by Lowe, T. I.
We ride in quiet until we are about to pull up behind the gallery. The dark has just descended completely. I’m almost giddy about my surprise.
“Oh yeah. I’ve also printed off some new canvases. They are just waiting for your approval, boss.”
He looks relieved. “Wow. You’ve been a busy woman. That’s a relief. I’m jetlagged and sure didn’t want to have to dive into printing and wrapping canvases tonight.”
After he parks, we quickly head to the back door, but I tug on his hand a bit to stop him before he unlocks it. “I need to explain the pictures a little before you see them.”
Looking over at me curiously, he cautiously says, “Okay.”
“The syllabus for my expressive photography class states that I have to produce a grouping of pictures with a theme to present by the end of the semester.” I shrug my shoulder. “I was inspired, so my project is done. I paid for the costs already to replace the materials I used, and these photos are not for sale, of course.” I’m rambling so I clamp my lips shut and give him a quick peck on the cheek, before going inside.
I take the lead and stand JP before the grouping of seven black-and-whites. I watch him guardedly as his eyes widen and his mouth falls slightly open. I’m not sure if this is a good sign or bad, so I wait.
I glance back at the photos. Each one has a saying in different shades of blue, but all are in the same block font. Some of the sayings skirt along the bottom of the photo horizontally, while others run up the side vertically. And more importantly, JP is the focal subject of each one. I knew he wouldn’t be crazy about that part, so only one captures his entire face. It’s the center focus of the collection, and I think it is most fitting.
“Let’s take a picture walk,” I say, before pulling him to the beginning of the collection that is neatly lined on the rustic brick wall. “The theme is love, and the first love I witnessed here was of you and Duke.” I point to the black-and-white of JP with his arm protectively over Duke’s shoulder. They have their backs to me with their heads bent towards each other as though they were deep in discussion. I point to the blue phrase along the bottom. “Brotherly Love. I captured this one while we were at his party.” I look over to wait for his reaction. He only nods his head and takes a step to the next.
“I’ve noticed one thing in particular about you. It’s that you always have a hand on your camera.” I point to the second photo. One day he was in his office, standing by his desk while in some phone conference. The entire time, he fiddled with his camera that was sitting on top of the dark wood desk. I snapped a close-up of just his hand lying on top of the camera. The print has Love Captured running up the right side.
I pull my speechless companion over to the third canvas. It’s an action shot of him surfing. It’s a side profile with his face down and slightly away from the camera. Looking at it now, I’m still in awe of how magnetic JP is on a surfboard. “Living Love Vividly,” I read. These words are in a deep teal hue that reminds me of the ocean.
JP clears his throat and nods his head again, before stepping to the center canvas. I follow and run my hands under his lovely eyes on the canvas. I allowed them to keep their baby-blue hue with the rest of the photo being black-and-white. “This one is my favorite of the collection. Love Overflowing.” This headshot of JP is captivating with his eyes piercing the camera. I matched the font color as close to his eyes as I could and placed the phrase at the bottom. The breeze had lifted his blond hair slightly away from his face, exposing his features holding a serious tenderness—those full lips only alluding to a smile. He was watching me during our walk on the beach in Bay Creek, and I raised my camera before he could protest.
We step to the next and JP shakes his head. He finally speaks and I let out a breath of relief. “How have I not noticed you taking so many blame pictures of me?”
I worry he may be creeped out by it, but when I glance at him, he is only looking at me affectionately. “Talented Love,” I say as I nod to the fifth photo. This photo is from one day we were in the workroom. JP had just finished wrapping some canvases on the wood frames. He had a canvas in each hand studying them. I snapped the photo in a side profile with his head tilted towards the camera.
We move over to the next one and JP lets out a humph. I’m sure he had no idea again that he was subject to my camera. It’s of him sitting on top of his surfboard that Sunday morning—his back to me, gazing out over the ocean. His shoulders are relaxed and I felt a vibe of peace when I studied it. “Love Renewed,” I read and ease to the last canvas.
“A Friends Love,” I read as JP looks over the photo of him with all the guys from Rivertown. “It was from the end of that rowdy basketball game. I love how you are all huddled together, slapping each other on the back in good humor.”
JP looks each one over in a reverse walk before turning towards me. He stands here as if waiting for an explanation of some sort so I try.
“You say you don’t speak the words, I love you, often. But you most definitely live them in everything you do. You live and love passionately.”
This answer seems to impress him, because the next thing I know, JP has me wrapped tightly in his arms with a magnificent grin igniting his handsome face. “I most definitely love you.”
“I know,” I say. I place a gentle kiss on his lips and pull away, not wanting to get carried away. I’m not finished with this picture walk just yet. I run my hand over his stubble-covered jaw as I speak. “I thought about including the picture I took of you surrounded by all of those ladies with your fist full of cash and your cheeks painted with lipstick. I was going to entitle it, Too Much Love.” I pause as we both share a laugh. He will find that picture as his new background when he turns his computer on in the office though.
JP glances back over the collection once again. “It’s complete exactly the way it is. You, my lady, will ace that project.” He lifts the edge of one of the canvases to inspect my work. “Excellent job on wrapping the frame.”
