Safe In Your Sound

Chapter 7: Mom

Third Person POV

"I like her, Papa. She's very caring and gentle. And she's beautiful too," Hope told her father as soon as they entered their home. Orly raised an eyebrow at how his daughter seemed to be pushing their neighbor towards him. He knew what Hope is doing and right now, he feels sorry that he cannot give her what she wants.

"You've been saying that since last night. You just met her and you're already setting me up with her? That's not very likely, Hope," he said while he prepares the food he bought which was her daughter's request by the way. He had to buy it in the neighboring poblacion reason why he took a while from coming home.

Hope went to the table to watch him as he pour the sauce of the Cordon Bleu. She smiled. "Tomorrow I'm going to play with her," she informed, not ask which Orly found amusing.

"Did she tell you she'll play with you? If not, then how are you so sure she will?"

"Oh, she will. I know she will. Trust me, Papa. I'll help you to get to know her," Hope said that made Orly laugh.

"You didn't even ask if I like her," he uttered in between his laughs.

Hope pouted when she realized that he was right. She was setting him up to Erica but she doesn't know if her father likes her.

"Don't you like her, Papa?" she asked.

Orly sighed, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, baby, but I don't. I don't have time for any relationship as of the moment. Besides, I have you. You make me happy and you're everything I need. So, please stop pushing me to that girl."

Hope pouted even more but nodded at her father's words. She was kind of disappointed alright but she can't do anything about it. She knew she cannot force him to like her, and how is she so sure that Erica likes her father too? Thinking about it makes her hopeless until an idea popped into her head.

The next day, Erica had just finished from work. They only work half day on Sundays. She was strolling on the marketplace to buy some fruits when she thought of Hope suddenly. Knowing that the girl might want to play with her today since she's free this afternoon, she also bought some fruits for her though she thinks they have them at home, she still bought them.

She was excited to go home. It has been two days since she met Hope and the little girl wanted to play with her so much she waited for her in front of her house which made her feel guilty because she hasn't entertained Hope's request yet. But now, she has all afternoon to do that.

Erica beamed widely when she saw Hope waiting by her door with Lucas watching over her from their lanai. The girl was sitting on the chair which Erica assumed was placed by Lucas. She slowly approached the young girl, signalling Lucas to keep shut and let her surprise Hope.

However, she paused from taking another step when she noticed that the girl was frowning and seemed to be in deep thought. Hope was looking down on the ground as she swayed her feet back and forth. Confused and unused with this side of her, Erica put up an endearing smile as she carefully crouched down in front of Hope which instantly cheered up the latter.

"Erica!" Hope pounced on the older woman and hugged her as if they were very close but Erica didn't mind at all.

The warmth from the girl's hug overwhelmed her that she found herself embracing her back. For some reason, she felt that something is bothering her which maybe the cause why she looks gloomy today.

Hope didn't let go of the hug and even snuggled in between her neck and shoulder. Erica found it cute and sweet but also she fears that the girl has a problem. They only retracted from each other when Lucas approached them, teasing the little girl again.

"You said you're already a big girl. But why are you crying? Big girls don't cry," Lucas smirked. Hope shot him a glare immediately after she withdrew from Erica.

"I'm not crying! Do you see any tears?" Hope retorted and widened her eyes to show Lucas there were no tears. Her reaction earned chuckles from the two elders.

"But you were sad a while ago. May I know why?" Erica asked carefully this time, concerned that Hope is dealing with a problem on her own.

For a child her age, she shouldn't be thinking of such serious matters yet and if she's having difficulties, she should at least asked for help, from her father especially. When Hope opened her mouth, Erica expected that she'd open up but the girl closes her mouth again and shakes her head.

"I'm not sad. I'm just waiting for you to come home. I know you'll be home because my father works in the same store as you and he used to come home at this time when he was still working full time there," Hope explained while looking right into Erica's eyes as if she was searching her for something.

Erica's eyebrows snapped up as she stared back at her. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Your eyes are beautiful, Ate Erica," Hope complimented her suddenly that fluttered her a little.

"Okay. Now, tell me what do you want to do today?" she asked like it was the price for giving her a compliment.

Hope started to enumerate the things she wanted to do with her and Erica thought they would need a year to do all of it. She invited Hope inside her home and prepared the fruits she bought as snacks for her, with the latter still naming the things she had in mind.

Hope sat in the dining so she could see Erica prepare food for her and Lucas was there too, as he is the original babysitter of the girl.

"Oh! I also want to try painting! I've seen kids on tv doing it and I want to try it too," Hope said that got Erica's attention.

"Painting? Do you like arts?"

"My Papa used to paint but he stopped when we transferred here," there was evident dismay in her voice.

