At Your Most Beautiful

by Harper Bliss

  “Of course.” Maya nodded at Quinn’s camera and equipment. “Shall we do this?” She glanced back at Quinn. “I’m so happy that you actually became a photographer.”

  “A long time ago, someone I can’t possibly mention urged me to follow my dreams.” Quinn should start setting up her lights, but she seemed frozen to the spot, gorging on Maya’s delightful presence.

  “Why can’t you mention them?” Maya sounded coy enough for Quinn to conclude that she knew exactly who and what Quinn was referring to.

  “It’s a promise I made.”

  “Looks like they were right, though. Whoever they might be.”

  “At least about one thing.” Quinn painted on a smirk.

  “Are you going to take my picture now?” Maya asked.

  “Yeah.” For the life of her, Quinn couldn’t wipe that smirk off her face. Not only had she not expected to see Maya again, but she most certainly hadn’t expected her to still look so smoking hot. Although, in the end, it really wasn’t a surprise that she did. Perhaps what had really happened was that Quinn hadn’t allowed herself to think about how beautiful Maya would look now. Nor had she ever allowed herself to entertain the possibility of running into her like this. For all those reasons, the surprise was all the greater, and perhaps powerful, for it now. “You look really good, Maya. Being a grandmother suits you.”

  “Thank you.” Maya took a step toward her. “How about a hug for your old neighbor? Or is that inappropriate too?”

  Quinn could only shake her head.

  Chapter 11

  Maya could not believe she was about to throw her arms around Quinn Hathaway. How long had it been? So many years, Maya had lost count. Just like she had, over time, lost touch with Quinn’s parents, even though, up until quite recently, they had lived next door to her.

  Maya pressed herself against Quinn’s body. There was no rush of familiarity—how could there be?—nor of nostalgia, but there was something. The memory of the night they’d spent together that one hot summer had always stayed with Maya much more prominently than she’d expected—or wanted. In a way, it was one of the reasons she’d moved to New York. Not because Quinn lived there, but because of what Quinn stood for in Maya’s mind. Maya wanted to experience once again the rush of freedom she’d felt during that night ten years ago.

  Quinn was the first to let go—she was on a job. But so was Maya. She was a teacher at Acton Academy and that involved having her portrait taken. The first time she’d walked into the building, it had been impossible to ignore the art on the walls. Maya had instantly loved the quirky pictures of the other teachers for their playfulness and magical quality. She’d come to appreciate them even more once she’d gotten to know the teachers they depicted, making her wonder how the photographer could have captured so much of their subject’s personality. She couldn’t wait to see what Quinn would make of her.

  “I still can’t believe this,” Quinn said, as they broke from their embrace. “You must tell me about Tommy and this grandchild of yours in much more detail.”

  The mere mention of her grandson made Maya’s chest swell with pride, the way only a grandparent’s could. “I’ll show you a picture after we’re done.”

  “Please tell me you’re free to go for a drink after this.” Quinn unzipped a large rectangular bag. “So we can have a long-overdue catch-up.”

  Maya nodded and watched Quinn as she set up two large lamps and a green backdrop. She looked so different from when Maya had last seen her, yet also still very much the same. So much could change in ten years of a young person’s life. Tommy was only twenty-eight and he was married with a child now. Maya could only imagine the ways in which Quinn had changed from that brazen young woman asking for a swim—and so much more—into the person she was today.

  “I love the dress,” Quinn said. “You look absolutely stunning.”

  “I bet you say that to everyone whose picture you’re about to take.” From her years as a professional dancer, Maya was used to posing for judges and post-competition pictures alike. She hadn’t been nervous about this photo shoot in the slightest. In fact, she’d looked forward to it. It had been a while since she’d painted on her most professional smile—the one she’d already perfected in the mirror as a young girl dreaming of a career on the dance floor.

