ARROW - 68. Chapter 68

That evening when Colin came home, Tommy had to show Colin the painting in his room, I could hear their voices but I could only make out a word or two. While Colin ate, I brought him up to date on our day. I had help, when he wasn’t snitching bites from Colin’s plate.

“I am going to the police at the court house downtown tomorrow while Tommy is at school. I have protected the gallery with a fire suppressant and now I need to provide protection from theft. As it is now, anyone could break in and steal my paintings and the art work of the students.”

“Do you have homework, Tommy?”

“Yes Pop, but I did most of it at the gallery with Grandmother.”

“Then after you have finished helping me eat my dinner, suppose you finish your homework.”

He took a bite, kissed Colin on the cheek and went to get his homework. Bringing it back to the kitchen, sitting opposite Colin, he began to finish his homework.

I took a napkin and wipe off Colin’s cheek. Tommy left a little gravy there.

When Colin was finished eating, he went down to the club. I cleaned up and went to sit with Tommy.

“Have you finished all of your homework?”

“Yes Dad.”

“Good, would like to go down to the club for a little while? You have an hour before you need to go to bed.”

He went and washed his face and took care of nature’s issue, “I’m ready Dad.”

We went to the club, Tim had his drink ready. I had bought a stool for him to sit at the bar. He chatted with Tim as he drank his drink.

Colin came over with the young lady who spoke Italian. “Armand, I would like to learn to speak Italian, she said she would help me.”

“Dad, can I learn also. I heard you when you were talking to that woman who you said was from Italy.”

I thought why not, so I agreed. “Colin, set a time each night but keep in mind Tommy’s schedule.”

When it was time, Tommy and I went back upstairs. He to bed and me to the third floor to paint. I decided to include more paintings with animals. I was working on a painting of Carlo with the lambs. The first painting Colin had sent to him, as promised.

I was totally absorbed in my painting when Tommy came into the room calling my name. “Tommy, I thought you were asleep.”

“I woke up and you weren’t there.”

“Come here, you can sleep here while I paint. When I’m finished I’ll carry you back to your bed.” I tucked him in one of the bed rooms. I stayed with him until he was asleep.

I was still painting when Colin came up to the third floor. “I was looking for you. Where is Tommy, his room is empty.”

“He was but when he woke up and I wasn’t there, he came up here. He’s sleeping in the bedroom on the left. I think if I’m going to get any painting done, he will need to sleep here. I’m finished for the night, you can carry him back down to his bed. I’ll be down as soon as I clean up here.”

When I went down to our apartment, Colin was getting ready for bed. “He never woke up. He’ll be surprised in the morning.”

I got ready for bed, checked on Tommy and then I had to check on Colin in a very different way. Each time, when we express our love for each other, it’s like the first time. Colin said I am a romantic and he may be right. But, I’m not going to change.

In the morning we were awaken by a young man. He snuggled between us, every time he did this I was thankful we wore pjs to bed. Colin tickled him, then he laughed and had to go to the bathroom. He was back in our bed, Colin got up to get ready for work. I thought we had this worked out pretty well. When Colin was dressed for work, he started breakfast which had Tommy in the kitchen. That allowed me to get ready for the day.

When the club was opened, Marcel always sent something up for breakfast. If Tommy didn’t like it, we had a box of his favorite cereal on hand. The only problem, if that box, was opened, it had to be tossed on occasions. Colin suggested that I open the box, divided it into serving sizes, seal each serving and freeze them. I tried that once, and when the cereal thawed out, it was mushy. I started to eat dry cereal and soon Colin joined in. Now a box lasts two days, the two days the club is closed.

Dressed, I drove Tommy to school and I headed to the police station at the court house. Arriving I had to find their offices, it was in the basement.

I walked in, there was a desk with an officer sitting there. I told him why I was there and had been recommended to come here to get help. “I’ll be right back. Have a seat until I come back.”

He was gone about 30 minutes. When he came back, he had a name and telephone number. “We have worked with this outfit before. They are very competent and are up to date on the latest technology for crime prevention techniques. Give them a call and tell them we recommend that you contact them. If you have any issues or want us to check out the finished installation, let us know.” He gave me a card with his name.

I thanked him and drove to the gallery.