Текст книги "Animate Me"

Автор книги: Ruth Clampett

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Текущая страница: 25 (всего у книги 26 страниц)

“You’d do that with me?”

“Of course. If you’re nice, I’ll even share my wireless with you.”

She grins, leans over, and kisses me. “Everything’s going to be all right, isn’t it?”

“Yes. We’ll make sure of it.”

That’s how it goes…I push, she pulls back and then we meet half way.

• • •

The next day, we’re at Staples, the office superstore, considering the selection of Post-it notes when she surprises me again.

“I started seeing a therapist,” she offhandedly mentions as she throws the three-inch, six-pack in the cart.

“You did?” I stutter. “Where’d you find a therapist?”

“Erika recommended her. Her name is Judy and she’s really great.”

“I don’t know much about that stuff. Do you just sit around and talk?”

We push our cart down to the file folders section while she thinks about my question.

“Well yes, but she directs it, kind of leads me into the stuff I need to work on. You know, issues with my parents that led to my behavior now, that kind of stuff.”

“Do you talk about me?”

“Well, I’ve only seen her twice, but yeah. I talked about you a lot.”

“What did she say?”

“That you sounded like an amazing and supportive partner.”

I grin. “I like her.”

“She’s going to help me get over what happened, Nathan. I want to be the best partner I can be for you.”

I don’t know if it’s what she’s said, or the fact that we’ve agreed to share a shopping cart and all that implies, or that I’m a little worked up to see Brooke in yoga pants again, but I grab her and kiss her in the middle of the paper aisle. It’s one of those long, endless kisses where the world falls away and she’s all that exists. The stock boy, who’s trying to get to the neon colored card stock for a customer, has to clear his throat to interrupt us since we’re blocking him. Brooke giggles; we scoot over, and continue on.

Later that afternoon we’re on my bed again, this time with our laptops and other work related stuff. I’m doing research on the internet for a B-Girl story idea while Brooke goes through her emails looking for a show treatment that she’d been sent a while back. Her phone, which is dangling from the edge of her overturned purse, suddenly starts vibrating. It buzzes through three complete cycles, yet she doesn’t respond.

I look up at her. “Aren’t you going to answer that?”

She looks over at me and shrugs.

“The voicemail box must be full. That’s why it keeps ringing,” I explain. “You should at least empty it.”

“But what if I’m not ready to hear the messages?” she asks, looking uncomfortable.

“Well then don’t listen, I guess.” I think about the desperate call I left her. It must be there with all the rest of her calls. “But you’re going to have to do something by Monday if you’re going to start making business calls. People are going to have to be able to call you and leave a message.”

She lets out a long sigh. “I know you’re right, I’m just kind of scared of what the messages say.”

“Do you want me to listen to them for you? I can be your screener.”

She smiles softly. “No, I can’t ask you to do that. Besides, this could be a step forward for me.”

“Yes, it will be a step forward,” I agree.

She studies me carefully. “Will you stay with me, though? In case I need moral support?”

“Of course.”

She lies back on the pillow and taps the keys to access her voicemail. I take her free hand in mine, and although I can’t hear the messages, I lay back as well, so I can watch her reactions.

As she listens to the first message she rolls her eyes. “My mom,” she informs me shaking her head.

“One down…five thousand, three hundred and forty-nine to go,” she teases.

The next few seem inconsequential. Then her expression gets dark. “Arnauld,” she shares.

My hand tightens over hers. She takes a deep breath. “What?” I ask.

“Nothing really. He’s just demanding that I come back immediately. This was Monday right after the meeting. He’s so angry.”

I nod and watch her expression. Her thumb hits the delete button without hesitation. It’s a whole other matter with the next call. She watches me with wide eyes as she listens. When a tear slides down her cheek, she closes her eyes and rolls on her side away from me.

“What, Brooke?” I ask as I move toward her. I notice that she’s dropped the phone on the bedspread as she curls into herself. I gently push down on her shoulder until she rolls back toward me.

