Oli’s door is open, so I stick my head round whilst knocking and wander in. As usual he is dressed in a sharp suit and looks well groomed; he is the perfect match for Lottie. However, underneath the suit are muscles and rumors of rebellious tattoos. Reminding myself of these possibilities makes me smile. I wonder if he realizes just how perfect a match for her he is, Lottie underneath her well coordinated designer exterior hides a wild side that people don’t often see. I don’t know if Oli knows about it. Their fake dating enables them to avoid other match making attempts by both sets of parents. Like Lottie, Oli has had a privileged upbringing and where Lottie’s parents look for a match to ensure the right suitor will bring happiness for their princess, Oli’s parents do it for reasons of breeding a future generation Hawsktown power couple. Lottie assures me the fake bit means they get space; they have the odd dinner date with the parents, as well as random meetings at the country club and phone calls to each other. Although the phone calls are usually short and frequent to tie each other’s stories together. Oli gets up from his desk, comes round the corner of it to me and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek. I drop my purse on the chair next to me and sit down.
“Coffee?”
“Sure, thanks,” more caffeine at this point can’t hurt.
“Not that I know specifics, but getting a phone call from Chris delaying our chat and then watching Neely run out like she did, like someone had been hurt, leads me to believe you’ve had an eventful morning.” Well someone had been hurt, Tits. A victim of my unbelievable rage.
“Yeah, I had a small run in with Letitia Brunel, you know we’ve never seen eye to eye. I guess it came to a head today.” His body does a fake shudder letting me know he too thinks she’s unpleasant.
“Now that would have been worth seeing, she’s unpleasant at the best of times,” he says.
“Nah, not really, but it does mean I’ve got to try and do my grocery shopping again when I go back for my car, now that’s unpleasant.” I’m trying to play it down, this meeting is about a job and not my wild temper. “So the tourist brochure...”
“Yeah, a few new units are in for planning permission on the edge of town and some of the Main Street ones I already own will be coming up for lease renewals. I thought that getting some new tourists in the town might open up some interest. You know, tempt them here, keep them here.”
“OK, I’ve got a few ideas for locations of great shots. Chesters Mountain and some walkers, The Hawkstown lake and waterfall would be lovely, The Mayor’s Day Festival is usually vibrant and fun. Other local highlights will jump out at me as I get going.”
“Great, I like those ideas and with the festival coming up soon it means we can plan to use it in the brochure. I was also thinking of some high school football shots too, if I want people to move here to start a business and a life, then they need to see the community and its school I think.”
“OK, I’ll add it to the list.”
“I’ll be handling the words and general blurb on the brochure and once we’ve selected the photos, I can get some specifics done at the end and tailor some of it around the photos we’ve included,” he says.
“Cool, I’ll get started then, how do you want to handle my fees?”
“Wally has already given me an idea of your rate, they’re fine. Just keep a record of time worked and expenses incurred, that kind of thing and we’ll settle at the end. I also understand that you’ll retain the copyright to the shots we use and will get a credit mention as the photographer in the brochure.”
“Good, thanks. Talking of expenses, I’ll need to hire an assistant to help me with the lake and waterfall shoot, the location is tricky and I’ll need someone to help with my gear. I usually ask Tommy Sevens, he’s worked with me before, so it’ll be quicker than getting someone else and his day rate is reasonable I promise.”
“No problem, whatever is required. Think you can have the shots finished and a short list of possible pictures compiled for a selection session in a couple of months? I may also see some other stuff out and about that I think we should put in, if that’s the case I’ll call and we can talk about it.” Even though he’s a friend of sorts, he’s a guy that knows what he wants and in business he makes sure you understand he is the boss.
“Absolutely, it gives me the scope to include the festival and means I can follow the weather to other locations to get a different selection of shots of the one place.”
“Great,” he replies.
“OK. I guess I’ll head back to the supermarket.” I make to leave.