“Thank you. I had a great teacher over the summer, who has taught me quite a lot.” I look over at him and find him smiling at me proudly.
Gesturing back over the canvases, JP says, “Capturing human emotion with your camera is your gift, Willow. I see so much through your eyes. I think this should be your focus.”
I feel my cheeks warm a bit with his praise. I really do enjoy photographing people more than any other subject. I nod my head in agreement.
I take his hand and start pulling him up the stairs. “Now, I know the grouping looks nice with an odd number, but I couldn’t help but make just one more. I won’t include it, but it had to be made.” I say no more until I stop JP in front of his bedroom door.
“You sure have been busy while I’ve been gone.” He quirks an eyebrow.
“Now, I want to explain to you that I didn’t invade your personal space. I simply hung a photo and nothing more.”
JP smiles as he skims his fingers along my cheek. “I trust you, Willow.”
“Good,” I say as I push JP’s door open and usher him into his room. Both of our attention immediately draws to the wall by his dresser. I’ve placed another black-and-white with the caption, Love Heals. It’s the close-up of his chest with the bite mark on display. Underneath the caption is another one slightly askew from it towards the right. Love Discovered.
He rubs his chest in the offending spot as he studies the picture. He nods his head approvingly, but seems to unable to speak. Time passes with no words spoken as he wanders closer to the dresser to study the image. Eventually, JP turns to stalk over to me and presents me with a long love-filled kiss.
I’ve never left JP Thorton speechless until today, and I sure am enjoying it. It makes me feel bold, so after standing a while longer in his room, I push away from him teasingly and whisper, “Be sure to lock your door tonight.” Giving him one more languid kiss, that is just as passionate as the unruly kisses we’ve shared, to remember for the night, I leave him for my own room.
�
�You best not forget to lock yours,” he says huskily before I close my door. Moments later, I hear the shower running and all I can do is grin. This man has completely stolen my heart.
~~~~~
I bustle in Monday after school and head straight into JP’s office to find him at his desk. I’m amazed at how content it makes me to be here with him.
Without looking up from a photo spread laid out on his desk, he grouches out, “I should go ahead and fire you.”
Well. There went that contentment. As I place my camera bag and messenger bag by the filing cabinet, I sass back, “All you have to do is change the blame background picture. I personally think you like it.” I point over to his grinning face squinting happily at us from his computer.
“No.” He waves his hand dismissively towards the screen, and then points to the last container. “We had a deal.”
I pop the lid and show it to him. “Three envelopes and I’m done, I’ll have you know.” I roll my eyes at him for good measure.
“Well.” JP pats his legs. “Maybe we can work out another deal.”
I set the container down and happily sit in his lap. “What did you have in mind?” I ask before kissing him.
“Oh, I’ve got a lot in mind for you, babe.” I smack him playfully on the arm. Capturing my hand, he says, “Seriously, I can’t thank you enough for handling the ton of photo filing. Today, I had a client come in wanting to see some photos I took for him two years ago. All I had to do was go to the filing cabinet and voila, there they were!” He pulls my right hand to his mouth and skims his warm lips over my knuckles. “My right-hand,” he says pointedly.
I lean in and place a kiss on his nose playfully. “Good. Now let your right-hand finish up.” Hopping off his lap, I set up shop to finish off the filing. Today, I should finally wrap it up.
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be in the workroom. I’ve got a few canvases to frame.” He stops long enough to comb his fingers through the back of my hair before disappearing out the door.
Smiling happily, I plow through the first batch relatively quickly. I had already started this file last week, so all I have to do is add. After that file is done, I pull a new folder out along with another envelope and make quick work of completing it. It’s done in only fifteen short minutes.
Normally there is a date or some indication written on the envelopes, but this one is blank. I’ve pushed it to the side a few times, knowing it won’t be a simple file. It stares at me from the bottom of the container, so with eagerness to finally have this task behind me, I swipe it up to get started.
Pulling the photos out, confusion overtakes me. The images are oddly familiar. Flipping through them several times, I feel the circle of the past year complete before I understand it. Why would JP have such pictures? An eeriness creeps along my back and tingles spread all the way to the top of my head. Clutching the photos to my chest, I stumble into the workroom. My mind feels a bit foggy as I approach him.
Without looking up from his work, he asks, “What’s up?”
I try, but I can’t speak.
Finally he looks over at me and his eyes widen. “Willow, what’s wrong?”
I try again, but still no voice. I can only shake my head, so he pulls my hands away from my chest and spies the photos I’m holding.
The photos…
Shadowy images with emergency vehicle lights flashing in and out of the scene…
Everything soaked in rain and shrouded darkness…
A cloth saturated in blood and rain abandoned on the pavement…
Crushed metal and shattered glass…
“Those aren’t supposed to be in there,” he whispers as he pulls them away from my trembling hands. “I’m sorry you had to see them.”
“Please tell me about them,” I strangle out, barely able to breathe.
Sighing heavily, JP flips somberly through the stack. “I don’t think I can.”
“Please.”