“I can’t believe you left that message and I never heard it,” she says, her voice sorrowful. “You thought I didn’t love you anymore. It’s so heartbreaking.”

“I was really freaked out,” I admit. “I couldn’t understand why you hadn’t contacted me.”

“I hurt you so much, Nathan.”

“Yeah. I’d kind of lost it that day when I didn’t hear from you. As each day passed there were points I got really angry, and other times incredibly hurt. The worst part was just not knowing.”

“You needed me, and I wasn’t there. I wish I’d been strong enough to stay…to be by your side,” she says with regret.

“Me too,” I respond honestly. “What matters now is that you’re here. That counts, and you’ve promised to work it out and stick by my side no matter what we have to face moving forward.”

“But I’ll always feel like it wasn’t enough. I should’ve been there for you.”

“You did the best you could. For God’s sake, the whole week you were trying to help me.” I ease off the bed and set my laptop on the dresser, then take hers and do the same. Her phone joins them. When I crawl back on the bed I pull her in my arms.

“Time for a break,” I say softly.

“Good idea,” she agrees, running her hand over my chest and she cuddles closer. “You know, I don’t want that stupid phone anymore. I want a new phone, and I’m picking it out this time.”

That-a-girl. “Cool. Let’s go shopping tomorrow after brunch with my folks.” I look down at her and study her expression. “What?”

“Are you sure they want to see me…I mean, after everything that happened? You said that they know everything.”

“Are you kidding? Yeah, they know everything and that’s why they’re probably building a shrine to you at their house as I speak. They’re crazy about you for the kind of woman you are. It’s not just because I’m over the moon in love.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I promise.”

“Are Curtis and Billie coming?” she asks, looking worried.

“No, they’re not,” I assure her.

“Yeah, well, I want to see your parents. I want to thank them for taking care of you. You know…if I prove myself over time, maybe they’ll adopt me.”

I laugh. “I think they already have.”

Her eyes are wide, and her expression hopeful. “I can’t believe how much better I feel than I did yesterday. It’s like I’m getting my strength back.”

“Now you’re sounding like the B-Girl I know and love.” I look down and see that she’s grinning. “What?” I jiggle her.

“I’m just having a happy moment right now. For the first time in a long time, I feel the thrill of what might be right around the corner. Just think how things could be…B-Girl might be a big hit, I could find work that I love outside of corporate animation, we can take fun trips and be together without anything in our way.”

“It’s pretty exciting,” I agree, loving her positive attitude.

“You know something… you animate me, Nathan. It’s as if you’ve brought the real Brooke to life.”

I think of the hundreds of sketches I’ve done of her as I went from admiration to infatuation, from obsession, to pure and blissful love. The real Brooke was always there, she just needed someone to believe in her.

But will she ever see what she has given me?

Before I met Brooke, I was a shell: smooth inside with jagged edges, a hollow form waiting to be filled. Now I feel a life force surging through me. Her love has made me believe that I can make my life whatever I want it to be.

…and she thinks I animated her.

I run my fingers though her hair. “I could always tell who the true Brooke was. You always have been and always will be my dream girl,” I reply, smiling.

My words seem to light her up from within. She climbs up on top of me, straddling me with her hands pressed into my shoulders. “We’re going to do great things, Nathan.”

She’s so excited, so I get excited…but maybe not how I should. I try to shift so she doesn’t notice how excited I’m getting. I mean, she’s got yoga pants and a tight T-shirt on for God’s sake. How much does she think I can take?

“Brooke?” I groan. Is it my imagination or did she just grind over me?

“Yes,” she whispers, leaning forward so her breasts skim my chest.

“I’m getting too excited, you’ve got to stop. Remember, we’re going slow…” Surely she knows what she’s doing to me.

“Maybe I can’t stop. Maybe I don’t want to,” she offers, her mouth pursed in a pout.

