Читать книгу Together In Paradise - Travis Jr. Slone - Страница 5

Once upon a time, in the beautiful rocky countryside of Northern England, there lived a wealthy young family of three. Thomas and Sarah had been married for nine years, and had a five year old daughter named Janie. They had made their fortunes working long hours in London’s financial district, while Sarah’s mother raised their young child at the family’s country estate. Whenever it was possible, Thomas and Sarah would join them for weekends and holidays.

The elegant property had been handed down for six generations, and part of an inheritance when Thomas’ own parents passed away a few years back.

An eight kilometer long paved driveway led through the hills to the historic stone mansion, where flowering vines made their annual ascent up the four hundred year old walls. A pathway of neatly laid bricks led through a magnificent garden, connecting the separate three-car garage to the arched front entry.

On that breezy summer evening, smoke emanated from the main building’s two chimneys, creating a slight haze in the waning light overhead. As the sun went down over the distant hills, the home’s many glowing windows made it appear like an enormous lantern, calmly sitting in the midst of the rugged English landscape.

“Mom,” called out the little girl, “May I please have some milk before bedtime?”

But Sarah did not hear the sweet child over the telephone conversation she was having nearby.

“Mother!” she called again. “I said please. You didn’t even have to remind me this time. Can I please have some milk?”

“Shhh!” replied the girl’s mom in frustration. “Can’t you see I’m busy here? Go ask your father if you need something. This is one of my clients on the phone, and she’s very important to me.”

The cute little blue-eyed girl with long curly blond hair skipped eagerly into the den to look for her father. She hardly even noticed her mother’s lack of attention anymore, for she had grown used to it by now.

“Dad,” she asked after finding him sitting by the television watching an intense World Cup match. “Could I please have some milk before bed? Mom’s too busy, and I’m really thirsty.”

“Sure you can sweet heart,” replied the father. “Just give me a few seconds, and I’ll be right there. The match is almost over.”

But as the opposing team scored a goal with no time left in regulation, the score became deadlocked at two goals apiece. The beautiful young girl curled up next to her father on the couch, waiting for the overtime to end.

When the match was finally over, Thomas remembered that his little princess had wanted some milk. Unfortunately, she had already fallen asleep beside him. In her hands, she did not have her usual soft teddy bear, but an empty plastic cup.

As Sarah came in from the other room and noticed her daughter sleeping on the couch, she thought of how precious she looked.

“Aw,” she said to Thomas as he went to scoop her up and take her to bed. “She sure is adorable when she’s sleeping.”

Thomas couldn’t agree more.

“She’s pretty amazing when she’s awake too,” he replied. “It’s just unfortunate that we’re always so busy.”

“Don’t worry honey. She’ll understand when she grows up.”

As little Janie was carried off to bed, Sarah carefully snatched the empty cup from her daughter, and went to carry it to the sink.

“Wait!” said Thomas. “What is that, on the ground?”

“What?” his wife asked. “Where?”

“Right there, by your feet,” he said. “I think you dropped something.”

Sarah bent down to pick up the neatly folded piece of pink paper. When she unfolded the heart-shaped note, tears swelled up in her eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Thomas asked. “What does it say?”

She read the heart-shaped note aloud, trying not to get choked up on the words.

Just kidding, it said with a sketched smiling face. All I want is a hug.

The note had fallen from inside the little girl’s cup.

After carrying the sweet child off to bed, and tucking her in with her teddy bear, Thomas gave her a soft kiss on the cheek and turned out the light. He glanced back once more as he left the room, pausing to savor the moment. We really need a vacation, he thought. Somewhere far away from England.