“Not just him, my dear.” Delia finds the piece of paper she wants and scribbles something near the top. “You’ve always had technical talent. Any fool could see that from your application. But now your photos have that something special. You’re not taking pictures, you’re capturing life — if you’ll excuse a sentimental old fool.”
I blush, and my heart threatens to float from my chest. My photos are getting better — and it’s not just me noticing.
Delia checks a clock on her desk. “Almost six. Time to head to the staff room. I’ve got a few announcements — one that you and Jonathan in particular will want to hear. I’ll see you there.”
I leave Delia’s office walking on air. Not only does she believe that Jonathan and I are doing good work, but she also implied that my photos are alive — the very aspect that Glacier Journal said I needed to work on.
I want to run to the computers right away to see if they’ve responded. Has my sunrise photo been accepted?
But I know the announcement has to come first. I vow to check my email after hearing what Delia has to say.
40
Jonathan
My phone alarm pulls me out of my blissful sleep. I stretch out in the hammock and grunt. Ugh, can’t I just have five more minutes?
The answer? No. I barely have time to run over to the Inn for Delia’s announcement.
I sit up groggily and pat my hair down, remembering Kiara’s laugh earlier. I exit the hammock and jog towards the Inn. By the time I get to the staff room, everyone is happily milling about. I spot Nath and Vin across the room and make my way over. Kiara is nowhere to be seen, but she’s likely going to be late anyway.
“Hey guys!” I exclaim as I approach them. “Do you know what this is about?”
Nath smiles, turning to Vin. “Should we tell him?”
“Delia swore me to secrecy.”
Vin and Nath laugh, and their cryptic answer tugs at my curiosity.
A hush comes over the room as Stefi walks in with Cooper Monroe. I’d gotten to know the guy over the summer and he seems pretty cool. His dad hasn’t been around much — too busy filming, probably. I give Cooper a nod from across the room, and he smiles back. He always looks like he’s laughing at something.
Kiara finds me in the crowd, and her hand slips into mine. “Golden boy.”
Her smile is the biggest I’ve ever seen it. She wraps her arms around me and I kiss the top of her head. It feels like I missed something.
Delia steps up onto a chair at the front of the room. “I imagine you’re wondering why I brought you here on such short notice.”
The staff room goes quiet, save for the tapping of feet in the room next door as guests grab their dinners.
Delia beams, her bright smile energizing the room. “A few quick announcements to share.”
“What do you think it is?” Kiara whispers.
Delia goes on a tangent about the success of the Inn and how we’re welcoming our millionth guest today.
“Maybe they’re expanding?” I whisper.
Truthfully, I have no idea. The only thing I know is that I don’t want things to change. I love Legacy Inn the way it is. It might be selfish of me, but it’s the truth.
“Given our success, we have decided that it’s time to revamp the ‘look’ of the Legacy Inn. I don’t mean the actual construction and design — I’m sure you all remember the renovations that took place two summers ago—”
A frustrated groan travels through the room.
“It wasn’t THAT bad,” Delia says.
“I still have nightmares,” Vin replies.
“Quiet, you.” Delia waves Vin away. “We’ve decided that it’s the perfect time to launch a brand-new Legacy Inn advertising campaign! And who better to headline this campaign than our two star student photographers?”
Kiara’s hand drops from mine as everyone looks our way. My mouth pops open. What is she saying?
“We love the work Jonathan and Kiara have been doing around the Inn and on the Legacy Inn social media accounts. We want to use one of YOUR photos to headline the entire campaign! This photo will be featured on our biggest ad yet and will be shown around the world.”
My heart stops and I look over at Kiara. Her face is frozen, her mouth in a tight line as she stares at Delia.
Only one of us will get this chance?
This is an amazing opportunity. Headlining an ad like this means international exposure for our work. It’s exactly what Kiara is looking for, and it’s also a major opportunity for me to add to my portfolio and get into photography school.
Delia wraps up her announcements, but I can’t hear a word she says. My ears are ringing as a billion things run through my mind. I’m vaguely aware that Kiara hasn’t moved a muscle either, our hands hanging limply by our sides.
Staffers leave the room, congratulating us as they go, and I offer a weak smile of thanks.
The staff room clears and I finally muster the courage to turn to Kiara. Her eyes are stormy and unsure. I open my mouth to say something, but I have nothing to say.
Both of us want this more than anything.
But only one of us will get it.
41
Kiara
Once again, Delia takes the cake with her shocking announcements. My thoughts are dark and dejected as I consider her words.
I’m in competition with the boy I love.
Only one of us will headline the international ad campaign.
It’s everything I’ve ever wanted. Everything I need if I want to get out of Edendale. But it comes with the highest cost imaginable — for me to win, Jonathan must lose.
"I need to clear my head,” I say abruptly. Jonathan doesn’t reply. He feels very far away.
I make my way to the computers, emotions raging through me. I felt so encouraged after my meeting with Delia, and I couldn’t wait to tell Jonathan. I was going to invite him to be there with me when I checked my emails for a response from Glacier Journal.
Then Delia made the announcement, and the world crashed down.
