Love in Pictures

by Alexis A Goring

  He reached for his phone to call his mom, a successful speech therapist who had helped many clients overcome their stuttering. Unfortunately, her best efforts had helped but not healed Logan’s problem. But she did have techniques that assisted him when his stuttering flared. The phone rang then went to voicemail.

  “H-h-hey Mom. Can I come over? I need your help.”

  After leaving a message, he rested his phone on the passenger seat of his car and gazed at the studio’s front door. Michelle was so sweet. She wanted to help him, he could tell. But how did he open up to her about this problem? Logan shifted into drive and pulled away. God, help me.

  Chapter 5

  Michelle sat across the table from Juliana at their favorite coffee shop and sipped her ice water. “I can’t believe you drink that stuff.”

  Juliana only grinned and sipped her caramel macchiato for a few more moments before placing her cup on the table and staring at Michelle. “Spill it.”

  She sank deeper into her chair. Should she tell Juliana? She would be more understanding than most. “He stutters.”

  Juliana’s hazel eyes filled with tears. “Oh, Michelle. Logan stutters?”

  She nodded.

  Juliana reached across the table and held Michelle by the hands. “I know that must bring back a lot of sad memories.”

  Michelle sighed. She withdrew from Juliana’s comforting touch and rubbed the sides of her head. As a young child, her cousin Malcolm’s school peers bullied him for his constant stuttering, and it hurt him deeply. It hurt him so much that he took his life. She shuddered as she remembered her aunt and uncle’s faces at their son’s funeral. Grief personified. He was only twelve. He hadn’t even really lived life, and due to those relentless taunts from those cruel bullies, he was dead.

  Fire rose within her. She hated injustice in every form, especially when it affected a loved one. “He didn’t have to die. Kids can be so cruel.” Michelle fiddled with the straw in her tall, half-empty glass of water.

  Juliana sipped her coffee. “Yeah, kids can be cruel, but Logan is a survivor. He didn’t let his stuttering stop him from living. Thank God. He found a way to cope and moved on. Think about it, Miche. He never would have met you.”

  Michelle shrugged. “Yeah, I guess that’s a good thing.”

  “And so is your empathy. He needs a friend who understands. Maybe this could draw you two closer.”

  Michelle wiped a tear from her eye, reached for a napkin, and used it as a tissue. Juliana sat by, sipping her coffee as Michelle straightened the hem of her silk blouse and smoothed her hair. She then wrapped her hands around her half-full cup of ice water. “Maybe you’re right.”

  Juliana put her cup down and leaned in. “Amiga, of course I’m right. God brought this man into your life for a reason. I have great expectations for this relationship.”

  A half laugh escaped Michelle. “We’re not in a relationship.”

  Juliana raised an eyebrow. “Yet.” She smirked before glancing at her watch. “Alright, amiga. I need to get back to work before they fire me for being a few minutes late.”

  Juliana was like the sister she never had. “Thanks, girl. I needed this talk.”

  At the ringing of her phone, Juliana reached into her purse and stood. “Of course. That’s what friends are for. I’ve got to go and take this call. Later, amiga!” She blew air kisses before answering her phone and rushing out the door.

  Michelle removed the straw from her glass and gulped down the remainder of its ice-cold water. The coolness refreshed her. She pulled out her phone and checked her calendar. What was Logan doing today? Was he okay? They hadn’t spoken since he left the photo shoot. She had his number from his business card. Maybe she should text him?

  After sending up a prayer, she tapped the digital keyboard. She’d let him know she was thinking about him as a friend. Nothing flirty. Just a platonic message, reaching out to show she cared.

  ~*~

  As Logan found a parking space near his mom’s private practice, a familiar, lighthearted jingle let him know he had a text message. He reached for his phone. He only had a minute to spare before his appointment with his mother.

  Oh, it was from Michelle. She asked how he was doing after the photo shoot. Very sweet and business-like. She said she would send a link to her online gallery of his headshots by tomorrow and that he would receive a CD containing the headshots in the mail by next week unless he wanted to meet her in person to pick it up.

