Best Laid Plans (15 page)

“Psycho Dad took this?”

“
Jake
took it. It’s wonderful, isn’t it? He had a large one framed and hung it in the nursery.”

“I’ve flipped through his books in the bookstore, so I knew he was good. This isn’t like his other work, of course.” His gaze flicked between Violet and the photograph. “He really captured you. The you
I
know, but most people don’t.”

His comment made her laugh. “How do you know what other people think of me?”

He returned the picture to the vanity and sat beside her. “You present a very cool and professional demeanor to the world. It’s appropriate for what you do. The question is, of course, why you chose your career. It’s like you’re hiding in plain sight.” He gestured toward the muted television monitor on the wall.

“Thank you, Doctor Freud. But I guess the secret me is about to be revealed to the world.”

“What do you mean?” He sank his teeth into the lobster roll. “Mmm, I do love the food in this town.”

“I told you about the exhibit of Jake’s work we’re going to see tomorrow. He asked my permission to show some of the pictures he took of me and Daisy, and I agreed. Apparently his agent thinks he has a real talent for photographing mothers and children.”

“Not all of the children are his, I hope.” He uncovered the steaming container of soup.

Violet resisted the urge to throw a spoon at him, having had similar thoughts herself. What did she really know about Jake, after all? Although, as it turned out, she was going to have the perfect opportunity to learn more.

“Returning to the subject of my career, which you seem to think is all about appearances, I feel like I’m moving forward again, finally.”

She’d had many tearful conversations with Seth toward the end of her pregnancy and in the first weeks after Daisy was born, complaining that she felt like she was on autopilot and couldn’t concentrate on anything but her baby.

“You’re more comfortable leaving Daisy, then?”

She shrugged. Just the phrase “leaving Daisy” was still enough to pull sudden tears into her eyes. “I’d like to have more time with her, sure. I’m missing a lot. But I know she’s happy with Jake, and he’s great at keeping me involved. She rolled over for the first time the other day, or at least I thought it was the first time. Jake made a big deal out of it, but I think he’d already seen her do it.”

“Nice. But when he deserts you again, you’re back to square one in the nanny situation.”

Once again she and her twin were following the same thought track. Although she knew his use of the word “desert” was unfair, it was often the way she felt, too. But Jake hadn’t volunteered to become a father, and she’d made no attempt to involve him in the process. She supposed she should just be grateful for the help he’d given her.

“We found a lovely older woman in the neighborhood who’s been doing some babysitting when Jake has to work during the day, and I think she could be convinced to take the job permanently.”

“What’s changed with your job?”

“When I was hired, we discussed special projects I might do, but everything got put on hold because of my maternity leave. Not to mention my lack of enthusiasm when I came back.” She got up and walked to her vanity table to check her make-up and hair. In another half hour she’d have to begin preparations for the late newscast. “Yesterday I asked my boss if I could begin the interview segment we talked about then.”

“He said yes, I assume.”

She grimaced at Seth’s image in the mirror. “He said yes, but he wanted to pick my first subject.”

“And?”

“I’m going to interview a famous photojournalist. His name is Jake Macintyre.”

• • •

Seth slung the diaper bag over his shoulder while Violet pushed the stroller into the posh uptown gallery the next afternoon. “It takes a real man to carry a pink bag with an embroidered teddy bear on it,” he told her. “I bet Psycho Dad wouldn’t do it.”

“Oh, but he does,” she said, wincing at the nickname. Since Seth was using it to goad her, correcting him again would just add to his fun. “I’ve never seen a man less concerned about what other people think of him. Present company included.”

His grin was wide as he held the door for her. “Are you ready to meet your in-laws?”

Fortunately, the first “in-law” they saw had a friendly and familiar face, although it was disconcerting to see his large body crammed into a wheelchair. “Violet Gallagher,” Matt’s big voice boomed so everyone could hear, “let me see that baby!”

The only way to accomplish that was to take Daisy out of the stroller, but she’d just napped and eaten, and seemed agreeable to all the handling and fuss. Until she was put onto the lap of the big man, when she started to wail.