“Brooke,” I moan. “I’m sure you can tell how desperately I want you.” My eyebrows knit together, as it takes everything I have to restrain myself. “I’m trying to be respectful and give you your space and all, but I can’t take much more of this.”

Evidently my speech only spurs her on. She pulls her shirt up over her head. If this is an endurance test, I’m going to fail. “Brooke?”

She’s watching me, almost challenging me to stop her. The bra is discarded next.

Oh my God. Her breasts…her perfect breasts. I feel the fire move from my groin all the way up my chest and across my shoulders.

“Brooke, you can’t do this stuff and expect me not to make love to you. That’s cruel.”

“I know what I said earlier, but I want you, Nathan…so much.”

“Like, want me, as in…have me inside of you?”

“Yes, I need to feel you inside of me.”

“Are you sure?” I ask. I hesitate, grappling with the physical pain of my need for her, yet wanting to make sure she’s emotionally ready.

She gives me a feral look and grinds again. I see strength in her eyes.

She’s ready.

She slides off the bed and I watch her carefully to see if she wavers. She quickly slides down her yoga pants and thong. I pry my jeans off and throw them across the room. Her fierce look of desire is steadfast. Maybe this is just what we need.

“Oh, my,” she comments, smiling at my erection once it’s free.

“Yeah, I’m a little excited. I’ve missed you a lot…I’ve missed this.”

She grins. “I’ve missed this, too.”

She wraps her fingers around me and strokes several times before climbing back up to straddle my hips. She bites her lip and her eyes become dark and sultry as she lifts up, then slowly, so slowly…sinks down over me.

“Oh, oh,” I moan. My heart is beating wildly.

As I gaze back up at her, I realize that her eyes are wet with tears. I wonder if this is too much, but then she takes a deep breath and opens her heart wide.

“I love you, Nathan,” she whispers as she curves over and kisses me tenderly.

“Oh, Brooke…”

Before she kisses me again, she rests her hand over my heart. “You’re everything to me.”

In that moment, I realize that every difficult part of our journey I’d do again if it meant we’d end up here.

“I love you so much. You’re my everything, too,” I say.

I reach for her, stroking her soft hips with my fingers. I fear if I don’t hold on I may shatter from all the emotion as we kiss slowly, languidly, soulfully. I’m overwhelmed with desire and my hips instinctively begin to rock against her. Her eyes roll back with pleasure before she refocuses and gradually starts to move.

Her hips swivel and I’m undone for the heat, and wetness, and look of longing in her eyes. I let out a low moan. I don’t know when anything has ever felt so good.

“What, baby?” she whispers.

“I’m just so glad we aren’t going slow after all.”

She pauses and sighs.

“I just learned something else to tell Judy,” she states out of the blue.

“What’s that?” I gasp, wondering how she can even think such a thing in the middle of this erotic scene.

“That when it comes to my feelings for you, going slow is not an option.”

Perhaps we were never meant to slow down.

“Well, don’t fight your natural instincts, B-Girl.”

I love her passionately, with all my super powers.

I love her tenderly, still mindful of her fragile heart.

I love her completely, until she understands the majestic way she has filled me, heart and soul.

Our climax unravels what was twisted up, showering us with fragments of light and sensation. She is completely open and brilliant as she pulls me in. I surrender to her open arms, falling deeper into her.

My B-Girl’s back…and she’s mine.

Animate Me / Chapter Thirty-One / A Picket Fence and Pixar

“There are a lot of choices here, just pick one! Pick one so we can start!” ~Marlin^xxx

It’s a beautiful Sunday morning when I take Brooke’s hand and gently pull her toward my parents’ front door. As we pass through the threshold, Mom walks down the hall toward us, and calls out to Dad, “Arthur, Nathan and Brooke are here.”

She wipes her hands on her apron as she approaches us. “Brooke,” she says with reverence. She reaches out and pulls Brooke into her arms.

