Page 38 of Love in Focus

Evelyn blinks. “What? No, it was fantastic. You did a fabulous job getting the couple to open up. There’s something else related to the project that I wanted to talk to you about.”

I brace myself, wondering what it could be, but even then, I’m wholly unprepared when Evelyn says, “You and Celeste should come to the New Year’s Eve party.”

At first, I think I misheard her. My boss, telling me to come to an office party… with my ex? Did I somehow hit my head and fall into one of my worst nightmares?

“Several representatives from Citrine will be present, and it will be a nice chance for you two to network and sell them on the cover story, since we’ll be finalizing that decision in a few weeks.”

I freeze. For as long as I’ve been atHorizon, the office NYE party has always been James’s and my thing, since we went together for the last seven years. I’d been too busy dealing with my clusterfuck of a personal life to eventhinkabout this year’s, but now, I panic. New Year’s Eve is in less than two weeks. James is probably going to be there with Daphne. And Evelyn specifically wants me to go to the party withCeleste.

“Of course, I can’t force you to do anything,” Evelyn continues when I don’t respond. “But take some time to think about it. It’s a great opportunity!”

“I’m not sure if it’d be a good idea for us to come to the party,” I say at last. “But I’ll ask Celeste.”

I’m still thinking about the sheer ridiculous notion of inviting my college ex to the end-of-year party when I enter the studio on Saturday morning. I’m late, so I expect to see the Amatos waiting for me with Celeste. But only Celeste is there, typing away at a large Mac desktop in the corner of the studio. I didn’t even realize there was a computer in this space until now.

“This part’s usually sectioned off,” Celeste says when she sees my confused expression. As I watch, she pulls on thetall curtains at the edge of the room. Sure enough, when they’re spread out again, I see the studio space I’d grown accustomed to in the last couple of weeks.

“The Amatos called,” she goes on. “They’re running late because their babysitter canceled on them last minute. I told them they could bring the kids. Hope that’s okay.”

I balk, looking around at all the expensive equipment in the rented studio. “Are you sure?”

She nods. “Yup, I’m good with kids. They can play on the couch while we interview their parents.”

I notice only then that she’s moved the couch behind the cameras, replacing it with two chairs from the dining table.

As we wait for the Amatos to arrive, I remember a conversation we had back in college, when Celeste told me she’s the oldest cousin on both sides of her family.

“All my aunts and uncles used me as a babysitter,” she’d said with a laugh. “And I never minded, since I loved kids. Still do, actually.”

Thirty minutes later, Maria and Joey Amato arrive with their two daughters, Carly and Kaylee, in tow. Both Carly and Kaylee can’t be more than seven. Carly, with her blond curls and hazel eyes, resembles Joey, while Kaylee resembles Maria with her tan skin, dark brown hair, and almost black eyes. Within minutes, the girls are running around the studio, shrieking with joy when they see the huge windows and fancy equipment.

Maria shoots us an apologetic look. Joey glances back at the door, as if already reconsidering their decision to come to the studio.

“I got this,” Celeste says, setting her camera down on the kitchen table.

I watch as she kneels down and stretches her arms out toward the screaming children in a “come here” gesture.

“Hey, girls,” she says in a soft, gentle tone I’ve never heard her use before. “Why don’t you come here for a sec?”

Surely that won’t work…I don’t even finish my thought before Carly and Kaylee run to her and take her hands.

“How are you two doing?” Celeste says, gently swaying both their arms back and forth.

“Good!” declares Carly.

“I’m okay,” says Kaylee.

“Well, that’s good to hear,” Celeste says to Carly. With a smile, she then tells Kaylee, “And I hope your day gets better, sweetheart. We’re going to have some fun today, okay? My name is Celeste. And my friend, Gemma, and I are going to interview your mommy and daddy for a few minutes.”

Carly claps her hands in excitement. “An interview! How cool!”

“Right? Well, you’ll be able to watch the video with them after it’s done, on Valentine’s Day! Won’t that be neat? But before you can do that, we need your help. All right, girls?”

Kaylee shyly nods and smiles up at Celeste, absolutely smitten. And I don’t blame her. Celeste is always charismatic, but like this, she’s mesmerizing. At this moment, we’re all caught under her spell.

An alternative timeline flashes in my head, one whereCeleste didn’t disappear and she and I stayed together for the last eight years. We’d probably have kids by now, either through adoption or other means. Back when we were in college, Celeste would always talk about how much she wanted kids of her own someday. And even though I myself have always been more ambivalent about them, I was still looking forward to getting to that point with Celeste one day, back when I thought we had a future together.

“I have to get your parents ready for the big interview,” I hear Celeste say to the kids. “But meanwhile, why don’t you two play some fun games on my tablet with Gemma over there?”

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