How to Save A Life (Anthony Rizzo)

65- Art of Time

Anthony

After a month and a week after Daisy was born Clara and I get awarded our first date night. Jess and Kris insisted on coming over and playing with Daisy and Maddie while Clara and I have some fiancé one on one time. I hadn't even realized it had been so long since we had a date. But it's been since before Daisy was born and everything after that was all kind of blurry. It's been a crazy month and a few days, but I think the date is long over due.

So after a day game one September afternoon Clara and I get dressed up. She pulls on a nice dress and I put on a dress shirt and a nice pair of pants. I style my hair so it was kind of curly and it looked nice. I shave away all the stubble I let grow because instead of shaving I had been changing a diaper.

I meet Jess and Kris downstairs and explain what they needed to do. She was such a angel to look after I knew that they would be fine, but as a hover parent I still wanted to go through everything. She was to be fed at 7 and changed and in bed by 7:30. I had a outfit set out for her and a list ready. Maddie had already been fed and went to the bathroom but she'll probably have to go one more time. Clara played with her for a hour today so she should be pretty tired.

"Alright Tony! We got it. Go have a good time with your girl" Kris says as he pushes me out of the kitchen.

"Okay, I would love to. But have you seen her" I ask and he laughs.

"Well no" he admits.

"Are you sure your fiancé isn't going out with mine" I joke and he laughs.

"I wouldn't put it past them" he shakes his head.

On cue the girls come from downstairs. Jess joins Kris in the kitchen and Clara joins me wherever it was Kris had stopped pushing me.

I grab her hand and spin her around before pulling her into my chest. She look up to me with those big turquoise eyes and I get chills.

"You look absolutely stunning as usual" I compliment and she lets out a little giggle. I press a quick kiss to her lips and I let that feeling that only she gives me take over.

"You two crazy kids have fun" Jess says.

"Not too much fun. I don't know if I can baby sit two babies just yet" Kris claims and I roll my eyes.

"Thank you Kristopher" I tease as I pull Clara to the door.

"Thank you guys. You're the best" she says as we get out the door.

We get to the car and and I open the door for her. She slides in and I close the door behind her. I jump into the drivers side before turning the music on. I get buckled up and grab Claire's hand before lacing my fingers through hers and setting our hands in between us.

"So where are we going" she wonders.

"I was thinking about starting at the art institute since we haven't been able to go in a while. Then we can go to Giordanos and eat a whole pizza by ourselves" I say and she smiles.

"That sounds perfect" she admits.

"Perfect."

We get to the art institute and she says hi to everyone there. Since that faithful day well over a year ago, she had been getting recognition around here. Considering she's the only artist around to see her art hanging up she was quite popular around here. And people come from all around just to see her work. She had fans who admire what she does and why she does it and I was nothing but a proud fiancé.

"Hello Clara" the art director says as she approaches us.

"Hey! How have you been" Clara wonders.

"Pretty good. I actually just got a call about one of your pieces" the woman claims and I raise a eyebrow. This was news to me too.

"Really? What for" she wonders.

"Are you aware of the MACRO art institute" the woman asks.

"Like the one in Rome... like Italy" she asks.

"Yeah, that's the place" the woman smiled. "They just called me asking for one of your pieces. They haven't had a new artist in decades but they're dying for your piece" she claims and I hear Clara gasp.

"Seriously? Which one" she wonders.

"The Art of Time piece" the woman says.

"What's that" I wonder.

"It's a piece about what happens when a person can do with the same amount of time in a day as every other person who walks this earth. How we can make a difference once we stop using time as a excuse. We always have enough time to do what we want or what we need, but always use the excuse that we don't have enough time. We do, but we're scared to use it for something that could actually change the world as we know it.

So the painting is a parallel of a girl who used time as a excuse and a girl who used time as her source of power. And it contrasts how different life can be even though we all get 24 hours in a day" she explains.

"Simply brilliant" she woman says.

I just stare at Claire because her intelligence never ceases to amaze me. And I'm not saying that like I thought she was unintelligent. I'm saying that like she takes every bar that she ever had and raises it. She surprises me in the best way possible and it's so cool that I get to marry this woman who is so incredibly unique.

"Well let me know what happens with that" Clara says.

"Of course. Are you guys here to look around" the woman questions.

"Yes we are. It's the first time we have been out since the baby was born and we end up here" Clara giggles.

"Well I hope you guys have a great night" the lady insists.

"We will" I assure her.

After walking around we finally get to dinner. We order the biggest pizza and share a drink. I look across the table as she smiles over at me.

"What made you do that Art of Time piece" I wonder.

"I was thinking about how I was about to be a mother, making a bunch of excuses as to why I wouldn't be a good one. You know, the usual tearing myself down. But then I realized that these terrible excuses were no real reason that I would be a bad mother. I realized that we all have the same amount of time in a day and if I use mine wisely I can be a good mom and artist and of course partner" she smiles.

"You always seem to find time to love me" I smile.

"And that, my love, is the Art of Time."