Chapter 4
A memory stirred from the summer of my seventeenth year.
Cecilia, Laura, and I had sat together on a balcony. The setting was so idyllic it might have been torn from the pages of a novel. The air was alive with the mingling scents of salt and blooming flowers, while a gentle sea breeze teased the edges of our elaborate summer dresses.
Before us lay the endless expanse of the ocean, its waves crashing rhythmically against the shore. These days, I would count myself fortunate to glimpse even a muddy lake, let alone the grandeur of such a view.
Cecilia sat across from me, the very embodiment of grace. Even in stillness, she exuded an elegance that was both natural and captivating.
On that day, the conversation had turned to the design for my new cane. Cecilia's eyes sparkled as she proposed, "You possess the spirit of a tiger. Why not make the cane's handle a tiger? Strong, fierce, and undeniably elegant. Just like you."
"A tiger? Are you insinuating that I am beastly?"
"Not at all. I am saying you are powerful and impossible to ignore, much like a tiger. Imagine the handle shaped like the tiger's body, with its head as the crowning tip. It would suit you perfectly."
I tilted my head, giving her idea due consideration. "A sleek black stick with a silver tiger handle? It has potential. But it must be sturdy."
Cecilia had set to work immediately. Her brush moved deftly across the canvas, bringing the vision to life with precision and creativity. She sketched a sleek black cane, its handle carved into the form of a tiger. The design was extraordinary.
Laura could not help but marvel at the intricacy of Cecilia's drawing. The tiger on the page was rendered with such exquisite detail that it seemed poised to spring to life. Her eyes widened with astonishment.
"Cecilia, this is remarkable! I had no idea you possessed such extraordinary talent!" Laura exclaimed.
I leaned back in my chair, a smug smile curling my lips. "Oh, Laura, you truly have no idea. Cecilia's skills are beyond compare. Why, she has even painted me before. Nude, if you can believe it."
Cecilia's face flushed a shade so deep it might have rivaled a sunset. "That is entirely unnecessary to mention!" she sputtered.
Laura's mouth fell open, her gaze darting between Cecilia and me as though trying to determine whether I was jesting. "Wait, what?" she stammered, clearly struggling to process the revelation. "Is that true, Cecilia?"
Cecilia's blush deepened further. "It, it was not like that! It was purely for art... entirely professional..."
I chuckled. "Oh, come now, Cecilia. Must you be so bashful? You captured every detail with impeccable accuracy, did you not?"
"You are making it sound utterly improper!"
Laura finally managed to close her mouth. "Well, I certainly was not expecting that. Cecilia, I had no idea you were so... versatile."
My laughter bubbled up, and I reached out to prod Cecilia's arm. "Versatile, indeed."
Cecilia groaned. Despite her mortification, the faintest hint of a smile tugged at her lips. "It is not as it seems."
Laura broke into a grin. "Well, Cecilia, it seems there is far more to you than meets the eye. Who would have thought?"
I gave Cecilia a sly glance, my eyes twinkling with mischief. "Indeed, Laura. And that is merely one of the countless reasons I could never do without her."
Cecilia shook her head, her expression a mix of fondness and resignation. "You are utterly impossible."
Ah, such fond memories. Truly, they are treasures of the heart. Was the cane ever made? Indeed, it was. Was it gifted to me? Yes, it most certainly was.
And where is it now? Heaven only knows. Its absence leaves a void I feel keenly, for it was no ordinary cane. It was Cecilia's final gift to me, a masterpiece born of her artistry and love. To have lost it is a tragedy.
I squint my eyes at the freshly painted portrait Tim had just finished. Jack came to stand beside me, "perfect."
I maintained an air of politeness. "It is lovely," I replied, though my inner critique remained unsatisfied.
Jack handed me a small pouch, the delightful sound of coins jingling within bringing a smile to my lips. "Thank you," I said as I accepted it.