Rachel pushed the glass of juice toward Tess. “You need this more than you think you do. Where is everyone else?”
Molly nodded toward the dance floor. “Dancing. There’s a man in a white shirt walking toward our table. I think umbrella man is about to arrive.”
Rachel flicked her blonde hair back from her face. “Do I look all right? No smudged mascara or wonky lipstick?”
“You look great,” Tess said. “Why don’t you introduce him to us?”
“I would, but I don’t know his name,” Rachel whispered back. She looked over her shoulder and smiled. “It’s him. Don’t leave without me.” She wiggled out of the booth and took the arm of the man smiling at her.
Molly looked at the dark gray pants and the shoes the man was wearing. She watched the way he walked, the way he leaned down to hear something Rachel said.
“You’re doing it again.” Tess nudged Molly’s arm with her elbow.
Molly rubbed her arm. “What?”
“Judging Rachel’s friend. You’ll never fall in love if you can’t let go of the past. Look at what happened to me.”
Molly kept her gaze locked on Rachel until she lost sight of her. “I don’t want to fall in love. And what happened to you means you’re getting married in less than forty-eight hours.”
“I know. Isn’t it wonderful?” In the blink of an eye, Tess’ gaze went from wistful to sharp. “But this isn’t about me. It’s about you and falling in love. Why do you think you’re such a great photographer?”
“I’ve worked hard, practiced, taken more photos than most people take in a lifetime.” When Tess didn’t look convinced, Molly added, “I went to school, learned from some of the finest photographers in Ireland.”
Tess shook her head.
Molly was running out of reasons why she took good photographs. “I’ve worked with some of the most influential people in the fashion industry. If you don’t take grand photos of their clothes, you don’t get asked back again.”
Tess nodded. “I imagine you’re right, but anyone can learn the technique of photography. Your point of difference, Molly O’Donaghue, is that you see love and magic in each shot. You draw out the best in people, make the image…more.”
Tess’ muddled brain was turning their conversation into a psychology lesson. Molly moved the glass of juice closer to Tess’ hand. “There isn’t more than what is.”
“Precisely,” Tess said with an emphatic nod of her head. “You see more than everyone else does. It’s a gift.”
“Or a curse,” Molly muttered.
“Finding love isn’t a curse, not if you find the right person to share your life with.”
Molly looked at the strawberry margarita sitting on the table. She was tempted to take another sip.
“So what are you going to do about it?”
“About what?” Molly didn’t want to begin to work out where Tess was going with this conversation.
“About falling in love. What about Jacob? He can’t be all that bad considering Alex is his brother?”
“I’m not going to fall in love with anyone. And if a man happens to have more money than he could possibly need, I’d be even less inclined to love him.”
“Not even if he was tall, dark, and handsome, and standing behind you?” Tess asked with a frown on her face.
Molly dropped her chin to her chest. If she’d been less caught up in the sorry state of her life, she might have felt the prickles of awareness warning her that Jacob was near.
Jacob cleared his throat. “I’ll leave you to your conversation.”
Molly turned around and watched him maneuver through the crowd of people on the dance floor. She thought of all the things she needed to say to him, the apology that should come first.
Sally and Annie walked toward their table.
“What’s wrong?” Sally asked. “You’re as white as a sheet.”
Molly took a gulp of her raspberry and lemonade pop. “Can you stay with Tess? I’ve got an apology to make.”
Sally frowned. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Keep Tess away from alcohol and get her something to eat. And if you see Jacob Green, ask him to wait for me.”
“What happened?” Annie asked.
“Molly told him she could never love him,” Tess said with a sigh.
Molly didn’t wait to explain what Tess was talking about. She had an apology to make and it wouldn’t be easy.
***
Jacob felt someone touch his shoulder. He turned around, half expecting to see his brother standing behind him. He was supposed to meet Alex in the bar, but so far all he’d managed to do was walk in on a conversation he hadn’t wanted to hear.
Instead of seeing Alex’s face, Jacob stared into Molly’s big green eyes.
She leaned forward and yelled above the noise of the people around them, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were behind me when I was speaking to Tess.”
Molly seemed sincere, but Jacob had been around too many people who could twist their words and make you believe anything.
“If you’d known I was behind you, would it have changed what you said?”
Molly looked down at her feet. For a moment, he didn’t think she was going to answer him. “I wouldn’t have said what I did. You can’t help it if you’re rich.” She bit her bottom lip. “I’m doing it again, aren’t I?”
Jacob nodded. He glanced around the room. Having any conversation in the noisy bar was impossible. “Do you want to go to the restaurant for a cup of coffee?”
Molly nodded and followed him through the wooden doors at the side of the room. The restaurant was busy for a Thursday night, with staff moving quickly between the tables. A waitress showed them to an empty booth and left them with the menu.
Molly pulled her black shawl around her shoulders. She fidgeted with the lace, dropping her hands to her lap when she saw him staring at her. “I really am sorry.”
Jacob nodded. It wasn’t his business to find out why she didn’t like him. The only thing he should be interested in was whether she’d take his photographs. “At least you’re honest.”