  Hmm, she left it open for them to meet in person. He wanted to see her again, but he didn’t want to embarrass himself by stuttering in her presence. He’d probably have to explain his disability the next time he saw her. But at the same time, he wanted to see her. Picking up the CD of his headshots would be the perfect excuse to gaze into her honey-brown eyes.

  Mom was expecting him. Michelle’s text would have to wait. He hustled inside where both a blast of cold air and the receptionist greeted him.

  “Hey, Sara. I’m here to see my mom.”

  The petite receptionist with fire-red hair and shamrock-green eyes looked up. “Hey, Logan. Go back to her office. She’s waiting for you.”

  He gulped. His mom valued promptness. “Thanks.”

  Sara nodded before returning her attention to the paperwork on her desk. He sauntered down the short hallway and turned the corner to face his mother’s closed office door. He paused before knocking.

  “Who is it?” His mother’s voice was melodious and pitch-perfect. She was the reason Logan was able to manage his stuttering.

  He broke free of his inner thoughts and opened the door. “H-h-hey.” He paused. “Hey, Mom.”

  Mom came around her desk and engulfed him in a hug. “Hey, honey.”

  Logan hugged her back. She pulled away. Logan shut her door then sank into the couch.

  “We have an hour to work together. I take it your stuttering is resurfacing?”

  Logan nodded.

  “When did this happen, and what were you doing when it happened?”

  Thoughts of Michelle filled his mind and heat rose to his face.

  “It happened at a ph-ph-ph-photoshoot on Monday.”

  Mom nodded. “Let’s do our fluency-shaping exercises.”

  He placed his right hand over his voice box and recited his vowels.

  He practiced the easy onset technique Mom taught him as she monitored his airflow and speech. He spent the hour with her, following her instructions as she guided him through their tried-and-true exercises.

  After their time was up, his confidence returned. Next time he met Michelle, he wouldn’t stutter. “Thanks, Mom.”

  “You’re welcome, honey. Now tell me about her.”

  Logan raised his eyebrows. “Who?”

  Mom tilted her head. “The girl that made you stutter.”

  “I didn’t say it was a girl.”

  “You didn’t have to. I know.”

  He laughed. Whenever he had a crush on a girl and tried to talk to her, he would stutter. He thought he’d outgrown that flaw until he met Michelle.

  Mom glanced at the clock. “You can tell me about her later. My next client should be here in a few minutes.”

  He stood. “Thanks for helping.”

  “Anytime, darling. I’m always here for you.”

  Not until he settled into the driver seat of his car did he realize that he never replied to Michelle’s text. He retrieved his phone and typed a response. “Let’s meet tomorrow. At our place.”

  Now, if he could just keep from stuttering.

  Chapter 6

  Logan strolled into Marie’s Mocha Café humming to himself, practicing vocal exercises to the tune of a Michael Bublé song as he waited for Michelle to arrive for lunch. He glanced at his watch as he slid into an empty booth and peered around. She should be here with his photo CD any minute.

  He turned his humming into soft singing. He was so engrossed in the tune he didn’t realize someone was listening until Michelle slid into t
he empty seat across from him.

  He held back a whistle. Today she wore a blue skirt that hugged her curves, a fancy white top that bared her toned shoulders and played off her flawless hazelnut skin. Wow, she was gorgeous.

  Michelle placed her purse on the booth seat and leaned in with a little smile on her face. “Hey there. I didn’t know you could sing.”

  Logan chuckled. “Yeah, well, I’m not that great. My mom is a professionally trained singer.”

  Michelle’s eyes widened. “Really?”

  “She changed career paths when she realized she wasn’t going to be the next Joni Mitchell.”

  “What does she do now?”

  “She became a speech language pathologist, and she’s pretty good. Pretty famous here in Maryland. She helps me with my stuttering.”

  Michelle’s golden-brown eyes glowed with compassion.

  “I’m sure you noticed that last time we spoke.”

  She nodded, and her hands trembled. Her eyes glistened. Was something wrong? He reached out to squeeze her hands. Whatever the problem was, he wanted to fix it. “What’s the matter?”