  Quinn chuckled. “Only the ones who look as gorgeous as you.” Quinn winked at her and in that wink, Maya could see so much of the woman she had become. She was confident, born to take a city as ruthless as New York by storm. Earlier, she had seemed slightly thrown by being confronted with Maya, but she had regrouped. Perhaps Quinn found comfort in operating her equipment and setting up the shot. Either way, Maya enjoyed watching her work and seeing Quinn in her element.

  “Let’s do some static shots first,” Quinn said. “If you could stand in front of the green screen, please.”

  Maya did as instructed. She smiled for Quinn, which wasn’t a hardship at all, while trying to suppress the memories that were surfacing from the deepest recesses of her mind. Maya had seen all of Quinn that night. She’d seen her vulnerable side. As though it had happened mere days ago, Maya could still remember what she’d looked like the first time she came. A frisson ran up her spine. She turned up her smile, making sure it was reflected in her eyes.

  Quinn’s face was obstructed by the camera—Quinn liked to take pictures in a way Maya hadn’t seen for years, with her eye glued to the viewfinder—so Maya focused on Quinn’s body. Her gaze was drawn to the dark lettering on the outside of her wrists. A white-hot jolt shuddered through her body as she remembered Quinn’s other tattoo—the one on her lower belly.

  “Do you think you have some moves for me?” Quinn asked, pulling Maya from her reverie.

  “Of course.” Maya was happy she managed to sound so self-assured, despite the memories of that night swirling around in her brain.

  Quinn beamed her a full-wattage smile. “Remember when you last danced for me?”

  Maya shook her head, although of course she remembered. Every second of the time she’d spent with Quinn had proved impossible to forget.

  Quinn looked as though she didn’t believe Maya. “I don’t suppose you’re teaching these kids how to do the salsa?”

  “Acton is more ballroom-oriented,” Maya said.

  “Okay. Maybe you could stand in a waltz-like pose?” Quinn grinned at her. “Although I would have loved photographing you doing some Latin moves.”

  Maya tightened her core, extended her neck, and leaned her torso back as though she was dancing a waltz.

  “Beautiful,” Quinn said.

  Maya didn’t know if she meant her or the pose.

  They tried out a number of different positions, one of which included Maya dancing a solo quick-step, her feet light as a feather, like she was flying from one end of the room to the other.

  “I think I have all I need.” Quinn put her camera to the side. “Would you mind if I took a quick pic with my phone to send to Mom? Maybe a selfie of the two of us?”

  “Sure.” All those years later, Maya could no longer see the harm in that.

  Quinn grabbed her phone and walked over to Maya. When she held the phone up to take the snap, Maya could make out the word on her right wrist. Acceptance it said.

  “Smile,” Quinn said, drawing Maya’s attention away from her tattoo.

  Maya looked into the lens and put on her smile.

  “Would you like me to send that to you as well?” Quinn was looking at her phone screen.

  “You would need my number for that.”

  “I was going to ask for that either way so I can send you my work before I submit the final version to Indira. I like the people in my pictures to be fully happy with what I’ve done.”

  Maya gave her number, and Quinn sent her the picture. “Now you have my number as well.”

  “It was… lovely to see you again.” Maya took a few deep breaths. “I can’t wait to see what you come up with. I really love what you’ve d
one with the ones in the corridors. You’re obviously very talented and good at what you do.” Not that Maya was comparing Quinn to Tommy, but sometimes she wished her son had more of her artistic, frivolous qualities. Just like his father, Tommy had become an accountant—although, when in the mood, he could bust a mean move on the dance floor. At least, between her ex-husband and her son, Maya never had to worry about her money being mismanaged.

  “Thank you.” Quinn shot her another smile. “I meant what I said earlier. I don’t have anywhere to be right now. Do you want to go for a coffee?”

  “It would be nice to catch up.” Maya was curious to know what Quinn had been up to. “There’s a place I like to go just around the corner.”

  Chapter 12

  Quinn caught Maya’s gaze sliding down to her wrists. She held them up, even though, when sat opposite from her, Maya could only see the words in the wrong order. She crossed her wrists so Maya could properly read what her tattoo said.

