“Mom!” I groaned, crossing my hands and staring at her back. “You’re messing with me!”
Slowly she turned, her black hair falling over her shoulder and I saw her face, she was smiling; the way the light hit her brown eyes made it look they were sparkling. She reached out to me,
“Come, I’ll show you.”
Pouting, I took her hand, and it was so soft and warm. I grabbed her hand tightly, but she didn’t mind, and she walked me to the painting. I watched the floor to make sure I didn’t step on the back of her black dress.
“Here.”
Looking up, I saw that she wasn’t pointing to the painting, but the silver board beside it.
“Huh?”
She brought me in front of her, to stand directly in front of the board. She hunched down beside me and pointed to it.
“You didn’t count Julia Rendell,” she said.
“The painter?” I frowned again. “She’s not in the painting, though.”
“Wrong again.”
I sighed, I was tired of this. I wanted to go play with Wyatt and Ethan. “Mommy, I want to go play.”
“Tell me why she’s in the painting and you can. If not, you’ll stay here until we go.”
“I don’t know! Ugh this is so not fair!” I snapped, pulling out of her arms and pushing her away.
“Are you yelling at me, Donatella?” she asked, crossing her arms. I looked away, frowning at the wooden floorboards. When I didn’t say anything, she spoke again, “Fine, just stand there silently.”
Her heels clicked against the wood as she left.
“Don’t let her out,” she said softly to the guard.
“MOM!” I yelled, but the doors closed behind her. I ran after her, but before I could reach her, both the doors shut in my face.
I pulled on the doors as hard as I could but they wouldn’t open. “LET ME OUT!”
I banged.
I pulled.
I kicked.
But it didn’t open. I could hear the music playing on the other side… Could they even hear me?
“Mommy, let me out please! Please!” Scared, I hit the door harder. I didn’t want to, but I started to cry, angry, and dropped to the floor, my dress puffing up all around me. The tears came down so hard.
Wiping my face, I was just about to get up and try again when the doors burst open and…
“Daddy!” I cried, running to him and throwing my arms around his waist. He was hard, like hugging a rock, but I felt better. “Mommy wouldn’t me come out.”
Picking me up, he kissed the side of my head. “It’s okay.” He smelled like spices, it tickled my nose but I didn’t let go; I held on to his neck tightly. “Do you want ice cream?”
I nodded against him.
“I’ll deal with you all later,” he hissed at the men at the door. When he turned to walk, I stuck my tongue out at them. I would have made a face but I saw her…
“Mommy,” I called out softly.