The Art of Jack Marshall

Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO

-

I pushed through the front door, Tilly in tow, and tossed the pamphlet I received from my therapist onto the end table on my right. Tilly pushed by me, darting into the apartment.

"Hey!" I called out, watching as she scurried around the corner, "Come back and take your damn boots off, Till!"

She reappeared with a pout, followed by the crossing of her arms.

"You said a bad word," she grumbled, refusing to move from her spot. I ran my fingers over the bridge of my nose and sighed heavily.

"Yes, I did. Can you please come and take your boots off? You're making a mess."

She remained firm in her position, knowing damn--darn--well that I should be apologizing. The kid was too smart for her own good.

"I'm sorry, Ti-Ti. Okay? I didn't mean to say a bad word," I said with sincerity, bending down and holding out my arms, "Daddy's a little stressed right now."

She slowly marched over to me, her arms still crossed and eyes locked on anything but mine. Eventually, she fell into me and gave me a hug, accepting my apology. I tickled her sides, drawing a giggle from her and she pulled away from me.

"Daddy, what's that?" Tilly pointed to the colorful paper on the end table. I glanced back and clicked my tongue, cursing myself for not throwing the damn thing away.

While taking her boots off, I replied, "It's something about art. You like art?"

She nodded profusely.

I took another look at the paper, resting my hands on my knees. I'm sure Mr. King was right. I'd been spending so much time worrying about work so I could provide for Tilly, that I forgot to make time for just her. I only wanted what was best for her.

"You wanna go to art class together?" I asked, pinching her cheek. She tugged away with a grin and cheered.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

With a shrug and a sigh, I pressed off my knees and stood up, kicking off my own boots and placing them in the corner beside the end table. I picked up the pamphlet and opened it while Tilly began chasing after Ollie.

With squeals in the background, I glanced over the paper and saw a picture of what I assumed to be the art teacher.

Ms. Kayleigh Homer, the caption read.

She was stood with her hands entangled and a shy smile sitting on her lips. Curly, red hair draped over her shoulders, and though the print was small, I was able to make out the faint green color of her irises.

"Who's that?"

I gasped slightly and jumped from my skin, feeling Tilly press against me while peering at the pamphlet.

"I think that's your new teacher." I shrugged.

"Oh. She's pretty."

She was pretty. And odd. Not in a bad way, but in an "I've never seen you around" kind of way. She must've been new in town, which was... well, odd. From my time being here, for about the last eight months, there wasn't a single new face beside Tilly and me. I still catch people staring at me from time to time. I shook my head.

With that, Tilly returned to terrorizing Ollie, who surprisingly seemed to enjoy playing mouse in this chase. I turned towards the kitchen and headed directly past the trash can and to the fridge where I plucked a free magnet and placed it over the pamphlet.

I supposed I should give it a shot. For Tilly's sake.

-

The weather wasn't forgiving, and it wouldn't be for the rest of the week it seemed. Though the recent storm had passed, the temperature remained in the single digits for most of the days. I wasn't complaining. I was used to the cold by now.