Shaking his head slowly, he mutters, “No. I just don’t think…”
I place my hand on his shoulder. “Please, JP, I need to know.”
He sniffs back unshed tears and remains focused on the poignant images. “I was in this accident. Walked away from it.” He pauses to clear his throat. He pulls the photo of the blood-stained cloth, that on closer inspection, I see it’s a shirt. “I held a woman and helplessly watched her die.” Sniffing again, he continues. “I begged God to let her live.”
The weight of his words slams into me and the room spins. I cling to JP’s arm for support when my knees buckle, but JP catches me before I fall.
“Willow!” Familiar concern weaves through his tone.
“She didn’t die,” I whisper.
JP looks at me with confusion deeply furrowing his brow. “Yes, she did, Willow. I held her. There was no pulse… She had a deep head wound… Lost too much blood.” His words feel like they are slipping in and out of volume over my thunderous heartbeat pounding in my ears.
I grasp his hand and press his fingertips along the scar. I start at the beginning and ease them along the pucker up to the crown of my head where the wound ends. As I do, JP’s legs give away and land us both on our knees. I feel the tremors quiver through him and on along my own body.
Shock registers in his blue eyes. Several beats pass with only him shaking his head in confusion. Leaving his hand firm on the scar, he says, “But she… you died.”
“You begged God to save me and He did.” Our tears plummet as we are overwhelmed by this revelation. “I heard you begging Him.”
“I’ve been haunted by that night, reliving your death, and all this time you were right here…” The words choke off in a sob as JP crushes me in his embrace.
Time carries away unnoticed as the impact of that fateful night collides into us a second time. Eyes closed, I allow him to hold me while I listen to his sobs that match the ones from my clearing memory perfectly. All this time…
“God gave me you,” he manages to say after a while.
This moment is too surreal and the emotions filtering through me are almost unbearable. The moment is a divine one. I know beyond knowing, this was predetermined and set in motion after God answered JP’s prayer. Love has healed us. This thought moves me to motion. I quickly yank JP’s shirt up and over his head. Tossing the shirt to the side, I run my hand over his now perfect skin. No evidence of the bite remains. Placing a kiss in the spot, I whisper, “Love heals.”
I feel JP work his fingers over my scar once more. Parting my hair, he strings a long line of kisses over the jagged contour. “Yes. Love heals.”
After a long spell of holding and just loving each other, JP pulls me slightly away from him so that I meet his watery gaze. “Willow, do you believe in fate?”
“After this past year, how could I not?”
His smile is full of appreciation and I know he is looking at me with a renewed view. “I believe sometimes you are given an opportunity and just have to take a leap of faith.” He pauses to gage my reaction. I nod in agreement.
“Sweetheart, whataya say to taking a leap of faith with me?”
“I think I’d be insane not to say yes.”
With this answer, JP pulls me into his lap and kisses me confused. It’s the first time in over the last year, I absolutely don’t mind having all of my thoughts jumbled up.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Snuggling in the warmth of the bed in this incredible man’s arms, everything feels right with the world until there’s a knock at his door. Well, more like a pounding on the door.
“John Paul, you in there?”
He pulls me closer and burrows us deeper under the covers. “Go away!” he hollers towards the closed door. This seems to make it open automatically.
We both peep from the edge of the blanket to discover a red-faced sister glaring in our direction.
“She’s your intern! Not your play toy!” Savannah yells furiously at her brother.
“She’s not either one! She’s my
wife,” JP barks back. “Now get out!”
Anger radiates off of Savannah as she slams the door shut with an incredible amount of force, but reopens it immediately. “This is one of your tall-tales and it ain’t funny!”
JP holds our wedding-ring adorned hands up for her to see. “Ask Julia and Greyson, if you don’t believe me.” He tucks my hand back under the cover protectively.
“What? Why did Julia know and not me?” She’s still red-faced and yelling.
JP sits up and rubs his face in aggravation. “Before you get all whiny on me, let me explain. They live closer and we needed witnesses.”
“When?” She pops her hand on her hip and narrows her eyes at him.
“Last night. Now stop pouting so I can thank you.”
“Thank me for what?” she shoots back, her voice finally softening.
“For forcing the love of my life into my life.”
I watch the anger fade from her face as a tender smile takes over. Before she can mutter one word, JP throws a pillow and clips her shoulder with it.
“We’re on our honeymoon. Now get out!” he says sternly while pointing towards the door.
With a grin, Savannah slams the door once more. We listen until her stomps fade downstairs. Laughing, JP eases back down and snuggles me close to his chest with my back towards him. A tingle works contently along my body, responding to the soft kisses he places on my shoulder and up until he reaches the scar on my scalp.
The last three whirlwind days have completely blown me away. While JP held me on his lap in the workroom, he called Crowley saying he needed a marriage license pronto. Yesterday morning, Greyson and Julia showed up wearing uncontrollable grins with a marriage license and two silver wedding bands.
“I need to take a picture of this to send to Julia.” His voice muffles out from my hair as he grazes a kiss along the scar. In the last few days, JP is either brushing it with his fingertips or placing gentle kisses along it. It’s as though he needs reassuring. I think we both do after such a surreal revelation.