I can tell Brooke is taken aback, but she welcomes Mom’s affection. When they finally move apart Mom takes Brooke’s face in her hands. “Darling girl, what you did for my son…” She shakes her head with a wide smile. “I still can’t believe how brave you were.”

“I don’t know if I was brave,” Brooke says. “I just had to do whatever I could for Nathan.” Brooke lowers her head, like she’s still struggling with her role in the situation.

“We’re so grateful,” Mom says.

“I’m just so glad it’s over,” Brooke admits before smiling and turning to me.

Just then Dad bounds down the stairs, buttoning the cuff of his shirt.

“Brooke, our heroine!” he booms. His hug is considerably more awkward, yet still heartfelt.

“I agree, Arthur. Brooke’s our heroine…our super hero!” Mom exclaims.

Dad nods enthusiastically.

I cringe at their corny effusiveness. I hope Brooke isn’t too embarrassed.

“Thank you,” Brooke says softly. “You’re too kind.”

I lean over and kiss her on the cheek, completing the mush in this sappy love-fest.

I’ve just polished off my second serving of waffles and sausage when Dad shifts the conversation to Brooke’s work plans.

“So Nathan said you’re planning to open your own company. Will you be a consultant solely, or do you have other ambitions?”

“Yes, eventually I’d like to develop properties into shows and other licensing opportunities. Usually as a consultant, you’re brought in as a knee-jerk reaction to a problem with an existing show. Frankly, new work would be more rewarding.”

“And you won’t miss working with a larger company?” Mom asks.

“No, not to say I didn’t appreciate the big paycheck and high profile, but I felt like I was dying a slow creative death there. Every decision was made for financial viability with no regards to quality or conceptual integrity.”

“Well, my guess is that you will feel empowered once you rise above the corporate quagmire,” Dad responds. “I worked for a large company once, and it brought understanding to that joke about how many executives it takes to screw in a light bulb.”

“Yes, that was right after we were married,” Mom chimes in. “I felt so bad for Arthur, he was always frustrated.”

“And I was lucky because my sweet wife was willing to go without, so that I could try to make a living on my own.”

“I’ve always believed in you…and I knew you would be so much happier forging your own path.”

Dad nods in agreement. “It’s liberating to be able to make a sensible decision of your own, without having a gaggle of naysayers to offer up their two and a half cents.”

Brooke laughs out loud. “Yes, being able to make decisions without a committee is exactly what I need.”

I look at my parents and realize I hadn’t really heard them talk about this period of their lives around me in years. They’ve weathered their struggles so well, and it gives me hope that Brooke and I can too.

We all pitch in to clean up. Brooke and I clear the table. Dad’s washing the dishes while Mom puts things away. I keep noticing Brooke watching them with wonder. At one point Mom goes up to Dad while he’s working and kisses him on the cheek then whispers something in his ear. He laughs, then suddenly turns around and pulls her close for a kiss, his soapy wet hands wrapped around her waist.

Brooke catches me observing them and she blushes. I’m so used to Mom and Dad’s affection that I don’t think anything about it, but it seems to be a revelation to Brooke.

Before we leave Mom asks me to take the scraps to her composting thing in the back of the garden. Brooke follows me out and seems to be paying particular attention to the look and layout of the garden as I finish my task.

At one point she just stops and takes it all in. “It’s so beautiful out here,” she says softly.

“It sure it is,” I agree. “And now that you’re their heroine, they’ll want you to hang out here all the time.”

She grins. “They like me, don’t they Nathan?”

I pull her into my arms. “They love you,” I assure her. “But how could they not? My mom told me once that she always hoped I’d meet someone like you.”

The kiss that follows lingers as a shimmer of light falls over us through the trees. Everything just feels incredibly right; it’s that moment when the final piece of the puzzle slides into place.

