6: The G
ian
hand floating in space, I looked up from the canvas I had been working on. The streets outside were il
Art Studio," as I dabbed a little sc
hen no response was received. I froze when I
ri
r near Ashborne with wildflowers blooming along it. His spotless shoes and fitted charcoal suit
d in a scarcely
as he glanced up. It was obvious th
he replied in a qu
my hands on my apron, trembling
a tone of icy enjoyment, he pointed around the gallery. Elena, you signed your wo
uch as changing my identity and avoiding
ce than I meant, I responded, "I
lently, and now I discover that you have been here the whole
made me wince. "I ha
the picture on a neighboring table. Elena, yo
p and cracked throug
ut me off before
nce the evening I arrived in Ashborne, I have known. However, you den
ty in his voice. Adrian, who was normally
, I said, "I felt like I w
hair and chuckled bitterly. "And how did y
rds from spilling out. "Adrian, I had no idea what you would
face inscrutable. Then he backed off,
bed me of three years in the process. Ar
s as his words struck me
. Adrian, I didn't want to cause you any ha
?" He made a demand. "What kept y
into fists at his s
ith your coldness and rules? Adrian, she's not a business transaction
eached myself. His look changed, however, from wra
, "I'm not the man you think I am." "I never had
ds hung between us, a
d Lily's voice filled the
at I-" s
dle of her statement
emed to paus
and moved to approach her, but
ith the inquisitive naivete that onl
his look that I had never seen before. "I'm...
re you also fon
ick look before res
aper and stated, "Mommy is the bes
jumble of forms and squiggles that
e, as if it were a valuabl
her grin grew. "Mommy,
ned, but not
ver Lily's head at me. "Yo
ion between us, an uns
ice, I whispered, "Go
pending rain, she nodded an
ank, as soon as she was out of h
ly raising my voic
hy
ause I didn't want her to feel abandoned i
ury, pain, and something deeper
always want to be part of her life." "How
ot about trust," but
and care for her. And now you've left me catching up on a l
't dispu
y, "Adrian," bu
id, "I'm not going anywher
h clean hands bef
aid, her face beamin
eyes were filled with silent r
n that this wa