Erica turned to look at the saddened girl. The latter smiled then but she knew she was just forcing it. Thinking that painting might cheer her up, it is what they did that afternoon.

She showed them to the room on the second floor that she made into her mini art gallery and work area in one. Hope was amazed at how she had a complete set and even the quality of the canvas were exceptional, as if Erica is a professional painter.

"Are you sure this is only a hobby? You look like a real professional to me," Lucas commented as he looked around the room where Erica kept her paintings and materials.

Erica chuckled. Painting is actually her first love. She wanted to pursue it back in college but her father strongly opposed it saying she should take up business instead. Back then, she couldn't do anything but to follow his orders. But now that she's away from him, she can do whatever she wants.

"Wow! You're amazing, Ate Erica!" Hope exclaimed as she continued to gawk around the room on the different landscape and portrait paintings hanged on the wall and failed to even care about the empty canvases that were on the corner, bottles of acrylic paints, papers, and cups that were scattered on the floor.

The room is basically a mess but her companions don't seem to mind it though. They were busy looking at the finished paintings that she managed to hang on the walls.

Lucas chuckled suddenly. "So, you were the one making strange noises at night."

Erica fell shy when she recalled the nights that she was hammering the nails on the wall just to hang her masterpieces. She never thought it would be that loud that it reached her neighbours. Who is she kidding anyway? Their houses are attached to each other.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know it would cause so much noise. Don't worry, I won't—"

"No, it's okay. It's not that loud or annoying. I just have keen sense of hearing so I tend to hear even faint sounds," Lucas smiled.

Erica brought out a new canvas and placed it on the stand near the window. Hope immediately sat on the chair in front of it before Erica could even call her to do so. The both of them chuckled. The older noticed the pure excitement in the younger's eyes and by how the latter swinged her feet back and forth.

Lucas took a chair then and sat beside Erica which Hope didn't fail to see and shot the guy a piercing gaze. Lucas scrunched his face as she looked back at the girl. Erica only watched them exchange childish banters before she made stop and handed Hope the paintbrush while she held the palette.

"What do you want to paint? Do you have anything in mind?" Erica asked. Hope thought for a moment, comically pointed a finger on her head while she looks up to the ceiling before she snapped up.

"A flower!" she exclaimed in excitement.

"I knew you were gonna say that," Lucas pointed out but Hope ignored him.

Erica guided Hope's hand, carefully stroking on the canvas but the latter told her that she can do it herself so she retracted her hand and just watched her as she drew a circle in the middle and later on the concaves around it.

Hope was quiet as she concentrates with her first masterpiece while Lucas and Erica were watching her in awe.

"She's cute, isn't she?" Lucas uttered softly as not to disturb the little artist.

"Yeah, she is," Erica mumbled.

"You're paintings are beautiful, especially the portraits. Do you have references for them?"

Erica shrugged, flattered by his praises. "I just do whatever comes to mind. But they say, all the faces our mind can show are probably those we've seen before. Maybe I have met the people I painted on those portraits but I'm just unaware of it."

"Can you perhaps make me a portrait too?" Lucas suggested.

Erica smiled and turned to face him fully and looked at his features. "Hmm, maybe I could try? But, I can't promise."

"Why not? Am I not interesting enough to be your subject?"

"You are. But I'm not sure if I can give justice in it. I'm not that confident with portraits yet," she said.

"Are you kidding me? You mean those were not good enough for you?" Lucas pointed out exaggeratedly at the paintings on the wall.

"I'm still practicing," she retorted humbly.

Lucas was about to say something when Hope poked Erica to have her attention, taking her away from the guy.

"Wow! It's beautiful. Now, you have to paint the background too to make the flower stand out," Erica praised Hope's painting — a blue flower with green stem and one leaf at each other's side.

"I want a house," Hope said and started to paint once again.

Erica admired Hope's innocence and enthusiasm. Everything about her is just exceptionally positive in all ways. Hope reminded her of herself when she was a child. Her mother also loved to paint and it is whom she got her talent. Although her father was very strict, she managed to paint a smile on her face because of her mom.

Erica can't help but think of the same way as Hope and Orly. Only that it's not his strictness that would kill Hope's innocence but his unlawful affairs with women.

"I'm going to show this Papa," Hope beamed while holding out her painting and looking at it from time to time.

Hope had finished her first masterpiece which she named, Hope's Blue Flower, with skies and birds on the background, a house and other small versions of the same flower too.

They were down on the living room and Erica had just served them snacks.

"Hm? Only to your Papa? How about your mom? Won't you show it to her?" Erica asked. She has been wondering for a while now that Hope only mentions her father all the time.

Lucas gasped beside her as if she has said something so offensive. She turned to him and raised an eyebrow so he shook his head but she didn't quite got the message.

"I don't have a mom."