“Good, because I think he may finally have found someone to rescue him from his loneliness. He’s a believer in true love and one of these days he’s going to give you something extraordinary. I hope you treasure it,” Jack said.
“Well when he gives it to me I will treat it with the care it needs. What is it he will give me?” Lilly asked.
“That’s not for me to say, you will know when he gives it to you. Now, Lilly, let me tell you about these photos.” Jack swiftly moved the subject along to something lessintimidating. “They were taken by Olivia’s best friend Cecily. I understand you met her online yesterday. She’s an amazing woman and photographer, she’s over in America at the moment opening a gallery of her work. I’m so proud to know her.”
“She has a great eye, I love art in all forms but my first love is to paint. I can get lost for hours painting.”
“Another artist, I seem to be surrounded by creative types. You’ll have to show me some of your work,” Jack said and smiled.
“Sure, I’ve only sold a handful locally and have some in my studio at home, I shall return the favour of dinner and can show you them.”
“I’d like that.”
“What are you two talking about?” Elijah asked.
“Jack was telling me about-” Lilly started to say.
“About Cecily’s photographs and Lilly’s paintings.” Jack interrupted by finishing her sentence.
Lilly briefly looked at Jack’s eyes to understand that she wasn’t to talk about the gift Elijah was going to give her. She wasn’t materialistic so anything she was given would be treasured no matter what it would be.
“Lilly is an amazing painter, Jack you should see her work, her pictures would enchant you.”
“How could I refuse a look with a description like that? We shall have dinner soon at your place Lilly so that I can look.” Jack clinked his glass with hers and raised it in a toast.
The praise Elijah had given she threw Lilly, she wasn’t used to it and felt a little uncomfortable. Looking around the room for an idea to change the subject, she spotted it. She froze on the spot and stared at the wall on the far side of the room. It was a small picture and she couldn’t quite work out if she was hallucinating or not.
“It’s a small world Lilly if you’re not all in, walk away now.” Jack whispered into her ear so only she could hear.
Elijah looked at them and grew concerned for Lilly’s ashen face when his brother whispered something to her.
“Are you ok Lilly, you look pale?” Olivia asked, just joining the three of them.
Lilly looked at Jack, mouthed ‘all in’ to him and slowly moved across the room to the painting on the wall. She adored the picture and couldn’t believe that she was looking at it again. She remembered every stroke she painted and how she was feeling. It was like hearing a song and being transported back to that very moment in time.
The time machine in her memories took her straight to that moment. It was the day she buried Elizabeth, and she needed to escape the real world and enter a fantasy world in her painting. The picture was of a South American couple in an Argentine Tango pose. The woman’s leg clasped in a firm hand held high on his hip. Lilly had always wanted to learn the Argentine Tango and Elizabeth kept encouraging her to go to classes to learn. Still, she never went while she was alive. Once she passed away, she signed up the next day after painting this picture.
The painting wasn’t massive, no bigger than an A4 piece of paper but it had vivid red colours of the woman’s dress and swirls of orange in the night sky. Lilly hadn’t realised how much she had missed it until now, or how much she missed Elizabeth. A soft cloth was placed into Lilly’s hand and it took her by surprise. It was a handkerchief with a J sewn into the corner.
“Wipe away your tears Lilly. I had no idea looking at the picture would upset you. Please accept my apology for surprising you. I already love your work you see, and Iwanted you to see it on someone’s wall. Please say you’ll forgive me?” Jack said.
Lilly took the handkerchief, wiped under her eyes and felt strong arms wrap around her from behind. She instantly knew it was Elijah because his smell was distinctive, he always smelt the same. It felt warm, familiar and comforting.
“Why are you crying sweetheart, is everything ok?” Elijah asked.
“Yes, I’m fine. This painting brings back happy memories of a woman I adored that passed away. I miss her so much and wish she was still around to offer me some advice.” Lilly wrapped her arms over his and held on tight.
“I hope between Olivia, Jack, Cecily and I we can be that support system and offer you the advice you need,” Elijah said.
“I hope so too, it’s such a small world, and it’s overwhelming at the moment, the connections that are there between us. I had no idea who’d bought this painting all those years ago and am so happy to see it again. These tears are happy tears, I promise.”
“Good, because it breaks my heart to see you upset, are you feeling better now?” Elijah asked.
“Yeah, I’m good.”
“Great because dinner is ready, come and sit and eat with us,” Elijah said.
Elijah dropped his arms and held her hand, taking her through to the dining room where Olivia and Jack were bickering happily about names for their baby. It was a humorous scene as they were sword fighting with breadsticks over the round table. Once Elijah and Lilly were spotted, they stopped their play fighting and sat back down in their chairs like naughty childrenbeing caught.
