Chapter 28 - Surprise Visit.

The days following the art exhibit, Amelia had fallen into a routine. Her routine included waking up early in the morning for coffee then going out to get breakfast. She came back around mid morning and settled back in bed. Then later she started drawing. She would draw, paint or arrange her apartment. Then she went out for dinner with Molly and Ruby. And came back to watch Netflix and chill. For four days that was how it was, wake up, eat, paint and eat again.
A few times she took long naps and her nights were for Xavier. They talked far into the night.

She had woken up as usual with a cup of coffee in her hands and she was reviewing the pieces she had chosen for her art exhibit. She had to pick and get her choices back to Myra and the art gallery for them to decide if it was good. She was still picking out the pieces when she heard her doorbell.

Who could that be?

She walked to her door in nothing but her oversized shirt and sweat pants. She knew it couldn't be Molly or Ruby because they had actual jobs unlike her and they worked during the day.

"Who is it?" She asked as she opened the door and was confronted by a big flower bouquet and Xavier!

"Xavier! What are you doing here?""
She asked as she opened the door wider to let him in. Xavier was grinning widely as he walked in.

"I really couldn't stay away. Decided to see you in person. I brought pizza."

He said as he pointed to the pizza delivery guy next to him and passed the bouquet of flowers to Amelia. Amelia took a whiff of the bouquet and smiled.
"Oh Xavier! You didn't have to."
He hugged her tenderly and kissed her forehead. Slowly and reluctantly he turned to the pizza guy and gave him a generous tip.

"I still can't believe you're here. We talked last night and you didn't tell me anything!"

Xavier shrugged.

"It's a surprise! Aren't you surprised?"

"I am! And you brought me food! Thank you Xavier!"

Amelia opened up the pizza and the smell of the fresh hot New York style pizza filled the room. It had pepperoni, Mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce. Amelia couldn't wait to dig in.

"Let me go get paper towels and plates. Make yourself comfortable."

"I will! Work on any new pieces lately?"

Xavier called out as he shrugged off his jacket and started inspecting one of the works on her easel.

"Not yet! I'm just really trying to get the ones I'm going to be using for my art exhibit."

"Okay! Okay! That's good."

When Amelia came back to her main room, she found Xavier studying the drawing she made of him in the nude.

"Look at that. I make a really good model."

Amelia rolled her eyes.

"No, you don't. You were moving around too much."

Xavier raised up an eyebrow.

"Yea, I don't think so. I mean, the way you carefully detailed some parts of my body, it's almost as if you were staring a little too much."

Amelia slapped Xavier's hands away playfully as she studied the picture again. Damn! It was true. She had properly defined a lot of his intimate parts.

"Maybe because you kept flaunting them? Come! Let's eat the pizza. I'm hungry."

She said as she dragged him back to her sofa with the paper towels and plates.

"How did you know I wanted pizza for breakfast."

Xavier shrugged.

"Well, last night. I asked you what you would eat this morning and you said you were tired of bagels and salads and you might just finish a whole box of New York style pizza."

Amelia gaped.

"It's really fascinating that you actually remember that! I almost don't remember saying it."

"Well, you did. Now I'd like to see you actually try and finish this."

Xavier commented as he laid back in the sofa with his hand around Amelia. He missed her so much that it hurt. Everyone in the house missed her, hell, even the chef missed her compliments and crazy requests.

He knew he had to come down to New York to see her when he could no longer smell the scent of her on the sheets. He had made the housekeeper put off washing his sheets for a long time so he could keep smelling her on the bed. But for the past two nights her scent had left the covers and the housekeeper had stressed that they needed to change his sheets. That was when he knew he needed to come to New York. Besides he also wanted to check out his company. He liked to drop in a few times unannounced just to keep them all on their toes. Xavier was the master of surprise visits.

"So, how long do you plan to stay?" Amelia asked after stuffing a slice of pizza in her mouth. She closed her eyes to savour the taste as she took the next slice of pizza.

"Not long at all. Probably three days. I'm hoping there's a way I'll whisk you back to California when I'm leaving."

Amelia shrugged.

"I don't think I can, still a lot of details to sort out with Myra and I prefer physical meetings with her. Oh! How is Nana?"