Headlining a campaign like this is all I’ve ever wanted. This would be the perfect step on my path out of Edendale. And yet, I know what this would mean to Jonathan. He wants to pursue photography in school, and this opportunity would make him a shoo-in for any photography program.
So, what should I do? My feelings for Jonathan are real, but can I sacrifice this incredible opportunity — and therefore my future — for him?
I spend minutes sitting in front of the blank computer screen with my head in my hands. I try to reel in the weight of my emotions.
Get it together, Kiara.
I sign in and scroll past the unread emails on the screen, holding my breath. My stomach is in knots.
But I come up with nothing. There is still no response from Glacier Journal.
I curse to myself, wishing that I hadn’t gotten my hopes up.
I click onto an email from Ava, her cheerful tone and cute stories from band camp soothing me. I haven’t told her I’m dating Jonathan, and now I’m not sure what to say. I click out of her email without replying. I can’t muster enough cheer for the happy response I know she wants.
Then, I spot an email from my mom. I’ve emailed her once since I’ve been here and it looks like she finally replied.
Hey, Kiki. I’m glad to hear that you’re enjoying yourself at Legacy Inn. But, you’re right, this is an INCREDIBLE step towards your career. Shoot for the stars and remember your bright future. The end of summer will come quickly and you’ll be so happy to have this experience under your belt. I know you’ve got this covered, hun.
Love, Mom.
Her words are a bucket of ice water poured over my head.
She’s right. I need to focus on my future. That’s why I’m here at the Legacy Inn this summer — to work. I remember her words — there’s no time for love if you’re not doing what you love. Have I lost track of my path?
I log off of the computer without replyin
g. I have no news for her, except that I’m now aiming for an even bigger and brighter opportunity. I only have a month before the end of summer, I have to take advantage of every minute.
The event room is bustling as guests enjoy their dinners, but I’m numb to it all. I head out into the garden, contemplating the amount of work I need to do to ensure that this summer pays off.
A pang of shame hits me as I realize that I don’t have my camera with me. Dread washes over me.
Have I totally compromised my future?
42
Jonathan
“Kiara, you home?” I wait patiently outside of her door.
Nothing but silence.
I head back towards the Inn, my stomach flipping over. She’s gone again, I guess.
My sense of unease grows with each step down the gravel path.
As though she can read my mind, Nath calls to me from the garden. “Hey Jonathan, have you seen Kiara?”
“I haven’t.”
“Now where did she run off to, you think?” Nath shakes her head, and I get the impression she knows how I’m feeling.
“Wish I knew.”
It’s been ages since Kiara and I spent time together. Lately, it’s like she’s never at her cabin. I’ve tried to chat with her at work, but she’s distant and disengaged. Our sunrise hikes are different now too. She’s quiet and distracted the entire time, and she’s been canceling regularly.
When I do see her, she’s buried behind her camera. She won’t go anywhere without it and stresses about getting the “perfect” photo. Because of this, we rarely explore the grounds anymore. Instead of sitting by the lake or napping in the hammocks, Kiara opts to hang out in the garden or around the docks — near the guests.
The months we spent together feel like a distant memory.
I tried to talk to her about the headlining campaign after Delia’s announcement. She caught up with me outside the garden, a grim smile on her face.
“Hi.”
“That was intense,” I said, exhaling. “How’re you feeling?”
She smiled, but she seemed distracted. “Good, I guess. You?”
“Good.” I grabbed her hands, but they hung limply in mine. “I know we both want this headlining thing really badly, but I still want to be with you. This summer has been incredible. There has to be a way we can figure this out. Maybe Delia can feature us both? Or maybe we work together to get a photo to headline the campaign? What do you think?”
I waited quietly for her response. As much as I wanted the campaign, I also wanted to be with Kiara. The last two months felt like breathing fresh air after a lifetime of being trapped inside.
“Yeah, maybe,” she said. She wouldn’t meet my eyes.
I gave her a big hug, hoping we were on the same page, but unable to ignore the doubts creeping through the shadows.
It’s been a week since that conversation. A week since she started pulling away and pushing herself back into her photography. I notice the stress on her face during the garden parties. She doesn’t chat with the guests anymore, and she obsesses over getting the ideal shot by the gazebo.
It’s been my mission lately to get her out of her funk.
And that means it’s time for a prank.
When I knocked on her door, my plan was to bring her back to the canyon where we cliff jumped. With all the extra time I’ve had on my hands, I’ve crafted a convincing, life-sized cardboard cutout of Kade Monroe using his headshot.
Delia was curious to know why I was using all the spare cardboard in her office, but I couldn’t tell her. I didn’t want it to risk it getting back to Kiara.
I set up the cardboard cutout by our perch in the canyon. I couldn’t wait to see Kiara’s face when she spotted Kade popping out of a bush.
“Jonathan!” Delia calls out from the porch as I make my way through the garden, wrapped up in my thoughts. “Would you be a dear and help Vin with the huppah? He’s in the games room trying to lift it himself. I keep telling him he’s not as young as he once was — the rate he’s going he’ll break his back.”
