Through a Magnolia Filter

by Nan Dixon

  “Wait.” She had to keep it light. “You can’t stop smiling, or I’m not doing my job.”

  “What job?”

  “Helping you celebrate the holiday.” She couldn’t confess she’d wanted to make this a special day for him.

  He shook his head, stepping away. “It’s already better than seventy-five percent of my prior Christmases.”

  “That’s...good,” she choked out. Only a quarter of his Christmases had been good? “No, that’s horrible.”

  He waved off her concern. “Look,” he whispered. “Why don’t you see if you can catch your mum and Martin?”

  She peeked around the tree. Mamma sat on the floor, her head resting on Martin’s thigh. His hand stroked her strawberry-blond hair while she stared into his face, a loving smile played across her lips. Love. That’s what she wanted to capture.

  She held her breath, focused and clicked.

  Her subjects were oblivious, so she kept shooting. Stepping back, she captured a branch of the tree, but focused on Mamma and Martin. The sun shone through the stained glass dome, and blue, red and green beams decorated the floor and their clothes.

  With Liam peering over her shoulder, her hands shook a little, and her breaths grew shallow. Her body was too aware of how close he stood.

  She took one more shot, then flipped into replay mode. His breath feathered the back of her neck. She stiffened but angled the camera so he could see the pictures.

  “Nice.” Pointing to the picture with the Christmas tree branch, he added, “Lovely work.”

  When he came to the pictures with the stained glass beams, he smiled again. “You’ve a wonderful sense of light and color.”

  Her cheeks heated. “Thanks.”

  “And thank you one more time for the gifts.” His blue eyes twinkled. “I can’t think of a nicer Christmas.”

  “I’m so glad.” His smile made her heart beat a little faster. “Remember, the day’s not done. And your goal today is twelve smiles. No negotiating.”

  * * *

  LIAM LEANED BACK in one of the library’s wingback chairs. He’d tried to head up to his room, but Mamie insisted he spend the whole day with the family. The Fitzgeralds had welcomed him into the fold. Today he just might break his smile record.

  He’d had a few gifts throughout the years. If a school chum invited him home for the holiday, he’d receive a small present. But nothing like what his friends would receive. And that made sense. He wasn’t part of any family. He hadn’t belonged.

  “Is this your first Christmas in the US?” Bess asked, taking the matching chair.

  He shook his head. “My producer invited me to her home a few years ago. She lives on Long Island.” He shivered. “That was a cold I don’t want to experience again.”

  “I know what you mean. I don’t think I would know how to grow anything up north.”

  Two men headed down the hallway toward the library’s open doors. The elder man pushed a walker, the younger had his hand cupped like he would catch the older gentleman if he fell.

  Bess’s smile slipped off her face.

  “Are these the Foresters?” he asked.

  “Samuel and his son, Daniel.” She nodded, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “Samuel’s going through cancer treatments.”

  “Merry Christmas,” the older man called, wheeling into the library.

  Bess looked around the room, panic in her eyes. She leaned over. “This may be a strange request, but I need your help.”

  “Of course.” He shifted close, not sure what he could do for her.

  “It’s Daniel.” She tipped her head to the younger Forester. “I don’t want to talk to him.”

  He nodded. “Okay.”

  “If he corners me and my sisters aren’t around, please—rescue me.”

  He touched her hand. “Absolutely.”

  “Thanks.” Bess took in a deep breath. “I’ll help Samuel.”

  Daniel’s stare drilled holes into Bess as she hugged Samuel and settled him next to the fire.

  Dolley rushed into the room, head swiveling until she located Bess. She wore a festive green jumper and a red-and-green plaid skirt with green tights. Her curls quivered as she moved to the older man and gave him a hug. “Merry Christmas, Samuel.” Then she hustled to Bess’s side.

  Dolley ignored Daniel, too. What had made the man persona non grata?

  The man himself came over. “I’m Daniel Forester.”

