out of bed, I followed him to the balcony where he placed the tray of food. The sun glimmered off the ocean like a million sparkling jewels. Relaxing with the heat on my shoulders, I felt content. Like I was where I was meant to be.
“For you,” Leo said, placing a plate in front of me. Immediately my mouth began to salivate. Before me was a beautifully thin crepe covered in sliced strawberries with a mixed berry compote and a light dusting of icing sugar and cinnamon.
“To celebrate,” Leo proposed a toast with champagne and orange juice.
“What are we celebrating?”
“The fact that you are set to be the next Great Master of Art. To making history, Josie.”
My breath caught in my throat. Emotion set to bubble over once again, threatening to make a fool of me.
“Bella,” he touched my cheek with his free hand. “This is your dream. Be proud and excited.”
“I know, I am,” I reassured, even if it did sound unconvincing.
“Fate is bittersweet. Wanting us to meet and then separating us. But what kind of man would I be if I told you stay?”
“You want me to stay?”
“Without a doubt. But I know how talented you are, Josie. That talent should never be hidden away from the world. We will work it out, I promise you.”
***
Deciding to take the day off school, Leo drove me home so I could change and make myself presentable. He was heading to the hospital to see Mimi and asked if I would like to go with. Naturally I was more excited to see how she was going rather than sitting in a lecture hall.
Walking down the corridor in the west wing of the children’s hospital we could hear Mimi and Jase laughing. Rounding the corner, we found a playful Golden Retriever puppy furiously wagging his tail, demanding kisses from a sick little girl who looked like she had never been happier. The volunteer carer let Mimi finally kiss the pup before taking him to the next bed.
“Josie! Uncle Leo!” She squealed, still on a high.
“Hey, baby girl,” Leo tickled up her sides causing her to squirm in delight and kissing her hand like the little princess she was.
“Look,” she said, eyes wide with anticipation. Wriggling to the side table she grabbed the art book and flipped a few pages in. Carefully tearing out the page she turned and showed us.
It was naturally child-like but better than most. It was beautiful. “That’s you and Uncle Leo dancing.”
The room burst into giggles because it was so naïve and so perfect at the same time.
“That is just wonderful,” I said, taking it from her outstretched hand. My heart swelled painfully in my chest at the symbology of it. “And that’s definitely your Uncle Leo.” I bit my bottom lip as Leo studied the five-year-old’s depiction of him. He was taller than me with brown skin and unnaturally large biceps.
“Better than any photograph,” he reassured Mimi.
We stayed and chatted for ten minutes and sat in awe at how well Mimi seemed given that not so long ago she had taken a turn for the worst. She was a soldier. A fighter who refused defeat. I found that as the boys were talking, I watched Mimi in admiration. Leo had been right. While physically the weakest, she was the strength within her family.
Farewelling them, Leo snaked his hand around my waist guiding me through the maze of the hospital.
“Jase believes Mimi will be released by the weekend.”
I looked up at his face. “For real? That’s awesome! She is looking so much better than last week.”
“Her ups and downs are stressful. Some days her body just refuses to move, her mind blank. Then the next day she’ll be laughing and teasing her dad like there isn’t even anything wrong with her. I believe it’s the meds. Anyway, Jase wants to have a homecoming for her, you in?”
“Of course. Do you mind if I bring Nicole? She’s always keen to get out of the house on weekends and loves kids.”
“Absolutely. She can bring Brett too if she likes.”
“Oh, I don’t think that’s
“For you,” Leo said, placing a plate in front of me. Immediately my mouth began to salivate. Before me was a beautifully thin crepe covered in sliced strawberries with a mixed berry compote and a light dusting of icing sugar and cinnamon.
“To celebrate,” Leo proposed a toast with champagne and orange juice.
“What are we celebrating?”
“The fact that you are set to be the next Great Master of Art. To making history, Josie.”
My breath caught in my throat. Emotion set to bubble over once again, threatening to make a fool of me.
“Bella,” he touched my cheek with his free hand. “This is your dream. Be proud and excited.”
“I know, I am,” I reassured, even if it did sound unconvincing.
“Fate is bittersweet. Wanting us to meet and then separating us. But what kind of man would I be if I told you stay?”
“You want me to stay?”
“Without a doubt. But I know how talented you are, Josie. That talent should never be hidden away from the world. We will work it out, I promise you.”
***
Deciding to take the day off school, Leo drove me home so I could change and make myself presentable. He was heading to the hospital to see Mimi and asked if I would like to go with. Naturally I was more excited to see how she was going rather than sitting in a lecture hall.
Walking down the corridor in the west wing of the children’s hospital we could hear Mimi and Jase laughing. Rounding the corner, we found a playful Golden Retriever puppy furiously wagging his tail, demanding kisses from a sick little girl who looked like she had never been happier. The volunteer carer let Mimi finally kiss the pup before taking him to the next bed.
“Josie! Uncle Leo!” She squealed, still on a high.
“Hey, baby girl,” Leo tickled up her sides causing her to squirm in delight and kissing her hand like the little princess she was.
“Look,” she said, eyes wide with anticipation. Wriggling to the side table she grabbed the art book and flipped a few pages in. Carefully tearing out the page she turned and showed us.
It was naturally child-like but better than most. It was beautiful. “That’s you and Uncle Leo dancing.”
The room burst into giggles because it was so naïve and so perfect at the same time.
“That is just wonderful,” I said, taking it from her outstretched hand. My heart swelled painfully in my chest at the symbology of it. “And that’s definitely your Uncle Leo.” I bit my bottom lip as Leo studied the five-year-old’s depiction of him. He was taller than me with brown skin and unnaturally large biceps.
“Better than any photograph,” he reassured Mimi.
We stayed and chatted for ten minutes and sat in awe at how well Mimi seemed given that not so long ago she had taken a turn for the worst. She was a soldier. A fighter who refused defeat. I found that as the boys were talking, I watched Mimi in admiration. Leo had been right. While physically the weakest, she was the strength within her family.
Farewelling them, Leo snaked his hand around my waist guiding me through the maze of the hospital.
“Jase believes Mimi will be released by the weekend.”
I looked up at his face. “For real? That’s awesome! She is looking so much better than last week.”
“Her ups and downs are stressful. Some days her body just refuses to move, her mind blank. Then the next day she’ll be laughing and teasing her dad like there isn’t even anything wrong with her. I believe it’s the meds. Anyway, Jase wants to have a homecoming for her, you in?”
“Of course. Do you mind if I bring Nicole? She’s always keen to get out of the house on weekends and loves kids.”
“Absolutely. She can bring Brett too if she likes.”
“Oh, I don’t think that’s
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