Molly opened her mouth to say something, then changed her mind when the waitress appeared beside her.
“What can I get you tonight?”
Molly looked up at the waitress. “I’ll have a cup of hot tea with skim milk and Jacob will have a cup of black coffee, please.”
The waitress scribbled something in her notebook. “Anything else?”
Molly looked at Jacob. He shook his head. “No, thanks. That’s all for tonight.”
With a smile, the waitress left to find the coffeepot and make Molly’s tea.
Jacob sat back in his seat. “You remembered how I like my coffee.”
“It wasn’t hard. I had a job as a waitress when I was at college. I wouldn’t have finished my studies without the extra income.”
“Did you enjoy it?”
Molly smiled. “Would you be referring to my time as a waitress or as a student?”
“Both.” Jacob was interested in everything there was to know about her. Molly’s soft Irish accent drew him close, left him waiting to hear what she’d say next.
“I worked as a waitress and barmaid at the Hog and Toad Pub, Wednesday to Sunday evenings. Jimmy O’Brien was my boss, and a finer man I’ve yet to see. He treated his staff well and paid us handsomely. If it wasn’t for Jimmy, I don’t know where I’d be today.”
“And college?”
Molly shrugged her shoulders. “That was an experience and a half. I learned so much, but most of it barely mattered once I left Dublin. My degree got me my first job with Sheila James. That led to a job with one of the top fashion magazines in Europe. My career took me all over the world. It was a grand time.”
When he’d first met Molly, Jacob had looked online to find out what he could about her. He’d seen some of the photos she’d taken for Vogue, Marie Claire and other top fashion magazines. She was a talented photographer, a ri
sing star in the fashion industry. What he hadn’t discovered was the reason she’d given it all away.
“Why did you decide to live in Bozeman?”
The smile on Molly’s face disappeared and her expression became guarded. “My sister, Becky, had already made Bozeman her home. When my granny died, it made me look at what was happening in my life. I needed time to think and breathe. Becky welcomed me into her home and I stayed.”
“How long are you able to stay in Montana?”
Molly looked confused. “Are you asking if I have a green card?”
Jacob nodded.
“I’m a permanent resident, so yes, I have a green card.”
“How did you…”
The waitress slid their coffee and tea in front of them, smiling at Molly when she said thank you. “I love your accent. What part of Ireland are you from?”
“A small village a few miles from Dublin,” Molly replied. “Have you been to Ireland?”
The waitress shook her head. “Not yet, but I’d love to go. My great-grandparents came from County Kildare.”
“That’s grand. I hope you get there one day. Ireland is a beautiful country.”
The waitress’ smile grew wider. “Enjoy your tea. If you need anything else, just let me know.”
Jacob watched the waitress leave. “You’ve made another friend.”
Molly poured some milk into her tea. “My gran used to say that a stranger is a friend you haven’t met.”
“Wise woman.”
Molly looked at him closely. “If I haven’t ruined any working relationship we might have, I’d like to accept your offer of photographing your land.”
“What made you change your mind?”
“I didn’t change my mind. I needed to think through the consequences. As soon as I saw your Emerald Lake I knew it would be hard to say no.”
Jacob looked down at his coffee. “It’s just a lake.”
“I think you know that isn’t true, Jacob Green. There’s something special about your land.”
“A story waiting to be told?”
Molly smiled. “You’re beginning to think like an Irishman.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“The best there is,” Molly replied. She looked into his eyes and a spark of electricity ran through his body.
Molly blushed and cleared her throat. “We’ll need a contract, a list of images you want to see. And I’ll need access to your property. If Victor is willing to take a scaredy-cat in his helicopter again, I’d be thinking that a few aerial shots would be grand.”
“And what else would you be thinking?”
“Nothing at the moment, but I’m sure there’ll be other thoughts that occur to me. When would you like me to start?”
“As soon as you can.”
Molly pulled a notebook out of her bag. “I’ll drive to your property tomorrow and catch the early morning light on your beautiful lake. It will give me a feel for the land and what it could be. I’ll leave the paperwork up to you. Would you mind if I booked a time on Friday afternoon to see you? I want to make sure we’re on the same path.”
Jacob pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and looked through his calendar. “Four o’clock works for me. I’ll be at mom and dad’s ranch. Are you happy to meet me there?”
Molly nodded and wrote something down in her notebook. “Tess is getting married on Saturday, so I won’t be taking any more photos until Monday at the earliest. If mother nature looks kindly on us, I should have the first images ready by Wednesday. Does that suit your time frame?”
Jacob nodded. “We haven’t talked money. How much are you going to charge me to take these photos?” Molly named an amount that made his eyes narrow. “That’s not enough.”
“Sure it is. I’d like to ask your permission to use the photos for other purposes. Emerald Lake would make a fine exhibition subject.”
“You can use the photos however you like, but I’m not paying you what you want. I’ll work something out and put it in the contract.”
Molly shrugged her shoulders. “You’ll do what you must, but for me it’s not about how much I earn. As long as I have enough money to get by, I’m happy.”
“Have you always been that careless with your finances?”
