Chapter 15
CHAPTER 15
NOAH BARRETT
M y heart breaks for Savannah. I can’t handle it, and I stand, pulling her to her feet. “Let me clean this up, then we’ll go for a walk.”
She nods, like she’s in a trance. I don’t blame her. Elizabeth is a viper. She’s always been that friend who gives backhanded compliments. I didn’t care for her even back in high school, but I never thought she’d be capable of something like this. I grab the leftovers and stuff them in the picnic basket, along with the used plates and containers.
I pick up the blanket, shake off the crumbs, and quickly fold it. “Come to the car with me.”
I take Savannah’s arm and guide her across the grass. I open the trunk and put our picnic things inside. Then I grab her camera bag out and sling it over my shoulder. “Let’s go take some pictures.”
Savannah doesn’t say anything. I pick up her hand and gently tug her until we’re walking on the path that runs along the marina. “The sun is setting. That’s a good time to take photos, isn’t it?”
She nods. “Yeah.”
“Why is it a good time?” I know why, but I want her to snap out of this daze she’s in.
“It’s called the golden hour. The sun is low in the sky, and it creates a softer light to work with.”
I stop and pull her camera out of the bag, handing it to her. “Great. Let’s take some pictures of the ships.”
She pulls the strap over her head and fiddles with the camera, taking off the lens cap and messing with the settings. After a minute, she holds the camera up and looks through the viewfinder. I step back as she starts to take photos.
At first, it’s as if she’s a zombie, just going through the motions. But as she takes more and more pictures, she starts to come back alive. She crouches down, framing her shot at just the right angle. She walks to the bench and rests the camera on it to steady a shot.
She walks to a small copse of trees and motions for me to join her. She takes some shots and then hands me the camera. “What do you think?”
She’s snapped a shot of a ship in the distance, and a branch from the tree above, showing the depth and giving it movement. “I love it.”
She smiles at me. “I do, too.”
“Can I have this one in my living room?”
“Of course.”
“I’m going to blow it up huge and matte and frame it. It will be the focal point of my wall.”
A goose walks by and Savannah starts snapping photos of it. I take in a deep breath. What Elizabeth did was deplorable. It makes me want to buy the space next door to Elizabeth’s studio, making it a larger and better one for Savannah. I could get a massive sign that would cast a massive shadow over Elizabeth’s place, and I could pay someone to stand outside and direct any traffic into Savannah’s studio. I’m feeling just that petty right now.
Savannah squats down, taking photos of the goose. He looks at her curiously. She waddles closer, snapping more pictures. The goose seems affronted and squawks at her. When Savannah doesn’t stop, he charges at her, wings out.
Savannah screeches and falls backward on her butt. I run at the goose, and at the last second it changes trajectory and runs in the opposite direction from me.
I hold out my hand to Savannah. “You okay?” She laughs and can hardly grasp my hand. It makes me chuckle. “I’m glad you think it’s funny. That goose scared me,” I say.
Savannah stands and holds up her camera. “Look.” She shows me her screen, which is a picture of the goose charging. It looks really annoyed, and for some reason that makes me laugh harder.
“That’s hysterical.”
“I know.” She wipes at her eyes. “I can’t believe it did that.”
“I’ve changed my mind. I want that one in my living room.”
Savannah dissolves into more giggles. “It should be in your guest bedroom. To keep people from staying too long.”
I grin. “I like where you’re going with this.”
“We could make this your Christmas card. I can photoshop a little Santa hat on him.” She snorts.
“Perfect.”
Savannah laughs so hard tears stream down her cheeks. The sound of her laughter turns hysterical, her tears coming faster, and at some point, it changes from laughter to just tears. I pull her to me, hugging her. “Savannah.”
“How could she do that to me?” she asks, hiccupping.
“I don’t know,” I say, and I mean it. I have no idea how Elizabeth could stab Savannah in her back like that.
“She’s my best friend.”
“No.” I shake my head. “She’s not your friend. A real friend wouldn’t do that to you.”
Savannah clings to me, and I want to shut out the whole world until it’s just the two of us. I want to shield her from the insensitivity of Elizabeth. I want to give her all her hopes and dreams, wrapped up in a large red bow. She trembles in my arms, and my heart tears into pieces. I wait until she calms down.
“Come on. There’s still a little golden light left. Let’s get some more shots.”
“Okay.” Savannah pulls back and adjusts her camera. She takes some shots of the sunset over the water, and the waves crashing against the rocks in the distance.
We walk along the path and Savannah gets back into taking pictures. Her passion. Her art. She snaps so many photos, I can’t imagine there are any good shots left, but she still finds them. After the sky is dark, we trek our way back to her car.
She turns to face me, leaning against her car. A streetlamp offers us light. “Thank you.”
I point to my chest. “What did I do?”
She runs a hand down my arm. “You know what you did.”
My heart warms. I place my hands on her car, boxing her in. “Elizabeth can have the biggest and most expensive studio on the planet. She still won’t compete with you.”
Savannah gives me a sad smile. “She will. Her family has more money and resources than I do. Her studio will be successful, because Elizabeth always gets what she wants.”
I brush a strand of her hair over her shoulder. “She doesn’t have your talent. That’s what will make you successful. No one can take pictures like you can.”
“It’s probably pointless now, but will you come help me patch the ceiling tomorrow?”
Savannah’s not listening to me, but I don’t know what else to say. I can’t reveal the fact that I probably have more money than fifty Elizabeths put together. “Of course. I can come first thing in the morning.”
“Thanks, Noah. I’m really glad we’ve reconnected. I need your friendship right now, more than ever.”
Her words send stabbing pain through me. “Of course.”