Forever (Book 2) Dark Romance | Henry Cavill

Chapter 43

Chapter song: Wait by NF

"I'm holding on the pieces of us...that I just can't let go. I know this is a desperate kind of love. But it feels like it's home."

"Hello, can I sit with you?"

The little girl glanced up at me, her dark brown eyes similar to a lost puppy's.  I gave her the friendliest smile I could and before long, the small corners of her lips lifted.

"Yes," she uttered shyly.  I pulled out the chair and sat down, laying my paper flat on the table.

"Your name is Violet, is that right?" I asked.

She nodded her head, her eyes darting to her paper.

"You're an amazing artist," I said, studying her drawing.  In the middle of it was a red brick house, a mommy and a daddy holding a little girl's hands, and a big rainbow arching over everything.

"Thank you," she said timidly as she filled in the grass with the green crayon.

"Do you like to draw?" I asked, and she nodded.  "What do you like to draw?"

"Anything. I draw anything that comes to my mind. Mountains, flowers, houses, anything like that."

"That's awesome to know."

"Do you like to take pictures?" Violet asked, pointing to my poorly drawn camera.

"Yeah, I do. It's one of my favorite things to do. And it makes me happy. What else do you like to do, Violet?"

"I like to read and write," she answered. "And I like to play with my friends when I can."

Her eyes darted behind me for a second before she looked at me. "Are you Nick's girlfriend?"

"No," I immediately put down her question.  "Nick is a good friend of mine."

"Then how come you're wearing a ring on your ring finger?"  She asked.  This girl was very observant for a girl her age.  I softly clamped my lips as I wriggled the ring around my finger.

"My husband gave it to me."

"Your husband? Who's he? Shouldn't he be here with you?"

"He's a little busy today," I said, smiling at her.  He was always conveniently busy. 

Juliet signaled everyone a two minute warning before we would split off into small groups for us to share our drawings.

"Did you want to be in a group with me?" I asked, Violet's eyes lighting up at my suggestion.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Okay," Violet grinned.

After two minutes, we joined another two other children, Tyler and Heather.  They seemed to be the same age as Violet and they were the closest to us.

After rotating around groups and reiterating our stories, Nick and I passed out the gifts he had brought for the children. Juliet made sure the children thanked us and to leave the toys in the playroom.  As we turned to leave, someone called out my name just above a whisper. I turned around to find Violet standing behind us, her dark brown eyes no longer holding the same aggression as they did earlier.

"What is it, Violet?" I asked.

"This is for you," she replied, handing me the picture with both hands. "I want you to keep it."

"Are you sure?"

Violet nodded with a nervous but steady smile.

"Thank you. I'll take very good care of it," I promised.