Page 73 of All Dressed Up

They reached the studio’s door, and Rachel flung it open, holding it for Jesse. Sure enough, Bethany was behind her professional camera snapping pictures of a teenager wearing a crisp white shirt and bright red tie. “Rachel,” she greeted.

“Hi. I’m sorry we’re interrupting.”

“We were just about to do a wardrobe change. Evan, you can go behind that curtain and lose the tie. Put on your polo and jeans for the next set.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The young boy disappeared behind a black curtain.

Bethany grimaced, lowering her voice. “I appreciate his politeness, but I feel so old when he calls me ‘ma’am.’ We’re doing his senior year headshots,” Bethany explained, setting her camera on her front counter. Her greeting moved from Rachel to Jesse. “I’m sorry. I don’t think we’ve met.”

“This is Jesse Taylor.” Rachel made the introductions. “Jesse, this is my best friend, Bethany Wilson.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” Bethany reached out her hand.

Jesse tipped his head and shook Bethany’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, young lady.”

“Young lady.” Bethany snickered. “Nowthat’show I like to be addressed.”

“Jesse’s my new employee,” Rachel said, adding, “He started this morning.”

“That’s great.” Bethany smoothed her casual green top over her black yoga pants. “I didn’t realize you were hiring.”

Neither did I.Rachel shifted from one foot to the other. “I’ve been wanting to for a while. I’m happy to have the help, and Jesse has a real eye for flowers.” She held up the bouquet of snapdragons. “He found these beauties.”

“They’re lovely.”

That they were, but her best friend would have to wait to get any more details. Now they needed to get to the reason for this impromptu visit. “So, what I need from you is going to sound far-fetched, but do you have the tape from the homecoming football game senior year?”

“Tape?” Bethany asked, fidgeting with her camera.

“You know. The videotape. Remember the one I helped you splice for Caitlin.”

Bethany cocked her head, giving Rachel a curious eye. “Why do you need to see it? Does Caitlin want it again?”

“No.” Rachel grabbed Bethany’s arm for a side conversation while Jesse moved to examine the framed photos on the wall. “It’s a long story, but Mary’s been giving me all sorts of clues on how I might win Will’s heart.”

“Really?”

“Yeah? She’s been leaving them in the purse.” She nodded ever so slightly in Jesse’s direction. “She wanted me to hire him. He can help me.”

“An old man can help you find Will’s heart?” Bethany shifted her gaze to Jesse. “I don’t understand. Is he Will’s grandfather?”

Rachel leaned in. “He’s Emma’s dad.”

Her friend’s eyes went wide. “Oh.”

“I can’t explain it, but he can sense Mary or something. I’m not really sure how it works. We spent the morning on the high school football field because Mary told him to go there. Now she wants us to watch the video you shot with your camcorder all those years ago.”

Bethany moved over to her counter, setting her camera down. “Say no more. I get it. Trust me. Mary was right there every step of my courtship with Adam.” She chuckled, adding, “Whether I wanted her to be or not.”

That admission spurred Rachel’s hope. “So you’ll help me?”

“Of course.” Bethany motioned for Rachel to join her behind her counter. “And you’re in luck. I have it right here on my computer.”

Rachel joined her best friend’s side and set the flowers down on the counter, excitement pulsing through her. The video had to mean something.

Bethany moved her mouse over the screen, clicking a file open. “This is the entire footage. It’s only about fifteen minutes or so.” She stood. “It’s all yours.”

“Thank you,” Rachel said, taking a seat on the stool and motioning to Jesse to join her. She took an enormous breath as the video began with a shot of spectators in the bleachers.

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