“Sure thing.” I walk through the garden to the games room, and there I spot Vin hidden behind the intricately ornate huppah.
He struggles to drag it along the floor -- but he’s only made it to the pool table. He breathes heavily, resting among the flowers tied delicately to one of the poles.
On my approach, he whips the flowers out of his face. “When I offered to help Delia, she told me I just needed to move some flowers. This wasn’t what I had in mind.”
I grin. “Let me help.”
“Thanks, Jonathan.”
I lift one end of the huppah and Vin takes the other.
“One of the last weddings of the season, and it’s the only one that requires such an unwieldy — albeit beautiful — canopy. Here I thought I got away without having to move this ridiculous thing all summer.”
“You must’ve jinxed yourself.”
We pivot the huppah as we struggle through a doorway. I can’t believe that the end is almost here. In just three weeks, I’ll be back home, facing my parents, and away from Kiara. My heart falls and I almost drop the huppah.
“Got it?” Vin asks, panic in his voice.
“Sorry.”
We maneuver the canopy down the steps of the porch. After finally installing it at the far end of the garden, Vin stands next to me, and wipes the sweat from his brow.
“I can hardly believe it,” he says between breaths. “It’ll be a fun wedding. I’ve got to hand it to you, Jonathan. You and Kiara have both taken some spectacular photos over the summer. I hope you can relax and have a good time.”
He’s right, I need to take advantage of this time with Kiara. She’s been so distant lately; it’ll be great to spend some time together again.
I look out over the wedding decorations throughout the garden, trying to commit the scene to memory. And yet, there’s a familiar feeling of unease. At every big event this summer, I’ve dreaded seeing one of my close friends or family members. I’ve been lucky to this point, no one I know has come to the Inn. But I know that Isabella’s cousin is getting married this summer, and she’s Jewish.
What are the chances? I shake myself off and the feeling of dread disappears.
I’m probably just uneasy about the situation with Kiara. Seriously, what are the chances?
43
Kiara
I add the finishing touch to my outfit for the evening — a white ribbon to tie back my hair.
I assess the final product in the mirror and feel satisfied. My little black dress has been the key to surviving the parties and events at the Inn this summer. Likely because it can be worn in a myriad of ways.
Tonight, I’m wearing it halter-style, with my hair elegantly swept into a half-ponytail. Since arriving at the Inn, my ability to dress up has improved. I’ve tried out a few different hairstyles and I’ve worn all of my dresses and skirts at least once. I’d laugh to see my mom’s face now. While I won’t say that I enjoy wearing dresses, I don’t hate them anymore.
I apply a touch of mascara and lip gloss before placing my camera around my neck to complete the ensemble. It’s as good as it’s gonna get.
I sigh as I open the door to my cabin. It’s one of the last ceremonies of the season and, so, one of my last chances to capture wedding magic at the Inn.
These past ten days have felt like a lot of work, especially compared to how I spent the first two months at Legacy Inn. I’ve captured an endless amount of photos, taking advantage of the golden hours at sunrise and sunset. I’ve thought of little else. I take my meals to-go to ensure I don’t miss out on any photo ops.
It’s been especially difficult seeing the strain with Jonathan. A large part of me wants to spend time with him, I wish we could talk and hang out as we used to do. But I have other obligations and those need to come first.
I’m excited for the wedding tonight. Hopefully, we’ll be able to catch up once we’re done shooting photos.
I jog along the gravel pathway leading to the garden. Delia asked me to take photos of the bridal party before the wedding, and I jumped at the opportunity. Unfortunately, in true Kiara fashion, I’m running late.
The garden looks beautiful when I arrive — there’s white tulle everywhere and an exquisite huppah at the front of the aisle. It will be a stunning wedding. I get a couple of photos of the garden in wedding-preparation mode and then head to one of the massive guest rooms.
I take a deep breath and reach for the door handle, intending to quietly walk into the room and introduce myself without a fuss. The bride is usually freaking out around now; I don’t want to add to the chaos.
The door pops open before I turn the handle, and I come face to face with someone I know very well.
Isabella Hall. Head cheerleader and Jonathan’s ex-girlfriend.
She raises her eyebrows. “I know you. Edendale High, right?”
My voice sticks in my throat. I was not expecting Isabella — or anyone else from Edendale — to be a guest here. It’s like opening a box of cake and finding a toad. I don’t necessarily dislike her, but she comes from the ruling class of high school. And, historically, that class has not been friendly to me.
“Kiara.” For some bizarre reason, I offer her my hand.
She doesn’t take my hand, instead choosing to stare at my face, frowning, waiting for that spark of recognition. And then it comes.
“Kiara the Queen!”
I wince. Coming from Jonathan, the nickname is playful banter. From Isabella, it’s poison.
Isabella opens the door wide. The entire bridal party is facing me.
Isabella bows. “Allow me to introduce your Majesty, Queen Kiara. Dressed for the royal ball and everything.” Isabella wears a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes.
My face turns red.
Isabella brushes past me, throwing her hair over her shoulder. “I’m off to the garden — but don’t take too many photos without me.”
The Complete Legacy Inn Collection: Four Sweet YA Romances Page 61