Chapter 14

Tophyr stood in front of the full-length mirror in the gallery's lady's room. Tonight was her night. This was her biggest collection to date and it was going to be the biggest exhibit tonight. She was nervous. What if someone didn't like any of her pieces? What if she didn't make any money? This entire thing was getting to her.

It had been a few weeks since her father had gotten out of the hospital. He was o leave from work because his doctor told him to be. Lucille got mad at him if he tried to do more than he could. Tophyr understood why her dad was the way he was. He had to be doing something.

So she asked if she could paint him for her next collection she was working on. The look on his face when he agreed was priceless. He felt he was being useful. She had him positioned in the living room in a way that she thought made him look regal. He sat there so patiently it made her smile. When she finished in a little under two hours, he wanted to look at it. The happiness on his face was something she'd remember for the rest of her life.

Getting ready was a pain. She hated wearing dresses but she wore it because it was a black tie affair. This dress was a navy blue spaghetti strap which her sisters said made her eyes pop. Britani had offered to do her makeup but she declined. This entire evening was dedicated to her. She had to face everything on her own now.

Sighing, she closed her eyes and sent up a quick prayer, thankful suddenly for her Irish roots. Looking back at the mirror she nodded at her reflection and turned away. Downstairs everyone was waiting.

Tophyr took the stairs slowly. The entire place was packed. Everyone who was anyone was there. That wasn't something she was expecting. When she looked down at the end of the stairs, Derek Stark was looking up at her. Looking dashing in his black suit and tie, he smiled at him, his green eyes catching light. Looking at him made it hard to breathe.

He held out his arm as she hit the bottom. Not knowing what else to do, she took his arm. He led her out onto the floor. Everyone began talking to her at once. She was trying to keep her cool but that wasn't looking to happen.

"Derek, why did you do this?" she asked when they got a moment to themselves.

He handed her a glass of champagne and looked at her. "This is not just an art showing, Tophyr. I talked to the owner and it's been converted into a charity benefit."

She stared at him. "It was already a charity benefit. The proceeds go to orphanages all over the country."

"Yes, but that was for you. This is for the public. For this benefit, all proceeds go to the American Heart Association."

"Derek, the only art here is mine. I can't split the proceeds."

"Mr. Stark, your paintings are selling quickly," the curator said as he came up. "The portraits of the lochs of Scotland are the favorites."

"Thank you, Mr. Jenkins," he replied. That seemed to make the curator happy that he went away. Derek turned to look at Tophyr. She was staring at him in astonishment. "Now what's that look for?"

"You sold all your paintings for this benefit?" she asked.

"Yes. I have many more that will be going to other galleries in the city and many will be going overseas. Tophyr, you made me want to paint again. That vibrant color that you use comes from you. It has nothing to do with the color you put on the canvas. It comes from inside you." He ran one hand down the side of her face. "That's the color I fell in love with; the color I would never want to hide." She closed her eyes and looked down. When she opened them again, there were tears getting ready to fall. "What's with the tears?"

"You did all this for me?"

"I did all this to show you that it doesn't matter. My parents' money, all the houses all over the world, none of that matters as long as you say you'll be mine. Tophyr, I haven't felt like this about anyone. It feels…odd yet exhilarating."

Tophyr took a deep, steadying breath. She placed her hand over his and leaned into it, eventually pressing a kiss to his palm. He smiled as she looked at him. He took her hand and led her through the exhibit.

~~~~~~~~~

"So spill, Toph," Percy said as he sat with his sister and girlfriend over coffee. "When are you and Mr. Perfect going to make it official?"

Tophyr looked at her brother over the lid of her coffee cup. After swallowing, she asked, "What are you talking about, Perce?"

"It's been three weeks since your exhibit where Stark surprised you by turning your benefit for the orphanages to a joint benefit for both orphanages and the American Heart Association. The two of you have been together since then. Since August, that boy has been pursuing you and you have finally given in. Now I want to know when he's going to propose."

"I could ask you the same thing. When are you going to propose? You've been with Penelope for almost as long." Penelope and Percy looked at each other. "That's what I thought. Stay out of my personal life, Perce."

"Your personal life concerns me."

"Maybe when we were fifteen. We're twenty-three. I think I can handle myself. Now if you'll excuse me. I have some place I need to be."

"Don't forget you have to go dress shopping."

"Where do you think I'm going?"

~~~~~~~~~

"I like that one."

Tophyr looked at Derek as she turned around in the mirrors. "You've said that about the last three. Which one do you like and be honest."

"I've liked all three. I can't help I'm not like women who know every of the color red."

"I don't know every shade of the color red."

"You're an artist. Yes you do."

"No, I don't. I mix the colors until I like them."

"Isn't that forming a color of red?"

"Yes, but I don't know the color."

"Okay, so you're a special case."

"That makes me feel a lot better."

Derek laughed. He reached out and tugged her to him by the waist. "In all honesty, I really like this one. The color red makes your cheeks look warmer and your eyes a little mysterious."

Tophyr bit her lip for a moment then laughed. "You're so bad."

"No one ever said I had to be good." She shook her head and turned towards the dressing room. "Tophyr." She turned back around and he was on one knee. That stopped her in her tracks. "I know it's only been five months but I feel like this is appropriate, especially since your brother is getting married in two weeks." He dug something from his pocket and held it in his fist. "So with this," he opened his fist, "I ask you, Tophyr Grace Hurst, would you be my wife?"

She stared at him for so long he thought he had grown two heads. She tilted her

head at him. "Do I have to put it on myself?"

Derek smiled so brightly he swore the sun would stop shining if he stopped. He jumped up and slipped the emerald on her finger. Then, just as he couldn't help himself the night they employed the plan to save his brother, he couldn't help himself this time. He kissed her right in front of everyone.

"Go get changed," he whispered when he pulled away. She nodded and pulled away from him. He watched her skip back to the dressing rooms.