  “Radical Acceptance,” Maya said, then looked up into Quinn’s eyes again.

  “It’s not the only one I got since…” Quinn couldn’t help but smile.

  “So, you’re a photographer now.” Maya stared into her cup of coffee and expertly ignored Quinn’s allusion to that night.

  “And retouch artist,” Quinn added.

  “Wow.” Maya looked suitably impressed.

  “And you moved to New York City.”

  “I did,” Maya said.

  “How long have you lived here now?”

  “About seven months.” Maya half-smiled. “Your mom did give me your number. She told me to get in touch with you if I needed anything.”

  “I take it you didn’t need anything then.”

  “I’ve been too busy settling in to need anything from you, Quinn.” Maya painted on a full smile again. “Being a granny has really taken it out of me.”

  “How old is your grandchild?”

  Maya pulled her phone from her purse and started scrolling. “Ethan’s four and a half months now. And Tommy’s an accountant, like his dad.” She showed Quinn a picture of Tommy who looked much older than Quinn remembered him, an absolutely stunning black woman by his side, and a tiny baby in her arms.

  “That’s Tommy’s wife?”

  “Beth,” Maya said. “You might have seen her on CNN.”

  “No way.” Quinn remembered now, not that she watched CNN that often. “Tommy’s married to Beth Robbins?”

  “He sure is.” Maya sat there beaming as if she were responsible for their match-made-in-heaven.

  “What’s the secret appeal of accountants that they get the hottest women?”

  Maya burst into a chuckle. “I don’t know.”

  “What a lovely family.”

  “Beth’s really going for it in the career department and Tommy’s quite busy as well.”

  “So you’re the nanny?”

  Maya shook her head. “I fill in when the nanny’s not there or when one of them is alone and it’s all a bit too much. I do still have a job.” The grin on Maya’s lips said that she didn’t mind spending time with her grandson at all.

  “What happened to your dance school in Milbury?”

  “I sold it. The house too. I used the money to buy a condo in Manhattan, if you can believe it. Up until quite recently, the thought had never occurred to me. I always believed I’d grow old in Milbury. But when Beth got pregnant, something in me shifted and I knew I wouldn’t be happy as a suburban granny who only sees her grandchild when his parents can find the time. Both Tommy and Beth are so driven and obsessed with work. I figured that if I didn’t come to them, I’d hardly get to see little Ethan.”

  “It’s a big move.”

  “It’s not the only reason I wanted to move to the city.” Maya sipped from her coffee. “It all just came together and so far, it’s been really good. I get to see Ethan and Tommy as much as I like, which is almost every day. The city’s been a thrill after all those years in quiet old Milbury.”

  “I’m glad you like it here.” Quinn raked her gaze over Maya. She stood out in the coffee shop with her red dress and matching lipstick. “It’s such a treat to see you.”

  “Tell me about you. Where do you live?”

  “Greenpoint. Quite a trek from here.”

  “Brooklyn?”

  Quinn nodded. “Still in the same place I moved to that summer, actually, but with a different roommate.”

  “Really?”

  “You don’t easily give up a rent-stabilized apartment in New York.” At least Quinn could always make her share of the rent these days and no longer needed to rely on monthly checks from her parents.

  “And your roommate is a friend or…?” Maya’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

  “Griff’s a friend.”

  “Griff?”

  Quinn understood the possible confusion. “Her name’s Rose Griffin. She’s a great roommate and friend.” Quinn could sense what Maya really wanted to ask. She figured she might as well get it out of the way. “I’m currently single, in case you were wondering.”

  Was that a flush of pink on Maya’s neck? “Just curious about you.” Maya still managed a confident enough smile. “Clearly, you’re doing well in your professional life. Not that I equate being in a relationship with having a successful personal life. How could I?”

  “But you’re happy for Tommy that he has a family?”

  Maya nodded. “I am. I can’t help it. I want to be open-minded, but on the other hand, it’s such a joy to me that he’s not alone.”

