Painted Memories

by Flowers, Loni

  His hand cupped my cheek as he lifted my face to peer into my eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “This is why I came home early. I missed you like crazy. I just wanted you to hold me until I fell asleep. Is that okay?”

  Heat warmed my lips when he kissed me. A faint moan escaped my mouth and I melted into him, parting my lips for more. His tongue lightly twisted with mine before he pulled away tenderly and smiled. “I missed you too.”

  I laid my head against his chest and snuggled down beneath the covers. I felt so overwhelmed and my eyes pricked with tears, but I refused to cry. Finally… finally the universe was spinning my way. At that moment, aside from finding a job, I couldn’t imagine life could get any better.

  Chapter 30

  I glanced across the coffee table cluttered with paper. A red envelope stuck out. I smiled as I pulled it from the mess. Dad was sending me letters regularly since he went into rehab and they only grew longer with each new one he sent. We talked on the phone here and there, but not often, doing most of our communicating through handwritten letters. It was different, and I loved reading them, while looking forward to receiving something in my mailbox besides bills. Whenever I needed a little bit of encouragement or cheering up, I could pull out one of his letters and reread it. He’d been through so much already and these last two months were probably the hardest of his life since deciding to go to rehab. If he could get through this, surely I could get though the mess I was in and find a decent job. I pulled the letter from the envelope so I could read his most recent letter again.

  Lilly,

  I’ve come to realize that you never really appreciate the use of technology until it’s taken away from you. We live in a world so wrapped up in electronic devices, as I am; it’s hard to adjust when you can’t turn to them any second of the day. We’re only allowed an hour and a half a day to use our personal devices. Talk about a wake-up call! It’s been difficult to get used to the rules here, but I’ve been able to survive and keep an open mind about it. Others have had a rough go of it though. Frank, the therapist, told us we should free ourselves from our devices, because they only hold us back and keep us from having real conversations with people. His remedy was to write a letter. So, that’s what I’ve been doing. I hope you’re not tired of them, I’ve found that I have a lot to say lately.

  It’s not bad though, I like it much more than I thought I would and it’s nice to get back to the basics and put pen to paper rather than finger to keyboard. I’ve realized that handwriting these letters to you—and your mother—has helped me “think” before I speak and realize the power of my words as I write them. It’s been a journey I can surely testify to.

  I still hate that I missed Thanksgiving with you and Drew, but I knew the importance of me being here would serve me better than having an over-stuffed belly. I know your mother cooked a feast, as usual, and I really hated missing it! I miss her cooking, amongst other things, but I won’t get into that. Moping about it doesn’t do anyone any good.

  Two months, Lilly! Can you believe it? I’ve been here two months already and I never thought I’d make it this far. I have good news though! The last we spoke, they weren’t sure what my “official” release date would be. I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be coming home the week of Christmas. I’ll be able to continue with weekly therapy sessions there and it’ll be easier for you to join me if you like.

  You have no idea how much I’m looking forward to spending Christmas with you, if that’s what you want. It’s been so long since we’ve shared a holiday together, and I promise I’ll never be the monster I was before.

  I’ve made it this far because you believed we had a chance to rebuild what was lost and I thank you for giving me the second chance I never deserved.

  I love you, see you soon.

  -Dad

  Dad would be home soon and I still hadn’t told him about losing my job. I think I was afraid he would relapse, and tell me how unstable and horrible teaching was, and if I hadn’t gone into the field, I wouldn’t be in this mess to start with. Another part of me just didn’t want to look like a failure in his eyes. He was so accomplished and continued the legacy of his family’s firm. I didn’t want to be known as, “the daughter who didn’t make anything of herself.”

