Before I could respond, I heard a car coming up the dirt road. Trace’s truck appeared through the trees, dust kicking up behind it.
Showtime.
I took a breath, centered myself, slipped into professional mode. This was what I did. This was what I was good at. I could photograph a couple in love without falling apart.
I could.
Trace and Delaney climbed out of the truck, both dressed in the casual but coordinated outfits we’d discussed. Jeans and softbutton-downs in complementary colors. Nothing too formal, nothing that would distract from the natural setting.
I snapped a quick shot of Trace helping Cade out of the truck looking like a mini version of him before the two of them retrieved baby Barrett from his car seat.
“Leigh!” Delaney came over, pulling me into a hug. “Thank you so much for doing this. I know you’re already doing so much for the wedding.”
“Are you kidding? I’m honored.” I squeezed her back, genuinely meaning it. “You’re all going to be so easy to photograph. The camera loves you both.”
“She’s being nice,” Trace said coming over with the kids, but he was grinning. “I’m pretty sure I’m going to look awkward in half these shots.”
“You won’t,” I assured him. “You’re a natural. Both of you are.”
Dex had moved to lean against his truck, giving us space but staying close enough to help if needed. I tried not to look at him. Tried not to notice the way he watched me, that soft expression on his face that made my heart do stupid things.
Focus, Leigh. You have a job to do.
“Okay,” I said, falling into the rhythm of a shoot. “Let’s start with some walking shots in the meadow. Just hold hands, talk to each other naturally. Pretend I’m not even here.”
They nodded, and I led them into position, checking the light, adjusting angles. Then I stepped back and started shooting.
And they were perfect.
Trace looked at Delaney like she hung the moon. Delaney smiled at him with such open affection it was almost painful to witness. They walked hand in hand through the wildflowers, golden light catching in their hair, and I captured it all. Trace had Barrett cradled in one arm while Cade held Delaney’s hand, doing that typical bouncy kid walk. They were a picture perfect family, filled with love and happiness.
The way Trace pulled her close and whispered something that made her laugh.
The way Delaney reached up to brush something from his collar and he caught her hand, kissed her palm.
The way they stopped walking just to kiss, getting lost in each other, completely forgetting I was there.
I documented all of it, my camera clicking steadily, and with every shot I took, something inside me cracked a little more.
This was what love looked like. This ease. This certainty. This choosing each other over and over again with your whole heart.
This was what I wanted.
What I couldn’t have.
“Those are going to be beautiful,” Dex said quietly from behind me.
I’d forgotten he was there, forgotten everything except the ache in my chest watching two people get their forever while mine had an expiration date.
“Yeah,” I managed. “They will be.”
We moved through several more setups. Sitting on the old fence rail. Standing under the oak tree. Delaney on Trace’s back, laughing. Trace spinning her in the meadow like they were dancing. We did some with the kids, and Dex kept them entertained so they could have some alone.
Every shot was perfect. Every moment was genuine. And every second of it hurt in a way I could never have imagined.
“Let’s take a break,” I called finally, when the light was starting to shift toward evening. “I want to check my shots, make sure we got everything.”
They nodded, wandering over to their truck to grab water and snacks for the kids. Dex appeared at my side, close enough that our shoulders brushed.
