Page 9 of The Grinch who Loved Me
Of anyone wanting her as her. Not with her disabilities.
It made her sad and she often cried when it was late at night and the house was asleep.
Her dearest dream that she held close to her heart was to get married one day.
To have a family and be a mother. Like her mom was. Like Farren was. Like Bo’s wife was.
She was always so envious when she saw Farren nursing her baby and or when she was pregnant.
Aria often sat next to Farren and Farren was more than happy to put Aria’s hand on her stomach so she could feel the baby kick.
Aria would marvel at the fact that there was a tiny human being made inside of Farren’s stomach and she would see how Jet looked at his wife.
Aria wanted someone to look at her the way he looked at his wife.
She yearned for that. For that connection with another person. Sometimes it was as if Jet could read Farren’s mind and get her what she needed before Farren ever even asked.
Aria loved it. Loved the idea of love. And she would sit in her room while her parents were at work and when she was alone and sketch.
She wasn’t an artist in any form, but she was taking a jewelry making class at school and learning how to mold the rings in clay and then pouring the silver inside it to make a ring was something else.
Aria would take her time and carve out a specific ring and when it came out and it was exactly like it was in her head, it would make her smile.
She knew it was her calling and her best friend Raegan encouraged her every single step of the way.
She had several girls asking to have her make them one of her rings and Aria was more than happy to make each and every one.
Her jewelry teacher was impressed with her and would let Aria stay after school to work on her rings and even had her enter one of her rings in a contest.
If she won, it would give her a small nest egg and she could do what she wanted.
And sure enough, her design won. Aria had been shocked and had been all smiles when she found out.
Her teacher, Laney Rodrigez was thrilled and sat her down one day after class.
“Have you ever thought of designing rings for a living?”
Aria nodded, “I have thought about it, but I don’t know how it would work. If my designs would stand out.”
Laney smiled, “Trust me. They will stand out. I have been teaching for ten years and never in all those years have I seen the talent you possess. I am in awe. You have only been taking jewelry making for two years.”
Aria felt her cheeks heat, “I don’t know why.”
Laney chuckled, “You are so modest. And I love that about you. Listen, you have real talent. And I have a feeling, if you keep up this route, you will do great things.”
Aria took that advice to heart and went to college to learn more about jewelry making and she loved it.
Her parents were hesitant at first to have her move a town away, but they knew she wanted to have this experience and let her.
She had a small scholarship, but her dad didn’t want her to worry about money and he paid for her tuition.
And she loved college. She was still ignored by the men who went there and it hurt her heart, but she knew they weren’t worth it.
If she was going to be loved by someone, she wanted them to notice her. To see her for her.
And the boys at college were still boys. And she knew that.
So she focused on her studies and learning about making rings.