  “My cousin Malcolm used to stutter.”

  “Really? How is he doing now?”

  A tear streaked down her cheek. “We lost him.”

  Logan drew back. “What?”

  She wrung her hands as she spoke. “His peers in school bullied him relentlessly. He didn’t tell his parents. They found out after the funeral. If we had known what he was going through when he was alive, we would have told him he was wonderful the way he was, that we couldn’t live without him, and suicide wasn’t the answer. Malcolm was a gift to everyone. He didn’t deserve to think he was unloved.” She covered her face.

  Logan slipped out of his seat, slid next to her, held her close, and let her cry. She soaked his shirt with her tears. Dear Lord, please help me to help her. Show me how.

  A few minutes later, she wiped the tears from her face and pushed away. “I’m sorry.”

  He touched her chin and turned her face toward his. “Don’t be sorry. You can tell me anything.”

  Michelle stifled a laugh. “You sound like a therapist.”

  Logan chuckled.

  “Thanks.”

  Well, now was better than ever. He’d better ask her out before another man swooped in and swept her off her feet. He cleared his throat and prayed that he would not stutter. “Would you like to go out with me sometime? Somewhere other than here?”

  She nodded. “Where would you like to meet?”

  “You can meet me on my boat. That’s where I live.”

  Michelle’s jaw dropped. “You have a yacht?”

  “Yes, in Annapolis. Not too far from your studio. I’d like to take you sailing across the bay someday too.” Logan reached for his cell phone. He tapped the screen, pulled up an exterior photo of his boat, and sent it to her. “Take a look.”

  She stared at the screen with her mouth agape. “Wow, it’s gorgeous.” She peered at him and tilted her head. “You’ve got very alluring ideas for dates.”

  “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

  “Can’t wait.”

  Neither could he. He just hoped he wouldn’t blow it.

  Chapter 7

  Michelle tugged at her snug top and pale-blue skinny jeans as she strolled down the dock to the boat Logan had described. She hoped that she wasn’t overdressed—or underdressed. A cool breeze blew through her hair, and the fresh scent of the bay refreshed her soul on this sunny, early summer day.

  Though she’d lived here all her life, this was her first time in the marina. She’d never met someone who lived on the water. This was a new experience.

  She stopped when she reached a boat that resembled the one in the picture Logan texted her yesterday. It was more gorgeous and expansive in real time. Clearly this was more than a boat. Not knowing much about yachts, Michelle lacked better words to describe this sleek, smooth creation painted in white with blue and gold trimmings. As she reached out to touch it, Logan emerged from the lower deck.

  He waved. “Hey there.”

  “Hey.” She smoothed the cool fabric of her comfortable boat-neck top, hoping it wasn’t too much. “I didn’t know what to wear. This is my first date on a boat.”

  He gazed at her with his beautiful sea-blue eyes then encircled her waist and drew her in for a hug. “Don’t worry. You look beautiful.”

  Michelle’s heart somersaulted. He steadied her in his embrace. “You okay?”

  Michelle gathered her wits and focused her attention on the horizon. “Does she have a name?”

  Logan chuckled. “Yes, she does. Her legal name is Talaria 48. She’s a Hinckley.”

  “Hinckley?”

  “Yes. Only the best boat maker and yacht experience in America.” He stepped ahead of Michelle on the slip then turned and reached for her. “Come aboard, my lady.”

  Michelle’s neck warmed. She placed her hand in his and stepped onto the swaying boat.

  She allowed him to continue holding her hand until they settled into the cockpit where he had prepared a light dinner. The aroma of apricot-glazed baked chicken mixed with the scent of fresh salad drizzled with lemon vinaigrette and sweet sparkling apple cider. By the looks of it, he was a very talented chef.

  He moved so that Michelle could take a seat then settled across the table. He reached out and took Michelle’s hands into his. “I’d like to pray, if that’s okay.”