“Mommy’s right here.” Violet hoped she wouldn’t have to offend her friend by snatching the baby right back.

Daisy, however, despite the tears, seemed mesmerized by her great-uncle. When he began to talk to her in an uncharacteristically hushed, high voice and make comic faces, she quieted within seconds.

“Silliness must be a family trait,” Seth whispered to Violet.

Despite being preoccupied with Daisy, Matt heard him. “You must be Violet’s brother. Excuse me if I don’t shake hands, what with the baby and the cast on my leg and all. You’ve met Jake, I take it?”

Seth laughed. “The first time we met, he tried to kill me. Last night he was much more civil.”

“Hmm, sounds like Jake. Not the civil part, the other thing.”

To Violet’s relief, Jake had apologized for manhandling Seth, and her brother had shrugged it off. In fact, they’d stayed up long after she went to bed, Jake sharing tips with her brother on photographing children with a digital camera. At least that’s what they were talking about when she went upstairs. If there’d been any discussion of her or Daisy, Seth hadn’t mentioned it.

Matt lifted Daisy over his head and swooped and dipped her in a way Violet found alarming. The baby seemed to love it, but after he coaxed a sudden giggle out of her, he hooted so loudly that her face crumpled and she began to cry again. He brought her back down to his lap, but he seemed to be out of distraction tactics and his frown made her cry even harder.

Violet came to his rescue. “I think I’ll put her back in the stroller so we can look at Jake’s pictures.”

Matt passed her to Violet with obvious relief. “Jake’s around somewhere. He and his agent are giving a personal tour to some big shots. You just missed Jamie, although he’ll be at the dinner tonight.”

“Oh, I’m not going to that.” At breakfast Jake had invited them to the dinner party his agent was hosting after the show, but she’d already made plans with Richard. As usual, she had mixed feelings about choosing Richard over Jake. It was the sensible choice, but not the most appealing.

As for Jamie, Jake had brought the baby to his apartment so he could “meet” his new niece, but Violet hadn’t met him yet. She knew Pamela, of course, and hoped Jamie wouldn’t hold it against her that she’d fired his girlfriend.

“I don’t think Pamela will be there,” Matt said, as though he had psychic abilities. Nothing would surprise her about the man. “I don’t think she’ll be around at all much longer.” His grin told her he wouldn’t be sorry. “Come on, I’ll give you a tour.”

He made a sharp turn with the chair and headed into the first alcove, where large black and white photographs hung in stark contrast against a creamy white wall. Seth took the handles of the stroller and headed off on his own.

“Jake told me he and Jamie were trying to find someone to help you while you recover from your injury,” she said to Matt. “How did that work out?”

He gave her a sly wink. “I have such a great nurse I’m hoping I can keep her. I may just keep this cast on forever.”

The idea of this vigorous man consigning himself to a wheelchair for a woman made her laugh, but a glance at Jake’s work sobered her. The picture in front of her depicted a plain building that might have been an orphanage. In front of it, a nun dressed in white was surrounded by a group of children, all either naked or wearing ragged scraps of clothing. They were engaged in a game involving sticks and stones, their faces full of intense concentration.

The photograph evoked conflicting emotions in her. The children were bones and hollows, their toys scavenged from nature. They had no parents. But there was loving benevolence in the nun’s expression, and optimism in their play.

Absorbed in Jake’s work now, she went from picture to picture. The rest of the black-and-white group was all of children, some with their mothers, and portrayed hope in the midst of poverty and despair. She turned a corner and found color photographs of scenic places, but each had a humanizing touch. An outbuilding, a crumbled rock wall, a rusted farming implement. Some sign that man had been there and left his mark.

“His work will never be in
National Geographic
,” a familiar voice said behind her. “There’s no sense of grandeur. He can’t get away from the extraneous details.” She recognized Richard’s voice before she turned around.

“Extraneous details like starving children?”

He shrugged. “You didn’t tell me you were going to be here today.”

“Jake’s a friend. Of course I came to see his work.”

“Is he a
friend
, Violet?” His face was contorted, unattractive.

