The Firefly

51 pt.2

I was watching from the half-open door the scene in the living room, a now familiar yet surreal scene.

Jake and Théo were sitting on the couch by the burning fireplace, immersed in reading a book.

It was an intimate and silent moment, broken only by the gentle rustling of turning pages and the warm crackling of the fire.

Jake, with his aura of seriousness and depth, seemed completely absorbed in the story he was reading to Théo.

The child, in contrast, radiated a playful and curious energy, his eyes sparkling with interest as he eagerly followed the older boy's words.

Over the past few days, Jake had shown a kindness and understanding that I had not expected.

After the episode that had tested our friendship, I had expected things to become even more tense between the two of us.

Instead, he had allowed Théo to come back to the villa, a decision that at first left me speechless.

But watching them interact together, it was clear that Jake had not made this decision lightly.

It couldn't have been easy for him to interact with the son of the man I had chosen instead of him.

However, instead of pushing him away as I feared, Jake seemed to have been touched by Théo's innocence and gentleness.

-Today at school I learned to read the bairille.- The child then came out of the blue.

Jake raised an eyebrow, but didn't correct him. -I doubt it.-

-But it's true!- Outraged, Théo rested a small hand on the rough, white page of Jake's book and leaned toward him.

-Mrs. Peggins taught us the first six letters.- He crossed his arms, challenging him with his gaze.

-How did you find it?-

-Tough, but Mrs. Peggins says I'm talented.-

Jake looked amused, but his face remained impassive, showing no emotion. He remained silent for a moment, then picked up the book and opened it again.

-Let's check it out.- He then said, taking the child's hand in his own and placing it on the blank page.

I left Jake and Théo to their reading and silently started upstairs smiling with satisfaction at Jake's behavior.

The stairs seemed endless as my thoughts were in turmoil.

I was happy to see how patiently and attentively Jake was demonstrating toward Théo, although Jake's impassive attitude might have made me suspect that a more complex range of emotions lay beneath that apparent calm.

Leda looked out the window absorbed in her thoughts.

-I'm glad you're back to painting, but now can we go get ready?- Pleadingly she came toward me, laid a hand on mine intimating me to put down my paintbrush.

-The others will be here any moment and you are still in your pajamas.- With two hands she forced me to turn toward her.

-You've put it off long enough. You need to get out, Amby, to have fun.-

I avoided meeting her gaze despite her efforts to look me in the eye.

-Let me just finish up here.- I pointed with a nod to the canvas on which a sunset was taking shape.

I saw her roll her eyes; without further insistence she began to wander around the room.

-Are you going to wear the red dress?- I asked her, wetting the tip of the brush.