Painting on the Wall

Aurora POV:

I stopped on the front porch and looked down at my black loafers, worn with knee-high hose. I grimaced because one of them was scuffed. But, I reasoned, Michael was going to be more interested in the rest of me than in my shoes. I straightened my purse’s shoulder strap over my shoulder and walked resolutely to my old but reliable car.

It was the first time I was going to his house, I'd never had a reason to be there before, and it never occurred to find out where my boss lives.

It wasn't hard to find it, I followed the description to the last detail and there I was in front of his house.

Michael was on the front porch of his house when I drove up.

I marveled at how big the house was, I knew he was financially well off but not this rich. It had gingerbread patterned woodwork and a real turret room. The whole thing was painted white, brilliant and new looking, and there was a porch swing and rocking chairs on the long, wide front porch. There were bird feeders everywhere. In the flower gardens flanking the porch, seeds were sprouting and rosebushes were putting out buds.

He saw me from a distance and walked towards me. He was dressed casually, as I was, in khaki slacks and a blue knit designer shirt more blue than the shade of his eyes behind the metal rims of his glasses.

"It wasn't hard to find the place right?"

"No, not at all"

I took my purse, locked the car, and pocketed the key before walking back with him.

"You like birds?" I asked, my eyes drifting to the bird's feed.

He followed my line of sight.

He laughed.

“Yes, I like birds. But so do Mee and Yow, so I have to make sure they’re both inside before I fill the feeders,” he said with a chuckle

“I have bird feeders at our place, too,” I replied shyly

"Yeah I saw the night I came"

I felt as if my feet were off the floor every time he smiled at me. Smiles transformed his smooth face, making it bright and incredibly handsome.

Barely 5 minutes into our meeting I could already feel my body twitching.

'Pull yourself together' I scolded myself.

“Do you hire a gardener, or do you work in the yard yourself?” I asked, enthusiastic about the mass of flowering shrubs around the front yard.

“I do it,” he replied. “I need to unwind from time to time.”

“Yes, gardening is good for stress,” I admitted. “I once go through a lot of it myself. But then I plant vegetables in our little garden, and I can freeze them for the winter.” I stopped suddenly, embarrassed, because the garden was once a necessity for my mother and me. We had to budget furiously just to make ends meet when things were very hard. But thanks to Mr. Jordan, I didn't have to worry about mundane things like that anymore.

I stared at Michael, I doubted seriously if he had ever budgeted in his life.

“I don’t grow vegetables,” he confessed. “Unless “Unless you count catnip for the cats and some herbs. I enjoy cooking"

“Me, too,” I said. “Mom can do it, but I don’t like to let her. She favors cast iron cookware, and it’s heavy.”

"She shouldn’t be lifting it,” he agreed. “I hope you’re hungry.”

I smiled. “I didn’t even eat breakfast.”

He smiled back. “Come in, then. It’s all ready.”

He opened the front door and let me walk in. There was a long hall with an elephant umbrella stand and a coat rack, with rooms opening off it on either side.

“Down the hall, to the left,” he directed as he closed the front door.

The hall was painted a pale blue, with a chair rail in a darker shade, and wallpaper up to the crown. There was a pale blue carpet as well. There was a lot of painting on the wall, most of them were appreciating nature.

There was a particular one that drew my attention,

a woman portrait. A woman standing in a lush garden, surrounded by blooming flowers of various colors. She was dressed in a flowing, light-colored dress that billowed softly in the gentle breeze. Her long, wavy hair is loosely tied back, allowing a few strands to frame her delicate face.

The woman's expression is serene, with a hint of a smile on her lips.

I gaze upon this work of art.

"These are beautiful paintings" I exclaimed

"I didn't know you were interested in painting"

"There are a lot of things you don't know about me"

"I wish to know all," I said still staring at the painting.

I didn't want to make eye contact, I knew how awkward what I just said was. I didn't want him to see how embarrassed I was.

"If you want to know, I would show you all there is to know"

I didn't know if the reply was an attempt to make my blurt less embarrassing or if he meant it. I took a glance at him and I got caught in a trance. He was staring at me very strangely like one would what they had wanted for a long time.

I swallowed hard and focused my attention back on the painting of the woman.

"Who is this beautiful woman ?"

He stared blankly into to, like he was contemplating whether to tell me or not.

"You don't have to tell me"

"There's nothing to hide" he replied "She's my mother" he added.

Your mother?" I asked shocked beyond words. I focused my attention back on the beautiful woman.

"she's so beautiful"

I got close to one of them and caressed my hand over it. My eyes caught the signature that was on one of the paintings in Mr. Calhoun's house.

"The Middle Child" I chirped "It's the same artist"

"Yes"

I stared at the painting for a long time, then realized.

"You painted it!" I said astonished

He simply smiled

"Why didn't you tell me"

"I did tell you, you didn't believe me"

"You weren't persistent"

"I had no reason to be, I knew you would figure it out at a point. And credits to you, you figured it out yourself"

I beamed.

"When did you start painting"

"Long ago, but I stopped already"

"Why? Why did you stop?"

"You will know in time. I will tell you when the time is right"

I nodded.