We say our goodbyes to my parents and head to the phone store. As we get out of the car, Brooke pulls out her cell phone and examines it. “Arnauld picked this out for me and I think when we’re done buying a new one I’m going to run over this one with my car.”

“I’ll be happy to help you with that,” I joke. But I’m not joking as I imagine backing up and going forward, over and over.

Brooke getting a new phone is going to be cathartic for us both. Even though it escapes logic, I feel betrayed by the old phone as it didn’t help me reach her during my days of desperate need.

Once inside the store, I stand back and watch Brooke with the salesman as she tries every phone that fits her requirements. She asks all the right questions and makes a confident decision. I make it a point not to chime in like Arnold would. Besides, I love watching my girl in action. She knows what she wants.

I hold her hand while we wait for them to do the data transfer and get her paperwork set. She looks at me bright-eyed. “This is a fresh start, isn’t it?” she asks smiling.

I nod and kiss her on the forehead.

“It’s funny how the small things can make me so happy,” she shares.

I nod. “I’m like that too.”

The salesman hands her the bag full of phone stuff, and she turns towards me. “Can we go home now?” She realizes her slip and corrects herself. “…I mean, back to your house?”

I grin. “Sure, let’s go.”

Back at my place I try to keep the mood casual. While I water the plants in the backyard, Brooke sits out on the back porch working on something. When I approach her to see what’s she’s up to, she pulls it up to her chest to hide it. I realize she has my sketchbook and the colored pencils I gave her are spread out next to her.

“What’re you doing?” I ask in a casual voice.

“None of your concern,” she answers, making a face at me.

“Is that the sketchbook I gave you?”

“Maybe,” she teases.

“Are you doing a drawing for me?”

“Maybe.”

I smile and continue watering the flowers next to the porch.

“Hey Nathan, you know I’m not good at drawing, right?” she asks, suddenly worried.

“Brooke, I don’t care if you draw stick-figures, I just want to see us the way you do.”

“I think this should be in the future since there’s no mystery as to where we are right now.”

“That’s true.” I grin at her words and the certainty in her tone. The reality of our relationship is no longer a question that needs an answer.

“The future’s good,” I agree. “How about a couple of years from now?”

She tips her head considering, but doesn’t seem convinced.

“…or five years or how about ten?” I figure I’m pushing it, but why not? As far as I’m concerned, Brooke owns all of my future.

Her eyes light up like she has a picture in her mind. “Okay,” she replies smiling, before ducking her head and getting back to work. But then she looks up again.

“This won’t be a masterpiece, but it’ll be from my heart.”

“That’s what matters the most to me,” I assure her.

“But your drawings are so amazing,” she laments.

“Brooke,” I warn her. “What did I say?”

“That the fact that it’s from my heart matters most to you.” She grins.

“Exactly.”

After dinner I ask Brooke if she wants to see a movie, but she has something else in mind. She still hasn’t shown me her drawing, but I figure when she’s ready to, she will. I watch her expression as she tries to decide what to do.

“Nathan.” She pauses and seems hesitant, then finally looks up at me. “Would it be okay if you showed me your studio again…you know, where you work on B-Girl.”

I smile inside. “Sure, I’d love to.” I guide her by the hand down the hall and into the studio. She’s been in this room before, but back then she didn’t know about B-Girl. This will be a much different visit. I point to the drafting table. “This is where I’ve sat endless nights thinking about you and drawing B-Girl.”

She smiles sweetly at me, noticing the Wonder Woman figurine overlooking where I create.

Before we start I pull open my flat files and take the current work out and spread it across my drafting table. There’s already a full set of the printed final B-Girl issues at the side of the table closest to her.

She looks shy and apprehensive to be here, but I’m excited. She reaches up and slides the top comic toward her. “You’ve got such a great story sense, Nathan. And you have no idea how much I love B-Girl, and not just because I inspired her…she’s a great character.”

“You read them already?” I ask, pointing to the stack of comics. “All of them?”

