Chapter 23 - The Art Project
With the syndicate dismantled, life returned to a comfortable rhythm.
Emma was thriving in school.
Her latest obsession was art.
The mansion was slowly being taken over by her creations.
Paintings of trees.
Sculptures made of recycled materials.
Abstract portraits of Button.
Alessandro encouraged it all.
He even designated one of the smaller drawing-rooms as her official studio.
One Saturday, I found them both in the studio.
They were covered in paint.
Alessandro, usually immaculate, had a streak of blue across his forehead.
They were working on a massive canvas.
"What is it?" I asked, trying not to laugh at the mess.
"It's a family portrait," Emma announced proudly.
I looked at the canvas.
It was chaotic.
Colorful.
A mess of shapes and lines.
But if you looked closely, you could see us.
Three figures standing together.
Rooted like trees.
"It's beautiful," I said truthfully.
Alessandro smiled, wiping a smudge of yellow paint from his cheek.
"It is a masterpiece," he agreed.
He looked at the painting, then at Emma, then at me.
"It's exactly how I see us."
Imperfect.
May you like
Messy.
But together.
