4
Chapter 24
Iris
I realize I haven’t felt genuine joy in days once I step into my cozy apartment back in Bo’Arrocan and hear the sound of Miles‘ tiny voice. He comes barreling into the foyer, his dark hair flopping into his bright green eyes, and quite literally launches himself
into my arms.
“Mommy, you’re back!” he cries, burying his face in my neck. “I didn’t know you were coming back!”
I grin and kiss his little face all over. “I wanted to surprise you, little wolf. Are you surprised?”
“I’m so so so so so surprised!” he beams.
Looking up, I see the babysitter standing in the doorway, her eyes wide with shock. There’s a wooden spoon covered in tomato sauce in her hand, evidence of dinner almost being ready. Scooping Miles up into my arms, I explain why I’ve returned on a whim
while Miles chatters endlessly about his days without me.
“I really missed you, Mommy,” Miles says, leaning his head on my shoulder as we all sit down for dinner around the small kitchen table. “Look, I even colored you a whole bunch of pictures.”
With a flourish, he pulls a stack of papers out and hands them to me. “My little artist,” I grin, ruffling his hair. I can’t wait to put them up where I can see them. Every last one of them.
“He really did,” the babysitter says softly. “He cried all last night.”
Miles‘ eyes widen. “Did not! I was a big boy!”
I chuckle and tug him closer, kissing the top of his head. “Well, I’m here now, little wolf. Don’t you worry.”
But with the happiness of coming home also comes the bittersweet feeling. Because it’s not long before I’m getting a call from Marsiel, and they’re telling me how they’re reopening. Apparently they also have some ‘amazing news‘ for me, news that the
curator only wants to tell me in person.
The
next morning, I have to hold back tears as I explain that I’m returning to Ordan. Miles bawls his eyes out and clutches my leg
like his life depends on it.
“Please let me come with you, Mommy! I’ve missed you so much!”
It breaks my heart to have to pry his little hands away. And although he understands that I’ll be home for good in just a few more days, there’s no drying the tears streaming down his cheeks.
Am I a bad mother? All I want is to protect Miles from having to meet Arthur in Ordan, and yet it feels like leaving him behind is
doing more harm than good.
By sunset, the plane is touching down once more in Ordan. I’m eager for the news that the gallery has for me, but also eager to
finish my work and return to Miles.
1/2
For good this time.
+20 Bonus
“As you can see, your exhibition has reopened,” the curator says with a grin as she swings open the large double–doors leading to
the solo exhibit area.
I furrow my brow as I step into the space. Previously, my work was hung in the communal exhibit area, but now it’s in here. When
I glance at the curator in confusion, she beams.
“Well? Do you like it?”
I’m not sure what to say as I take in my paintings lining the large, pristine white walls with the sun streaming in through the large glass roof. The solo exhibition space is warmly lit and vast, and my work looks even more phenomenal in here. But I’m
confused.
“Why?” I blurt out.
The curator giggles and places her arm around my shoulders, leading me around the space. “An anonymous investor wanted your work to be shown in a solo exhibit. But that’s not all Here.” She pulls out a packet of papers and hands it to me.
Furrowing my brow, I take the papers and flip through them. It’s a contract–the investor wants to become my patron, essentially giving me a large sum of money to keep producing artwork here in Ordan.
D
Comments
ப
Support