“Yes, I did…of course. I read them all this week and loved every single issue.”

I smile at her. She can only imagine how long I’ve hoped to hear those words.

“Can you tell me about your process?” She asks excitedly. “How do you get your story ideas? Do you write the entire story out first, then go back and illustrate it?”

I love it so much that she’s genuinely interested in how I do this. I pull out of the pile loose pages of notes and some rudimentary layouts to show her. “I outline the story first, then do a real rough layout where I start blocking in the type.”

“I can’t believe you’ve done all of this yourself,” she says with admiration.

“Well, luckily I’m pretty fast. And besides, it’s exciting to me. I’m inspired since I’ve always been in love with my subject…” I grin at her and she grins back. “…and I still am.”

She runs her fingers along my arm. “So what are you working on now?”

“I just finished these pages. It’s the conclusion of the Monkey Man storyline. I’m retiring him now. I don’t think he’s relevant.”

“Did your lawyer tell you to drop it?”

“No, the agreement Arnold signed protected me against all future claims, but I’m done with him. I want him out of our lives.”

“I agree,” she responds as she considers what I’m saying. “So how did you end the storyline? Did you kill him off?” Her eyes get wide, her expression playful.

“No, that would have been too easy. Here.” I sort through some of the pages. “Do you want to see? It’s not pretty.”

“Hell, yes,” she says in a low voice that isn’t entirely playful.

“So the minions had turned on Monkey Man and to enact revenge, he planned to blow up the factory while they’re still inside. B-Girl got to him in the nick of time and disabled him with her stun power. The authorities arrived to find him a quivering, drooling mess on the floor.”

“Oh yeah,” she comments with a dark pleasure.

“And from there he was transported to Primate Prison where he was thrown in the same cell as a massive alpha gorilla named Big Lou. Unfortunately for Monkey Man, Big Lou is in an amorous mood and has a thing for little furry monkeys.”

“Oh no…you didn’t!” She giggles.

I hold up the drawing. “Yes, I did. See, the last time we see Monkey Man he’s clinging to the cell bars crying for help while Big Lou picks the bugs out of his fur and prepares him for mating.”

“Oh, that’ll be really painful.” She laughs mischievously. “Poor, poor Monkey Man!”

“Yeah, my heart just breaks for him,” I agree, rolling my eyes.

“You’re so clever,” she says, sidling up to me.

“Gee, thanks.”

“You know I noticed when I was reading that you worked some of my real life outfits and mannerisms into the story from the very first book on.”

“You noticed.” I’m embarrassed and pleased at the same time.

“You really did pay close attention to me back then.”

“I’ve always paid close attention to you.”

She picks up another issue and lays it open on the desk, then points at B-Girl. “See, here’s that cute outfit I wore the day we met at Geek World.”

“You looked so sexy in that. Will you wear it again for me sometime?”

“How about tomorrow? It’s not like I have to dress up for work or anything.”

I get excited realizing that she intends to see me tomorrow too and not just throw herself into working all the time. Maybe soon the days and nights will just blend into each other and we’ll never be apart.

“Hey, can I watch while you draw B-Girl? Maybe you could draw something for me?”

“Sure.” I think about it a moment and then brush my hand over a fresh page of paper in my pad before teasing her by drawing soft, loose lines that slowly build towards an image.

Brooke stands up and leans in, looking over my shoulder. I feel her breasts against my back and I have to push the dirty thoughts out of my head while I work. I can feel her breath against my neck and a tiny moan when she sees B-Girl finally take shape.

Her warmth against me is distracting in the most wonderful way. I can barely keep working and it takes my complete focus to finish the drawing. Finally, I hold the pad up and review the image of B-Girl sitting on top of the world, like it’s an oversized beach ball. She looks powerful and sexy…and of course, she’s beautiful. I took extra time sketching her hair so it’s flowing behind her.

“Do you like it? See…you’re on top of the world.”