  I got tired of looking for another teaching job after searching all day on the computer. There simply wasn’t anything out there. And I knew why. It was the end of the year, so the school year was winding down. Until it started up again, there wouldn’t be a need to hire any new teachers. But I couldn’t wait ‘til then. It had been nearly two months since Mrs. LaNore terminated my job, and my savings wouldn’t hold out much longer. There was no way in hell that I’d ask my parents for help, even though I knew they would. Drew kept telling me I would be all right, that we’d find something soon and not to give up, but what? I didn’t exactly want to work in the fast food industry. Of course, I would if I had to; it wasn’t beneath me. I’d do whatever was necessary to stay in my apartment and near Drew.

  It was already eight days ‘til Christmas and I had only one gift for Drew, and nothing for anyone else. Drew would kill me over it. He made me promise I wouldn’t buy him anything and I promised… with my fingers crossed behind my back. I might not have a job, but he would definitely get a present from me, whether he liked it or not. Besides, I was certain he’d love the new watch, once he saw it.

  I checked the time and smiled, knowing that he would be off work and home soon. He’d been picking me up and taking me to the studio. It was about as spotless as a painter’s place could possibly be. I rearranged everything for him by color, decorated the walls with his beautiful art, and sat around, watching him work. Not having work elsewhere, being with him and watching him create new worlds on canvas was the next best thing. Spending a few hours with him flew by like the snap of a finger. I was never bored and even the piano in the corner got a workout. Like teamwork, I’d play and he’d paint. It was perfect. Many times, I’d sit and daydream about the studio being ours; a fun place to work together that we’d both love. He’d teach art or fill commissioned orders while I taught music and tutored children. What could be better than that? But that dream was just a fantasy and we both had bills to pay. Drew basically had two jobs now. He went from home, to school, to the studio and back home every day. It was his routine now, and I couldn’t see anything changing for him in the near future. If I didn’t get a job soon, I didn’t know what I was going to do. After Christmas, I planned to start looking in the surrounding counties. If my commute was long, I’d just have to deal with it until something better showed up.

  I heard a knock on my door before Drew yelled, “It’s me,” and opened the door.

  Snapping my laptop shut with a huff, I leaned back against the couch and crossed my arms over my chest. “Hey,” I moped. “How was your day?”

  He walked over to me, carrying a bag over his shoulder and reached for my hand. Pulling me up, he said, “Screaming kids all day. Glue sticks and confetti are not fun combinations, especially when one gets the bright idea to confetti another kid’s arm.”

  “Oh, it was one of those days.” I giggled.

  He brushed his lips over mine briefly with a grin. “Yeah, fun times. Come with me.”

  Drew pulled me down the hallway to my bedroom and lay the bag across the bed. Now that I could see it fully, I recognized it wasn’t just a bag, but a garment bag. “I know we were supposed to go down to the studio tonight, but I’ve decided we’re going out instead. You’ve been down about your job and all those mixed feelings you have with your dad on top of it. I think you need a night out, just you and me, to forget about all your worries.”

  I was grateful for what he was trying to do, I really was, but I didn’t want him spending money on me when he was already working two jobs and I had none. “It’s a school night, Drew. You shouldn’t be out late on account of me.”

  “Don’t worry about me, Grandma, I’ll have you back before w
e turn into pumpkins,” he teased.

  I rolled my eyes. “You know that’s not what I meant.” I glanced at the bed, “What’s in the bag?”

  Drew grinned. “Your attire for the evening.”

  “My what?”

  “I made it easy for you. I’m going to take you out. We will have a nice dinner and you will not worry about all your problems or stress about anything you’ve got going on in your life.”

  “But—”

  He pressed his lips onto my mouth, cutting my words off. His teeth lightly pulled at the bottom of my lip before he pulled away. “Curl your hair and wear it down. I’ll be back to pick you up in two hours.”

  Pecking me on the lips once more, Drew turned on his heels and walked out of my apartment. I was stunned by his quick departure before I had the chance to protest, which was probably his reason for leaving so quickly. I looked at the bag on the bed again, suddenly feeling giddy inside. A man shopped for me and picked out what I would be wearing. I was thrilled and terrified at the same time. Men were different; either they wanted you fully covered with no skin exposed, or half naked with all your jewels hanging out. My senses told me Drew liked a little of both. He would want some skin exposed, but only enough to make him want to see more.

