Vengeance

1-

"Keegan, dear, when are your classes this week?" Gloria asked as she sat down one of her famous margaritas.

"Thank you" Keegan smiled. "I've got one Wednesday on the beach and another here Saturday afternoon before the crowd."

"Oh that's right! My mind is just not what it used to be." Gloria headed off to take another table's order.

After Ryan passed away Gloria had been a rock for her. She had pulled Keegan out of the gutter so to speak. The first six months were spent sleeping, crying, and drinking. After one too many drunken nights at the Cantina Gloria had sat her down and told Keegan that she was failing her. Keegan had apologized through the tears but Gloria just shook her head and said that it wasn't her Keegan was failing. It was Ryan. She had wanted Keegan to live and all she was doing was killing myself.

A week or so passed and Gloria got together a group of friends and asked if she could host a "paint and sip" party for them. She had agreed and it turned out to be a big hit. Several people at the Cantina that night had seen the ladies having a blast painting a sunset. They had approached Keegan asking for a card and when the next party would be. Gloria had received several calls about them as well and offered the deck at the Cantina for her to host the parties. She started with bi-weekly parties that soon turned weekly and then a month or so ago Keegan had added a painting class once a week.

She had missed painting and even teaching. She had abruptly left school to be with Ryan and while she had never regretted her choice she did sometimes miss teaching. Keegan felt like she had now gotten back a piece of her now.

"Okay Keegan here are your nachos. What painting are you doing at the party Saturday?" Gloria asked.

"Well it's a wedding shower. Lily from the bakery invited her sister to town and is bringing in ten women from Atlanta for the weekend. I think she said her sister is the bride. I'm probably going to do rings on the beach at sunset or a wine glass. That always seems like a big hit for those groups."

"Oh goodness a wedding shower? I'll have to make sure I've got plenty of margarita mix ready to go!" Gloria joked. "You know starting these classes has really drawn in a crowd around here. Looks like we both benefit from your skills."

"If it weren't for you I could enjoy a steak and a sunset at the villa on my Saturday nights. We're definitely both benefitting." Keegan rolled my eyes jokingly.

She put down some cash to cover her check and a hefty tip and headed home to watch the sunset and soak in the last few moments of its light.

--

Keegan swung back and forth in the hammock watching the sun rise. The week had passed quickly. The class Wednesday night was again a success and had more people than she had anticipated. She had finished a painting of the mountains that she had been working on for several weeks. Keegan was relieved to be finished with it, but that also meant she had no projects going and nothing to occupy my mind. She closed my eyes and let memories of Ryan flood her thoughts. Quiet tears streamed down her face.

She spent most of the day on the beach relaxing and reading. The bachelorette party was scheduled for 7pm and would last 45 minutes to an hour. She decided to opt for something slightly dressier than normal since the women would no doubt all be in dresses. Normally Keegan would just where a t-shirt, flip flops, and shorts but tonight she decided on a white button up with the sleeves rolled up, sandals, and jean shorts. She had only dressed up once in the last three years and that was for the funeral. Keegan had made the villa her permanent home and had fallen in love with the sleepy beach town. Everyone's dress code was a swimsuit or comfortable clothes. She let her hair hang loosely in curls and put on her standard minimal layer of makeup. It was hard to even remember the days working in the art industry and working at the school. Every day had consisted of dresses, dress clothes, and high heels. Well, at least the school had been a little more relaxed. She grabbed her phone and keys and slipped them into her pocket. She locked the door behind her only stopping to look back at a picture sitting on the credenza and then headed out to the Cantina.