Wildflowers

by Melanie Wilber;Kevin Wilber

  “It’s a beautiful sight, isn’t it?” a voice startled her. She turned to see an elderly man and his wife walking down the path toward her.

  “Yes,” she replied. “I never get tired of it.”

  “Neither do we,” he said, chuckling. “We came here on our honeymoon fifty years ago. And we always spend our anniversary here too.”

  “Congratulations,” Natalie said. “You two look like you’re still in love.”

  The woman smiled and patted her husband’s arm. “He’s a romantic, that’s what,” she said. “I wouldn’t trade him for the world.”

  Natalie smiled and asked if she could take their picture. They agreed and began walking away as she instructed. The silhouette of the couple walking arm in arm down the trail, heading into the sunset, seemed like a perfect way to use up the last of the roll.

  The rest of the week went well. She encountered rain and fog more than once, but she had arranged her itinerary so that she would have more than one opportunity to stop at each lighthouse. She felt certain she had gotten some excellent shots and hoped Mr. Trent would decide they were good enough for the cover as he had planned. If he did, it would be her first cover-photo ever, a major achievement that could be the catalyst she needed to make other editors sit up and take notice.

  She arrived home on Friday afternoon and took the film in for developing so it would be ready to pick up by the next morning, giving her the weekend to sort, label, and choose the best ones to submit to Mr. Trent on Monday.

  Brandon and Josie returned late that night, and Natalie witnessed the joyous reunion between Tommy and his parents at the airport. Josie said they’d had a wonderful time. Tommy was ready to head to Disneyland now rather than waiting until Sunday, but Josie looked relieved they had planned a day in between the two trips. Natalie supposed their week in Hawaii would be a sharp contrast to their week in southern California with a seven-year-old to entertain. But she knew they would have a good time. She had no doubt Brandon would be an excellent father for Tommy.

  She spent most of Saturday viewing her slides, sorting and selecting the best ones, and labeling them. She felt satisfied with the amount of work she got done but knew she would have more to do on Sunday.

  She had dinner that evening with Josie and her family at the Newport Bay restaurant on the waterfront and went to church with them in the morning as usual. Sitting next to the happy couple during the worship service, Natalie envied them. Not only their love for each other, but also their peace with life. Something she never seemed to have.

  Natalie knew she was blessed. She had a family that loved her, even if she didn’t get to see them that much. She’d had lots of fun adventures, and life had never been boring. She had been able to enjoy not just one, but two careers that she loved. But she did feel that something was missing. That nothing ever satisfied her completely. Maybe she did need a man in her life.

  After the service Natalie went to pick up Tommy from the children’s area. When they returned upstairs, she saw Brandon standing beside the large windows that let in natural light and illuminated the expansive foyer. Weaving through the crowd, she held onto Tommy’s hand and led them to where her brother-in-law stood. She saw Josie standing beside him once her view was no longer obstructed. They were talking to Michael.

  “So, how about it?” she heard Brandon say to his cousin. “Will you let us treat you to lunch this afternoon? We want to do something since you weren’t able to make it to the rehearsal dinner.”

  “Sure,” Michael said. “I never pass up a free meal.”

  Josie saw her standing there. “Do you want to come with us, Nat?”

  “Where?”

  “We’re taking Michael to lunch as a thank-you for playing at our wedding.”

  “Sounds good,” she said. “You’re paying, aren’t you, Bro?”

  Brandon laughed. “I don’t remember this being part of the vows.”

  “Sure it was,” Natalie said. “For richer, for poorer--I’m the poorer.”

  Brandon laughed and asked Michael where he wanted to go. He suggested a Chinese restaurant within walking distance, and Natalie felt her stomach growl in anticipation when they stepped through the doorway. She loved all different kinds of foods. Pizza would always be at the top of the list, but Chinese cuisine took a close second. Almost every Friday night she had spent with her dad, they had ordered take-out for dinner. He had even taught her the fine art of using chopsticks.

  Natalie tried to show Tommy how to use them while they waited for their main course to be served. He had been seated at the end of the table next to her. Josie and Brandon sat on the opposite side of the table, leaving the chair beside her for Michael.

  “How long have you been playing the piano?” Natalie asked him.

  “As long as I can remember,” he said. “My mom always says I started when I was three. I didn’t take lessons until the fourth grade though.”

  “How is the band going?” Brandon asked. “Have you recorded that CD yet?”

  “No time,” Michael replied. “We’re too busy playing at youth events. Between the band, school, work, and the youth group, I have no time for anything else.”

  “And you took time to have lunch with us?” Josie asked.

  “Well, I’ve got to eat and since my cousin here is paying, I figure I can spare an hour.”

  Natalie liked Michael. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but something about him intrigued her. His open and friendly manner made her feel comfortable around him--like she could simply be herself. She felt no need to try and impress him with her accomplishments or experiences. In fact she hardly talked of herself at all, other than when asked directly. Michael didn’t either. How this down-to-earth, good looking, and talented guy did not have a girlfriend, she had no idea. He probably didn’t have time for one.

