Page 42 of The Friendly Fall

“You all are doing great.” She kneels down, continuing to snap photos. Her hair is braided off to the side, and she’s got on a casual,pale pink t-shirt and faded jeans with a coordinating flannel—which is what I’ve come to gather as her usual look.

And I like it.

Daniel stands off to the side, shooting me a grin as the kids all wait in line to have photos taken. She’s already done plenty of candid shots of them picking the apples, and now she’s doing some staged ones, which parents love.

The girls’ giggles never fade as they move on to the weight station, prepared to see just how much fruit they were able to pick. The next kid in line starts his photo shoot, and Eliza handles it with the same grace as she did before, even though the kid is super shy.

I know that feeling.

“I don’t like pictures,” he mutters, his face hidden beneath his cowboy hat and dark-rimmed glasses.

“You know, I don’t like having pictures taken of me, either.” Eliza lowers her camera for a moment.

“You don’t?” he asks, his hands white-knuckling his basket.

“I don’t, but I know that my familylovesto see pictures of me, and then I look back on them and remember just how much fun I had the day I took them. Have you had fun today?”

He nods. “I picked alotof apples.”

“Can you show them to me?” Eliza lifts her camera as he tilts his basket and smiles.

Click. Click. Click.

She pauses to glance down at the little screen. “These are awesome. I bet your family willlovethem.”

The little guy smiles, his cheeks rosy with joy as he heads over to the weigh station.

“She’s really great with kids,” Daniel says in a low voice.

That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking.

I nod. “I think they’ll turn out great.”

“Parents will love them, that’s for sure. I can’t wait until the twins are old enough to go on these outings with us.”

“They’ll be here before you know it,” I remark, brushing away the tinge of jealousy. My longing for a family of my own is still ever-growing.

“Yeah, and maybe you’ll have a few, too, huh?” He elbows me, and I force myself to shrug.

“I don’t know. Maybe someday.”

“We know you’re into her,” Daniel continues in a voice that no one can hear. “Just ask her out, man.”

“I already told you, she doesn’t want anything other than friendship.”

“Hmm.” Daniel quiets just as Eliza turns around to face us.

“I think that’s everyone.” She beams. “Now it’s your turn.” Her eyes are focused on me.

My eyes widen as Daniel laughs. “What?”

“Oh, come on, you’re super photogenic,” she muses, gesturing for me to grab a basket. “Let me get some shots.”

I hesitate, looking to Daniel for help, but he’s useless.

“I need to get back to the kids.” He gestures to the table. “You two have fun. Thanks for everything, Eliza.”

“No problem,” she answers with a smile and then reaches for a basket herself. “Let’s go. It’ll be fun.”

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