He was my rock.
My protector.
My heart.
“Keep your eyes closed,”I told him and Nina did her best to stifle a giggle. When Sasha acted as if he was going to peek between his fingers covering his face, I swatted his arm. “Don’t do it or you’ll pay a price.”
His growl was playful and Nina loved it, dancing around in a circle, her little yelps delightful. I still marveled at how well adjusted she seemed after being held hostage for a solid week. At least we’d kept her from the horrors exploding in and around the compound.
I guided him further into her room, placing him exactly where the sun would reflect off the beautiful art. As soon as Nina got into position, I placed my hands over his, slowly lowering them.
“You can look now.”
Sasha slowly opened his eyes one at a time and I could tell by his changing expression it took him a few seconds to comprehend what he was seeing.
“Are you ready?” I asked her.
“Yep.” Nina stood tall and proud and began to read. “Once upon a time in an enchanting land far, far away there lived a prince. He was a very unhappy prince, grieving the loss of his princess.”
As I moved from the first painting she’d created to the second, I caught him leaning forward, gleaning every word she said.
“He believed he would never find love again. He lived his days and nights in darkness.”
Another page.
A slight sigh coming from his throat.
Nina stood proud, our combined words creating a beautiful fairytale. “One day, the prince heard a song, a magical song.”
Another page and he blinked several times.
“The prince was drawn to the music, walking a great distance to find the source.”
My fingers were shaking as I moved to another picture, one that happened to be my favorite. A tear slipped past my lashes and I turned away, fearful I would break the amazing mood.
“Suddenly, the prince noticed a beautiful girl sitting under a huge oak tree. Butterflies were everywhere, birds fluttering in trees listening to the song.”
I couldn’t help myself. I took another peek, noticing his expression was flat as if memories were furrowing inside his mind.
He’d taken another step closer, placing his hand across his heart.
“With her long, dark hair, she appeared a princess and his heart was suddenly beating again.” Nina was so intent, never taking her eyes off her daddy.
As she told the remainder of the story, I struggled to do my part in turning every page so he could capture her incredible works of art.
“The end,” she said, and I could tell she was holding her breath.
The silence in the room was almost too much to bear. I finally found the courage to look into his eyes. I noticed tears, but they were no longer tears of sadness, but ones of joy.
“That was… amazing,” he managed, his chest rising and falling as the salty beads slipped down his rugged cheeks. “You painted all those pictures?”
Nina nodded several times. “And Lainey helped me with the words. We’re going to write children’s books together and I’m going to be the artist.” Her giggle returned and as soon as he threw open his arms, she raced into them.
Just like the princess did in the fairytale.
He nuzzled into her neck and whatever he said to her I couldn’t hear. But her little head continued bobbing up and down. A few seconds later, he eased her down, turning to me.
The tears remained, but he slowly allowed a smile to cross his face. When he gathered me into his arms, I melted just like I’d done so many times before, yet this time was even more special.