  “How about you, Maya? Are you still… alone?” Quinn couldn’t picture it. Then again, anything was possible.

  “Still single.” Maya shrugged. “But, for now, that only means I have more time for Ethan.”

  “I bet Tommy’s happy with that arrangement.”

  “He didn’t ask me to move here, if that’s what you’re implying. I did it of my own volition. I’m quite mature enough to make my own decisions.”

  Zing. Maya hadn’t lost any of her sass. “It’s not what I meant to imply. I—”

  “Tommy hasn’t seen me with anyone else since his dad and I divorced. He’s used to me being on my own. Not that he hasn’t tried setting me up in the past. At least he’s too busy being a dad for any of that foolishness now.”

  “Let me guess. He tried to hook you up with a fellow accountant?” If only he knew what his mother had been up to with her all those years ago.

  Maya confirmed with a nod. “More than one, although not at the same time.”

  They both chuckled, and Quinn was glad that the earlier possible moment of contention between them had passed.

  “Is that one of the other reasons you moved to New York? Because the pool of eligible bachelors is much larger here than in Milbury?”

  “Yes and no.”

  Quinn leaned back in her chair. “What does that mean?”

  “I—I’m not sure I feel comfortable talking about that with you right now.”

  “Fair enough.”

  “If you want to talk about someone’s adventures in dating, why don’t you regale me with some tales of yours?”

  “Again, fair enough.” Quinn ran a hand through her hair. If she’d known she’d be photographing Maya Mercer today, she’d have gone for a trim at the salon. She was overdue one. Her blond curls were sticking up at angles they shouldn’t be. “I’ve just come out of a… thing. Well, more than a thing. We were seeing each other for almost four years, but…” In hindsight, a good few months after she and Morgan had broken up, Quinn could so easily see that she’d wasted four years of her life—four of the very best years of her life age-wise, many a women’s magazine article would claim. “It didn’t work out in the end.”

  “It seems to be a thing with us,” Maya said. “To meet after you’ve had your heart broken.”

  “Morgan didn’t break my heart,” Quinn lied. “Or if she did, I’m over it. She’s not worth it. She strung me along for years.”

 
“Why? Was she afraid to commit? Four years is a long time to…” Maya left the sentence open for Quinn to complete.

  “Please don’t judge me for this, although I know it’s hard, but Morgan was—is—married. We had an affair. She did, anyway. A long one. She kept promising she’d leave her husband, but she never did. Clearly. So there you go.” Quinn couldn’t keep the bitterness out of her voice. It still stung—mostly because she had been so willing, so fucking eager, to believe Morgan would choose her when it came down to it.

  “I’m sorry, Quinn. I’m sorry that happened to you.”

  “Well, it didn’t exactly happen to me. I was there. I knew she was married from the get-go. I can’t be absolved of guilt when it comes to that. Nor can I be absolved of being stupid enough to believe her when she promised me we’d be together.” Quinn expelled a sigh. “I should have known that a woman who can so easily lie to her own husband would have no trouble lying to her bit on the side.”

  “Are you all right?” Maya leaned over the table and examined Quinn’s face.

  Quinn shrugged. “It just sucks and it’ll suck for a while longer. Until it won’t.” She held up her wrists to Maya. “Radical acceptance, right? Of the good and the bad things that happen.”

  “Is that what that means?”

  “It can mean so many things. That’s why I had it tattooed on my wrists. So I can be reminded of it all the time.” She put her hands down. “I accept my own part in it but I also accept that the way Morgan treated me was not okay. Just as I accept that it’s more than all right to be majorly upset about this all for a while.”

  “Hey.” Maya put a hand on Quinn’s. “It’s her loss. I hope you know that.”

  Maya’s touch felt instantly comforting. Quinn stared at their hands for a beat. “Thank you, Maya. You’ve always been so kind.”

  “Do you mind me asking…” Maya gave her hand a little squeeze, then removed her own. “How old was Morgan?”