Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapters Ten & Eleven
Epilogue
Chapter 5
We worked for the whole 45 minutes on some watercolor basics. I focused the lesson on the colors and subject matter she was interested in, sunrises. She caught on quick, understanding about using less water, not more, sometimes allowing colors to dry before putting a new color on, sometimes letting them bleed together. We only used envelopes.
When we were done I called out to Maria, asking if she would take Melissa into the laundry room to teach her how to properly wash her brushes. Maria jumped from behind the wall separating the studio from the dining room and off they went.
Angus had been looking at his watch for a while and was relieved when the lesson was over. He pulled a check out from his overall pocket and handed it to me.
He said ‘”Melissa hasn’t been happy since her brother left so getting that letter was a big deal. She went crazy wanting to send something back. I hope she has gotten over it now.”
In the background I could hear laughing and giggling from the two girls.
“Do you think she will want another lesson?” I asked. “Even if she does, this is all she’s getting. I can’t afford any more”. He turned and called out loudly, “Melissa, come on, we’ve got to be going.”
Maria and Melissa ran around the corner laughing. Both of their shirts were soaked with water.
“Dad, can Melissa come over to play sometime?” Maria asked.
Angus quickly spoke up, “We have to go, Maria, get your things.”
“Well dad?”
“I don’t know Maria. It’s ok with me, but we will have to ask Mr. Billet here to see what he thinks.”
“Mr. Billet, can Melissa come over to play sometime?” Maria asked.
Angus stopped and stared at the far wall. He stood still. “I don’t know. I will have to talk to my wife about it.”
Melissa’s face lost its happiness as they said their goodbyes and went out the door.
After they left Maria was very excited. “Dad, you have to let her come over and play, she’s really fun.” She said.
I responded, “I think that is a great idea Maria, but it isn’t just up to me. We will have to see what her mother says.”
“Oh, that isn’t her mother or her father. She said they weren’t her grandparents either.”
“That’s weird. Are they foster parents?” I asked.
“What’s a foster parent?” she asked in return.
“It’s someone who takes in orphans, kids who have no parents.”
Maria said, “Well, maybe that’s what they are, I don’t know. She said she just moved in with them recently. Dad, you have to let her come over and play.” She said again.
“Ok, I will work on that. In the meanwhile, it’s time for you to feed the dogs.”
I went in my office and sat at the computer. I searched for ‘Angus Billet’.