  “I should have your pictures for you later this week,” she told him, walking beside him back toward the church. “I’m sorry I didn’t have them today, but I was on a shoot all week and then I left the rolls from the wedding at the apartment when I took my others to the lab.”

  “That’s fine,” he said. “I don’t need them quite yet.”

  “What kind of job are you applying for?”

  “I’m looking for a youth pastor position,” he replied. “I graduate from seminary in two months.”

  “How old are you?” she asked.

  “I turned twenty-seven last month,” he said, hesitating a moment before adding. “It took me awhile to say yes to God.”

  Natalie looked up, hoping he would explain further. He shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck. “We are stubborn creatures sometimes.”

  She felt lost. Michael could have been speaking a different language--one she didn’t speak--for all the sense he was making. After they separated from him, Natalie wanted to ask Brandon why Michael hadn’t graduated sooner, but she didn’t know how to inquire without giving away her growing interest in his cousin. Brandon and Josie needed to get home, finish packing, and get to the airport for their late afternoon flight to L.A. anyway, so she continued to mull it over in her mind rather than ask.

  When she returned from dropping off Josie, Brandon, and Tommy at the airport, she went to work, finishing up her selections of the transparencies she would submit to Mr. Trent tomorrow. She had been very pleased with the results and hoped the photo editor would feel the same.

  At seven-thirty the phone rang, and Natalie reached for it from her chair at the kitchen table.

  “Hi, Natalie. It’s Allison. I just talked to one of my roommates, and she said she has a friend who is looking for someone to share an apartment with.”

  “Oh, I forgot to tell you.” Natalie positioned the phone between her ear and her shoulder to continue placing the slides in the Carousel wheel. “I’m going to be moving in with my dad.”

  “Oh. Where does he live?”

  “In Lake Oswego. He has a big house, and he’s out of town on business about twenty-six days of the
month, so he’s letting me stay there.”

  “That’s great,” she said. “Does that mean you’ll be able to do your photography full-time?”

  “Yeah. It should work out well.”

  “You’re still going to come to church at Emmanuel, aren’t you?”

  Natalie hadn’t given it any thought before now. She supposed if she continued to go anywhere, it would be there, even if it would be a longer commute. “Sure,” she said. “Where else would I go?”

  “Good. Have you decided about the retreat yet?”

  “Are you on the recruitment committee or something?”

  “No,” Allison said. “I just want to make sure you don’t forget about it. I really hope you can go.”

  “I can’t say for sure because something might come up, but as far as I know I’ll be going. I’m sure you won’t let me forget.”

  After she hung up, Natalie had to admit it felt good to have a friend like Allison bugging her about going on some retreat, but she couldn’t figure out why Allison and the others seemed to care so much. She knew if she needed to travel for a shoot that weekend, or if her dad planned to be home, she would have to say no, but otherwise she would probably go. She wondered what they would do and what it would be like to spend an entire weekend with them.

  Putting her last slide into the wheel for her presentation in the morning, she turned off the lights to view them one last time and make sure she had put them all in correctly. She brought the first one into focus and checked to make sure the image matched her notes. Advancing to the next one, she heard the phone ring again. She wondered if it could be Josie calling to say they had made it but thought it was probably too early.

  “Hello, Natalie?”

  It was not her sister. The male voice sounded familiar.

  “Yes?”

  “This is Michael Walker.”

  “Hi,” she replied. “Brandon and Josie already left for Calif--”

  “I know. I was calling to talk to you.”

  “Oh?”

  “I didn’t want to put you on the spot at lunch today, but I wanted to ask if you’d be interested in going to a concert with me this Thursday night?”

  Natalie opened her mouth but nothing came out. Is he asking me out on a date?

  “Ummm, sure. I guess,” she said, unable to think of any reason to say no. “What concert?”

  “Chris Tomlin.”

  “Okay,” she said, not having the slightest idea who that was. “What time?”

  He filled her in on the rest of the details. She couldn’t bring herself to ask if it would be just the two of them or if they were going with a group. Either way, she wasn’t sure how she felt about going out with Michael. She had enjoyed his company at lunch and felt comfortable around him. His looks were nothing to complain about, that was certain, but she didn’t know if he was her type. She had never been out with a seminary student before.

  This should be interesting.

  CHAPTER SIX

  “These are excellent, Ms. Matthews,” Mr. Trent told Natalie after seeing a third of her slides the following morning. “I have to admit I’ve been nervous all week waiting to see what you would be able to do on short notice, but I am very impressed.”

  His words of praise made it hard to maintain her professional composure, but she managed to keep herself from doing a victory lap around the room.

  “You have made my job more difficult, however. How do you expect me to choose the best ones? Next time you only need to bring me half as many.”

  “Next time, huh? Can I get that in writing?” she teased, letting down her guard slightly.

  Mr. Trent chuckled. “Actually, yes,” he said, moving to his desk to take a file from a small stack. “The boss handed me this one on Friday. How do you feel about hiking through the Mount Hood National Forest this summer?”

  “I’m listening.”

  “We’re planning a special issue for next spring featuring the lakes, camping areas, hiking trails, popular viewpoints, etcetera, etcetera. I’m looking for two or three photographers to cover as much of the area as possible. If you want to be one of them, the job is yours.”