  “Liam Delaney.” He added a smile, which of course made him think about Dolley. They shook hands, Daniel making it a contest. Liam squeezed back.

  Daniel commandeered Bess’s abandoned chair. “What brings you to Savannah?”

  “I’m filming a documentary. I’ll be staying through St. Patrick’s Day.” Liam picked up his mug of hot cider and sipped. “The Fitzgeralds were kind enough to invite me to dinner.”

  Daniel leaned forward, his brown eyes filled with suspicion. “They don’t have guests during Christmas.”

  “I know.” Liam smiled. This one counted against his goal. “Lucky me.”

  Daniel’s face paled.

  A man who looked identical to Daniel carried a tray of mugs and drinks into the room. “I’m the delivery boy. Compliments of our hostesses.”

  Gray came in, too, and pulled a chair over to where Liam and Daniel sat. He bounced his fist in the palm of his hand. “You and I need to talk, Forester.”

  “That’s my cue.” Liam stood. He wasn’t going to get in the middle of whatever was going on. “I’ll introduce myself around.” And keep Daniel away from Bess.

  People moved in and out of the library. Dolley whispered to Bess before leaving the room. Cheryl showed up with her son, Josh. Everyone chatted with Samuel first; the man was obviously a family favorite. When Liam introduced himself, Samuel seemed ill but genuinely nice.

  Bess left the room, and Daniel started after her.

  Liam stepped into his path. “What is it you do for a living?”

  “Listen—” Daniel tried to skirt around him, but Liam blocked his way “—I want...no, I need to talk with Bess.” Panic edged the man’s voice.

  “No can do, lad.” Liam caught his arm. “Miss Bess doesn’t want to be bothered by the likes of you.”

  “But...” Daniel pinched between his eyes. “I have to talk to her. Help me.”

  “This was from the lass’s own lips.” Liam did feel sorry for the man. “Sorry, chum.”

  Daniel reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box.

  Liam’s eyes blinked wide open. A ring?

  “This really can’t wait,” Daniel pleaded.

  Liam had no clue what to do. Would Bess want to talk to Daniel if she knew his intentions? He scratched the back of his head. His knee-jerk reaction was to help the man—but he’d promised Bess. “Sorry, she doesn’t want to talk to you. Let me get you a drink.”

  When they eventually moved to the dining room, Abby and Dolley flanked Bess. He wanted his camera to document the two warriors protecting their wounded sister.

  Conversation buzzed as food circled the table. Liam sat between Josh, a lad of six, and the lovesick Daniel.

  He swallowed another mouthful of incredible food. “This is delicious. Thank you for having me for dinner.”

  His appreciation started a string of thank-yous, directed at Abby.

  “This was a group effort,” Abby insisted.

  Everyone toasted the cooks, then settled in to eat. Small conversations floated around the table.

  Daniel, his face looking a little green, cleared his throat. “Bess?”

  She grabbed her wineglass and took a sip. “What?”

  “Can I talk to you?” Daniel stood. “Please?”

  She didn’t move. �
�You’ve said enough.”

  Everyone stared. Liam set a hand on Daniel’s arm.

  Daniel held out his other hand. “I love you.”

  Bess wilted. Dolley put her arm around her shoulders. Abby glared.

  “I screwed up.” Daniel pushed Liam’s hand away and moved around the table. “My family helped me realize how messed up I am.”

  Gray shook his head. Daniel’s mother bit her lips.

  “Please, talk to me,” Daniel said.

  “You broke my heart, and now you do this.” She waved at the table. “Humiliate me in front of our families. At Christmas? I don’t want you to talk to me. I want you to leave.”

  “Not cool, bro,” Nathan, Daniel’s twin brother, whispered.

  “Please, Bess.” Daniel moved closer to her.

  “I hate you.” She pushed out her chair.

  Dolley and Abby stood.

  “You should,” Daniel agreed. “I pretty much hate myself.”

  Bess wrapped her arms around her waist. “Don’t hurt me anymore.”

