Page 127 of Severed Rivalry
“Somehow I can’t picture him there.” I laugh under my breath.
“I can. And for you and for Renée, you know he will.”
“For sure. It’s just watching him raise the flag after all this time will be a trip.”
“Are you going to invite Mom?” Her tone is tentative when she asks.
“Not this time. I’m torn, but it’s about Renée, not me. She’ll know everyone there but Christian. Now that I think about it, him raising the flag might be funnier than Liam.”
“Truer words, Ci… Have your camera ready.”
“You’re the photographer.”
“Fine, I’ll be ready.” She pauses to untangle herself from Franklin’s leash.
“Good. Get as many shots as you can. This is one for the ages.”
We hike on in silence. Not for the first time does it dawn on me how dangerous my sister’s profession is. She was up here in the dark, well before dawn. And it’s got to be nearly an hour’s hike from the parking area.
“I’m glad you have Franklin.” It’s earnest, and I hope she gets it.
“Me too. He’s a good addition.”
By the time we’ve hit the ridge, I’m sweating and enjoying the feel of my muscles burning. I strip off the fleece and allow the breeze to cool my overheated flesh.
I spend more than a few minutes in awe of my sister as she shows her interns how to find what it is they seek from this moment. Where some instructors would explain how to see what he or she deems the right light or the right shot, Ayla asks each what they seek, how they want to capture it.
In essence, two cameras may have the same view but an utterly different image. She’s incredible, and I stand in awe, not just of her talent, but how she communicates it and lets Javier and Ashlyn own their individual takes on what lies before them. What a gift to see her mind and how it works.
Especially when it’s not about accounting.
My thoughts travel over the last year but settle in the last five or six weeks. Lifting my cell, I see no bars of cell signal. No data service available. I want so badly not to be out of range. I fight the antsy feeling like little needles marching across my skin.
It’s too much. I want time with my sister and in this place, it feels full circle. This is where she fell. This is where she lost her memory.
I couldn’t protect her that day. She doesn’t need my protection now.
Ayla meanders away from the photographers to find me more than contemplative on a rock in the shade, Eleanor not far frommy side. Unlike Franklin, who is sound asleep on his side, my dog sits relaxed in a ray of sunshine just out of reach.
“Ci,” my sister says. “Get with your girl.”
“So, now she’smygirl?” I tease. Not that it’s a question. Soon she’ll beourgirl but that will be Sariah and Renée and I as a family. On that thought, I’m ready to be done, but I’ll take a moment with Eleanor first. I slip from my rock and slide to my ass next to her. Ayla says her name loud enough to call her attention before talking to us both like with skittish chipmunks messing up her shots.
She finally turns the phone screen to me and shows me what she’s done. How she manages to capture what’s there and make it worth seeing is beyond me. My photos never look anything like what her unedited ones do.
When Ayla is satisfied with her time here, we leave her protégés and head down the trail. Ren leads, while I have Ayla’s six.
I’m glad she’s been back, faced those demons head on, and won’t let the location or the event scare her. After so many months her biggest fears can be trying to avoid toppling as Franklin winds her legs in his lead or eats her expensive shoes.
She needs that peace. I need that peace too. Knowing she’s okay. And my familybeingokay.
Halfway to the truck, my phone dances with vibration in my pocket. Fear grips me, but I push it down.
Angel: Good morning, handsome. Much prefer waking up in your arms.
Angel: Renée insisted on opening your gift though I’d hoped she’d wait until you were here. She loves the new phone. You spoiled her. We still need to set it up.
Angel: Breakfast pancakes were perfect. I dropped Née off at school. Tell Ayla thanks for lending me her sweet ride until we can get mine back. Can we do that today?
