Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
I smile because it’s perfect. It’s an old wooden barrel surrounded by sunflowers that we can place her in.
“We’re going to have to be quick,” I tell him.
“On it. Do you want to run the camera, or do you want me to?”
“I don’t know how to work it,” I confess.
“That makes two of us,” he replies.
“You don’t know how to work your own camera?” I ask him.
“Nope. I just bought it today. It was on sale.”
“Wait. You bought this today?” I knew it sounded like that earlier, but I thought that I was hearing things. Now that it’s confirmed, I don’t know what to think or what to say for that matter.
“Yeah, I was shopping, and it was on clearance.”
“Do you need a camera?”
“We needed one for this.” He waves the hand that’s not holding my daughter toward the sunflower field.
“Maverick!”
His head falls back in laughter, which my daughter imitates. “Hush. Can you figure it out, or do I need to call for help?”
I pull the camera out of the case and turn it on. It says point and shoot, and I place it on the automatic setting. “I can do it.”
“You sure? I have two photographers in the family.”
“I’m sure.”
“Perfect. Okay. Get where you need to be, and I’ll put her in the barrel. You’re about to play dress up,” he tells Ada. “It’s going to be so much fun. Mommy is going to take lots of pictures to show you when you’re older. When you’re thirty and start to date, or maybe forty, she can show your boyfriend.” A frown mars his face as if he hates the idea of her dating.
That feeling is back. The melting sensation that reaches my entire body, even between my thighs. It only happens with him.
Shaking out of my thoughts, I aim the camera and take a few test shots. “Ready.”
“All right, Miss Thang, let’s do this.” He places Ada in the barrel and her bottom lip puckers. She reaches for him. I open my mouth to tell him to switch places with me but stop when he drops to his knees and makes a silly face at her. He moves his head around, and Ada grins. He looks back at me and moves a little to the left so that she’s looking at me. He stands, and her eyes follow. “On three, Stel, you ready? I’m going to jump out of the way.”
“I’m ready.”
“One. Two. Three.” He falls to the ground, and Ada laughs. I catch her at the perfect time when her eyes are bright, and she’s still looking in my direction.
“How is it?” Maverick asks.
“Good. So good.” I can’t stop smiling. It’s better than I could have hoped.
“How about another?” He stands back up and dances around. Ada’s eyes follow. She reaches out to him, her little arms in the air, and the smile on her face could light up the night sky.
“On three, Mommy,” he says again. “One. Two. Three.”
This time, he jumps in the air, and she follows the movement. I’m able to take a few shots. When I pull the camera away to look at them, tears well in my eyes. In one pose, her head is tilted back. The setting sun is in the background, along with the sunflowers, and she’s smiling up at the cloudless sky.
It’s the perfect picture.
“Maverick.” I smile. “These are so great.”
“I can’t wait to see them.” He scoops Ada up into his arms and starts walking. “On to the next stop.”
I rush to catch up with them. “Want me to take her?” I offer. I don’t know why, but I always feel guilty when someone else helps out with her. I guess because I’m used to doing it all on my own, and she’s my daughter.
“Nah, we’re good.”
We walk a few more feet and come to a bench with a pot of fake sunflowers.
“Wow, they’ve really thought of everything, huh?” I ask.
“They have. Okay. How about we set her on the bench, and I hide behind it, holding onto her so she doesn’t fall? Just try not to get me in the picture.”
“Sure, I can try.” I laugh. “You know I’m not a professional, right?”
“You’ve got this. Right, Ada? Mommy’s got this in the bag.” He places her on the bench and steps behind her. She tries to stand, and I can see how this is going to be an issue. Maverick must, as well. His head pops over the back of the bench, and she bounces and laughs.
I snap the shot.
“Call out for her. When she looks away, I’ll duck,” Maverick suggests.
“We can try. She’s pretty fond of you,” I tell him. “Ada. Look at Mommy. Adddaaa,” I sing her name. Just as Maverick had suggested, she glances over her shoulder at me. He falls to the ground, and I catch my girl smiling, staring at me over her shoulder.