Page 35 of Desolation

After the negatives dry, I make a test strip to check for correct exposure, then pop it in the microwave to dry it quickly. Once I figure out the correct exposure for my highlights I do another to figure out my contrast. Once I have the correct times needed for exposure, I make a test print on part of a photo using 5x8 print paper.

After doing that, I decide I need a little background noise. Pulling out my phone, I go to Apple music and find some Sleep Token. It seems like the best music to work to, right now, but my taste varies. It could be Taylor Swift another day, or Hosier, you never know.

After the test print dries, I make a bigger one and then take notes on a notepad with all the exposure times and filter grades as well as height of the enlarger head, lens aperture, paper type and developer. The chemistry of developing photos, the time that goes into it, the process, are all things I really love. Not just taking photos. I even love the smell of the darkroom the way some people love the smell of fresh baked bread.

I begin processing and washing the photos, making a few copies of each one before hanging them, just in case there may be any errors. It happens often enough that this has become a habit. Then I turn on the drying fan and look for framing supplies.

Drake really did make sure I was fully prepared in here. I don’t have to even order frames. Everything is all here, in as many sizes as a person could think of. Did he buy an entire print store?

Shaking my head at how well he stocked this room, I start pulling out the frames and prepping them. About an hour later,I check to see if the prints are dry. Since I used resin paper they should be ready. I pull them down and begin the framing process.

My stomach growls. How long have I been in here that I’m actually hungry? My appetite isn’t always great and when I’m working I can often forget to eat. Looking at my phone, I see that I’ve been here for about six hours. Holy shit. I’m surprised that no one knocked after the red light went off.

Shrugging my shoulders, I continue working. I’ll just finish up here and get them ready and move them to my room so I can give them to Drake, Gio, and Anthony after dinner. I’m actually really excited about how they came out. I went with black and white prints for these because I think they will go well with the decor, though I don’t know for sure that they would even want to hang them. Just wishful thinking.

Shaking my head to make those thoughts leave my head, I continue working. When I’m finally done, I lean each picture up to inspect it. These actually turned out really well. I’m pretty proud of them, and the fact that I didn’t lose my touch in the dark room in the last year either. I guess it’s like riding a bike, or muscle memory at this point since I’ve done it so many times.

I’m so thankful that Ms. Bates helped me with all of this and got me where I needed to be. Thinking of her makes me wonder if she has been worried since I never showed back up for school. I know they went ahead and sent my diploma, but it must’ve been weird that I never showed up again. I’ll have to remember to ask Drake about it.

Satisfied that all the photos turned out the way I wanted, I gently stack them and wrap them with some brown paper off a roll. I shut off all the equipment and clean all my trays, dumping thechemicals safely into the waste containers set up in the room. The city has a way to dispose of hazardous materials and they can pick them up weekly if needed.

I marvel again at how well Drake set this up. Grabbing the frames, I open the door and click the lights off and step out into the hall. Zeke takes the frames and follows me down the hall. When I step into the living room, I see Drake coming in through the elevator at the same time. Gio, Reba, and Anthony are also in the living room. Drake comes over and kisses me and looks at the frames Zeke is carrying.

“I guess you couldn’t wait to get back to photography stuff huh? It must’ve been hard not being able to do any of that for the last year. What did you make?” he asks.

Blushing a little, I motion for Zeke to hand the frames to him. I guess now is as good a time as any. Gio clears his throat and looks at me pointedly, “Next time, you need to either take a lunch in there with you or find a safe stopping point to come out and get something to eat.”

Drake looks at me, narrowing his eyes. “Just how long were you in there today?”

Flinching, I say, “Since you left this morning.”

“Elodie! Seriously? You can’t do that. You gotta take care of yourself,” he says. “Well I guess the next upgrade the darkroom is getting is a mini fridge.”

Everyone laughs and follows Drake to the ottoman where he unwraps the photos and lays them out for everyone to see. The room goes silent. I look around nervously and try to figure out what everyone’s thinking.

Anthony speaks first. “Is it just me or can anyone else actuallyfeelthese pictures? The mood, the emotions, all of it. These are amazing Elodie.”

Drake walks over and just pulls me to him. Very quietly in my ear he says, “Thank you Elodie. No one has ever taken photos of us like this. As you can see we have had no family portraits or anything like that done since we were little and my mother was still alive. This really means a lot.”

Gio is silent. I hope I haven’t upset him. He leaves the room and comes back with one of the men a few tense minutes later. And a pack of nails and a hammer. Gathering the frames he starts directing where he wants them hung. Adding a couple of other spots that I have no pictures for as well.

He walks over to me, “Now all we need is pictures of you and Reba and they will be complete. Thank you Elodie, for bringing life back to this home. I’m sorry for everything that you have had to go through but we will make sure the rest of your life is as happy as we can make it.” Crying, I nod and he leans in to give me a hug. “Now, now, none of that. How about we get you fed?”

Drake comes over and takes my hand and we all head to the dining room to have some dinner.

CHAPTER 29

DRAKE

Having Elodie here has been good for all of us. Especially her.

I know she’s spent so many years just trying to survive, but she doesn’t have to do that anymore. Now she can live. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure she does. She will need nothing, want for nothing, and I will try to make sure she gets things before she even has to ask for them.

Like right now. I am currently in the dark room expanding it to have a small kitchenette installed. I know I said Iwas just going to put a mini fridge in, but that isn’t good enough for my girl. Though I did put one in the next day, temporarily.

My dad, brother, and I had a meeting this morning about plans to take down Dominic and Aiden. The fact that Aiden is the one to betray him really breaks his heart. They have been friends for a long time, but it also raises questions about what happened years ago when Eddie was killed too and I know that’s been on Reba’s mind a lot.

Elodie and Reba are currently in the movie room watching rom-coms. They needed a day to just destress. It’s been almost a month since she has been back and things have been going really well between us. But the stress of being cooped up in the house has been getting to her and Reba.

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