  Natalie stared at him. “You’re serious?”

  “Yes.”

  “When would I need to get started?”

  “Whatever works best for you. The artwork will be due around the beginning of September.”

  “Where do I sign?” she replied, knowing that even if she decided to move back to Tahoe before the end of the summer, she could still come up for a few weeks to finish up the assignment.

  After discussing more details with Mr. Trent, she agreed to take it on without reservation. During the last ten years she had photographed all kinds of subjects in a large array of settings, but Oregon landscapes were her first love. The assignment would provide many opportunities to capture some spectacular mountain scenery right in her own backyard. She couldn’t imagine a better opportunity than this and felt amazed such an assignment had been dropped into her lap.

  She stopped by the lab on her way back to the apartment to pick up the pictures she had taken on Josie’s wedding day. Flipping through the prints, she smiled at the happy faces. Josie and Brandon looked great together, like a perfect match. She wondered if she would ever look that good standing beside someone.

  Samuel came to mind. She hadn’t thought about him for a few weeks, she realized. There had been a time she couldn’t go a day without thinking about him. Now she wondered if she would ever see him again. She had met Samuel two summers ago while in Paris. She had gotten on the metro for a routine trip under the city to one of her favorite locations and taken a seat beside him on the crowded subway train.

  It was his first day in the city on business, and he had already gotten lost. He did not speak any French, and she’d helped him learn some simple phrases so he could ask for necessities and for help when he needed it. At the end of the short ride he asked her out to dinner and she accepted, something she had never done with a complete stranger, although she’d had many offers. He seemed harmless, and she welcomed the chance for some American company for the evening.

  One dinner turned into two, and then three. He was a native Californian and had gone to Stanford for two years. He was living and working in London at the time, and when he had to leave at the end of the week, they had decided to correspond via email.

  Their correspondence had lasted for a full year. She had seen him twice this past summer. Once in Paris, and another time in London. Since returning to Portland, she hadn’t had access to the internet on a regular basis and had gotten out of the email habit. They had planned to get together the next time she returned, but that time had never come.

  He had been a good friend, and she often wished their relationship could have been something more, but neither of them ever took the initiative to make it happen. She supposed that possibility was long gone. He probably had forgotten all about her.

  Her thoughts turned to her current prospect as she came across the photos she had taken of Michael. Could she and Michael work together? She didn’t know him well enough to say one way or the other, but he had gotten her attention--the first man to do so since her return to Portland.

  She studied his features. His eyes were slate-blue; his hair blondish-brown, longer on the top than the sides and in back; his skin looked smooth, like he hadn’t had a zit or cut himself shaving in his entire life. The last picture she had taken was the best, the one with his full smile emerging. His eyes were sparkling and alive, almost as if he were looking right at her from inside the photograph.

  Well, I suppose I’ll have to get to know him if I’m going to find out if he’s my knight in shining armor. Last night after he called she had felt distracted, surprised, and curious about him asking her out. Now she felt anxious.

  Deciding she needed to find out what kind of concert they were going to, she searched Josie’s CD rack for an artist named Chris--something. Chris Tomlin? Yes, that was the name Michael had s
aid. She found several by the artist and took them all, scanning the labels for the most recent one. Putting the disc in, she walked to the couch and sat down to listen, taking the lyrics with her.

  Right away she noticed how much the singer’s voice sounded like Michael’s. If she didn’t know better, she would have sworn it was him. Listening to the music, she read the words in front of her, not fully understanding their meaning. They stirred something deep within her nonetheless. The artist sang about God, there was no doubt about that.

  She wouldn’t have admitted it to anyone, but she listened to the entire CD. Several of the songs brought tears to her eyes, and some she had heard at church. Many of the concepts about God were familiar to her. She had heard them from Josie and her brother and at church on Sundays. Forgiveness, freedom, seeking God. What did it all mean for her, and how could it be affecting her so strongly?

  When the CD ended she put in another, an older one, and listened while she took out the assignment details Mr. Trent had given her to look over, seeing she would be responsible for various areas surrounding Mount Hood. She wouldn’t start shooting for a month or two yet. The weather needed to be a bit warmer and drier for her to get started, but the preliminary work of planning and researching needed to be done now while she had the spare time.

  It would be a fun but demanding assignment. Many miles of hiking would be involved to get to some of the more remote locations. She decided to find out when Daddy would be home and see if he would be interested in going backpacking with her. She didn’t like the idea of being out in the wilderness alone and could always hire a guide to go with her or find a group of backpackers planning trips to those areas, but she would rather go with him if he wanted to.

  He had taken her backpacking twice when she was in high school, both times for the purpose of photography. Once had been during the summer along the coast. They had spent the night at campsites and never gotten too far away from civilization, allowing them to pack light and restock supplies often, but the second time had been a bigger stretch for her; four days in the Columbia River Gorge. The waterfalls, including the magnificent Multnomah Falls, were beautiful, but the more remote location had required them to carry more, giving her a tremendous backache and sore legs by the end of the first day. But the time with her dad and the spectacular photo opportunities had made the struggle worth it.