“You know, I’m not sure what Jonas sees in Letitia, well, I think most males see what he sees if you get my drift, but I can’t imagine it’s worth all the drama and baggage she can bring with it.” The puzzled look is back on his face like he’s trying to work out the answer.
“It’s a well trodden path for him, with little effort involved and the groundwork was laid years ago, no pun intended.” Oli laughs and I laugh too. “Ah well,” I carry on, “you know more than me, your qualifications in all things Jonas are different than mine, you’re his friend and a guy. I am not equipped to understand anyone’s interest in Tits Brunel.” Again he laughs at our nickname for her. I feel better because I have managed to pull off a nonchalant ‘I don’t care’ attitude towards the subject matter of this conversation. This in itself is impressive because two hours ago I was a sobbing mess and thirty minutes before that I was a cage fighter. “Anyway, I’ll keep in touch with how the shots are coming along.”
We say bye and I leave his office, I only say a really quick bye to Neely, as I’ve already interrupted her enough. I wander down the town to start again, grocery shopping take two, only this time I will avoid drama and calmly walk around like I didn’t attack a badly dressed tart and put her where she belongs, in a heap of condoms!
Chapter Seven
With the shopping done, uneventfully this time, I head home and unload my groceries. Once that is completed I start to block some time in my schedule for the photo shoots, Ideally, I’d like the other pictures done first so the Mayor’s Day Festival is the last one. It enables me to have some spare time in case I have to do a re-shoot and then I can get a shot selection folder ready on my laptop for Oli. I should have enough time but I need to factor in things like the weather and also work around other people’s schedules. First, I have to get some people on board, so it’s time to make some calls.
First call, Jo at Mudjoes. I ask if I can take some shots of her serving some customers and of course I’ll need to pick the right customers. So this won’t be a thirty minute shoot, it will be a wait and see shoot, in order to find some people who are presentable and are willing to pose. I’ll also need their permission. I offer to cover the check of those receptive customers, but Jo however refuses, the publicity will be great for Mudjoes. We come to an agreement after some haggling over my concerns that I will be interrupting the normal flow of her business. I also ask if I can spend three or four hours just sat at a table taking random natural shots. She likes this idea too and tells me which days would be better than others. Whilst I’m there I also plan to take some shots of the still life in the coffee bar, like the traditional shop front and doorway, some cakes bursting with flavor surrounded by her pretty crockery and maybe a half eaten cake surrounded by some crumbs. I reckon this one will take place on my table! I can definitely see the value in that one. Net result = Mudjoes shoot secured.
Second call, Tommy. I’ve checked the weather and tomorrow or the day after offer a sunny and warm forecast for the lake and waterfall shoot. Doing it this early also means that if the shots aren’t great I have some scope and time later on when another good forecast comes in to go back. Tommy is free tomorrow and could be free the day after, but would need to do some juggling of his contract jobs at the cab firm first.
I’ve known Tommy and his family for years; he was in the same school year as Jonas. The Sevens family have run the local cab firm in Hawkstown since well before I came to live h
ere and it is a simple business with a brilliant business model behind it. It has six cabs and the number running during the day or night shift depended on the day of the week and the demand that day would bring, one of them is also dedicated to longer pre-reserved trips. They also have a number of local contracts which means they have a couple of school buses and mini-buses in their fleet.
