I went to Alberton House on the weekend with my two most favourite people. It was so lovely to rest our eyes on beautiful, homely things. All of life evolves in constant cycles of change but I like to think we can treasure the best of the past and use it as a foundation for future growth. 

All three of us are facing major upheavals this month - new work for one, new living arrangements for the others. Panicky moments aside we are able to support each other and affirm that our hearth place is our trust in the process of life, which we share.

More of Drawing from Life. I felt this section stalled the story and cut large sections out- it shows. I'm still not happy with the flow but the context is fundamental to the plot. What to do? Suggestions anyone?

Chapter 10 continues:

Rhona had invited her Aunt to stay for the Christmas period. Her expectation made a sudden rush of warmth in her chest as she watched her aunt emerge from the taxi on Christmas Eve.

 Grace Fielding was a tall elegant woman, in her late eighties now, with long grey hair tied up in a chignon.  She moved elegantly but with a studied poise that suggested she had been used to scrutiny and admiration all her life. Her strong deep voice could be heard exchanging pleasantries with the driver who had leapt out to help with the luggage. Ever since Rhona could remember, her aunt had received that sort of deference from people.

They settled down together comfortably in the afternoon, much more easily than Rhona had expected. Her spare room was sadly spartan compared to her aunt’s sybaritic level of luxury at home. To her relief the guest installed herself in the best chair and applied herself to being as gracious and entertaining as only Ms Fielding could be.

Aunt Grace had remained single after her early disappointment in marriage. She was a professional artist of some considerable renown who continued to paint, exhibit and sell her work at an age when many of her contemporaries had long since relocated to a retirement home. Young Gracie idolized her and hung on every unconventional or witty expression that came from the Great One’s lips.

Susan came for dinner on Christmas Eve, with her boyfriend. The evening was not a great success, as the young achiever insisted on raising his voice to stage pitch whenever he spoke to the elderly. Rhona grew tired of answering Susan’s incessant questions about the cost and provenance of her new furnishings. They seemed to have little else to talk about together. She was relieved when they left.

Jeremy and Ian arrived, unannounced on Christmas morning, just as they had begun opening presents. They had not brought gifts but accepted Rhona’s offerings for them with civility. It transpired they had come to take Gracie to lunch with their father at his apartment.

 It took all their mother's resolve to insist that Gracie was not to go unless she wanted to. The more she stood up to them both, the more belligerent her sons became until finally, in tears, she just begged them to leave.

When the house emptied Aunt Grace found the wine in the fridge and poured them both a large glass. She was clearly shaken by the level of animosity she had witnessed.  “That was the most appalling display I have seen in a long while and I’ve seen a few I can tell you.”

Aunt Grace sketched in the evening and amused Gracie with little anecdotes of incidents she had witnessed at one time or another. She had a young attitude and a lively eye for the ridiculous which transcended the generations. Rhona glimpsed a lighter, more charming side to her character than she had ever suspected was there.

Grace told them about her new neighbour, who was in his late forties. Despite the disruption of the building noise and extra traffic in and out, she had found both the renovations and the new occupant had definitely altered her approach to her work. She described her discovery of a brighter palette coming into her canvasses, which she attributed to the higher level of energy around her. Her enthusiasm and vitality recalled Eric Bates to Rhona’s mind, and reminded her of how much her own attitudes and pace of life had changed in recent months.

It was the 31^st of December before they returned to the ferry building. Aunt Grace had promised to join her Island friends to see in the New Year and it was not to be missed. She announced her satisfaction with the visit as she left and encouraged Rhona with her positive remarks about their changed circumstances. “Hasten along but gently” was her parting sentiment to her niece, “your progress is very pleasing.”

Chapter 11

Philip stayed two weeks with Bill on Waiheke. He made himself useful with good advice and several displays of his culinary skills, leaving his host free to continue with the manual work.  Grace Fielding kept an open house in the afternoons and once she returned he became a regular visitor, meeting an eclectic mix of people whenever he went there. He liked to encourage her to talk about her early years, especially her time at the Chelsea School of Art before the war. For her part she was keen to learn more of his background and whatever art world gossip he was willing to impart to her.

At the New Year party Casey had kept them going well past midnight on a diet of his mimicry and endless fund of anecdotal yarns. Meeting him on these afternoons at Grace’s house Philip realized he would have to revise his first impressions.  He began to appreciate there was an intelligence and depth to Mr Millar that put the lie to his exterior. Hearing his perspicacious remarks some afternoons, Philip realized how well the wise man played the role of Jester.

One afternoon, when Casey was there, Grace mentioned she had been staying with her niece Rhona in Auckland. They began reminiscing about the old days when Rhona apparently lived on Waiheke. Philip kept quiet, immediately making the correct connection. He gathered, from what Casey was saying, that Rhona had been convalescent at the time. There seemed to be a lot that was left unsaid, no doubt because there was a third party present at the tea cups. Philip judged it was hardly the time for him to announce to the company that he not only knew the lady under discussion, but had recently employed her. A whole raft of complications rose up before him when he realized how he had unwittingly assisted Bill to move in next to Rhona’s only aunt. The synchronicity was alarming and most uncomfortable. He excused himself early that day.

The afternoon before he left, Philip had Grace to himself. She was cross examining him about Bill’s background and he was doing his best to change the subject. He allowed himself to reveal that he had known Bill since their days at University, but that they had been pursuing different courses at the time.

Apparently satisfied with these responses Grace continued with her questioning.

She wanted to know why he had never married.

“For the same reason you never remarried Grace,” he replied in his unruffled way.

She rolled her eyes at him, saying in a horrified tone “Emotional entanglements are all very well, but not full time. Such a drain on one’s energy- no freedom to work.” She wriggled her shoulders as if shaking off the very idea.

He smiled and replaced his cup and saucer on the side table. He appeared to be admiring the china as he said, without meeting her gaze, “I do wish you would inform Casey and his dear lady Louise that I am, therefore, not in the market for a bride.”

He looked up sideways with a cheeky grin as Grace laughed. She admitted she had no idea there were so many attractive, single, forty year old women on the Island as Louise had managed to invite for New Year. She expressed her disgust that neither he nor Bill would shift themselves to oblige her.

Philip shook his head and stood up, in his studied way. “We are both expert in the art of stymieing designing mamas and their protégés.” He leaned over to bid her goodbye but instead of returning his kiss to her cheek Grace took his hand in both of hers and looked at him thoughtfully. “As you get older you get more in touch with your emotional nature. I should know, believe me. So watch your step Mr Kerby. Now go on.” She waved him off with a show of impatience. He made an effort to regain mastery of himself as he left. Of all his varied clients Grace Fielding was the only one who was able to unsettle him so profoundly.