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I nodded, turning to see Jimmy in the window. I wondered how much he’d heard. I could see the warmth in his eyes. “Jimmy…”
“Take a break, kid.”
I cut myself a slice of pie and grabbed a mug of coffee then headed for a back booth. She followed me.
“I had a bit of a revelation on that trip. I’m holding myself back. That nightmare internship…” I trailed off glancing at her. I hadn’t told her about it.
She leaned forward a little. “Abbie, I found out a while ago that your internship had gone haywire, that it wasn’t what any of us had intended for you to deal with.If I would have had an idea of how they operated, I would have guided you somewhere else in a heartbeat.I never would have even suggested you sign up for it, let alone take it over a few of the other choices you had available.”
“You know?”
“A friend of mine worked at that studio…they aren’t there anymore, and we got to talking one day about how much of a toxic environment it is. Honestly, the best thing is you left when you did. It wouldn’t have gotten any better and likely would have damaged your confidence even more than I’m afraid it already did.”
I nodded. “I kept submitting for awhile, but after the hundredth back-to-back rejection, I haven’t really tried. I don’t even open my envelopes anymore.”
I had the mounting stack of hard drives with my work on it, a nice collection of full SD cards.
“You’ve got a great eye, Abbie. Even those pictures you took on holiday of Willemstad, put them up somewhere if you don’t submit them to a magazine or something.You’re much too talented to just spend the rest of your life in a diner, no matter how warm and cozy it is, no matter how much Marnie and Jimmy are your family. Family exists outside of these four walls.”
I took a moment to let her words sink in. Her faith in me.
“I know, and I don’t want to waste it anymore. I’m going to look into some stock sites when I get home tonight and start uploading, but I need to find something stable, something where I can make a good paycheck off my photography. My cameras are just sitting there, the reminder of what I could be doing.”
Professor Nelson smiled. “I’m so happy for you. Okay, what kind of work do you want to go into? Do you have a portfolio put together? You’ll need one and a website, something where people can see what you’ve been doing. And you’re going to have a lot to do.”
“I’m open to anything. Baby shoots, wedding shoots, assisting someone, playing receptionist and doing something on the side, doing set up and take downs, whatever. I just need a foot in the door somewhere.”
“We’ll get you more than a foot in.” Professor Nelson looked excited about the prospect. “Let’s eat, and then we’ll talk some more. I’m glad. We had rave reviews on that event you worked, and I may have left out a catalog of your previous work in the back for people to scope out. Several asked for your card and contact info. I told them you were out of the country on vacation, but I’d get them info when you were back.”
I straightened in my side of the booth. “Really?”
“Really. There’s probably one or two things you could do even temporarily while we try to find you something on the coast. If nothing else, it would be some extra money and references.”
I nodded, feeling the excitement in the pit of my stomach. I dove into my pie. “I can whip up some business cards. Heck, I probably still have a few old ones somewhere…”
“Great. I’ll make some calls this afternoon. And your portfolio?”
“I haven’t touched it in ages.”
“We’ll redo it. You’ve grown with your work. We’ll get it set up fresh.”
“Are you sure you want to waste your time?”
“Abbie, you are not a waste of my time. Now come on, let’s finish this pie and get to work.”
“I’ve still got the rest of the shift here, though…”
Jimmy wandered over, and I had a feeling he had been lurking nearby. He set the coffee pot down on the table. “You need the afternoon off to work?”
Professor Nelson nodded eagerly, a bright smile on her face. “Portfolio overhaul.”
He squeezed my shoulder, and I swore I caught his eyes turning glossy. “Then it’s yours.” He smiled at me. “What about lunch? You hungry, you need sustenance to work, kid.”
I sniffled slightly, trying desperately not to cry. “Fries?”
“Fries it is.”
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