“She must be very proud of you.” Lucky waved to his mom and the boy nodded.
“She’s happy for me.” He looked at us solemnly. “I got my wish granted.”
“Your wish?” I looked at him curiously.
“From Make-A-Wish Foundation.” He nodded. “I wanted to come to Paris to paint the Eiffel Tower and they granted me the wish.”
“Oh, I see.” I studied the little boy’s face and I noticed that his hair looked very thin and his eyes looked bigger than normal. “You must be very happy.”
“I had neuroblastoma.” He picked up two paint tubes. “Should I use the purple or the blue next?”
“I like the purple.” Lucky smiled at him and I looked away quickly at the sight of her crouched down next to the young boy. I wondered at how some people could give their heart so easily and freely.
“Me, too.” I sat crouched down on the other side of him. “Do you think you could paint one for me as well?” I smiled at the happy surprise in his eyes.
“You want one?” he asked eagerly and excitedly.
“Of course.” I grinned at him and rubbed my hands. “You’re going to be a famous painter one day, and I would love to have one of your original paintings.”
“I’d like to be a famous painter.” He looked worried. “As long as the cancer doesn’t come back.”
“Well, we should all pray for that.” I nodded and looked at him solemnly. “Cancer is a bad thing.”
“Yes.” He nodded. “What color do you want your painting to be?”
“Surprise me.” I smiled at him. “Whatever you paint will look great on my walls.”
“You’re going to hang it on your wall?”
“Oh, yes. It will be front and center in my living room, and I will tell everyone I got it from a famous painter in France.”
“Well, I’m not famous yet; it’s not good to lie.” He chewed on his lower lip and looked like he was thinking very hard. “But I don’t mind if you tell them I’m going to be famous one day.”
“Then those are the words I shall use.” I smiled at him gently and was rewarded by a huge smile.
“I’m going to paint it now.”
“Thank you.” I stood up and saw a man selling some souvenirs. “I’ll be right back, guys.” I walked away quickly and looked through the key chains on the table. I grinned when I saw one in the shape of a key and the word ‘Paris’ on it. I was going to give it to Lucky that evening because Paris was the place she had unlocked my heart. I was still devastated from my mother’s lies, but I knew that I would be okay. It was a weird feeling to know and accept that the pain would eventually dull. I saw another item that I thought Lucky would love and bought it as well, and then quickly returned back to them.
“Paul is nearly done.” Lucky smiled up at me. “It’s a beautiful painting.”
I looked down at the paper and smiled at the colorful picture. Paul had painted the moon a sunshine yellow and stars of gold and silver. “Who’s that?” I asked, pointing at a little stick figure in the bottom left-hand corner of the picture.
“That’s me.” He gave Lucky and me a shy smile. “So you never forget me.”
“Oh we will never forget you, Paul.” Lucky reached over and gave him a big hug and the little boy flushed with pleasure. “We will treasure this picture forever.” We stood there watching him finish the painting and then he handed it to us before turning back to his paints.
“I’m going to finish mine now.” He grinned at us and I reached over and touched his shoulder lightly.
“Thanks, Paul.”
“Au revoir.” He smiled and Lucky held the picture carefully. I told her to wait with Paul while I walked over to his mother, who was beaming at me as I approached.
“Thanks for talking to Paul, so many people are scared to stop and talk to him.” Her eyes glistened with tears and I saw the love and appreciation in her eyes for our simple deed.
“It was our pleasure.” My heart went out to this woman. “I actually support St. Jude Children’s Hospital and so I know some of what you’re going through.”
“It’s been hard, but Paul is a trooper.”
“I want to give you something.” I took out my pocketbook and pulled out a check from the inner flap. I made it out for 100,000 dollars, signed it, and then folded it and handed it to her. “I want you to take this. Put your name on it or Paul’s and use it for whatever bills you have or for a college fund. Whatever you want or need.”
“Oh, no. I can’t take your money.” Her eyes almost popped out as she looked at the check and she shook her head with a shocked expression.
“Trust me when I say I can afford it.” I smiled down at her. “Consider it payment for the wonderful painting your son made for me.”
“God bless you, sir.”
“No, God bless you for being so strong and raising a wonderful boy. God bless you for being a wonderful mother.” I reached down and kissed her on the cheek. “Please cash the check and let me do this for you and your son. It would mean more to me than you will ever know.”
“Thank you, Mr. Beaumont.” There were tears in her eyes as she looked down at the check. “Thank you.”
I smiled at her one more time and then walked away. My heart was full and heavy. Lucky walked towards me and I laughed as I started at the front of her head.
“What did you say to her?” Lucky inquired as we walked off arm and arm.
“I just gave her our best wishes.”
“It must be hard raising a child with cancer.” She sounded sad and I squeezed her hand.
“It is. But you do the best you can. As a parent, you just love your child and hope for the best.”
“Yes.” She nodded and looked up at me. “I’m really sorry about your mom, Zane.”
“I know.” I kissed her cheek. “I don’t want to talk about it right now, but I know.”
“What do you want to do now?”
“Let’s go and get something to eat. I have some presents to give you.”
“Oh, Zane,” she giggled. “Not more presents.”
“Yes, more presents.”
“I have something for you as well.” She looked up at me slyly and I looked down at her in shock.
“You do?”