CHAPTER VIII
Renewed with a sense of hope and purpose, Terri immediately went to work with an added vigor which was not there before. In only a matter of days she finished their portrait. She did not even need to see the picture. Its image is permanently imprinted in the recesses of her mind and heart. She vividly remembers the day when this photograph was captured. She and Stiles got the weekend off. She had to beg Joshua Nankin to give her the weekend off since she has been working overtime for several weekends already. Stiles insisted that they take the 8 p.m. flight from Dulles airport to Andros Island so that they can get there by 11 p.m. and get an early start on Saturday. Stiles booked two rooms but they ended up using only one. They had a wonderful time discovering each other and exploring the island. They even found a secluded spot which they considered their own private paradise. This was taken on a Saturday evening at sunset, right after they made a solemn promise to each other to come back here in 5 years, which would be next week. Looking at the picture, you can see a man and a woman in love. Deeply, passionately and intensely in love and had a glow of knowing that they were loved as much in return. It was all there for anyone to see, in this photograph and she has translated this love onto the portrait she created for Stiles. She can't help but hope that maybe Stiles remembered that promise too.
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Terri called Lyn to tell her that the portrait is finished and is ready to be shown to Mr. Stiles. Lyn immediately called Stiles to set up an appointment with him at her office. Eager to see the portrait, they met that same day.
"So how do you like the portrait?"
Stiles could not take his eyes of the portrait. It was so lifelike. She perfectly captured not only their faces but also the essence of their being and of their surroundings. "I don't know what to say. It's perfect. I know she is a great artist but I never expected anything like this."
"I'm glad you like it. I'll be sure to relay that to TLS."
"So when do I get to meet her?"
"In due time you will. But first tell me something about you and Terri. Are you married?"
"No, unfortunately we're not married. She died 5 years ago. I don't want to go into specifics, losing her is still painful."
"I'm so sorry for your loss. I can see that you love her very much. So you're still single? How about her family? Do you still get in touch with them?"
"I don't think I could marry anyone else. She ruined me for any other woman. When she was alive I only met her mother and brother once but when she died we became close. I don't know, maybe being close to them is my way of staying close to Terri."
"How are they now?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"No reason, I hope you don't mind my questions. I don't mean to pry. I'm a romantic at heart and it is such a rare treat to see a man with such love and devotion for a woman."
"It took them a long time to come to terms with her death. But they're surviving, moving on with their lives, taking things one day at a time."
"And how about you? How are you now?"
With a deep sigh he said, "I honestly don't know".
Renewed with a sense of hope and purpose, Terri immediately went to work with an added vigor which was not there before. In only a matter of days she finished their portrait. She did not even need to see the picture. Its image is permanently imprinted in the recesses of her mind and heart. She vividly remembers the day when this photograph was captured. She and Stiles got the weekend off. She had to beg Joshua Nankin to give her the weekend off since she has been working overtime for several weekends already. Stiles insisted that they take the 8 p.m. flight from Dulles airport to Andros Island so that they can get there by 11 p.m. and get an early start on Saturday. Stiles booked two rooms but they ended up using only one. They had a wonderful time discovering each other and exploring the island. They even found a secluded spot which they considered their own private paradise. This was taken on a Saturday evening at sunset, right after they made a solemn promise to each other to come back here in 5 years, which would be next week. Looking at the picture, you can see a man and a woman in love. Deeply, passionately and intensely in love and had a glow of knowing that they were loved as much in return. It was all there for anyone to see, in this photograph and she has translated this love onto the portrait she created for Stiles. She can't help but hope that maybe Stiles remembered that promise too.
================
Terri called Lyn to tell her that the portrait is finished and is ready to be shown to Mr. Stiles. Lyn immediately called Stiles to set up an appointment with him at her office. Eager to see the portrait, they met that same day.
"So how do you like the portrait?"
Stiles could not take his eyes of the portrait. It was so lifelike. She perfectly captured not only their faces but also the essence of their being and of their surroundings. "I don't know what to say. It's perfect. I know she is a great artist but I never expected anything like this."
"I'm glad you like it. I'll be sure to relay that to TLS."
"So when do I get to meet her?"
"In due time you will. But first tell me something about you and Terri. Are you married?"
"No, unfortunately we're not married. She died 5 years ago. I don't want to go into specifics, losing her is still painful."
"I'm so sorry for your loss. I can see that you love her very much. So you're still single? How about her family? Do you still get in touch with them?"
"I don't think I could marry anyone else. She ruined me for any other woman. When she was alive I only met her mother and brother once but when she died we became close. I don't know, maybe being close to them is my way of staying close to Terri."
"How are they now?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"No reason, I hope you don't mind my questions. I don't mean to pry. I'm a romantic at heart and it is such a rare treat to see a man with such love and devotion for a woman."
"It took them a long time to come to terms with her death. But they're surviving, moving on with their lives, taking things one day at a time."
"And how about you? How are you now?"
With a deep sigh he said, "I honestly don't know".