Unexpected Love

Chapter 11

Cristiano

"Where are you taking us?" I asked as Catalina weaved her way through the city.

"Ah, just a few places. I really want to get these places out of the way," She replied, pulling up to a rather large building.

It looked like something out of the renaissance age with its flying buttresses and spiralling trellises. Junior looked up at the building in awe as he got out of the car with Catalina's help.

The museum was not crowded but it wasnt empty either. Persons recognised both of us as we passed by and most of them just offered a smile and a wave and went on their way. The odd passerby asked for a picture which we obliged graciously.

"Daddy look at this painting. It looks like me and you," Junior exclaimed excitedly, dragging me towards the art piece.

"Wow, it really does Junior," I said, examining it closer.

It depicted a father and son walking together on a vast country lane towards a setting sun. The persons in the painting did look similar to us. Same dark hair and similar builds and facial features.

"I knew the two of your were old. Old enough to be around during the year 1756." Catalina laughed. I stuck out my tongue at her, she winked at me and laughed.

We walked hand in hand for most of the exhibition. Lina and I took turns reading out the descriptions on the wall besides the painting to an intrigued Junior who listened attentively to the tales behind the canvas. When we stopped to give Junior a break, An elderly couple who were standing close by watched us with mild intent and small smiles on their faces.

"Such a lovely family, reminds me of our younger days Henri," the woman said to her husband as they set off towards another section of the display.

"You'd think that people won't have recognized us over here." I whispered as we left the museum two hours later. The streets were now filled with people on their lunch breaks and those who worked the afternoon shifts.

"Really, Cris? This is football country my dear, we breathe the sport and you are an important figure in it, so obviously they would recognize you." She said, watching the koi fish swim around inside the ancient pond that stood only a few feet away from the museum's entrance."Junior would you like something to eat now or after we visit the next place on the list?"

"Now please, Lina. I'm hungry but I didn't want to say anything," He said with a shy smile on his face. Catalina laughed and kissed his forehead, ushering him into his car seat.

She took us to a quaint little spanish restaurant, well off from the main road, on a street where there was a number of small european shops and restaurants.

"I used to come here when I was small, Javier used to deliver papers here on sundays and the shopkeepers grew fond of the both us." Lina said, leading us into the restaurant. The interior was well lit and comfortable and you could have felt the spanish vibe about it. Paintings covered most of the wall but the picture that stood out was one of a man and woman with young curly haired girl.

"Is that you?" I asked. She turned and examined the picture, eyes lighting up, she nodded

"Yes that was after I won the scholarship," she smiled examining the picture closely."This was before I began to put on weight, I was really small back then," she laughed.

"You still are very pretty, I see that that hasn't changed a bit." I said kissing her cheek making her blush.