Page 70 of Tied to Hope
Brie held it out to her little girl. “Look, Hope, it’s yourdyadya.”
Hope reached out to touch it, her dimples showing as she smiled.
Brie opened the wooden doll to reveal a figure of Sir dressed in the suit he wore at their wedding. “Oh, your daddy looks so handsome, doesn’t he?” she asked Hope.
Examining it, Brie was touched by all the small details, including the spray of bougainvillea in his lapel.
Opening it up, Brie squeaked when she found a replica of herself wearing her lace wedding dress. “This is so beautiful.”
“Yes, you are,” Rytsar stated. He took it from her to show Hope. “Your mama is the most beautiful woman on this Earth.”
Brie blushed when he handed it back to her. “These are amazing.”
His blue eyes sparkled with delight. “Go on. There are more.”
She opened the doll and giggled. “Oh, my goodness, it’s my dad!” The artist had done a phenomenal job capturing his serious expression.
“There’s your grandpa,” she said, showing Hope. “Don’t let his serious expression fool you, little girl. He’s a big softie when it comes to you.”
It came as no surprise when the next doll turned out to be her mother. The sweet expression painted on her face was charming. The artist was so skillful that he’d been able to capture the similar facial characteristics she shared with her mother.
Brie was super curious about who was next. When she opened it, tears came to her eyes seeing Alonzo holding his beloved violin.
“This is…so touching,” she choked out.
Rytsar nodded. “He is a part of her life.”
Brie pointed out the violin to Hope. “That’s your Grandpa Alonzo’s violin. He was a master at playing it.” Her heart melted when Hope reached out to touch it with her tiny fingers.
Shaking the doll, Brie realized there were still more. “How many are in here?” she asked Rytsar in amazement.
He only smiled.
Curious about who was next, Brie opened it and burst out in a smile. “Nonno!”
Like with her own mother, the artist had captured the similarities between Sir, Alonzo, and Sir’s grandfather. Brie cuddled the doll against her chest, totally in love with the likeness.
She opened the next one and was thrilled to see Nonna’s twinkling eyes and warm smile. Brie had never forgotten how kind the old woman had been to her when they first met in Italy. Nonna had made Brie feel like family starting that very first day.
Brie shook the doll and realized there was one more left. She gave it to Hope to shake, too, before she opened it.
Instead of shaking it, Hope handed it to Rytsar.
When he tried to give it to Brie, she wouldn’t take it. “Nope, Hope wants you to open it.”
Rytsar smirked as he opened the last one and held it up for them to see.
Brie squealed in delight. “Shadow!”
It seemed completely fitting that the very last doll was Hope’s guardian angel in cat form.
Rytsar set each doll down in a circle around Hope. “See?Moye solntseis surrounded by love.”
Brie shook her head, profoundly touched by seeing his words laid out in physical form. She understood that this was his way of remaining a part of Hope’s life even when they were thousands of miles apart.
“Rytsar, this is the most beautiful gift that has ever been made.”
He winked at her.
