6: The G

ian

hand floating in space, I looked up from the canvas I had been working on. The streets outside were il

Art Studio," as I dabbed a little sc

hen no response was received. I froze when I

ri

r near Ashborne with wildflowers blooming along it. His spotless shoes and fitted charcoal suit

d in a scarcely

as he glanced up. It was obvious th

he replied in a qu

my hands on my apron, trembling

a tone of icy enjoyment, he pointed around the gallery. Elena, you signed your wo

uch as changing my identity and avoiding

ce than I meant, I responded, "I

lently, and now I discover that you have been here the whole

made me wince. "I ha

the picture on a neighboring table. Elena, yo

p and cracked throug

ut me off before

nce the evening I arrived in Ashborne, I have known. However, you den

ty in his voice. Adrian, who was normally

, I said, "I felt like I w

hair and chuckled bitterly. "And how did y

rds from spilling out. "Adrian, I had no idea what you would

face inscrutable. Then he backed off,

bed me of three years in the process. Ar

s as his words struck me

. Adrian, I didn't want to cause you any ha

?" He made a demand. "What kept y

into fists at his s

ith your coldness and rules? Adrian, she's not a business transaction

eached myself. His look changed, however, from wra

, "I'm not the man you think I am." "I never had

ds hung between us, a

d Lily's voice filled the

at I-" s

dle of her statement

emed to paus

and moved to approach her, but

ith the inquisitive naivete that onl

his look that I had never seen before. "I'm...

re you also fon

ick look before res

aper and stated, "Mommy is the bes

jumble of forms and squiggles that

e, as if it were a valuabl

her grin grew. "Mommy,

ned, but not

ver Lily's head at me. "Yo

ion between us, an uns

ice, I whispered, "Go

pending rain, she nodded an

ank, as soon as she was out of h

ly raising my voic

hy

ause I didn't want her to feel abandoned i

ury, pain, and something deeper

always want to be part of her life." "How

ot about trust," but

and care for her. And now you've left me catching up on a l

't dispu

y, "Adrian," bu

id, "I'm not going anywher

h clean hands bef

aid, her face beamin

eyes were filled with silent r

n that this wa