  Michelle’s heart warmed. He was a man of faith in God too? In a world where it looked like most men threw chivalry out the window, Logan was slowly but surely becoming her knight in shining armor. Not that she believed in fairy tales and happily ever after romances. Logan cleared his throat, jolting Michelle out of her thoughts. “Sorry. I’d love for you pray for our food.”

  Logan bowed his head while Michelle closed her eyes.

  “Dear God, thank you for this perfect weather and for Michelle’s friendship. Please bless our first date together. May the food strengthen and nourish our bodies. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

  She wanted to know more about Logan. She hoped this was the first of many dates and shared adventures. That is, if Marcel didn’t ruin her budding romance.

  “Ready to eat?”

  “You’ve really outdone yourself. This is a treat.”

  “Thanks.”

  They unfolded their napkins and tucked the fine cream-colored cloth in their laps. He sipped water from a crystal glass, and her fork clinked against the plate as she scooped up a piece of chicken. They chatted throughout the meal.

  All too soon it was over, and Logan stood to clear the dishes. “Would you like to watch the sunset together before you drive home?”

  “I’d love to.”

  “Great. I hope you brought your camera.”

  “Always.”

  She followed him to the deck just as the sun touched the western horizon over the city. The colors of pink, deep orange, and yellow blended with the sky’s beautiful navy blue. She slipped her phone from her purse and clicked pictures of the sunset.

  Logan grabbed her by the arm. “Let’s take a picture together.”

  She settled back in her seat, cuddled close to him, and held her camera out as far as her arm could stretch. “Ready?”

  He nodded.

  She leaned in so they were barely cheek-to-cheek then pressed the button to flip the camera to take selfies. “Smile!”

  He grinned, and her hands shook at the sight of his pearly whites.

  He reached for the camera. “Allow me.” He pressed the button, and the camera made a quiet shutter noise as it snapped their photo. He handed the camera back to her.

  “It’s perfect.”

  “You’re perfect.”

  “Aw, you’re sweet.”

  “Send it to me.”

  When she gazed up from her phone, Logan watched her with a twinkle in his eyes. “What?”

  “You’re adorable.”

  “Thanks for the din
ner, Logan. It was delicious. And your home is amazing.”

  “Home, sweet home.”

  Her phone chimed a text alert that reminded her to call Juliana about a photo for the magazine. Wow, it was after nine. Juliana was a morning bird, so she was probably on her way to bed. She shrugged. “I’d better go. Business calls.”

  “Even now?”

  “That’s the life of a business owner.”

  “Oh.”

  Didn’t he understand?

  “I’ll walk you to your car.”

  She leaned in and pecked his cheek. “I enjoyed tonight. Until next time.”

  “Until then.”

  But would there be one? Maybe Juliana was right. Maybe she was too caught up in her business to catch a good man.

  Chapter 8

  Michelle picked up her phone and dialed Juliana’s work number. She was hoping to catch her in the office. The phone rang twice then on the third ring, Juliana’s high-pitched voice answered. “Amiga!”

  “Hey, girl. You called me last night. What’s up?”

  “Oh my goodness, I totally forgot. Logan asked you on a date. That wasn’t last night, was it?”

  Michelle giggled.

  “It was. Tell me all about it.”

  “It was lovely. He made dinner for me on his yacht.”

  “He has a yacht? I’m in love. I mean, uh, you should be in love.” Michelle laughed so hard her stomach hurt. “It’s too early to be in love, Jules.”

  “It’s never too early to be in love when you meet Mr. Right.” Juliana was forever the hopeless romantic.

  “So, what did you call me about?”

  “Oh yes, that. Well, I wanted to ask you if you would send me a link to your top two favorite wedding day photography galleries from your clients. My editor Brenda is looking for new faces for our website.”

  Michelle’s heartbeat accelerated. She’d been waiting for an opportunity like this to show the world a more diverse face of beauty. Juliana was an editorial assistant for Brenda Worthington, the editor-in-chief of Bridal Mode Magazine. Ever since Juliana got the job a few years ago, Michelle had been asking if there was a way to get her very diverse clients on the cover of the magazine.