After another round, the doorbell rang. Eric sat up straight and started to grin.
“I’ll get it,” he said.
Eric went to the door and let someone in.
“You need help with that stuff?” they heard him ask.
“Just grab that,” a female voice replied.
William heard movement in the living room, and a few minutes later, Eric returned
to the kitchen.
“The surprise is here,” he told them.
“You didn’t?” William asked, already knowing the answer.
“I did,” Eric replied. “And you are going to thank me.”
The men stood and walked into the living room.
In the center of the room stood an easel with a blank canvas. The carpet was
covered in a plastic tarp. Behind the canvas stood a woman with long dark brown
hair wearing only a long black coat.
“Eric,” William whispered into his friend’s ear. “I’m not watching a stripper with
my dad.”
Daniel Further sat in his recliner, waiting for the show. David stood in the
entrance of the room, clearly embarrassed for the groom.
The woman turned on a boombox she had brought with her. Out of the speakers blasted
“Livin’ La Vida Loca.”
“I remembered that you liked this song,” Eric told William.
“I don’t like this song,” William admitted.
The woman stepped from behind the easel and tossed her coat to the floor.
“I hope you’re ready to paint with Dhalia,” she said.
William took a deep breath. His father had the widest grin he’d ever seen.