The drivers are local men and woman who work shifts as independent people, they aren’t employees and each sign up to cover shifts depending on their own life commitments. This was a brilliant idea of Tommy’s that reduced the firm’s overheads as the number of employees reduced, it also elevated him in the family as the one to take the business forward, he was involved in it from a young age and it seemed like a fitting natural progression to take the helm. All of a sudden the business was thriving due to some simple changes and young, fresh thinking. Day to day, Tommy mainly sits in the background completing the managerial tasks, but he also volunteers for some of the night shifts because he would rather keep an eye on the routes that are more susceptible to drunken fares, this responsible mindset means he has a great reputation. I mainly come across him these days because I’m one of those drunken fares stumbling out of Purps; however the first time he became my assistant was by temporary choice. I needed someone to help me on a job and knew he had a lot of reliable people on his books as drivers who weren’t tied to an employment contract and may want to make some extra cash. Tommy, being a diligent guy, wouldn’t recommend someone until he had scoped out the job himself, this meant he offered to be my assistant that first time and he’s been the guy I’ve offered the work to ever since. He has no problems following direction and understands my professional standards and requirements to get the job done. I once asked Tommy why someone as busy as him still wants to do this with me, his answer is simple; it’s an escape from his normal routine and gives him time to appreciate the odd change to his daily routine whilst earning a bit of cash...and of course, working with me, we’re flirty co-workers!
On this particular job Tommy understands that working with me and being at the mercy of nature means it will take as long as it takes, and once I share the location he also understands that he won’t really be able to just set up, run and leave me to it. There is a big possibility that we’ll need to move around a lot to take advantage of the light and doing that on my own with the gear will be exhausting not to mention there is a small danger factor in dragging my equipment near water and rocks. Also from a purely selfish perspective, my equipment is expensive and I’d be pissed if I was rushing to get a shot and it got wet or damaged. I’ve told Tommy I will work around him and he’ll get paid for the day, so he’s going to let me know which day is best for him. Once he does this I can drop a quick text to Chris to let him know which day I’ll be using his land for access.
As I’m about to make my last call, which is to the magazine, my house phone rings and the brilliance of caller ID tells me it’s the Griggs house and at this time of day it’s more than likely Barbara.
“Hey, Hello.”
“Dolly dear, dinner tonight at ours,” she sends back at me. I’ve got nothing else on and know that anything Barbara cooks will be better than what I can rustle up for just me.
“That’s cool, will the twins be around? I may need to let them know that I might be using some shots of them that I took at the last football game because I’ve got the possibility of selling them to a glossy editorial magazine.” I’m pleased and excited to share this news and I want her to be too.
“Yes, they’ll be here.” Lord, she’s being brief today, or do I mean short?
“OK, what time shall I be with you for?”
“5pm please, dinner will be on the table at 5.15pm. Sharp.” Sharp, you’re not kidding.
“Sure, see you later Barbara.” It’s weird, but then she is usually doing lots of things at once, she’s probably just pre-occupied and already thinking about the next three things on the list of stuff she has to do.
Finally I call the magazine by dialing the number that I put in the phone reminder.
“Mig Smithson.” Oh he sounds....hot. He’s answered his phone saying just two words and he sounds hot. His voice is strong and anyone who can answer the phone just using their name in that manner is someone who is sure of themselves.
“Hi, it’s Dalton Frobisher, you left me a voicemail about using some of my shots in a piece you’re doing, I think it was ‘A year in football’, I’m the photographer.”
“Hello, Mrs Frobisher.”
“Dolly, please call me Dolly and its Miss.” I definitely have to put him straight on that point.
“OK Dolly, yes we are very interested. I’m compiling the piece, we had a background researcher at the game where you were taking shots and he picked up your card at the office. We’re particularly interested because he saw that you were allowed pitch side and took a series of shots during the pre-game preparations with the team and coach.”
“I did. I’m friendly with the team coach and a couple of the squad.” Well, shit, that sounds terrible. I play that sentence back in my head and once again I’m reminded of the ugly spit roast argument with Tits. I’ve just made it sound like I know them all in a very different way. “That is the coach is an old school friend and two of the players are my brothers.” Mig starts to laugh; he knows what I’m up to.
“Well Dolly, for a minute there you were sounding all kinds of interesting.” Oh, that hot voice sounds even better when he is using it to flirt and it sounds divine when he is using it to flirt with me.
“There really is no kind of comeback to that.” I say with a hint of Dolly flirt, a bit of a laugh and an open ended silence. The ball is in his court; I want to see if he goes for the friendly flirt or if he goes back to being professional, after all this a works call.
