Love Without Boundaries

Amends

Chapter Ten

When Robert, Ann Marie, and Nora sat down at the table, Vera was telling everyone about her time in Italy. Robert had taken the seat in front of Vera. Something about her had changed; she no longer had the look of a spoiled rich girl but of a girl who has grown up.

            “So Vera, your father told me you were attending school in Rome, how did you find the classes there?” Robert’s uncle asked.

            “The classes were amazing; I was able to really work on improving my work with oil paintings. They are very dedicated to the arts over there.” Vera said.

            “I would love to see some of your work; I could use a nice painting to hang in my office.” His uncle said.

            “Well you are in luck; I actually brought one with me. I was going to give it to you as a gift.” Vera said. She excused herself from the table and left the room. Five minutes later, she came back with a medium size package, which she handed to Antonio Robert’s uncle. He took it from her and unwrap the painting; Robert could tell it was a good painting by the way his uncle looked at it. Then he turned it around for everyone else to see it. It was an almost near perfect replica of The Last Supper. This is Antonio’s favorite piece of art. Robert had to admit, Vera was very good.

            “Wow Vera this is very good, it looks almost as if Leonardo da Vinci himself painted this.” Robert said. He saw her cheeks start to blush; he couldn’t help but think she still might have feelings for him, even after what he did to her five years ago?

            “Thank you Robert, maybe one day I could do a portrait of you and Ann Marie.” Vera said as she sat back down.

            “That would be nice, wouldn’t it Ann Marie?” Robert asked.

            “Yes it would.” Ann Marie said.

            “Well it is a very lovely painting Vera and it would look excellent hanging in my office. Thank you very much.” Antonio said.

            “The pleasure is all mine sir.” Vera said.

“You should see the painting she did for me; in fact you have seen it.” Vera’s father Salvatore said.

            “Don't tell me it’s the one you have hanging outside you office?” Antonio asked.

“The one of the same, I have had many people wanting to know where I was able to get my hands on a painting from Vincent Van Gogh. Of course, I just tell them that it’s not an original, but one done by my daughter.” Salvatore said proudly. The way he would look at Vera, was a way he wished his uncle would look at him sometimes.  Everything she did he was proud of her, as if she didn’t have to work hard to please her father. Robert has yet to have done anything that would make his uncle proud. He caught Vera looking at him, but this time he saw that she looked concerned about him. As if, she was taking pity on him. She must have seen the look on Robert’s face. He needed to get out of there; he didn’t need Vera taking pity on him.

“May I be excused, I’m not feeling well.” Robert said

            “Go ahead mijo, just leave your plate and I’ll get it later.” His mom said. His uncle wasn’t too happy about him leaving dinner early, but he would never yell at him in front of guests, that will come after they leave. He said sorry to Ann Marie and told her to join him up in his room when she was done.

            When he got to his room he went to his window, it had a view of the beach and the sun was just setting. He felt angry; Vera had no right to look at him with pity. He didn’t care that he could never make his uncle proud. The man was selfish and vain, and only cared about himself. Still lost in his thoughts he didn’t hear the knocking at his door. When he stepped away from the window and turned around, he saw that Vera had let herself into his room.