  “I don’t want to.” He reached out and stroked her cheek. “Damn it, I want to marry you!”

  Bess’s hand covered her mouth. She tore past him.

  The sisters blocked Daniel’s way.

  “Let me by!” He grabbed Dolley and set her aside. She squeaked.

  It was wrong to hurt Dolley. Liam moved after him.

  Abby did a side step.

  “Leave us alone,” Daniel begged, running for the door. “Give me a chance.”

  “Should we go after them?” Dolley bit her thumbnail.

  Abby wrapped an arm around Dolley’s waist. “Maybe they need to talk.” But both sisters stared at the door.

  Mamma held up her hands. “Let’s finish eating. I’m sure we’ll know what’s going on soon.”

  “Is this a normal Christmas?” Liam whispered to Daniel’s brother as he moved back to his chair.

  “More excitement than we usually have.” Nathan shook his head. “My twin really screwed up. Maybe the big gesture wasn’t the thing.”

  Liam helped clear the table, wheeling a cart of dirty dishes into the kitchen. The parents had migrated to the library while the younger adults cleaned. And the sisters glanced across the courtyard to the carriage house where Bess lived.

  He should head up to his room. He could find work to do. But Dolley’s pretty eyebrows were scrunched together.

  “Do you want me to check on them?” he asked.

  “She’ll come back if she needs our help.” Dolley bit her lip as she set a big pot in the sink. “I hope.”

  “I see Mr. Dan and Miss Bess,” Josh, the little boy, called from the sitting area.

  Exclamations circled the kitchen.

  Dolley ran to the window, pulling Liam with her. “Oh, my!”

  Daniel and Bess walked arm in arm, staring at each other. Smiles wreathed their faces. Seemed like Bess wasn’t angry with Daniel anymore.

  Liam hung back while everyone strained to see what was going on. He really should head upstairs, but he wanted to know how their story ended.

  “They’re coming inside. Act normal,” Dolley whispered, backing away from the window and rushing to the pile of dishes.

  The china banged together as she loaded it into the dishwasher. He winced, hoping nothing would break.

  The others followed her lead, making busy and ignoring the couple as they walked inside.

  Bess and Daniel stopped by the doorway. No one glanced at them. No one except Liam. Their mouths dropped open the longer they stood without anyone saying anything.

  He wished he had a camera. He should grab one since it seemed like there might be some happy news coming.

  Dolley looked over at him, her back still to the couple. She held up soapy hands with a what’s going on? expression on her face.

  He shifted closer and whispered, “They’re standing there, gobsmacked.”

  She wiped her hands and scooted around the counter, not looking back at her sister. “Help me.”

  He followed her into the butler’s pantry. She pulled down trays and set champagne flutes out. Then she grabbed marble bottle holders out of a fridge and bottles of prosecco. Her curls bounced as she moved around. “Let’s take everything to the library, just in case there’s an announcement.”

  He hefted the heaviest tray. “Lead on.”

  In the library, the two mothers sat next to each other holding hands. Martin and Samuel occupied the wingback chairs in front of the fire.

  “Are they back?” Mamma asked.

  “Arm in arm.” Dolley nodded. “Thought we should be ready if there’s an announcement.”

  “I should let your family celebrate,” Liam whispered, as they stood near the fire.

  “No.” Dolley’s smile was bigger than he’d ever seen it. She grabbed her camera off the mantel. “But you could take pictures.”

  “Sure.” He checked all the settings and snapped a few of the mothers on the sofa. Then one of Dolley. The comfort of seeing the world through the lens had him letting go of the breaths that had clogged his lungs. This was where he belonged. Behind the camera. Interacting with strangers all the time was exhausting.

  A parade of people came down the hall, led by Bess and Daniel holding hands. He pulled the camera up, shooting the couple as they smiled into each other’s eyes. Would the tears that hung on her lashes translate as joy or sadness?

  Everyone crowded around the pair as they moved to the two older couples.

  “She’s giving me another chance!” Daniel thrust out Bess’s left hand.

