We’d been back for a week now. Back in the old routine, with me going to work and Sky going to daycare. But I couldn’t stop thinking about Italy.
It felt like this magical unicorn of a time. Like did it even happen, or was it all a dream?
Damon had been the star of every dream I’d had since I’d gotten home. It was so bad that I woke up reaching for him, and then started my days off with disappointment because he wasn’t there.
I couldn’t blame anyone for that but myself.
I hadn’t seen him since Italy, but every day he’d send me a couple texts. Sometimes to ask me how I was doing, or to tell me about something he saw, or sometimes he simply sent a joke, which never failed to make me smile.
I was sure he’d be at Sunday dinner this weekend and I was surprisingly nervous about seeing him.
Would he look at me the way he had when we were together, or would I once again be Char, Luca’s sister?
“Charlotte.”
I glanced up from my computer to see Giles, my boss, standing in the doorway to my office.
“Yes, Giles?”
“Can you come help me with this new painting that just arrived? I’d love your opinion on the best place to display it.”
“Of course,” I said, rising from my desk, and seeing my opening, I asked, “Can I talk to you about something on the way?”
When he concurred, I took a deep breath and told him about my idea for my gallery/studio space.
My heels tapped as I followed behind him into the gallery, and with each step I felt myself tense as I waited for his response.
“I think that sounds great. Perfect for you, actually,” Giles said finally, and I let out the breath I’d been holding.
“Thank you. I was so worried you’d be upset.”
“I want what you want, Charlotte, and I’ll help you out in any way I can.”
When we turned the corner and my eyes caught on the painting leaning against the wall, I gasped, and lost my train of thought.
“Oh my…”
It was me and Sky.
We were in the villa, in front of the open doors leading out to the pool. I was in my white bikini with a white coverup, and Sky was in her mermaid bathing suit, and I was swinging her around in my arms. We were both laughing, me with my head tilted forward, and Sky with hers tilted back.
It was a pure, joyful moment, expertly captured.
“Damon,” I said softly.
“He dropped it off this morning and said there were many more to come.”
I crouched down to get a bird’s-eye view, reveling in the nuances.
“He’s got a rare talent,” Giles said, then turned and left me alone with the painting.
“Mm-mm,” I murmured in agreement, but he was already gone, and I was too transfixed to care.
I spent a good thirty minutes with the painting before I showed a couple of the assistant curators where to hang it. It was quite large and needed at least two people.
I sent Damon a text to tell him I thought the work was beautiful and couldn’t wait to see the rest. I knew I should have called him, or maybe even stopped by to see him, but I was still running through the gamut of my thoughts and feelings.
After work I picked up Sky at daycare and got home to find a small package waiting on the doorstep. Once we were inside, and Sky was happily eating a snack, I grabbed the scissors and opened it up.
First, I pulled out a Bluey stuffed animal, which had Sky crying, “Bluey,” and reaching desperately for the toy.
I handed it to her and then reached back in to pull out a folder with a real estate logo on the front. I opened it up to find five different commercial real estate listings, with packets detailing each.
I put that to the side to look at later and pulled out an invitation. It was for me and Sky to come to dinner at Damon’s house on Friday night and stated it would be an Italian-themed meal and that casual dress was preferred. I flipped it over and he’d handwritten two boxes and said, check one for yes or the other for no.
I laughed at the note then covered my smile with the card as I looked at Sky feeding her stuffed Bluey some berries and then the folder with the listings.
The man was certainly good, I’d give him that. He seemed to understand me and my hang ups better than I understood myself, and he was still here… trying, and succeeding. He’d given me space when I’d asked for it, but hadn’t disappeared.
I changed into my comfy clothes and went back into the kitchen to pour myself a glass of wine and look over the listings.
A couple of them looked really great as far as space and location went. But one was for lease and the other for purchase. I needed to take a hard look at my finances and decide which option made the most sense.
With a smile I picked up the invitation and checked the box for yes, then took a picture of it with my phone and sent it to Damon.
A few seconds later, my phone rang.
“You got the box,” Damon said before I could say, “Hello.”
“I did. Thank you. And Sky loves her Bluey.”
“I heard her talking about the show and figured it was what she’s into right now,” he said, his tone almost timid, which wasn’t like him. “Did you see the listings?”
“Yes, thank you. It was so thoughtful of you to look those up. I have to look at my budget and see if and when this could really happen, but it’s definitely fun to look and dream.”
“We can talk more about it at dinner on Friday,” he said.
“Can I bring anything?”
“Just you and Sky. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Okay, thanks. We’ll look forward to it. See you then, Damon. And thanks again for the box, and the breathtaking painting.”
“You’re welcome. Bye.”
I put everything away and went to go make dinner, finding myself excited at the prospect of seeing Damon again on Friday.