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“Okay, all you lucky ladies,” the woman announces into the microphone. “It’s time for the bouquet toss. Everyone on the dance floor if you’re hoping to be the next bride.”
A dozen or so women of all ages crowd behind Theresa. I position myself for the best shots and take a series of photos as the bouquet is snatched out of the air by a long-limbed woman.
“Yes!” she shrieks, resulting in chuckles among a group of men on the sidelines and one very audible groan.
I scan the disappointed faces only to realize Katelyn isn’t here. Neither is Troy. They must have stayed outside. They’re probably making out in some dark corner of the backyard.
Aaaand that’s my sign to bail.
I say a quick goodbye to Theresa’s family, thanking them for the opportunity to photograph the wedding, and I leave with Emily. She’s also finished for the evening.
“You did an incredible job with the wedding,” I tell her as she reverses out of the driveway. “Everything ran so smoothly.”
“Thanks. Does that mean you’re open to shooting more weddings?”
Am I?
I enjoyed shooting this one. But I don’t see this becoming my career, even part time. The thrill I thought I would experience, the thrill I had during my journalism degree, just wasn’t there. Not in the way I’d hoped it would be.
“Sure. As long as the bride and groom are only interested in the photojournalistic style like today. I’m not looking to be a full-time wedding photographer.”
“Fair enough.”
That still leaves me with the question of what I want to do for the rest of my life. It isn’t working for Troy. That’s for sure. Even if I hadn’t ended things with Troy, being his full-time assistant isn’t my dream career.
Emily drops me off at my house, and I walk across the street to collect Bailey. That’s another reason I’m not sure if being a wedding photographer is for me. I can’t have her with me on the job, which makes training her more difficult. And if she had been with me tonight, she might have prevented the flashback…or pulled me out of it sooner.
I shudder—not because I remember what happened. I don’t. But because they’re still coming, and now that I’ve quit therapy, they’ll keep ruling my life. There’s nothing I can do about that, though. I can’t risk going to therapy and saying something that will get Violet or me in trouble.
I ring Delores’s doorbell. A moment later, Bailey’s bark comes from the other side of the door. Delores opens it and smiles her grandmotherly grin. “Hello, Jess. How was the wedding?”
Bailey doesn’t wait for the command to go outside. She rushes toward me, and I mentally sigh. Guess we have to work on that skill some more.
I hug her, relieved to have her by my side again.
“It was good. Emily did a great job with it, and the bride and groom looked so happy.”
I know not all marriages end up like mine and Violet’s or end in divorce. I hope Theresa’s marriage will be the happily-ever-after sort.
I stroke Bailey, sinking my fingers into her fur. “Thank you for looking after Bailey.”
“My pleasure. She’s such a sweet thing.” Delores hands me Bailey’s leash.
While I click it on Bailey’s harness, Delores retrieves the few supplies and toys I left with her for while I was at the wedding. I thank Delores once more, then Bailey and I cross the street to my house.
The house is dark except for the living-room light sneaking past the thin gap in the closed curtains. The light that’s on a timer.
I unlock the front door and reactivate the alarm. I unhook Bailey’s leash. She stays by my side as I walk to the kitchen like she’s been trained to do. She’s my shadow. A shadow I’m happy to have.
The kitchen light is on, but Violet isn’t in the room. I head upstairs. There’s no sound coming from the room she and Sophie share. No light bleeding under the door.
I quietly open it to find Violet asleep on the bed. Sophie is sleeping in the play pen that we use as a crib.
I carefully shut the door, not wanting to wake them, and grab my laptop from my bedroom. I need to download the photos from Kim’s camera before I go through them.
The doorbell rings while I’m in the kitchen, setting up the laptop. I wince, praying the noise didn’t wake Violet and Sophie.
And then I frown. I’m not expecting anyone.
