Page 8 of Sutton's Shadow

“I am.”

“Photography is one art form I haven’t tried yet. I’ve been focusing on oil paints and sketching.”

Sutton’s eyes widened. This young girl talked about art as if she were years ahead of her true age. “You’re an artist?”

Her eyes lit up as she nodded. “Wanna see?” She plopped herself on the bench before Sutton could answer and pulled her bag to her lap. Dragging out a large sketch pad, she flipped open the cover, and Sutton’s jaw dropped.

The first image was a fluffy dog, but this was no child’s rendition of the family pet. This was light years beyond anything she’d ever seen anyone so young accomplish. Each pencil scratch brought life to the image on the page. It was as if she could reach out and feel the soft fur brush over her fingers. She turned the page to the next wonder: seagulls fighting over a morsel they’d found. She could almost hear their angry squawks as they fought.

“My mom lets me sit over there and draw while my brother is at his scout meeting,” she informed, pointing to another bench that sat in an open grassy area on the bluff overlooking the beach below.

“These are amazing,” Sutton praised.

“Thank you. What’s your name?” she asked in that blunt way children had.

“Sutton. What’s yours?”

“Lucy.”

“Very pretty name.”

“Yours too.”

She continued to flip through the book in awe. Drawings of people and wildlife filled the pages. The scampering squirrels made her smile. But the next page had her gasping in amazement.

It was Wyatt.

Lucy had captured the same expression of anguish on his face that he’d left Jolene’s with. Sutton couldn’t help herself. She reached out to the page and ran a finger down his cheek, wishing she could erase that expression.

“That’s one of the Nighthawks,” Lucy stated. “I can’t remember his name, though.”

“That’s Wyatt, but most everyone calls him Tin Man.”

Lucy studied her sketch with a practical eye. “He’s so sad.”

“He is,” she agreed.

“If he’s the Tin Man, maybe he’s missing his heart.”

Sutton’s gaze darted to the young girl, her perception surprising her. Glancing back at the sketch, she thought of the phone conversation she’d overheard. “You know what? I think you’re right. Heismissing his heart.”

“I wonder if there’s anything we can do to help him find it.”

“I’m not sure. It’s probably complicated.”

“You had that same look on your face before I came over. Have you lost your heart too?”

Sutton stared at Lucy, stunned. “I’m not... I’m okay.”

“Maybe you can help each other find your missing hearts.” Sutton smiled at that. If only it were that simple. Two people experiencing different types of grief. Her with the loss of Liam. Wyatt with the loss of his sister, as well as his best friend. At least one part of his grief could be remedied. A sudden thought popped into her head. She could at least help him with one source of his pain.

“You know what? I think I may just have an idea about how to help Tin Man.”

“Really?” Lucy’s face lit up.

Sutton nodded. “Maybe. But I need to make a phone call first.”

“Lucy,” a woman called out. Lucy grabbed her sketch pad, shoving it back into her bag as she called back to the woman who was undoubtedly her mom.

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