Amanda was pleased with herself and had a good time with the process. The event was over, and the instructor was walking by talking to people as they packed up to leave. She complimented Amanda, then she walked around behind Dunc and did a double-take.
“You have to show off, don’t you, Mr. McCormick?” She was smiling at him. “Can we take a picture of you with it and use it for our advertising? A pro coming in is always nice.”
Dunc had turned a little pink at the compliment. “Of the painting, yes. Me. No. You know how I am.”
“Camera shy.” The instructor sighed. “You can leave your paintings here to dry and pick them up before nine tonight.”
“So, what did you end up painting?” Amanda got up, and so did Dunc.
“Well. Well.” Dunc murmured, stepping back so Amanda could see. He felt shy about it and stared at the floor.
Amanda stopped in front of the painting and stared at it. He had painted what looked like a green man in shades of grey and brown. Leaves curled over his head, falling in short waves. The figure was heavily armored, scarred, scratched up, and had a fierce expression. He had tattered, worn dragonfly wings. He resembled Dunc down to the brilliant blue eyes.
In his arms, his eyes lovingly focused on her, was a pixie-faced fairy. She had short brown hair that swept wildly into the air. Beautiful purple wings flared out from her back, and she was looking up into his eyes.
“Wow.” Amanda looked from the painting to Dunc, who was still staring at the floor. “Dunc. Wow.” She looked back at the painting. “You’re amazing.”
“So you like it?” Dunc ventured shyly. His work was always deeply personal and often embarrassing to him when others saw it in person. He didn’t like to be around his paintings when others knew they were by him. “I figured we could swap them. I would like you to have mine.”
“Really?” Amanda grinned. “And you want my terrible painting?”
“It is not terrible.” Dunc snorted, leaning down to look her in the eyes. “It is a charming painting, and I will hang it in my bedroom.” Then he grabbed her and kissed her, which was considerably more heated than usual. Something which also didn’t go unseen as a low tittering sound crescendoed around them.
“What?” Dunc snapped at whoever was watching.
“That is so gross, Mr. Dunc!” A group of children had come into the room. They started laughing and pointing, making the whole thing uncomfortable.
“This is how you get here,” Dunc grunted, putting an arm around Amanda and guiding her toward the exit. He got a disapproving look from their teacher and glared back as they passed through the door.
***
Amanda felt like she was walking on air. Kissing Dunc was always magnificent, but wow, that one was different. She knew she had a goofy smile on her face but couldn’t get rid of it no matter how hard she tried. She felt so happy, warm, and light.
“Oh, it’s only 5:30. I can’t wait.” Dunc began fidgeting again, which Amanda knew by now meant that shaking was soon to follow. She turned and swung herself into him so hard that he almost tripped over her. “Maybe you have had a wee too much to drink, Amanda.” He chuckled as his focus immediately shifted to her.
“Maybe.” Amanda giggled, deciding that might be the best thing to fake at the moment. The two glasses of wine she had were already out of her system. Right now, she was drunk on emotion.
“Well, you can’t drive then.” Dunc began stroking her hair, looking down at her lovingly. “I can.”
“No. Your mother said 7 PM.”
“Please, Amanda, I would like to go home.” Dunc gave her a pleading look, still running his fingers through her hair. “I do not like this.”
“You’re fine.” Amanda lifted a hand to his face and ran it up behind his ear. “It’s not that long to wait. Let’s go back to the park for a little while, then pick up our paintings and head home. I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted.”
***
The last hour and a half dragged by, with the pair ending up back in the park. Then they picked up their paintings, got in the car, and Amanda drove them home. Dunc had asked again if he could drive, which she turned down immediately. She had a suspicion that he would have sped back if he could have.
Dunc was anxious and fidgeting the entire way home. It was only a few minutes’ drive, and he could solely focus on home and the horror that awaited him. As they turned down the street that led to theirs, Dunc noticed more cars than usual lined on the streets. He sat up and stared.
Amanda noticed all the cars too. It made it a little trickier in places where the road narrowed, but she had a smaller vehicle, so it wasn’t too bad. Dunc’s mother had not told her anything about what they were doing. This many cars meant there would be a lot of people. And a lot of people was something that she knew Dunc did not want. She hoped he wouldn’t have another panic attack and considered stopping to call his mother first.
“Keep going.” Dunc sighed as he felt the car slowing. “I’m fine. Get it over with.” He folded his arms and sank back into his seat with a look of pure misery on his face.
They turned a corner, and then Dunc could see his house just beyond hers. He sat up, leaning toward the dash with one hand on Amanda’s arm. “What… what did they do?”
“I’m seeing this the same time you are.” Amanda gaped. Dunc stared wide-eyed and silent as they got closer, then Amanda