“Richard, this isn’t the place …”

He lowered his voice and leaned closer. “Because we’ve been seeing each other for a while now, Violet, and you say you care about me. But you’re always rushing off. I think it’s time we took our relationship further, if you know what I mean.”

Her face flushed. There was no mistaking what he meant.

“Jake is staying at your house. Why can’t you spend the night with me?”

“You must have forgotten my brother’s visiting. He’s going out to dinner with us tonight, while Grace Cornelius baby-sits.” That put off the decision for now, but Violet knew Richard wasn’t going to let the subject drop.

“Violet, you didn’t tell me you were bringing a friend.” Jake was suddenly at her side, slipping his arm around her waist. He reached his hand out to Richard, who was forced to shake it. “I hope you’re enjoying the show. But I think you’ll like what’s in the other room best. Why don’t you take a look while I have a word with Violet?”

Richard had no choice but to go where Jake indicated.

“Did you really want to talk to me, or did you just want to get rid of him?” Violet, suddenly weary, sank onto a bench in the center of the small room. Jake sat beside her.

“I wondered what you thought of my work.”

She was about to say that her opinion couldn’t possibly matter, but the frown on his face told her it mattered very much. Despite the success of the books, the crowd at the show today, and the respect of his peers, was it possible he still needed reassurance?

“I expected it to be beautiful. I didn’t expect it to be so emotional. So thought-provoking.”

Richard strode back in, and stood in front of them with his arms crossed. He glared at Jake.

“I think Rayburn found the pictures in the other room thought-provoking,” he said.

“So. That’s how it is.” There was both anger and resignation in his tone.

Violet looked from one man to the other. “Richard, what are you talking about?”

His gaze went to her. “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing with me, but it’s over.”

Although he was obviously waiting for a response, Violet was bewildered and said nothing.

“So I’ll just … go,” he finally said.

When Richard was no longer in sight, Violet turned back to Jake. “Do you know what that was all about? More importantly, are we still invited for dinner? It seems I no longer have plans.”

Jake’s smile was impish. “No, and yes.”

Seth came toward them. Daisy was blowing bubbles and staring at her hand in the stroller, but when she saw her mother, she lifted her head and strained forward.

“Okay, darling girl, I’ll carry you for awhile.”

“Violet, you really need to come into the other room now that the crowd has thinned a bit,” her brother said. “Your show is a smash, Jake.”

Jake shrugged. “The new work is generating quite a buzz.”

Violet was stunned by the new work, two walls of the photographs he’d taken of her and Daisy. She hadn’t seen any of the pictures he’d taken in the garden, and she was impressed. Instead of the vivid colors she’d expected, he’d done something to mute and soften them, so the overall effect was similar to French Impressionist paintings.

While the pictures from the garden shoot seemed to be all about composition and color, the black and white series was pure emotion. The love between Violet and Daisy was paramount.

She pulled her gaze away long enough to turn to Jake.

His eyes were shining. “Do you like them?”

“Very much,” was all she could think to say. A silver-haired woman wearing flowing white garments came and pulled Jake away by his elbow, and Seth took his place beside her. He raised his eyebrows in the familiar way that meant he was implying something. Usually she knew what it was, but not today.

“What? They’re beautiful, aren’t they?”

“They are, but I don’t think you’re seeing the third party in these pictures.”

“What do you mean?” Daisy was squirming, and they might have to leave soon.

“Jake is in all the pictures he takes, in one way or another. It’s what gives them their emotional power. These pictures are screaming to me that either he’s in love with you, you’re in love with him, or both.”

“What a silly idea!”

“Why?”

“It just is.” Violet was annoyed and growing agitated. Daisy felt it, and began to whimper. “Jake loves Daisy, yes. And he’s a great photographer. If he took your picture, people might think he was in love with
you
.”

Seth laughed and took Daisy from her. “I think it’s time we got Daisy home, don’t you?”

With Daisy crying, and Seth walking away, there was nothing more she could say. Even if she had the opportunity, she wasn’t sure what it would be. Seth was a smart guy, and his conclusions were usually correct. But not this time.