My Lost Portrait

The weather is always perfect in San Diego, or at least that’s what people have told me. I’ve been here for six days and it’s been cloudy with no warmth from the sun. I woke up a little earlier than usual today to take a quick hike down the Tiger Trail and possibly get some inspiration for my next landscape painting. I grab my bag from the other side of the hotel room and then gently wake my younger brother up, “Hey, I’m going to go out for a walk, do you need anything?”, Aiden looks up at me and smiles. Aiden is eleven years old, I took responsibility for him when my parents passed away from a horrible accident five years ago. “Yes, let me sleep” Tyler laughs and turns to his side to fall asleep again.

If I knew that the Tiger Trail was a high elevated mountain, I would have thought twice about doing this hike. Mrs. Robinson, my current customer told me about this trail and how it really challenges you to push harder mentally and physically. I shouldn’t be surprised, the Robinson family is in very good shape. Their family portrait was probably one of the hardest paintings I have done yet, from sketching out their daughter’s curves to making sure the calves of Mr. Robinson was big enough. It was very intimidating but they were such a lovely family. I finally reach the top of the hill and I am fascinated by this view; mountains, trees with many colored leaves, and a never ending stream of water. I sit there and reflect on how beautiful this moment is, I am quickly inspired and grab my bag to pull out my black notebook. My grandfather gave me my black notebook when he realized how much I took art as seriously as he did. The first page is a drawing of me that has a quote saying, “The inspiration comes from within”. If only my grandfather could see my work, oh how he would love it. I flip open a clean page and start to write down the place, time and everything I see around me. After two hours I decide to go back to the hotel to get ready to meet the Robinson family to show them their finished portrait.

When I get to the hotel, Tyler is already awake packing his bag to go back home. “Lilly, I really liked San Diego.” he chuckles, “Maybe we can move here one day”. I give him a puzzled look, he has never liked a place that is not Dallas,“ Yea maybe, but I thought you liked living in Dallas.”

“Sure, but all your customers are always from California. We won’t have to travel so much.” Tyler had a point, my clientele has always been in California and for very wealthy families, it’s not such a bad idea but I’ll have to think about that later, I have to get to the Robinson family. “We leave tomorrow morning so make sure you have everything” I said, “When I get back we can go watch a movie of your choosing”. Tyler gave an excited look and packed faster, I grabbed my keys and went to finalize the Robinson portrait.

Home sweet home, it feels so comforting to be back in my apartment on my cushion bed. The flight was so much longer than expected all I really want to do is sleep. As I lay in bed trying to close my eyes, all I can think about is the Tiger Trail. I just have so many ideas on what to paint. I quickly get up and grab my bag to get my black notebook. “No!” I shout, “What? Where is it?” I can’t find my book, I look in my bag and suitcase but no sign of it. I rush into Tyler’s room and start looking through

his suitcase. He gets out of bed quickly and questions me, “ Whoa what’s going on?”

“I can’t find my book anywhere!” I cry, “ Have you seen it?”

“I didn’t see it, maybe it fell somewhere or you left it in the hotel.”

My eyes are filled with tears, that notebook means the world to me and now who knows where it can be.

I called the hotel and the airport but no one had seemed to find it or took it to the lost and found. I can only hope someone returns it, there is no money value to that book so who would want it? Hopefully whoever finds it will turn to the back of the book that provides my P.O Box address. Maybe a little kid found it and their parents told them to throw it away. I stop thinking about it, I have to think of the possibility that it will be in my hands again.

It’s been three weeks since I lost my black notebook, I have accepted that it is gone, and it’s never coming back. I was really upset mainly because it was a gift from my grandfather but he was right, “The inspiration comes from within” I don’t need an object to feel complete, just myself. Tyler knocked on my door and smiled at me with so much excitement , “Can we go check the mail? I ordered a new video game a few days ago and I’m pretty sure it’s here already.” Tyler already had my car keys to go.

I myself ordered some new paint brushes for my next portrait appointment.

We get to the post off and Tyler rushes out of the car and immediately runs to the P.O. Box to open it, he grabbed his package and quickly opened it, his eyes got really big and he started jumping up and down. I finally reached the box and I got two packages, I opened the first one and I got four new paint brushes engraved with my name. I love it. I don’t remember ordering anything else but there was another package addressed with my name, I sat down on the bench next to the P.O. Boxes and open the package, my eyes filled with tears. Can it be? It is! My black notebook has been returned to me. I start to cry of excitement, Tyler turns around and looks at me, he hugged me then sat next to me. I unwrapped the rest of the packaging and opened up the notebook, as it opened, an envelope fell to the floor. I grabbed the envelope and opened it up, “What in the world?”, I questioned shockingly. Tyler looked inside the envelope and opened his mouth surprised. Inside was a ton of money. We both stayed quiet for a few minutes until Tyler asked, “So how much is it?”