“I love it!” she says happily. “Can I have it? I’m going to frame it.”

“Sure,” I respond happily, handing it to her.

She kisses my neck and hugs me. “So is B-Girl always alone? Does she have a special someone?”

“Funny you should ask,” I reply. “She does. She has a boyfriend that I’m introducing in the next book.”

She grins. “Oh good…a boyfriend! So what are his special powers?”

“He’s a mere mortal.”

“Really?” The look on her face is priceless. “So she’s open-minded about such things?”

“Yes, B-Girl’s brilliant. She knows that sometimes you find the best things in life where you least expect them.”

“Are they happy?” she asks.

“Supremely happy,” I assure her. “He worships his B-Girl and would do anything for her.”

“I see. And does she worship him?”

“I think so…I hope so.”

“I bet she does,” she whispers before she swivels me in my drafting chair until I’m facing her. “If he’s anything like you, then she worships him completely.”

She must know by know what those words do to me. I take a deep breath and try to control my overwhelming desire to push the drawings aside and take her on my drafting table.

Slow, Nathan. Go slow…

I wrap my hands around her hips and slide my chair closer to kiss her, gently at first but then the passion builds. As I reach up and cup her breasts, I remember the first time I held her like this. Just like now, she moaned as I pleasured her, yet my heart was insecure. I didn’t know back then if she merely pitied me, or if her lust was genuine.

So now as she chants my name and presses her hand over me through my jeans, there is no question of her true desire. My fingers slide under her skirt, stroking her thighs higher and higher until they slip under her panties. She rocks into my tender touch.

“Take me here, Nathan,” she whispers huskily, as she leans back against the table full of drawings.

A low growl escapes out of my tight chest. My dream’s coming true… my studio’s about to be set on fire by Brooke and her magic ways. I help her pull off her skirt and panties before lifting her up in my arms.

I can’t help smiling inwardly. How many times did I fantasize about taking Brooke on this table where I draw her every night?

In the frenzy, the Wonder Woman figurine face plants on the credenza while Monkey Man’s demise scatters over the floor. The room smells like sweet naked Brooke and lusty sex.

I love it…every part of it. My Toontown office will never be the same.

• • •

Late that night as we crawl into bed she brings the sketchbook with her. I try to contain my anticipation as she cuddles up to me.

“Do you want to see what I drew?” she asks sweetly.

“Sure.”

“You know when I thought about what I wanted the final drawing to be, I knew I didn’t want it to be about work or our careers. All I cared about was that we’d be together…the rest is secondary.”

I smile, realizing how much thought she put into this.

“So I closed my eyes and listened to your suggestion… where would we be in the future—like in ten years…and this is what I saw.”

She slowly opens the cover and sorts through the pages until she gets to the back of the book. “Here we are.” She carefully flips the pages over the spiral and sets the pad down on my lap. “I hope you like it.”

I lift the pad and study it. I can tell she’s watching intently for my reaction, and I don’t even have to perform. My grin is natural and heartfelt. The drawing is charmingly amateur, but she’s clearly put a lot of thought and effort into it.

Brooke and I are on the beach holding hands. She’s wearing a B-Girl style swimsuit. There are two small people and something that resembles a dog gathered together, just in front of us at the shore.

“Did you know how much I love the beach? Where is this?” I ask her, avoiding the bigger points of interest.

“Hawaii,” she replies. “I want to go there with you. It’d be really romantic.”

I make a mental note to call Mom’s travel agent tomorrow. “And your swimsuit…it looks B-Girl inspired,” I point out.

“Nice touch, huh?” she asks, watching for my reaction.

“Yes. I love that. And who’s this?” I ask, pointing to three small figures near the shore.”

She carefully gestures as she explains. “These are our children: Walt and Mary, and that’s our dog, Pixar.”

Pixar.

“We took our dog with us to Hawaii?”

“We take him everywhere. He’s a dog with super powers…he protects and babysits the kids.”