Marnie started to paint while she was on leave. She had stopped painting when she was in college. It was only now that she decided to paint again since she can't do any physical activities for now. Before she used to play horseback riding with her brothers and her father.
She was so thankful to her mother for giving her tools. She felt refreshed.
As she started to hold the paintbrush, there was only one image in her mind appeared. She smiled and started to stroke her paintbrush.
As she was painting, a smile appeared on her beautiful face as she became so inspired while doing her masterpiece.
Her parents were looking at her far beyond and they were so happy seeing how their daughter smiled once again. "There's a spark in her eyes while she paints," Mr. Castello told his wife.
"Yes, it was only now where she smiled like that. She looked so inspired and in love," Mrs. Castello respond to her husband while wondering about Marnie's facial expression.
"Inspired and in love?"Mr. Castello asked.
Ding! Dong!
While Marnie's elders were talking about her, they've heard a doorbell. Mrs. Castello immediately approached and opened their door. She was stunned seeing a tall and gorgeous man in front of her. He is holding a big bouquet and a basket of fruits.
" Good morning Ma'am. I'm here to visit Marnie," his baritone voice made Mrs. Castello back to herself.
"Good morning Doctor Michael. Please come in. She's at the backyard," Mrs. Castello said and opened the door wide so that Doctor Michael can come in.
Doctor Michael gave the basket of fresh fruits to Mrs. Castello.
Mrs. Castello accompanied him to their backyard so that he can visit Marnie.
Marnie was so busy painting someone who's making her smile. There's some paints on her face as she was so engrossed doing her painting.
She used to close her eyes to picture out his physical features.
That was the scene that captures Doctor Michael's heart. Seeing Marnie in her closed eyes while smiling with some patches of paints on her face and holding her paintbrush upright on top of her canvas.
"What perfect scenery?" Doctor Michael told himself.
Marnie felt that someone was staring at her and when she opened her eyes, she still thought that she was dreaming of the handsome man in her mind, Doctor Michael Co was there in front of her with bouquets in his arms and smiling so tenderly at her.
She smiled and was shocked when Doctor Michael greeted her," Good morning Marnie. It seemed that you had a great morning. You looked so inspired," he said making her grip on her paintbrush loosen and fall on the ground.
"You are real. You are here," she wasn't expecting that it will come out from her mouth.
Doctor Michael approached her and hold her chin up," Yes, I am here," he kissed her forehead and gave a bouquet to her.
Marnie still can't believe that he was already in front of her. She even pinches his arms and cheeks to check if he's real or an illusion.
"Ouch. You are hurting me already haha," Doctor Michael can't help but laugh and gave her a big hug.
"How are you feeling now? I missed you," he whispered in her ear. It made Marnie gigled.
Doctor Michael became frozen after seeing Marnie's painting. It was a still-life painting and it looked so real. It was him. A portrait of him smiling. He was so amazed at how she painted him only through her illusion.
"It was me. Wow! You're such a great painter," he praised Marnie. Knowing her other talent made him feel so proud of this lady.
"Hey, you had lots of paints on your face," Doctor Michael used his white hankies to wipe off the paint specks of dirt on her face.
Marnie blushed at Doctor Michael's gestures. He was so caring and gentle.
"I've missed you too Doctor," she said.
"What did you call me?" Doctor Michael asked her.
"I said, I've missed you too Michael," she said. Her heart was pounding so hard that she doesn't expect that he will fulfill his promise that he will visit her.
Mr. Castello and Mrs. Castello were just staring at Marnie and Doctor Michael from their veranda.
"They looked like a loving couple, aren't they?" Mr. Castello asked his wife.
Mrs. Castello seemed to be quiet since he accompanied Doctor Michael to meet Marnie. She can feel that this doctor had something for her daughter.
"Yes, they looked like a couple. But Marnie hadn't told me anything yet. If she was happy and contented with Doctor Michael, yes they can be a couple then," she said. "I just wanted our daughter to be happy all her life," she added.
Mr. Castello embraced his wife. "You changed a lot, honey. You are too considerate with others now especially with our daughter, Marnie. Thank you," Mr. Castello kissed his wife's lips.
"Life is too short and that was my realization after we had almost lost our precious daughter. I promised the Lord that when she recovered before, I won't give her stress anymore. I'll let her feel my presence and love for her in such a way that she won't feel suffocated," she had some tears flowing out from her eyes when she told these words to her beloved husband/
Mr. Castello hugged her more.
"Why not prepare a special snack and lunch for Marnie's visitor Honey?" Mr. Castello asked his wife and lead her into their kitchen. He wanted Doctor Michael and Marnie to have their quality time together. He is also a man and he knew how it feels when somebody was there while having a conversation with her beloved one.
"You are a great artist. Meaning you've been thinking of me, right?" Doctor Michael teased her but honestly, he was so flattered being Marnie's first subject on her painting.
"Well, I won't deny it either since you've seen my painting already. I don't know what gift I can give to you with your unlimited kindness to me, that's why I choose to make you a portrait as my gift of appreciation to you," she said sincerely. Whew, she had a valid reason now. She smiled.
Dr. Michael hugged her and kissed her forehead once again.
"Thank you Marns," he said lovingly to her.
Doctor Michael watched her painting his portrait. She had a very skilled and lite hand to paint. He was so fond of watching her move her hands skillfully.
After Mr. and Mrs. Castello prepared some snacks, the elder couples brought the food near Marnie and doctor Michael's place.