“I’m not sure.” I say, “Let me count”.

As I’m counting the money, I keep getting surprised at how high I keep counting. Finally I finished and all together is $20,000. I looked inside the envelope again and there was a very small piece of paper, I unfolded it and it just had a phone number on there, nothing else.

We finally get home and Tyler will not stop asking me if I’m going to call the phone number. I tell him to go play his video game so I can think for a little bit. I sat on my bed with the piece of paper in my hand wondering why someone would just put their number with no information or give me a huge amount of money without taking anything. Maybe I can trace the number and return the money. It’s possible that they got some of my notes in my notebook and they felt bad so they paid me. My mind is just going everywhere right now, if I want my question to be answered, I will just have to call and find out.

Tyler and I sat in the living room on the couch, I felt like I was going to need a room with a little bit more sunlight for this phone call. I have my phone in my hand but I’m so nervous, my anxiety is really getting to me. Finally I work up the nerve and I dial. The phone did not even ring twice when I heard a man’s voice, “This is Chris”.

My body shivers and Tyler gets goosebumps “Say something.” Tyler whispered.

“Hello.” I say quietly “ Uhm this is Lilly, thank you for returning my bo-“ I didn’t finish my sentence when he cut me off and said, “Hello Lilly, I am pleased to hear your book was returned to you.” He sounds like an older confident gentleman. He continues to talk, “About the money, I’m sure you have questions but I won’t answer those questions until you agree to meet me.”

“Is he crazy?” Tyler questioned “We have no idea who this man is. What if he hurts you?” Chris heard what Tyler said, “I’m not a threat, I’d like to meet both of you.” Chris said with so much calmness, “If it makes you feel better we can meet in a public area. What do you say?” Tyler and I looked at each other confused, he snatched my phone, “ We will call you back!” his voice cracked.

After a couple of minutes of thinking, Tyler and I decided to meet up with Chris at a public park downtown. I texted him the information and he said he will take the next flight here and meet us tomorrow afternoon. I also decided to return the money because I have no use for it and I don’t want to owe anything to this man.

I got a text message from Chris saying he will be at the park in ten minutes. Tyler And I have been at the park for about an hour just preparing ourselves and trying to shake off the nerves. We saw a very fancy car drive to the parking lot with dark tinted windows, the car was placed on parked but no one was getting off. After five minutes the driver’s door opens and a man steps out of the vehicle wearing very casual clothes with dark sunglasses. He shuts the car door and takes off his sunglasses. My heart beat out of my chest, my body weakened, I quickly got on my feet and ran towards the man and jumped in his arms. I hugged him so tight I was not sure he could breathe. I couldn’t stop crying, my heart is starting to go back to normal. “Dad!” I yelled, “How is this possible?” He hugged me and kissed my forehead with tears in his eyes. Tyler ran towards me with a questionable look, he looked at our dad and finally realized who he was and ran into his arms.

We all walked to one of the tables by the playground to sit down. “ They never found my body after the accident.” Dad explained, “When the accident happened, I lost control of the car and flew out into a river and my body floated elsewhere. A man found me, but when I woke up I had no memory of who I was or my family. I had no identification, that’s why my name is Chris. Anyways, I lived with the man who found me and throughout the years I started my own business, became extremely successful and have been living life since. A few weeks ago I came across your book in the San Diego airport, I opened the book, and when I saw your face, all my memories came back rushing.”

I couldn’t believe what he was telling me, my dad was alive this whole time and I was clueless. He had no idea he had a family, two children he left behind. “Why did you send the money?” Tyler asked.

“Well for one, I wanted to make sure you were in good standing and if you needed money you could use this to get back on your feet. And for your attention of course.” Dad said, “But now I want you two to live with me in California.” We all look at each other and smile.

It’s been five months since Tyler and I moved to California with our dad, we live in a huge house with a backyard the size of a football field. I am now partnered in my dad’s business and I have more clients than ever. I guess $20,000 for a little black notebook was worth every penny, I didn’t need my notebook anymore because the inspiration comes from within.