Araceli POV
I glanced at the caller ID and my face was a little surprised.
This person hadn't contacted me in a year.
"Mr. Elford?"
"Araceli, I came to New York yesterday for a painting exhibition and thought of you. This is your hometown, isn't it?"
An old voice came from the phone.
"Do you remember what I said to you a year ago?"
I paused. It was my drawing teacher from my early childhood, Rhett Elford.
"I no longer have the same enthusiasm for drawing that I had as a child..."
Rhett intoned, "You have a talent for drawing, so why don't you use that talent to the best of your ability? I've had one student in my life, but your talent is even more amazing than his."
I pursed my lips and looked down at Valeria.
Valeria's wide, clear eyes were open, and she was looking at the paintings in the store.
"Mommy, can you take me to learn how to paint?"
A dumbfounded sense of loss emerged in Valeria's eyes.