ARROW - 140. Chapter 140

I finally convince my Mom and Dad to move into the house next to the gallery. Mom was all for it, Dad wasn’t. The usual comments, what are we going to do with our home, think about our friends. Mom handled that. “We’ll put the house on the market and we never where the type of people who entertained a lot. You’ll make new friends here. Then the coup d’etat, “Who is going to help Colin and Armand teach the boys fishing?”

That did it, the house is empty so they were going home, pack up, sell or give away furniture they don’t need.

I was glad. Being the only child and away from my parents there are times I miss them and worry about them. Now I can stop in and spend sometime with them.

Colin called and said he would be home this coming week-end. I couldn’t wait to see him. Ronny had a game on Friday night, I had the dad’s drive the buses to bring the group from the Home. Our team didn’t win but the Bullet score two touch downs. It wasn’t enough to win but to the boys he was a hero.

On the way to the Home, I stopped at an ice cream parlor and bought 4 drums of ice cream. Heading to the Home, I parked in front of the barn, took two of the ice cream drums to the kitchen then went to get the other two. I saw two of the boys and mentioned ice cream in the dining room. That was all I needed as they headed for the dining room. The food cart came down the isles with dishes of ice cream. The boys offered an ice cream toast to the Bullet.

Returning home, the boys wanted to sit on the roof. Sitting there quietly for a few minutes when Ivan said, “Your team should have won.” That was the opener to the boys making comments on the game. Even Ronnie made comments concerning bad plays and the way they should have played. “We should have run the plays.“

I noticed Ronnie getting tired. “Let’s call it a night. Ronnie is tired and needs his sleep.” They agreed, I did something I hadn’t done for a long time, I tucked them in.

I went and continued to work on my painting. I figured it would be finished in three weeks if I kept working on it as I have been. The frame will take a few days, so it should be finished by Christmas. That evening I spoke with GG. She told me Mom and Dad will be very happy living close to me. We talked about the Home. She told me that my adoptions from the Home isn’t over. She said some of the older children are able to make the adjustment as long as Colin and I acted in their interest. But there are children that need more permanency within a home environment. I thought of Toby and the little girl who was my inspiration for my painting in the Louvre.

She smiled, leaving me with a thought, Colin and I had room in our hearts for more.

The morning came, I was awaken by Ronnie handing me a cup of coffee, “Thanks, Ronnie,” patting the bed. Ronnie sat down on the bed.

“Dad, when is Pop coming home?”

“I hope tomorrow. Do you miss him?”

“We all do.”

“I miss him too. Maybe we should have a welcome home party.” His total mood changed.

“Yea” Then he was gone.

I got dressed for the day and by the time I reached the kitchen, James was there with his muffins. Ronnie was telling the boys about having a welcome home party for Pop.

“What do think about the muffins?”

“There good, but your muffins are always good. Why do you ask?”

“I didn’t make them, Peter did.”

The boys clapped, I gave him a hug. “Good job, Peter.” I think his smile lit up the kitchen.

“Peter, do you have your driving license?”

“Not with me. My uncle hasn’t forwarded them to me.”

I needed to talk with Colin and see what he can do to expedite his license. Once he has his license he could stay here and drive to the club in the morning after breakfast.

The afternoon when Colin returned the boys were in school. I knew they wanted to surprise him. Colin brought me up to date on the Barcelona project. Evidently everything is fine and he expects by next Christmas he will have recovered his investment. That was good news for me, no more trips to Barcelona for business.

“Let’s go to the club. I need some special paint I left there.”

“I thought you brought all of your painting supplies here.”

“I did, I thought I did but I’m missing some of my tools I need to make my frame for the painting. I’ll be finished with Arnaud’s painting except for the frame.”

“You are finish with the painting?”

“Almost”

“I want to see it.” Saying that Colin headed upstairs to see the painting.”

I followed him, whether it was the time of the day or the smile on Colin’s face, the painting seemed to glow,

“Armand, this is beautiful. If Arnaud doesn’t pay you at least 500,000, don’t sell it to him. I’ll bet Jean will put it on exhibit in the Louvre.”

“I told Arnaud I’d paint his son for free. Let’s see how he reacts.”

“Why did you tell him that?”

“I wanted him to determine the value.”

Colin just shook his head, gave Armand a kiss. “Where are the boys?”

“Probably with James. He’s teaching Ronnie how to drive.”

“Ronnie is too young.”

“By the time he has memorized all of the books James has him reading, he will be old enough. He will be 16 on his next birthday. That means it won’t be long before all of the boys will be driving.”

Colin looked stunned, “I didn’t realize they had grown up. But you are right. Where did the time go?”

Even though we took them shopping for clothes, we didn’t focus on the sizes, except shoes. Even I bought new shoes a size larger then my usual size. I blamed it on the shoe style.

“Let’s go to the club, I want to see the boys.”

Arriving at the club, “Help me get my tools I need for the frame.”

I placed the tools I needed in a wooden container that came with them when I bought them.

“I thought that case was empty. I saw that small knife but I didn’t realize it was for your frames “

“I need these to detail my frames before I apply paint or gild with gold or silver.”

I placed the box in my car. “Let’s go and see what new snacks Marcel has whipped up.”

Walking into the kitchen, no one was there. “I wonder where's everyone?”

Walking into the club, the lights were off. All of a sudden the lights came on, the boys rushed Colin.

“Welcome home, Pop.”

Colin looked at me, “You knew this?”

I just smiled, “They missed you.”

“I was only gone for a few days.”

“Yes, you were overseas, you flew over and flew back. It isn’t like going to New York City for a week-end. “

I don’t think Colin understands how much our boys miss him when he is gone. I remember I was closer to Mom growing up than Dad. But I enjoyed my time with Dad a lot more than my time with Mom. Time with Dad was special. I think that is the way the boys felt as well.