  The anticipation would kill me if I didn’t look inside the bag, but I resisted the urge. I would take my shower, and fix my hair as he requested, before unveiling his gift. I only hoped I had the right accessories and shoes to match.

  I took my time in the shower, shaved my legs with a new razor, moisturized every inch of myself and blew dry my hair. Once I was finished, I had to let myself cool off before I tackled all the curling. My hair took a lot longer to curl than I expected.

  I checked the time and only had forty-five minutes to get dressed and apply my makeup before he arrived. Walking over to the garment bag, I picked it up and hung it on the hook at the back of my bathroom door. Slowly, I unzipped the bag and spread it open. A red glow shimmered across my skin and the wall behind me. Sequins were stitched over the entire surface of the dress. I raked my hand down the front, feeling the cool, smooth discs beneath my palm. A thin, black satin belt with a tiny bow wrapped around its middle. I removed the dress from the bag and gasped at its beauty. It hung on a red silk hanger by thin, tiny, cord straps. Carefully, I slipped it off the hanger and over my head. I peered at myself in the full-length mirror and appreciated how it cut low enough to glimpse my breast, but not enough to make me feel exposed. The dress was short, ending about three inches above my knees.

  Something grabbed my attention in the bottom of the bag and I took a closer look. Two silver boxes lay at the bottom, one small and one large. I lifted them out and moved to sit in the chair next to my bed. The large box held a pair of high-heeled shoes. The toe of the shoe was black, leaving the rest of my foot exposed. Gold straps wrapped across the top of my foot and around my ankle. When I slipped them on, I stood nearly four inches taller. They were stunning and suggested maybe Drew appreciated my legs a bit more than I thought.

  Next, I opened the smaller box and gasped at its contents before squeezing my eyes shut tightly. I refused to cry and held my eyes closed until the urge passed. Inside the box lay a ruby-gemmed bracelet with a matching necklace and a pair of earrings. I was speechless. A card from the box floated to the floor and I bent down, and picked it up to read its script.

  Yes, the rubies are real and NO I will not return it, so don’t ask me to. I love you. See you in a bit.

  When I felt tears pricking my eyes, I squeezed them tight again. He would not make me cry. No. Not tonight.

  It was nearly six o’clock and I paced the living room floor, waiting for him. I managed to keep my tears at bay, spending most of the remaining time trying to make my makeup look as flawless and natural as possible. Rummaging through my closet; I found a black clutch and a black wrap to drape around my shoulders, dismissing the need for a coat. I’d probably still be cold, but in a dress like this… I’d happily cope.

  When I heard a knock on my door, I froze and waited for him to come in like he usually did, but he didn’t this time. I was extremely nervous and I didn’t know why. It felt like there was a swarm of butterflies in my stomach. I had no idea where he was taking me, but it had to be someplace fancy, judging by the dress he chose.

  Opening the door, Drew stood in front of me wearing a coal-black, three-piece suit with a red satin tie and a single red rose in the lapel of his jacket. He was as handsome as I’d ever seen him. The suit he wore at the charity event made him look gorgeous, but something about everything he’d done up until now—the jewelry, the outfit, and everything I’d been through with my parents and grieving over Jesse—made him look like my Prince Charming, the one true love of my dreams. Even before this moment, I knew there was no one person I could love more than him.

  Drew inhaled sharply as his eyes drifted over me. He opened his mouth to speak, but instantly closed it. I didn’t need to hear a word; his eyes told me all I needed to know. I stepped closer, my body against his and kissed him. His hand cupped the side of my neck and I melted into him as my hands pressed on his chest. Drew tasted of sweet mint when our tongues, slick and warm, slid against each other in a slow dance. He kissed me softly and tenderly before pulling away slightly. Stepping back, Drew stared into my eyes, his thumb, light as a feather, brushed across my cheek.

  “You take my breath away,” he whispered.

