Picture Perfect

Chapter Nineteen - Tyler

"I know," she said, folding me into her arms in a tight hug. "I love you as you, too. And I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" I asked, frowning as I pulled away.

Sorcha gave me a sad smile. "I've been doing a lot of thinking since we got here. I just... I ran away. After school, I mean. I think I've been running away for a long time. It's only now I've stopped that I realise what I missed. I mean, Saskie's five, and I'd only see her a handful of times before this. You separated from Colin and didn't tell me for weeks, because that's just how our friendship was. We caught up once a month and that was it."

I hesitated, and said, "You had a rough start in life. And even if it was running away, I don't think you regret any of your travels."

She smiled. "No, I don't. I met some incredible people, did some incredible things. But this..." she gestured around the gallery. "This is my greatest adventure. Building a home. Loving that kid. Getting to know my best friend properly as an adult."

I hugged her again. "You saved me, Sorcha. Came out of the blue like a mystical god and granted me my wish. I love our life."

"Me too," she said, and when I pulled away this time, her eyes were shining and she was radiating emotion. "I promise, I'll be good. For Saskie, and for you." She then added, in a slight mutter, "Not for those dickheads, though."

I grinned. "Close enough."

*****

In a comical moment of bad scheduling, I was teaching my first art class at the gallery on the same day Colin and Andrew were due to turn up. The gallery itself still wasn't open for viewing, but the classroom was nicely set up, and I was ready. My first class was a group of elderly ladies who knew how to paint using traditional materials, but hadn't the first clue how to work an iPad, and needed help making that transition.

"I just want to make some of the things my niece shows me on Instagram," one of them, Adelene, told me. "It's so clever, what technology can do these days. I just don't know how to work the flipping thing."

Most of the first class was me teaching them how to physically use an iPad and the drawing program Procreate. We talked about touch-screens and different ways to swipe fingers on the screen to use the different functions. I worried it would be painfully slow, but they were motivated and ready to learn, and I enjoyed starting from the basics and reminding myself of how far I'd come with digital art.

In the end, the group of ladies managed to wrap their heads around using an iPad for basic functions, and we started on some simple Procreate techniques. I taught them how to use layers, and how to select different brushes. I'd purchased a few special brush packs that I installed on their devices so they could use them at home, including watercolours and a chalks and pastels mix.

By the end of the session, the ladies were happy, enthusiastically talking about next week's session, and I'd been force-fed oatmeal cookies, which were unbelievably good. I had about half an hour before Colin and Andrew were due to arrive, so I made sure the sign on the door said closed, and rushed upstairs.

"Alright, class over!" I called, opening the door. "Sask, are you ready for your dad and Andrew to arrive? They'll be here - oh."

I had unfortunately opened the door to reveal Colin and Andrew sat at the dining table with Saskie and Sorcha. The three adults were smiling with forced politeness, and Saskie was fortunately obliviously sat on Colin's lap, showing him her new sticker collection.

"Hi," Colin said awkwardly.

I suddenly remembered I was supposed to be pleased to see them, and fixed a beam on my face. "Hello! You made good timing, then?"