Page 74 of The Devil In Disguise

The elevator doors open, revealing our activity. I watch as her mouth drops open on a gasp and her eyes widen with excitement.

“You’re kidding.”

“I thought you might like to see the sunset from a different point of view today.”

She jumps on me as I finish my sentence, embracing me in a tight hug and wrapping her legs around my waist. I huff a laugh out on impact and rub her back as I walk us towards the helicopter.

The sun is still out, but it is about to set. We have the helicopter for about an hour. I set Amaris down on her feet so that she can look around and satiate her curiosity while I speak with our pilot. Once it’s time for us to get inside, I go in first then stretch my hand out to help Amaris get in.

“Ready for another magic carpet ride, princess?”

A wicked glint shines in her eyes for a second, then her hand is mine.

“Always.”

We speak to each other through the headsets every once in a while, but we mostly enjoy the sights and the company. The sunset was breathtaking, painting the sky with pinks, and purples, and orange.

On the ride down the elevator, Amaris’ stomach growls low at her and her cheeks turn a light shade of red. Luckily, the final stop for us is a restaurant that isn’t too far away from us.

“Let your stomach know I’m going to feed you next.”

She shakes her head with a small smile.

“She said ‘Good, what are we having tonight?’”

“How about authentic Mediterranean food?”

“You had me at authentic. Let’s go.”

We walk to the family-owned shop and laugh together all the way there. It’s been a perfect day with my perfect girl. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Epilogue

One year later

Setting my paintbrush down, I take a step back and admire the piece I’m currently working on. It isn’t finished, but I am done with it for today. A quick shower is all I need to feel refreshed and get started on dinner. It’s one of my favorite recipes that I’ve learned from here. It’s one of Amaris’, too.

The small town we reside in is an idyllic place to live. At first, when we were getting familiar with the area and our new place, we spent a lot of time exploring the cities—and each other—but also exploring our own individual interests and hobbies. We have been each other's biggest supporters, so it shouldn’t have come as a surprise when she gave me some paints to try something different.

Charcoal art will always be my favorite. I can’t deny that trying new forms of art isn’t freeing, though. Ultimately, I am the master of my canvas and I express myself in any way to create art. She convinced me to put one of my pieces up for sale and to my surprise, it sold for a lot more than I was expecting. Then I put up another one. And another one.

That feeling was different than any praise or job well done I have ever received, and I didn’t even have to speak to anybody. Without me noticing, she pushes me to my best and then some with her fox eyes and cunning challenges. Or the little things she does for me, none of it goes unnoticed. It just takes me a second to fully realize every time.

Amaris started going to school a few months after we got settled into our cottage here in Rupit, Spain, a charming village I’ve grown to love. She’s taking a nine-month course in a baking and pastry arts program at a culinary institute not too far from here. Says the extra knowledge and practice will be good for her.

It has been about five months since she started and now I look forward to hearing about her day when she gets back, whether it was a good day or a bad day. On the good days, she lights up and explains everything she learned and what she wants to experiment with next. On the bad days, my little fireball spews all her worries and anger on me, then I get to remedy it.

Popping the baking dish into the oven and setting a timer on my phone, I stop on my way to the couch to admire the painting hanging up on the far left wall. The painting I saw the day Amaris and I stopped by the art gallery on our first date.

Turns out, she didn’t go to the bathroom that day. She bought the painting that I was so entranced by and had it shipped to her parents’ house. It was the first thing we set up in this house when we got here. A smile takes over my face at the remembrance of that day and that little detail.

A ping pulls me out of my thoughts and I pull my phone out of my sweat shorts. Speak of the devil and she shall appear.

Amaris: I forgot to remind you to take the steaks out of the freezer so I can make them when I get home.

Amaris: I’m on my way home now. Maybe they still have time to defrost?

Sitting on the couch, I prop my feet up on the ottoman and ignore her messages. The painting hanging over the fireplace now steals my attention. This is nothing new; I can admire any of the artwork here for hours and feel at peace. I do it often.

---