33. Willow
THIRTY-THREE
Willow
I run back inside, head up to Sylvia's old room for a change of clothes and my toothbrush. A last minute impulse grabs my camera. I might show Ben photos I took today.
On the way back down I run into Laura. She sees the clothes in my hand, toothbrush sticking out, and raises an eyebrow. “Going somewhere?"
"I'm staying at Ben's tonight.”
"Maybe stay here for a second because Jonny is leaving with his grandparents right now."
"Good idea. Thank you." Shifting clothes from one hand to the other, I turn my camera on to brave showing Laura some of the photography. "Look how peaceful Arwen was. Didn’t mind my camera at all.”
“She’s your friend now. Wow! That's a beautiful shot, Willow!"
I stare with her at the screen, still feeling the newness of my art form, the insecurity of it. "You think so?"
"You should really look into this photography thing."
"I've been thinking about that. Not sure where to start."
"Well, the Internet teaches everything.”
“True. I took some tutorials online to learn how to use the camera itself. I'm sure somebody has gotta be teaching how to make money selling art photography.”
"I know my company used stock photography when they built our website. I’m not sure how to go about it, but maybe those sites are looking for contributors?”
“That’s a great idea! And at my advertising agency, we hire photographers to shoot the products.” I sigh, “But I don't wanna do product photography so much. I'd rather do art for art’s sake.”
“What about hotels?”
I tilt my head. “Hotels?”
“They have art in every room, usually framed prints. There's gotta be a way to get in with them. Maybe they change them out every few years? Or maybe find the buyers for larger chains and when they open up a new location…”
“That’s reaching pretty high.”
Laura motions to me with her forefinger. “If you consider it reaching too high, others probably do too. That means less competition.”
Gazing at the amber in Arwen’s peaceful eyes, I wistfully say, “That’s a great idea,” and flip the photo to see what’s next. We start laughing at a hen I caught mid-cluck. “It looks like she’s saying, Look at me! I’m gorgeous!” New Hampshire laughs a laugh that makes me grin. "I'd like to stay in touch after this."
With an open expression, she holds my gaze. "I was thinking the same thing! Let me run down and see if he’s gone." She disappears while I wait, and is replaced by Maggie and Pete walking up.
"We're going to the jacuzzi. Wanna come?"
"Can't tonight."
Maggie smiles knowingly at my toothbrush. "I see."
Pete asks, “What do you see?"
They continue walking, "I'll tell you in our room, dear,” with Maggie patting my shoulder as she passes. “Have a good time, Willow.”
Laura pokes her head around the corner from downstairs and calls up, “All clear!”
I pass by others on the stairs as they head for their swimsuits. Marco, Michelle, Sienna, and finally, as I hit the bottom, Dax appears and checks out my pajamas, the telltale toothbrush sticking up in my hand. I get a winked, “Ah, so I’m alone on the last night.”
“You going in the Jacuzzi?”
“There's a first for everything." They hug me. “Happy for you. I’m gonna bring my flask of whiskey with me. Happy for me.”
“Reminds me of high school. But it was vodka."
"I've never been in a Jacuzzi before."
"Oh, you meant really a first!"
"Yep!" They disappear upstairs and I enter the main room feeling light as air.
Steven, the last to head up, approaches and stops in front of me, right beside one of the sofa-coffee-table sets up, and I pause to listen as he says, “We haven't had a lot of alone time you and I. I don't feel like I've gotten to know you very well. But I have to say, I've been watching what's happening with you and Ben and I think it's really great. I haven't met my person yet.” He combs his hair with nimble fingers. “Maybe that's why I keep going on all these retreats. I'm on a healing journey right now. Hopefully I'll be ready for partnership when this is all over."
I understand, without having to ask, that they mean the journey in its entirety, not just this trip. "Who knows? Maybe it will happen in the middle of your healing journey.”
“I'm leaving that up to the Universe.” He exhales. “I’ve done a shit job of choosing partners on my own. Hopefully something greater than myself has a better idea." Steven disappears upstairs to change, and I head out, offer a smile and a wave goodnight to Sylvia, walking to Ben who's in the kitchen with her.
“Ready to go?” he asks, pulling me close.
I blush, “Yes,” glancing to Sylvia to find her smiling at me. “I was just talking to some of my new friends.”
Sylvia says, “It’s been a great group.”
Ben takes my hand, “Come on.”
As we head for the door, Sylvia calls after us. “Your dad used to say that to your mom! ”
A smirk appears on his face. “And now I know why.”
“Awwww!” Sylvia sighs. “You’re giving me hope for a second chance at love, Benny!” Before the door shuts we hear her talking to herself, saying quietly, “Maybe there’s still love for me yet.”