couldn’t be better. If Diane can take
this step, who knows where it will lead?”
“I’ll keep my fingers crossed. I love you. Thanks for taking such good care of me.”
Thank God for his niece. “I love you too. What do you want from Paris?”
“For you to be happy.”
Someone else he loved had told him the same thing two hours ago.
“Ditto, sweetheart. Give everyone my love. Tell mom and dad I’ll be by to see them next weekend.”
“I will.”