Rebecca adjusted her blouse, straightened her skirt and tied her small white apron around her waist. She checked her pocket for her order pad and pen, scraped her long red curls up and twisted them into a knot at the back of her head. With one last look in the mirror she made sure everything was in place and pushed her way into the hotel bar where she worked.
At 18 years old Rebecca, or Becks as she was known, wasn't entirely sure what she wanted to do with her life, she just knew it wasn't waitressing. But this job would do until she could find something or until she got herself into university. She scanned the room to see which guests were present and which of the locals were in. She smiled as she scanned the room, there were only half a dozen people in and with luck the night would continue that way.
She wandered around tidying up and straightening out. She did a circuit of the bar and took a deep breath as she approached Henry Portman.
Henry Portman was a local man and knew Becks parents. He was 56 years old, owned his own business and had been divorced for many years. He had a full head of deep black glossy hair and was lightly tanned. His dress was casual but he wore jeans and t-shirts well. His smile was broad as Becks approached.
"Good evening young lady." Henry said as Becks drew up to him.
"Good evening Henry, I hope you are well." Becks answered with her usual courtesy. She looked at Henry's glass and raised an eyebrow. Henry lifted it between his thumb and second finger as Becks placed her tray underneath it.
She walked across to the bar and refilled the whisky glass with his usual tipple of Laphrohaig breathing in the rich aroma as she did and then added it to his nightly tally. It currently stood at 4 which meant he had been in the bar for about 2 hours. He must have shut up the office early for a change. Putting the glass on her tray she carried it over to him.
"Thank you my dear." He said as she put the glass down.
"You're welcome, quiet day?" She replied.
"Yes, pretty quiet, I'm waiting for new work from my regulars." Henry replied by way of explanation.
"Ah, I see. Well I shall leave you to it. Let me know if you want anything." Becks said as she turned away.
"You know what I want young lady," Henry retorted. "I want you to pose for me. Let me paint you."
"I know you do, but I meant food." Becks said, a twinkle in her eye.
Henry had been chasing her to pose for months, flirting with her and getting the same in return. Nothing had ever come of it thought, for a start, Henry was simply too old, the same age as her parents! She wasn't against being painted, it was simply that it was Henry, a man she had known since she was a child.
Henry shrugged and picked up his drink. He didn't normally chase women, particularly ones as young as Becks but for some reason he couldn't stop himself. He knew that her long red curls would look stunning against her alabaster skin and his mind whirled with the possible poses he could paint her in. He sat and watched her, his muse.
An hour later Henry said his goodbyes and wandered back to his chapel conversion home. Opening the door, he flicked the light-switch and breathed in the faint smell of paints from his studio. He closed the door, hung his jacket and made his way to the living room. Pouring himself another drink he sat on the large leather couch and pondered his next move. After an hour, he moved from the couch and made his way up the wide wooden staircase up to bed. He fell asleep thinking of paints, canvas and Becks.
The pair continued their dance of words over the next 5 months. The weather turned warmer, the skirts shorter and the tops skimpier. Henrys small gallery continued to pick up and Becks continued to work at the hotel, still unsure of her next move. She was now approaching her 19th birthday and she had still not fully made her mind up about what she was going to do. Part of her just wanted to find an everyday job and join the rat race but a larger part of her wanted to go to Vetinary College. She had a love of animals, an unwavering interest in them and all the right qualifications. On the back the of all that she had decided to apply and was waiting for the results of the applications she had submitted.
She scraped her hair up, straightened herself up and walked into the bar. As she did she walked straight into Henry, literally.
"Ooof." Henry expelled air as Becks barrelled into him.
"Eeek." Becks said at the same time, her head banging against Henrys chest.
She looked up, one hand on her forehead, the force of the collision had shaken free one long curl which now fell down the side of her face. Henry frowned down at her, concerned.
"Are you ok?" He said, bending down to her level.
"Yes, I am fine thank you." Becks replied a little too curtly. She immediately blushed. "Sorry."
"It's ok," Henry replied. "Are you sure you are ok though?" as he said it, he put one finger under her chin and lifted her face towards his.
"Yes I am fine Henry, honestly." Becks said as she looked at him. She let him turn her face from side to side, his concern turning to appraisal.
Becks stood quietly and watched him silently, quizzically as he assessed her. His brown eyes moving over her face, taking in her features.
Henry suddenly realised what he was doing and let his hand fall.
"I'm sorry," he said. "Can I have a drink?" He finished with a grin.
Becks laughed. "Yes, I'll get it, go and sit down."
Henry turned and made his way to his usual window seat. Sitting down, he appraised what he had just seen. He had always known that Becks was pretty but on closer inspection, her skin was flawless, no marks, no blemishes, not even freckles on the creamiest alabaster skin. No make up to speak of, the most perfect rose bud lips and eyes of ice blue. All finished off with deep copper red curls which he suspected flowed almost all the way down her back. He watched as she approached.
"Let me paint you. Please." Henry said as she drew close. Becks looked at him and grinned.
"I'll tell you what. IF I get into Vet College I'll let you paint me as a birthday present." She said and turned on her heel and grinned over her shoulder at him.
Henry picked up his glass and raised it to his lips. That meant if she was going away in September he had just over 2 months. He sat back and started thinking about how he wanted to position her and where, never thinking for one moment that he wouldn't paint her.
Two weeks later Becks found him sitting in the lounge. It was a busy night, the holiday season was in full swing and the hotel was bursting at the seams. She hurriedly dropped his drink on the table.
"I got into Glasgow and Bristol." She said as she hurried off.
It took a moment for Henry to register what she meant and as it did he looked up to find her gone again into the melee of people. He waited for her to come past again.
"Does this mean I get to paint you then?" He said as she rushed past.
"Yes." She said briefly over one shoulder.
