The bronze statue stood three feet tall on a shiny black pedestal. It depicted a man and woman making love. It was reminiscent of Gideon's other works. With this one, the man was standing, and he was holding the woman in his lap. She had her legs wrapped around his waist. It was titled: Tortured Heart. Curious name for a pair of lovers.
"They're obviously in love, why the name?"
"Are they?" Gideon's brow quirked up. "Look again,
"Shouldn't she be excited? Swept away by the sheer joy of it? And her hands." She narrowed her eyes. "They're clutching onto him, digging into his flesh. It looks like it would hurt. It's as if she's afraid he'll drop her, but he's so powerful and strong. She must be as light as air. She's making love, but..."
"But?"
"It looks like she doesn't trust him not to drop her." She looked over at Gideon. "He's giving her himself completely, but she won't even give him her trust. He's the tortured heart."
Gideon was silent. He stared at her for so long, she was afraid she had offended him. How was she to know what artists were like? Then he grinned, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
"I knew it the moment I laid eyes on you."
"What did you know?" He was making her very uncomfortable under his scrutinizing gaze.
"That you had passion," he replied simply. "You are the first person to see this sculpture for what it truly is."
Then he took her into another room.
Gideon's house was not what she would have expected of such a wealthy man. He seemed to be living below his means while everyone else struggled to live far above theirs. His home, situated well outside of Cleveland, Ohio, was set far off the road on a long, winding gravel driveway. He had total privacy. All anyone would be able to see of it at the road was several hundred feet of trees. They hid his home like a fortress. When the car had inched closer, she was able to see his home wasn't the mansion she'd envisioned.
It was a sturdy stone and wood two-story with a three-car garage. The wood appeared to be barn siding. It was probably an expensive, treated wood. The house was enchanting with its wraparound porch and privacy. The porch swing stole her heart though. She pictured dozing there on a lazy afternoon, or even cozying up to a good book on a warm summer day.
Lori snatched herself back to the present and concentrated on not smacking into Gideon's back. His strides were much longer than hers, and she was having a hard time keeping up. He walked down a narrow hallway then turned into a room to their right. He flicked a light switch and Lori gasped.
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