Page 108 of Finding New Dreams

Tears rose in Gina’s eyes, and she covered my hand with hers again. “But you did trust them eventually. You found your family even when you didn’t expect to. You stayed.”

My own tears threatened to fall. “Because they wanted me. Because I never could give up that tiny bit of hope. That even though I boxed up my life and my feelings and moved on over and over, I couldn’t quite smother that spark of hope at the next home. It’s why I go on date after date. It’s why I let Flynn in even though it’s ripping me apart to let him go.” I sniffled, then gave her a sad smile. “Hope. That next time will be different.”

“See?” Gina leaned forward to poke me fiercely in the chest. “See! You can’t give up. Don’t let him go without letting him know how you feel. Let your little spark shine.”

I let out a quivery laugh. “I feel like at any moment you’re going to break into song on me.”

“I just might,” she said with a wink before swiping at the moisture in her own eyes.

Throwing my arms around her, I whispered, “Thanks, Gina Bambina.”

“Can I come eat dinner yet?” Dom called from his room.

We laughed.

“Yes, come eat!” Gina called back.

He cautiously emerged, his dark eyes darting between us. “You guys okay?”

“Of course, baby,” Gina said. “Now hurry up before it gets even colder.”

He gave her a quick hug, and even spared one for me before he filled his plate.

For a few minutes, we scarfed down the delicious food, and I mulled over what Gina had said.

Dom spoke up. “He’s a great teacher, you know. Flynn. Mr. Higgins. Gets everyone really excited about art.”

I smiled. “I’ve noticed. I’m glad for all of you.”

“Talks about you a lot.”

I froze with a casserole-loaded fork halfway to my mouth. “What?”

“Yep. Like how you’re an amazing artist. Or something funny you said one day. Hannah asked if he liked you, and he said he did. A lot.”

My heart was doing a funky, squirmy dance in my chest, as if it couldn’t decide whether to get excited or to hold back.

Gina smirked at me, eating her chips and salsa like she was a queen dining on a rare delicacy.

“I’m…I’m sure he was just being nice,” I fumbled out. “I like him a lot too. He’s also an amazing artist, and clearly very flattering. But we’re just friends.”

Dom grinned, pointing a fork full of beans at me. “Then why are your cheeks so red?”

Gina high-fived him behind my back.

I mock-glared at the two of them. “Now you guys are just ganging up on me.”

“Great minds,” Gina said. Mother and son beamed at each other, two peas in a pod.

“Okay, no more mention of Flynn for the rest of the night. Deal?”

“Deal!” they chorused back to me.

A few hours later, after several pieces of torte and a silly movie Gina and Dom practically acted out, I went home.

With my mind in a whirlwind and my body on autopilot, I cleaned the empty torte dish and changed into my pajamas. But then I glanced at my covered painting, and my thoughts finally settled.

I needed to finish it. Now or never.

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