  Liam hoped he caught the delight on everyone’s faces. He couldn’t stop to look. He zoomed in on the ring and then pulled the focus back to capture Bess, Abby and Dolley together. Light glinted off their fiery hair as the sisters hugged.

  The power of family. He took in a tight breath. It was something he would never have.

  The prosecco was popped and glasses were filled. He stayed in the background, capturing the families’ joy.

  Dolley handed him a flute. “Time to celebrate.” There was a little quiver in her voice. “Thank you for taking pictures.”

  “It’s what I do best.” He handed her camera back. Without it, he didn’t know what to do with his hands. He clutched the flute.

  “I’m so happy for my sister.” Now there was definitely a quiver in Dolley’s voice.

  He patted her shoulder. He could do that, give her some comfort.

  She sobbed, burying her face in his chest.

  Whoa. He froze.

  He put an arm around her, still patting her shoulder. Her warm scent filled his nose. He glanced around the room.

  Gray frowned at him.

  He shrugged, not sure what to do with the weeping woman crying into his chest.

  “I’m...I’m sorry.” Dolley pulled away, brushing the wet patch on his shirt. “She’s just been so sad since they broke up.”

  Her hand on his chest had his body coming to life. A jolt as sharp as a strobe flash went through his belly. Had he read Dolley wrong? Was she attracted to him, or was this just joy for her sister?

  He needed to think and regroup. Taking a deep breath, he stepped away from her. “I’ve intruded enough on your family’s holiday.”

  “You’re not intruding.” She reached out but dropped her hand.

  He smiled, letting her figure out the smile count. He’d lost track. He wanted to stay and revel in the family’s happiness, but he was still an outsider. Always alone. He might be invited to their celebration, but at the end of the day, he wasn’t a Fitzgerald.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  All photos are accurate. None of them is the truth.

  Richard Avedon

  DOLLEY T
UCKED THE tail of her Catering by Fitzgerald shirt into her black pants and pushed open the kitchen door. They were short one server for tonight’s wedding. That put her in the lineup.

  Abby had the house phone stretched to the end of its cord, trying to reach her address book. “I’ll check. Give me a few minutes, and I’ll call you back.”

  Dolley hustled over and handed the address book to her sister. “What’s up?”

  “Loretta slipped on the ice this morning.” Abby furiously flipped through her book. “She broke her arm.”

  “Was she tonight’s photographer?”

  Abby nodded, her ponytail bouncing. “Since I gave the bride her name, she asked if I knew someone else.”

  A thrill went through Dolley’s chest. She could do it. She could take the pictures.

  Abby punched numbers into the phone. “Blake. How are you?”

  Dolley swallowed. Blake was excellent. He’d photographed dozens of Fitzgerald House weddings. He was a good choice.

  Please, be busy.

  Abby explained the crisis.

  Bess pushed open the door, flowers in her hand. “I have the...”

  Dolley put a finger to her lips and pointed to Abby.

  “What’s up?” Bess asked.

  “Loretta broke her arm.”

  “Oh, no.” Bess’s eyes flared open. “She was today’s photographer?”

  Dolley nodded, trying to keep her smile off her face. Bess would surely suggest Dolley be given the chance. She grabbed a mug and poured coffee.

  Abby called another number. Then another. After two more calls, she slammed the book shut. “No one is available last minute.”

  Dolley waited, looking between her two sisters.

  “Dolley?” Abby asked.

  This was it. She straightened. “Yes?”

  Abby tapped her finger on the counter. “Let’s ask Liam.”

  “Liam?” Liam! No. She wanted to be the one her sisters turned to. “He’s—”

  “—Fantastic! Great idea,” Bess said. “When Daniel and I got engaged, Liam’s pictures were incredible.”

  The coffee seared Dolley’s belly. Of course her sisters would think of Liam. He was fabulous. “He’s...he’s not a wedding photographer.”

  “You never know.” Abby stood. “He’s a photographer.”