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“Lark, you've been selected again this year to have a piece of your art displayed in the state-wide art show in a few weeks. Congratulations.”
“Cool.”
“It's the weekend of March 11th and 12th and this year it will be held at the New York Public Library on 5thAvenue. I need you to think about what piece you want to display.” I knew without even thinking about it what piece I wanted in the show.
Ms. Whitney knew me so well.“I'm guessing by that look you know what piece that will be.”
“Yes.”
“If you can bring it in, I'll have it shipped to the committee.”
“Okay.”
“Are you looking forward to your summer in Maine?”Sheasked.
“I am. I've been studying Logan Dupree's work and he really is amazing.”
“He is, isn’the? His style and yours are very similar—when I heard about the scholarship, I just knew I had to apply for you. Under his tutelage, you'll learn so much.”
“Thank you for seeing something in me and pushing me to be better. I wouldn't be the artist I am without you,” I said with sincerity.
A softness entered her expression. “Thank you.”
***
“You ready, Bastian?” Caden had been working quietly as I entered the garage with Bastian, but came to join us by their work lockers.
I looked from Caden to Bastian. “Ready for what?”
Bastian grinned.“Your belated Christmas present.”
“A present? It's here?”My question was answered with silence. I’dthought he’dforgotten about it.
Bastian led me to the back door of the garage, and as we passed the Impala bay, I was sad to see the car was gone. It was stupid, I know, but I’dwanted that car. I wanted it, not just because it was a hell of a ride, but because a part of Bastian was in that car. And on that thought, we stepped out the back door and there sitting only a few feet away, with a big red bow on it, was the Impala.
I was almost speechless—almost. “That's my present?”
“All the nights you sat with me while I worked on this car, I just couldn't let it go, so I made a deal with Cal and bought it. It's a great car, but it's a safe car, which makes it perfect for you.”
And now I was speechless. Not only was it the greatest gift I'd ever been given but hearing that Bastian felt about the car as I did, made the gift even more special. And as he had been doing since he entered my life, he added another memory to my happy place.
“Lark?”
Shifting my focus, I stared up into those marvelous eyes. “I don't have words. It's too much and yet I love it.”
“It's not too much, not even close.” There was no denying his sincerity.
For a moment we just stared, communicating without words, and then he brushed his thumb across my cheek, a simple but profoundly affectionate gesture.“Want to take her for a spin?”He held up the keys, a grin pulling at the one side of his mouth.
“Oh yeah.”
***
That night the family took a good thirty minutes to ogle my car andlater, when we sat around the living room, I still felt like I was floating, because how wonderful a gift, made even more so because it was from Bastian.
Conversation eventually made its way to the fair which was this weekend. I didn't miss Mr. Wright’smock shiver, since I knew he was thinking of the hated mascot. But fortunately he remained silent about it. I felt a pang of guilt setting Bastian up as I was, but not enough guilt to back out of it because the gauntlet had been tossed.
After dinner Bastian and I sat out back. The sky was so clear, the perfect backdrop for the stars which twinkled down at us.“I can't believe you bought me a car. It's incredible. You did an amazing job restoring her.”
