Finding Focus by Jiffy Kate

my granny would’ve made.
    “Was?”
    I look up to see Micah staring at me, his blue eyes darker than usual, his brows drawn together.
    “Yeah, she died the summer before I graduated college.”
    The entire table grows quiet, and I feel everyone staring at me—exactly what I didn’t want to happen.
    “Uh, thank you for inviting me to dinner tonight. And for allowing me to take pictures before everyone dug in.” I laugh, trying to break the heaviness in the room.
    “Of course,” Annie says, reaching across to take my hand. “You’re welcome out here any time, Dani. And that goes for after the article is finished, too. If you ever find yourself in our neck of the woods, our door is always open.”
    “Thank you. I need a few nighttime shots of the exterior. Would you mind . . .”
    “I-I could go with you . . . if you want,” Micah offers.
    “Sure. Yeah. Just let me grab my camera.”
    “I think Carter and I are going to take off. It’s getting close to his bedtime.” Camille ruffles his adorable blond curly hair. I love kids, but haven’t had much of a chance to be around them. I enjoyed listening to his and Deacon’s banter. If I didn’t know better, I would think he was Deacon’s.
    “It was really nice meeting you, Camille,” I tell her.
    “You, too, Dani. Don’t be a stranger.” She stands up and pulls me into a hug. “Maybe I’ll see you around before you leave.”
    “Yeah, that’d be great.” I squeeze her back and turn to Carter. “Hey, buddy. You take care of your mom, okay? And try to keep this big guy in line,” I tell him, pointing to Deacon.
    “Okay, Ms. Dani.”
    Man, he’s a cute kid.
    “You ready?” Micah asks, standing at the back door with my camera in his hand.
    “Uh, you break that, you buy it.” I smile at him to let him know I’m just joking.
    “Oh, really?” He raises an eyebrow and holds the camera out from his body, acting like he’s going to drop it. “Like this?” The camera slips, but he immediately catches it.
    “Hey.” I reach out and take it from him. “Don’t make me hurt you.”
    “You know, Micah,” Deacon says from where he’s standing by Camille as she gets Carter’s stuff together, “I wouldn’t mess with her if I were you. I think she can take you.”
    Micah laughs and opens the back door for me. “I think you’re probably right. She’s probably got mad street skills from livin’ in the big city.” His blue eyes sparkle when he looks down at me, causing me to forget what I was doing or saying.
    Focus, Dani.
    “After you.” Micah stands to the side and sweeps his hand out, signaling for me to lead the way.
    “Thanks.”
    We walk for a few minutes in comfortable silence. Occasionally, I glance back at the house, looking for the perfect perspective for the photo I have in mind.
    “I like watching you work. It’s very methodical.”
    Micah’s confession makes me blush, and I’m thankful for the darkness.
    “So, do you think you’ll be able to stick around for my birthday party?”
    “I’d like to. My flight back to New York is booked for Saturday afternoon.”
    “Well, as long as you don’t get too wasted, you should be fine.”
    “Hey, I can’t help being a lightweight.”
    Micah laughs. “I kinda like that you’re a lightweight. Drunk Dani is pretty fun.” He stays quiet while I take a few shots of the house, working to get the right setting on my camera so the warm glow from the windows comes out the way I want it to. “Sober Dani is fun, too.”
    “Are you trying to butter me up?”
    “What?” he asks incredulously.
    “Well, first you tell me how you like watching me work, and then you tell me I’m fun. I mean, a girl can only take so many compliments.”
    He shakes his head, laughing lightly. “It’s all true.”
    “Well, I think you’re pretty fun, too, Micah Landry.”
    We walk a little farther away from the house when an idea comes to mind. “Hey, do you mind if we walk over by the pond? I bet it’s