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Drew wanted to snort. He’d figured that fact out. The million-dollar question was why his father suddenly deemed Drew important enough to contact.
"Yeah," he answered. "What did you need?"
"Oh." Out of breath, his dad said, "I … well … as you know, Evie’s going to be a senior next year."
No, actually Drew had no idea. He didn’t keep tabs on his stepsiblings. "Okay," he murmured, wondering what the heck his dad was getting at.
"So, we—I, actually—was wondering if you could take her senior picture."
Blood thundered through Drew’s ears. He tried to quell the instant spurt of irritation and, yes, jealousy but managed to tap it down. Still … his dad sure hadn’t hired any professional photographer to take his or Mandy’s senior picture when they’d been in school.
"Um. Sure," he said. "I guess. Yeah, that’s fine."
Wondering if his dad was asking for a freebie or what, he hesitated before saying, "When do you …" Coming up with a void, he tipped his head up and stared at the front door of 410 S. Elm. A picture filled his head of Mia the first moment she’d turned and looked up him with her innocent watering can in hand.
Tranquility filled him.
Shaking his head, he blinked and returned to reality, wondering what in the world had just happened there. Odd. Definitely odd. But for some reason, his mind felt less muddled now. And realizing he was stuttering around for no reason, he took another breath.
He shot senior pictures all the time. All he had to do was treat this like any other client.
"Okay," he said, falling into business mode. "Well, first we need to set up a clothing consultation, so I can decide which backdrops will match her outfits."
"Oh. Yeah, about that …" His dad broke in. "I was hoping she could take them here … at our house. Candace wants a picture of her in the gazebo."
An uncomfortable chill raced up the back of Drew’s neck. He pictured the house he’d grown up in. The gazebo hadn’t been there during his stay. His dad had built it for his second wife, Candace, as a wedding present.
Drew knew he couldn’t fault his father for remarrying. Don had been considerate enough to wait until Drew had left for college before moving in his new family. Still, it felt incredibly odd seeing his dad with "them" and knowing they were more important to him than Drew or Mandy had ever been.
"Drew?" his dad’s voice echoed through his ear. "You still there?"
"Yeah," he answered. "That’s fine. Pictures at your place sound great. I can bring a backdrop with me too if she wants a more traditional look for her yearbook."
"That would be wonderful," his father said, sounding relieved. "So when would be a good time for you?"
After deciding to meet the next Saturday, there was a pause. Then Don Harper added, "And Candace thought since you’d be over anyway, you, ah, might … She’d like a family picture of the five of us together."
Drew swallowed.
The five of them. That would be his father, Candace, her two kids—Evie and Jack—and Brianna, Drew’s half sister. No room for a Drew or Mandy in that count. He had to wonder if there’d ever been room for him in his father’s life.
"That’s fine," he managed to murmur.
"Good." His father blew out a relieved breath. "Good. I’ll see you Saturday then."
"See you Saturday," Drew echoed as he disconnected. He closed his eyes and pressed the phone to his forehead. "What next?" he muttered.
In answer, his phone chimed again. He fell back in his seat and glanced at Mia’s house, remembering how nice her mouth had been. And when her body had pressed into his—
He shivered and answered the phone, wondering what his dad wanted him to take a picture of now. "Hello."
"I was wrong," Mandy said in his ear. "Jeffrey’s not cheating on me."
He closed his eyes. So not the person he wanted to talk to. But the determined tone in her voice had him sitting up.
"You talked to him?" It was about time.
"Yes."