  “Thank you. You really didn’t have—”

  He pressed his finger against my mouth and arched his brow. “I did this because it’s what I wanted. Okay?”

  Yeah, because it makes me feel great that you spent all of this money on me while you’re working your butt off with two jobs. That’s what I wanted to say, but settled for a simple, “Okay.”

  “Shall we go?” he asked.

  I nodded, “Let me grab my purse.”

  Chapter 31

  While we drove to an undisclosed location, I thought about asking where we were going, but the excitement of the night and mystery of where we’d end up kept me from saying a word. When we pulled up at the familiar restaurant, I was speechless. I always knew The Plantation Gardens would look beautiful during the holiday season and I wasn’t disappointed when we drove into the parking lot. There were so many twinkling white lights, I felt like we were transported into a magical realm.

  The hostess led us to a table in the back that overlooked the garden. Large glass bowls filled with water sat in the center, with three tealights floating alongside red and silver balls. The candlelight flickered across the table, imbuing the atmosphere with a soft, romantic glow. With our backs towards the center of the restaurant, we sat side-by-side, facing the window. Every tree and bush blinked in white lights. Matching red, silver, and gold balls of different sizes hung from the canopy of selected trees throughout the garden. I was so distracted by the scenery, I didn’t notice when Drew ordered our wine and had it delivered to the table.

  Drew intertwined his fingers with mine and took a sip from his glass. “It’s all so beautiful, isn’t it?”

  I nodded in agreement. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  “I knew you’d love it. I met a client here briefly a couple weeks ago to deliver a painting. Once I saw it, I knew I had to bring you here.”

  He’d been planning this for a while now, I guessed. “Who helped you pick out my outfit? And how did you know my correct size?” I was too curious not to ask, and it was nagging at me since I put the dress on.

  Drew’s face glowed from the warm light; his green eyes shimmered back at me like two emerald gems. “If I can paint every part of you perfectly from memory, picking your size isn’t that difficult. And I needed no help choosing the outfit. You’re stunning, Lilly. Simply stunning.”

  “Thank you.” I took a sip of my wine, still shocked that he’d done all of this for me and needed no help in pulling it off. I had the best boyfriend in the world. “You’re amazing, I hope you know that,” I
said, kissing him on the cheek. “And all of this,” I pointed to the jewelry he gave me, “it’s gorgeous. Thank you. If I’d realized we were giving our Christmas presents this early, I would have brought yours.”

  Drew frowned, “Lilly, I told you not to get me anything.”

  “I know, but realistically you cannot expect your girlfriend not to get her boyfriend a present for Christmas.” I gripped his hand tighter, my voice suggesting a bit of force, “You will take it and keep it. Don’t even think about returning it.”

  He opened his mouth to argue, but thought better of it. “Okay fine, but just so you know… the jewelry is not your Christmas present.”

  “What? Yes, it has to be. Drew, you cannot give me anything more. You have already given me so much tonight.” I felt horrible for buying him a measly watch when he’d given me all of this and who knows what else? “Why give me so much? You know you don’t have to do any of this to make me happy. I would have been just as content snuggling on the couch with you.”

  “I did it because I love you. Isn’t that reason enough?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “Also,” he cut me off, “I have something to ask you.”

  “Okay,” I said softly.

  He pulled my left hand into his lap and brushed my hair behind my shoulders. His thumb slid over the top of my hand as he took a deep breath. “The first day we met, when I helped you out of the pond? I never would have guessed you’d be so much a part of my life after that.”

  I giggled. “I bet. I looked crazy. I’m surprised you didn’t turn the other way when you saw me again.”

  Drew’s smile was soft and he chuckled. “You were wet, muddy and your eyes had that raccoon look about them from the runny makeup. Yet I still thought you were the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. I wanted to stay and talk to you, but I couldn’t because I was expecting an important phone call. I hoped we would run into each again around the complex so I could talk to you then. Imagine my surprise when you walked into my classroom the next day.”