couldn’t focus on anything else.”
Serenity seemed to analyze her as though she hadn’t made up her mind about something. “I think that’s how Gideon sees the world, too. We get some eye contact from him as his family and his therapists do as well. But strangers are on his periphery.” She paused. “Tuck told us about your photography studio. If you found a way to take photos of my son, it would be amazing.”
Laurie accepted the glass of iced tea that Grams handed to her. “I’ll do my best. There have been a couple of families I wasn’t able to work with, but that’s pretty rare. He seems really sweet.”
“Thank you.” Serenity offered her a timid smile. “I think so, too. I’m going to go find him and see what he’s up to.”
She disappeared around the corner and Grams laid a hand on Laurie’s shoulder. “She’s real protective of him. She’s a kind girl and an amazing mom. You have to give her some time. She’s used to defending him when it comes to strangers.”
“I hope she sees he can be himself around me. My job as a photographer is to capture the true personality and joys of a child. I wouldn’t want Gideon to be anything but himself.” She looked to Tuck and caught his nod of approval. There was something else in his eyes that made her duck her chin before the heat could flood her face.
Patty pulled a plate of hamburger patties out of the fridge. “I’ve got the grill warmed up out back. Tuck, would you do the honors?”
“Absolutely.” He took the plate and set out for the backyard.
Laurie followed and was greeted by a black and white border collie. The dog sniffed her boots, wagged his tail, and looked up at her expectantly.
“That’s Rogue,” Tuck said, setting the plate on a little table and lifting the top of the grill. “He comes over here with me to hang out with the family.”
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Rogue.” She lowered herself into a lawn chair so that she could pet him, dodging the kisses that he tried to land on her face. “You sure are a pretty boy.”
Tuck snapped his fingers and Rogue was gone in a moment, standing happily by his person’s side. “Leave the lady alone, boy.”
“I don’t mind,” she said with a smile. She had always been fond of dogs, but had never had pets growing up. She might have adopted a dog by now, except she felt bad having one in her tiny apartment with no yard to run in. It didn’t seem right.
She went back inside to talk to Patty, who was staying busy in the kitchen. She had noticed her shirt earlier and wanted to comment on it. It was cream with a field of bluebonnets painted in detail on the front. It could have been gaudy, but it had been done with taste. Laurie could practically smell the flowers in the spring sunshine. “That blouse is beautiful.”
Patty looked down at the image, looking pleased. “Thank you. Bluebonnets are my favorite flower. We have a whole bunch planted in one section of the backyard. When they bloom in the spring, I could spend hours outside, breathing in that perfume.”
“I completely understand. They are subtle, but lovely. Bluebonnets are a favorite of mine, too.”
Patty nodded her agreement. She rearranged a few things on the counter. “I tend to have everything planned out. The lettuce, tomato, and onion are already cut up.” She got some paper plates and cups off the fridge. “I think we’re just waiting for the burgers to be done. Let’s go out and visit a bit. I’m sure Serenity and Gideon will join us again in a moment.”
Patty and Grams went out first. Laurie moved to follow, but Lexi stopped her. “How’s your ankle?”
“It’s fine, thank you. Feeling better every day.” She bounced up and down a little to emphasize her words.
“I’m glad to hear that. It’s nice of you to come and meet Gideon. I know that professional portraits of him are something Serenity will treasure.”
“I’m looking forward to getting to know him. What does he like
Serenity seemed to analyze her as though she hadn’t made up her mind about something. “I think that’s how Gideon sees the world, too. We get some eye contact from him as his family and his therapists do as well. But strangers are on his periphery.” She paused. “Tuck told us about your photography studio. If you found a way to take photos of my son, it would be amazing.”
Laurie accepted the glass of iced tea that Grams handed to her. “I’ll do my best. There have been a couple of families I wasn’t able to work with, but that’s pretty rare. He seems really sweet.”
“Thank you.” Serenity offered her a timid smile. “I think so, too. I’m going to go find him and see what he’s up to.”
She disappeared around the corner and Grams laid a hand on Laurie’s shoulder. “She’s real protective of him. She’s a kind girl and an amazing mom. You have to give her some time. She’s used to defending him when it comes to strangers.”
“I hope she sees he can be himself around me. My job as a photographer is to capture the true personality and joys of a child. I wouldn’t want Gideon to be anything but himself.” She looked to Tuck and caught his nod of approval. There was something else in his eyes that made her duck her chin before the heat could flood her face.
Patty pulled a plate of hamburger patties out of the fridge. “I’ve got the grill warmed up out back. Tuck, would you do the honors?”
“Absolutely.” He took the plate and set out for the backyard.
Laurie followed and was greeted by a black and white border collie. The dog sniffed her boots, wagged his tail, and looked up at her expectantly.
“That’s Rogue,” Tuck said, setting the plate on a little table and lifting the top of the grill. “He comes over here with me to hang out with the family.”
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Rogue.” She lowered herself into a lawn chair so that she could pet him, dodging the kisses that he tried to land on her face. “You sure are a pretty boy.”
Tuck snapped his fingers and Rogue was gone in a moment, standing happily by his person’s side. “Leave the lady alone, boy.”
“I don’t mind,” she said with a smile. She had always been fond of dogs, but had never had pets growing up. She might have adopted a dog by now, except she felt bad having one in her tiny apartment with no yard to run in. It didn’t seem right.
She went back inside to talk to Patty, who was staying busy in the kitchen. She had noticed her shirt earlier and wanted to comment on it. It was cream with a field of bluebonnets painted in detail on the front. It could have been gaudy, but it had been done with taste. Laurie could practically smell the flowers in the spring sunshine. “That blouse is beautiful.”
Patty looked down at the image, looking pleased. “Thank you. Bluebonnets are my favorite flower. We have a whole bunch planted in one section of the backyard. When they bloom in the spring, I could spend hours outside, breathing in that perfume.”
“I completely understand. They are subtle, but lovely. Bluebonnets are a favorite of mine, too.”
Patty nodded her agreement. She rearranged a few things on the counter. “I tend to have everything planned out. The lettuce, tomato, and onion are already cut up.” She got some paper plates and cups off the fridge. “I think we’re just waiting for the burgers to be done. Let’s go out and visit a bit. I’m sure Serenity and Gideon will join us again in a moment.”
Patty and Grams went out first. Laurie moved to follow, but Lexi stopped her. “How’s your ankle?”
“It’s fine, thank you. Feeling better every day.” She bounced up and down a little to emphasize her words.
“I’m glad to hear that. It’s nice of you to come and meet Gideon. I know that professional portraits of him are something Serenity will treasure.”
“I’m looking forward to getting to know him. What does he like
Similar Books
