Chapter 22
Fifteen Years Earlier
In a flurry of exams, classes had finally wrapped for my junior year, and Magnolia had made the trip to Charleston. Since
I wouldn’t be packing up and heading home for the summer like I’d done the past two years, Mother decided to come to me for
a weekend visit.
Kendra was staying for the summer, too, since she’d landed a waitress job at a restaurant known for big tips from the vacation
crowd, so she tagged along with us for the visit. I’d begged and pleaded with her not to leave me alone with the Dragon, and
ultimately I convinced her with the promise of a few above-cafeteria-grade meals.
We took the College of Charleston bus over to the Halstead Gallery.
“Am I to expect amateur student art?” Magnolia asked, stepping off the bus and away from the wavy heat rising from it.
“No, it’s legit,” Kendra said. “They spotlight local artists and have a special partnership with the college.”
Lincoln entered his photography routinely and had even been lucky enough to have a few pieces accepted. I guess luck wasn’t
actually to blame; his work was impressive in its own right.
I grabbed the door and pulled it open, and soon we were inside wrapped in air-conditioned quiet.
A few other families meandered through the exhibitions in order. We started with student work, oils and acrylics mostly, then
continued into the local artists’ section. Finally, we walked through the photography collection.
Kendra perked up and waved me over, her eyes bulging. “This is Lincoln’s,” she said in a record-breakingly loud whisper. “His
last name is Kelly?”
As I looked it over, I couldn’t help the smile that crept across my face. “Little rascal didn’t tell me he had anything up
right now.”
“Modest or what?” Kendra asked. “Your lover is more accomplished than he lets on.”
“Can we not use the word lover ? It gives me the heebie-jeebies.” I shuddered.
“You’re the one who refuses to call him your boyfriend,” Kendra said. “I can’t believe he didn’t tell you. Maybe he’s also
secretly a European prince or something and is waiting to drop the news until he knows you’re in it for the right reasons.”
I thwack her playfully in the belly, and a laugh pops out.
“I didn’t tell him we were coming here,” I said. “Why would I, because who knew if Magnolia would bite when I suggested it?”
The sound of a familiar throat clearing resounded behind me. “Referring to me as if I’m a fish when I came all this way to
visit you is quite crass—no, Magnolia?”
I blushed furiously, from my toes to my scalp. “I’m so sorry, Mama.” I spun in place. “I should’ve chosen better language,
you’re right. I meant to say that I didn’t know if a visit here would be to your taste or not.”
Magnolia pushed past me to eye the photo. “Quite right, child. And you wouldn’t be entirely off base in that suggestion. But this one? It’s not as bad as the rest.”
Kendra smiled and raised her brows, knowing a Magnolia compliment when she heard one. I silently shook my head and tried to
signal her to back off with a hand flap.
“So when do I meet him?” Magnolia’s eyes settled on me, heavy like she’d gotten lead pupils. “I presume I should be acquainted
with a lover of yours, Magnolia.”
A wave could’ve run over me, and I’m not sure I would’ve swum toward the surface for the weight of my mortification. She knew
how to bury the best of us with no more than a comment, but especially me.
“Well.” I swallowed hard. “I guess that could be arranged.”
***
Later that afternoon I went to the photography lab to meet Lincoln. I knocked on the door, and he was waiting there to open
it for me.
“Quite the security clearance required to get in here, huh?” I laughed and pecked him on the cheek.
“The professor turns a blind eye to me using the space as a nonstudent. It’s the least I can do to make sure no trouble sneaks
in.” He pulled me into a hug from my waist and dotted kisses along my neck. “But then again, you’ve been known to cause quite
a stir yourself.”
I laughed and extricated myself from his grip. “Not so fast,” I said. “I came here on business.”
Lincoln cocked his head. “Very professional.”
“Eh, nope.” I hopped up and sat on the countertop. “This is personal business.”
Lincoln leaned back, crossed his arms, and waited for me to go on. He still wore a button-up and slacks from work. He was even still wearing the loafers he usually couldn’t wait to rip off every day. The clothes looked so different on him here, surrounded by his art, like a costume layered on top of the real him.
“Tell me, sweetheart,” he said.
“Magnolia is in town.” I paused because I wasn’t certain about the next part. I needed to ask him to do this, and I needed
to sound confident.
“I know. I wasn’t expecting to see you,” he said. “Figured she’d have you tied up every minute.”
“She wants to meet you,” I said.
Lincoln pulled himself upright, his arms falling to his sides. “No way.”
I sighed. “She saw your art at the Halstead Gallery—which I didn’t realize would even be there.” He sheepishly rubbed his
hair. “And it was the only piece she didn’t have anything negative to say about.”
“I’m supposed to take that as a compliment, right?” Lincoln asked. “Are you sure? I thought I was far from your mother’s type.”
“I know it wasn’t the plan to do the formalities, and it’s still our special summer thing, but I think you can still meet
my mother and it’ll be fine,” I said, staring at the countertop as I picked at the remnants of a sticker.
“So it’s more of an informal, fly-by thing?” Lincoln said.
“We could call it that,” I said. “Plus, I probably exaggerate a bit about how awful she is. Can you do dinner tomorrow? It’s
her last day in town.”
Lincoln strode over and pulled me into his arms. “Have to say I’m surprised, but if you want to, I’m up for it. I guess, what’s
the worst that could happen?”
I looked up at him, pushed a smile across my face, and nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. What’s the worst that could happen?”
“So is you bringing guys to meet her a regular thing?” Lincoln grinned.
“Hardly,” I scoffed. “She knew my high school boyfriend, Grady, since she’s best friends with his mom and we were in diapers
together. Delta, his mom, is actually very sweet, but Grady is... less sweet.”
“Sounds like I’m starting out on solid footing.”
I pecked his lips. “Agreed. I have all sorts of war stories in that category, but I’ll dish the rest later.”
“So are you sticking around here in photo land?” Lincoln asked. “Because if you are, I’m going to put you to work.”
I pulled away. “I wish. I’ve got to change and then meet Magnolia for dinner. I’ll call you later with details for tomorrow?”
“Sure thing,” Lincoln said. “I’ll be here late.”
I wandered over to the negatives strung up on my way toward the door. “What are you working on anyway?”
“Marcus Wilson Studio—an application for a big-time New York photography residency.”
“That’s right. The stuff dreams are made of.” I smiled at him.
Lincoln had told me about these apprenticeships a few times now. Mostly, successful photographers in New York or LA would
open spots in their studios to up-and-coming photographers. The apprentices would work in the studio, learn from the seasoned
professionals, and have an opportunity to break out their own work.
“It’s a long shot, but it wouldn’t be fair to myself not to try,” Lincoln said.
“I’m so proud of my hottie photographer,” I said and blew him a kiss on my way out.
These applications were like meditations on the importance of his work to him, but like he assured me, the chances of landing a spot were slim, like drawing a winning lottery ticket. I wouldn’t be losing him to the big-city life anytime soon.
“ Summer hottie,” Lincoln said. “Don’t you forget.”
I laughed and let the door click shut behind me. It was fun, our little shared joke, but with every passing mention, it had
begun to grate on me. Because even if I didn’t say it out loud, inside I couldn’t promise myself my feelings for Lincoln Kelly
would fade with the summer sun. I thought that maybe he felt the same, that we could become more.
At least for now we’d enjoy it, but come the end of summer, I wasn’t sure he’d be so easy to quit.