Molly’s eyes shone brightly. “I’m not careless by nature, Jacob Green. I’ve worked hard for what I’ve achieved. But money doesn’t buy happiness.”
Jacob had already learned that lesson and he wouldn’t make the same mistake again. “I’m sorry if I offended you.”
“It takes a lot more than that to offend me. Besides, I’ve done enough of that with you to last a lifetime.” Molly held her cup toward him. “Here’s to working together. May we both find what we’re looking for.”
Jacob clinked his mug against Molly’s tea cup. It should be an interesting week.
***
The next day, Molly opened the door of her car and breathed in the clean, crisp morning air. She could see Emerald Lake in the distance, sitting below the early morning mist like a blanket of silk and satin. She pulled her backpack out of the trunk and checked that she had her water bottle and breakfast tucked securely in a side pocket.
It was a fine morning to take some photographs. There were enough clouds in the sky to create majesty and splendor, but not enough to overwhelm the scene. As the sun rose higher, the lake would glisten; create magic and mystery, a need to know more.
This would be the beginning of the story, the setting of the scene.
She walked away from her car and headed toward a ridge she’d seen yesterday. She’d taken a chance on this location. After circling the property twice in Victor’s helicopter, she’d seen no better place to start her story.
Jacob would be able to bring prospective clients to this spot, show them the reality of the images she was about to take. And the reality, she knew, was far more spectacular than anything she could capture on film.
When she reached where she needed to be, Molly pulled a small waterproof blanket from her backpack. She might be wanting to create magic, but a wet bottom wasn’t fun. The dew on the grass would soak through her jeans, make the time on the mountain a little less comfortable. She had an hour to enjoy this landscape before she needed to leave, an hour she would put to good use.
She pulled a tripod out of her backpack, unfurled its telescopic legs and thanked the good Lord for titanium. Her tripod had gone around the world many times with her. Its lightweight construction and ease of use made it as essential to her life as the camera that sat above it.
When she was happy with the first shots, she pulled another camera out of her bag. This one was special. She’d worked after school and on Saturdays at the Montgomery Beauty Salon, sweeping hair off the floor, shampooing and conditioning thousands of heads, all to save for the camera that she wanted the most.
Different camera models had come and gone, but Molly had known what she wanted, and no new features would change her mind. After a year of saving, she nearly had enough money put aside. Mr. O’Driscoll, the owner of the camera shop, offered her a discount. She was all set to buy her camera, when it disappeared off the shelf.
She’d been heartbroken. She couldn’t find the same camera anywhere else, but two days later she learned where it had gone. Her gran had bought the camera for her eighteenth birthday. It had been an extravagant gift, expensive beyond what they could afford.
The money Molly had saved from her part-time job would be put toward her education. Her gran told her it would be an investment in her future, something she would never regret.
And she’d been right. But the greatest lessons Molly had learned hadn’t come from college. They’d come from her gran. She’d learned that working hard, loving deeply, and knowing what was right, would take her through the best and worst life had to offer.
No money or experience could buy such lessons, and Molly was thankful each day for her gran’s wisdom.
A flash of sunlight broke through the clo
uds, distracting Molly from her thoughts. She held her camera in her hand and focused on the view in front of her. The pine and spruce trees added shadow and depth, the sun, clarity. She brought the camera to her eye and quickly captured the scene.
She took more photos, changed the settings, then caught the light as it skimmed across the lake. Next came the panoramic shots, the ones that would tie the lake to the land, the water to the dream.
After an hour of alternating between her hand-held camera and her tripod, Molly was happy with the photos she’d taken. She’d work with what she had in her dark room; layer the colors, the tone and the texture. By the time she finished, the photos would be even more stunning than what she’d seen today.
After she’d put her cameras carefully away, she sat on her blanket and pulled a sandwich out of its wrapper. As she watched the sky lighten and the world wake up, a deep sense of peace settled inside of her. No breakfast had ever tasted so fine or been eaten in such a lovely setting.
Jacob would be giving away more than he thought when he sold Emerald Lake. She knew without knowing how, that this land had the power to heal, to rejuvenate lost souls and heavy hearts.
And if she could have afforded it, she would have bought Jacob’s home in the blink of an eye. But for now, the images she’d captured on film would have to be enough. And that, she thought, was more than most people had the opportunity to enjoy.
***
His parents’ kitchen was the last place Jacob thought he’d sign a business contract in. But in some strange way, it was the only place he could imagine starting a working relationship with Molly.
The kitchen smelled of gingerbread and baking, the kind of smells that reminded him of what was important. His mom took pride in her home. The kitchen counter sparkled in the afternoon light and the table he was sitting at with Molly shone with a fresh coat of polish.
Molly opened the contract he’d spent a lot of time deliberating over. She signed on the dotted line, kept a copy for herself, and handed the original paperwork back to him. The only pages she looked at belonged to appendix two. With her head bent, she studied the carefully constructed text like a student studying for her final exams. Her finger skimmed along the words, stopped every now and then before moving onto the next line.
Sweet on You (The Bridesmaids Club Book 4) Page 5