“I tell you what Dolly, I’m on assignment at the moment in Eaglesbridge, my intern tells me that it’s a couple of towns over from Hawkstown. We could meet tomorrow evening and have a working dinner? That’s if you don’t mind bringing your laptop and showing me your work and the roll of shots you took over a plate of food?” Clever, he’s combined the two and hedged his bets, if I’m not interested he can fall back to work chat, but it still leaves me with an air of possibility. It’s enough of a possibility for me to be mentally scanning my wardrobe for a ‘what if’ outfit, something that says work, but maybe a little more. I also realize I am a little excited. He’s a stranger to me and anyone else in the town, this could be the distraction Lottie thinks I need and listening to his voice, she could be right. Tomorrow could be a challenge if I end up at the lake with Tommy, but I can’t afford to turn it down, it’s paying work and I need to make rent, eat and buy useless and unnecessary girl treats.
“I have another shoot potentially scheduled for tomorrow; its nature reliant,” I explain, “but if we can agree to a time that is later in the evening I should be able to make it.”
“That works for me,” he replies. We agree to meet at 8.30pm at a place next to the hotel he’s staying at, Castles Steakhouse. It’s not a place I’ve been to before but I assume he must have thought how wrong can you go with steak? Thankfully I am a true American and appreciate meat. Anyway keeping things in perspective, I must remember we are going to be eating around a laptop rather than candle light. He finally finishes with “Looking forward to it; can’t wait to meet you Dolly.”
“Thanks Mig, see you then.” I hang up and I smile a little, work is getting busy which is great and I may be getting busy which is excellent, whilst I’ve been on the phone, I’ve had a text.
Tommy: Meet you at Chris’s ranch tomorrow? Time?
I decide to go with 8am, it’s not stupidly early, the scenery at the lake and waterfall should still be a bit foggy and misty which opens the potential for some different shots. I’ll be able to move around and scout out some good locations whilst it starts to get warmer.
Me: 8am?
Tommy: Yes. Make sure you bring your swim suit hot
girl
I quickly open another text and send it to Chris just to let him know we’ll be on his ranch land tomorrow.
I’ve got about an hour until I need to be at the Griggs house for dinner. I hate mornings in general, so having to get up even earlier to sort out my equipment will make me grumpy. Getting rid of grumpy Dolly to find creative Dolly is a task I don’t want so I decide to get stuff together now.
Slowly over the next twenty minutes my gear begins to pile up in the hallway so it’s ready for a quick transfer to the 4x4 in the morning. As well as doing this I throw together some snacks and drinks and leave an empty cool box by my gear to remind me to get the stuff out of the fridge. I head into my room and get a spare clothes bag together. I’ve only forgotten to take one once and never again, I was doing a shoot at a horse jumping meet and it started to rain whilst I was out in the middle of the course, by the time I got back to the car I looked like a swamp monster. I had to drag all my gear back into the 4x4 covered in mud and then drive home, still covered in mud, so not only did I have to clear myself up, I had to do my equipment and the jeep too. A hassle I don’t want to repeat. My spare bag contains things like a t-shirt, a towel, some sun cream, wet wipes, a clean pair of sneakers, joggers, that kind of thing. To save time I also lay out my clothes for the morning. I opt for some old but comfy cut off denim shorts, a simple white vest top and one of my many hooded sweater and a little black bikini. I also throw some sunglasses an old pair of sneakers and a baseball cap in the general direction of the pile of clothes. This combination of clothes means I can cover up in the chilly morning and then uncover as things get warmer, I’ll also be able to get some shots closer to the water if I’m not bothered about soaking my clothes. I consider swapping the sneakers for flip flops, but then remember the hike with the gear.
A quick check of the clock in my bedroom tells me I need to get to Barbara’s so I grab my purse, lock up and head out.
Fostering Love (The Soul Sisters Series Book 1) Page 6
