Page 78 of Lee

“We all have strengths, and clearly volleyball is hers like it’s Jay’s. The rest of us are just trying to get a hand on the ball.”

“I don’t think I have a strength like that.”

“Sure you do,” Lee said. “I’ve seen the pictures you take. They’re beautiful.”

“They are,” Charli agreed. “It took me forever to decide on the best of the ones you took of us because they were all great. Don’t think you have no strength or talent.”

“I’ve only ever just done the photography for myself,” she said. “Though I have sold some online.”

“You have?” Lee asked, happy that she was sharing more about herself.

Rori nodded. “I’ve put some up on a stock photo site.”

“Your Instagram is wonderful,” Janessa said. “You have talent, for sure.”

“It’s just something I like doing. I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it.”

“Do you take portraits?” Carisa asked from where she sat in one of the chairs.

“I’ve focused mainly on nature,” Rori said. “I’ve also taken some pictures of the animals at the shelter recently. They want to post them online to hopefully find someone to adopt them.”

Carisa’s smile grew. “Maybe I should have you take pictures of Penny and her puppies.”

“The pictures she’s taken for the shelter are so good, I almost wanted to adopt another animal myself,” Lee said.

“Have you found yourself an apartment?” Charli asked. “Because no more pets are allowed in the house.”

“But you love Elsa, Mom,” Layla said.

The dog perked up at the sound of her name and looked around, clearly trying to figure out if there was a treat to be had somewhere.

“She’s a beautiful dog.” Carisa held out her hand toward Elsa.

Without hesitation, Elsa got up and approached her. No surprise, the dog accepted pets and scratches from Carisa. But then she headed over to Lee, pausing on the way to let Rori pet her.

When Elsa finally got to Lee, he picked her up and put her on his lap. She stretched up to lick his chin.

“How’re you doing, girly?” He scratched all her favorite spots, then he set her on the blanket between him and Rori.

Immediately, Elsa turned to Rori for more attention. She crawled into her lap, finding a spot on Rori’s crisscrossed legs that pleased her. Elsa settled down, content to bask in the slow strokes of Rori’s hand down her back. The rhythmic motion soon lulled the dog to sleep.

“She likes you,” Lee said.

“Like pet, like owner, huh?” Charli commented.

Lee didn’t bother to deny it. He just looked over at Rori and smiled.

Her gaze dropped to Elsa, but he could see a shy smile playing on her face. Her responses that day gave Lee hope that maybe she had some interest in him, like he had in her.

She didn’t seem as comfortable outright flirting with him, though, which was fine as far as Lee was concerned. He would just try to give her more opportunities to get to know him and become more comfortable with him.

Lee stretched his legs out as he leaned back on his hands. He tilted his head to stare up at the sky that he could see through the branches of the trees above him. The slower life he hadn’t been sure he wanted when he returned from Chicago was growing on him.

Family. Friends. A church he was familiar with. A job he enjoyed that didn’t make him feel like he had to rush through patients.

Had he needed to come home to find this peace and love again?

“Since Rori has your baby, you can hold mine,” Charli said as she came to where Lee sat.

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