"Is she okay?" Amelia asked after noticing that Xavier was silent for a long time.

"She will be going for a major check up soon, the checkup will determine whether or not the cancer is still a major threat or if it's doing more damage."

"Oh"

Amelia said as she put a hand in Xavier's lap. He looked so worried.

"How is she holding up? Is she good?"

"She's trying. But I'm really worried. If I had my way, she'd be back in New York at the private cancer clinic. Doctor Hunter has an amazing track record for reducing the spread of the cancer cells. But Nana doesn't like it there. She'd rather be in Cali and go for weekly checkups."

"She'll be fine. I know she will. You'll accompany her for her checkup right?"

Xavier nodded.

"Yes, I will. The moment I get back home I'll take her myself."

After Amelia finished her pizza with no help from Xavier, they played around and discussed what they would do with their free time when Xavier suggested that they go out on a date.

"Date? Where exactly would we be going?"

"I don't know. I heard there's this fun place where you get to taste awesome wines. Do you want to check it out?"

Xavier suggested and Amelia nodded.

"It's not too early for wine tasting is it?"

She asked and he shrugged.

"I don't think it is. Besides I'd like to go to the company so we can go there first. What do you think?"

He asked and Amelia nodded her head in approval.

"That is a great idea. All I need to do is shower and get ready. "

"Good."

Xavier replied as he helped Amelia clear up the box of pizzas.

"Stay here. I'll be right back."

She said as she hurried to the bathroom.

"Don't stay too long. If you do, I'll come and join you!"

Xavier called out and Amelia rolled her eyes.

She contemplated staying in the shower longer just to see what he would do. She had never been so happy seeing Xavier. She had no idea how dull her days had been till Xavier came over. She realised with a warm smile that she missed him. She missed him greatly. She missed his smell, his hair, his intense blue eyes and his broody serious look she liked to make fun of.

Xavier was admiring a portrait painting of Amelia that was jumbled up with other paintings. He wished she had stayed at the penthouse, it had more room. Xavier knew she wasn't going to be at the penthouse but he felt it was better, her studio apartment was small and with the dozens of paintings littered around the tiny room, it looked cramped.

At least she had cleaned up the apartment, he noted as he looked around impressed. Amelia had a penchant for leaving things on the floor, even at their home in Cali, Xavier was the one always picking up after her. She just didn't like picking up things that fell.
He hoped she wouldn't mind him getting her a bigger studio apartment since she liked having her own space. He didn't mind finding somewhere else that she was comfortable in to paint.

He was still thinking of calling his estate agent when the doorbell rang. His first instinct was to call Amelia, but she was still in the shower. There was the sound of the shower running and Amelia singing a cheesy pop song.
He decided to check out who it was, it was most likely a delivery guy coming to deliver something although he was not sure if Amelia ordered something.

He went towards the door and opened it. It was indeed a delivery guy in a red cap with a small flat square package.

"I have a package for Mrs Amelia Black."

He said in a drawl as he showed Xavier a file to sign into.

"Uhm! She's not really here right now. I'm her husband. Can I receive the package on her behalf."

The guy rolled his eyes.

"Whatever. Sign here please."

He said and Xavier collected his pen and signed it.

"Here." The delivery guy handed Xavier the small package.

"Thanks." Xavier murmured.

He felt the package and it felt like a painting, a really small painting. He was tempted to wait for Amelia to open it but he was curious as to why she ordered a painting. He went close to her bathroom and still heard the sound of the shower.

Maybe he should wait.

He thought as he dropped the package on the small table and sat down on the opposite end of the table watching it.

Maybe not. His mind told him as he went ahead and opened it anyways.

It was a small painting. Of a wrecked boat. Although it was a fairly admirable painting, it didn't look like something Amelia would paint, or like. The painting was as detailed as it was abstract and Xavier could not decipher the point. The artist was named Boston McNamara. Xavier never heard of him.

But there was a small note that fell when he opened the package.

He opened it up to read.

'I think this is your favourite piece. I'd like you to have it. If you'd like, we can discuss over a cup of coffee what it means.'

                                                     Boston 💓