As promised, Michael took Bea to a piano concert within a week. And he took her to a picture house, the first she ever went to. It amazed her and she was grateful that Michael was going to different places around with her, even if he was still recovering and walking around with a cane.
Then, before even a week from her first piano concert in New York, Michael took her to a Jazz concert.
It was as they were leaving that second concert that Bea saw Jack Bradley once more.
"Miss Gold," Jack greeted with a smile as he went to her after seeing her.
"Jack Bradley!" she exclaims as her eyebrows raise in surprised.
"I did say I was staying in New York," he states. There was no reason to be that surprised.
"Yes, I know. I just... there are so many people around here that..." Bea raised her hands as she had no words to complete her sentence. She then turns to Michael. "Oh, this is Michael. Michael, this is Jack Bradley."
"Nice to meet you," Michael says raising his free hand. "Michael Gray."
"Jack Bradley," he responded as he shook Michael's hand.
Bea could see that Jack's eyes wondered to the cane that Michael was trying to keep close to his body, as if dismissing its use.
"I had an accident. A few more days and I won't need it anymore," Michael affirms, as if trying to show him that he didn't permanently need a cane.
"Yes, of course. My apologizes, I didn't mean to... pry."
"Did you enjoy the concert?" Bea asks Jack, changing the subject.
"I did, yes. You?"
"Of course. I loved it."
"So, when do you have time to paint my portrait?" he dares asking.
"Oh, I'm not sure yet. This past week, Michael and I have been working a lot and I have yet to go and get my painting supplies."
"Let me know when you have time, then."
"I will, of course."
"We should get going," Michael says before Jack speaks again. "We have work to do early in the morning."
"Yes, we should," Bea agrees with Michael. "I know where you're staying so I'll reach out to you," she says as she turns to Jack again.
"All right, then. Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Gray. Always lovely to see you Miss Gold."
Michael shakes Jack's hand again and then he and Bea leave.
"He seems... polite," Michael says as if it hurt him to say so.
"He is. I haven't found a fault in him yet. Other than he'd marry me without even knowing me."
"Isn't he... classy?"
Bea thinks for a while. "He didn't impress me when we first met..."
"But I did?"
"For sure. And you two have different... characters."
"You could see my character the first time you saw me?"
"Yes, I could. Classy, compared to everyone else around, just had been shot, angry eyes, well put-together... Just... classy."
"Angry eyes?"
"Well... in that moment, yes. But also, I feel like when you're angry it reflects mostly in your eyes than anything else. For example, with Tommy, he doesn't let anyone know he's angry. You, just now as well, I could see you were angry through your eyes."
"I wasn't angry," Michael says furrowing his brows in confusion.
"Yes, you were," Bea replies with amusement.
"How was I angry just now?"
"When Jack Bradley looked at your cane. And when he asked me about painting his portrait."
Michael scoffs but doesn't deny.
"See? I can see it in your eyes," she affirms with a winning smile. "You can't hide it from me. But don't worry. I will always help you with work. Only on my free time will I paint Jack Bradley."
"You have to paint me as well," Michael reminds.
"I will. And more than just once, if the work is boring."
"You know, work can't always be exciting," Michael points out.
"Yes, but you have to admit there are more interesting things than just looking at boring numbers. Besides, when that's all we have to do I only review what you already went through. It is pretty boring."
"Well, you're not getting paid by the company to work, so I don't even know why you bother."
"I'm guessing my payment is my stay and expenses whilst in New York. And I want to learn! One day I'll work for the company properly."
"Then you have to go through the boring stuff," Michael says encouraging.
"I know... which is why I haven't fully given up when I see all the papers."
"You know what to do, already. You're really good, and you also learn quickly, so don't worry too much."
"The more I do here, the better I'll get along back in Birmingham."
Bea tried, but when the work got boring she'd sit by the piano and play. Michael would keep her involved, asking things aloud and for second opinions on some details, which Bea would answer without losing her focus on the piano.
Then, one afternoon after Michael was done with work they went outside.
"You're not taking your cane?" Bea asks positively surprised.
"I think I can manage without it. Besides, if I keep using it, soon enough I won't know how to walk properly."
Bea shrugs. "If you think so."
"Come on, let's go then," Michael says with a smile as he leads her out of the hotel suite.
"Where exactly are we going?"
"To buy you painting supplies."
"Oh, great. I told you about that shop I saw the other day, didn't I?"
"We'll go and check what they have there."
Michael didn't know what Bea needed, so when they got to the shop he just wondered around seeing everything in there and let Bea take her time choosing what she needed.
"Do we have a budget?" she asks after finding him near the canvas section.
"Absolutely not. Just pick whatever you want."
Bea then looks at the canvas. "How big do you want your portrait?"
"How big can you make it?" Michael jokes.
"However big you want it," she answers seriously keeping her eyes on the shapes and sizes on display. "But keeping in mind that we are in a hotel suite and we need to get the canvas there and we don't have a ladder... I'd keep it smaller than what you'd probably like."
Michael smiles. "I don't need anything too big, Beatrice."
"I think maybe if I do this one," she says pointing at one, "and instead of doing a full body portrait like I did Finn, I can just make it waist up."
"I think that would be more than enough," Michael agrees.
"And later on I can make a different one of you as well."
"We'll see... Want to take more canvas for other paintings?"
"Yes. Smaller, though."
"Take as many as you want. And we can just buy more later as well."
"I'll just take a couple, since I'll paint your portrait first and that'll take a while. Especially since I will help you with work."
"Just not the boring one."
"I help you with the boring one," Bea defends. "... sometimes."
"It's all right. Don't worry about it."
Bea looks for more supplies, like pencils, brushes and paints.