by Unknown
Liam grinned and laughed with him. “Sounds like my Dad,” he said proudly.
Danny’s grin widened and he flicked a glance at me before turning back to Liam and adding, “Your mother was ever so embarrassed.”
I stifled my own giggles as Liam’s jaw dropped and he scrunched up his eyes as if to permanently erase the thought from his mind. Danny walked off, his loud, booming laugh attracting many stares. Stone clapped Liam on the back and showed him his watch. Liam nodded and grabbed my arm.
“Let’s find Briar,” he said, “It’s time to go home.”
As he led me away, I snuck a glance back at Stone, only to find him leaning against a wall, watching me leave.
***
Half an hour later, Briar and I were silently lying next to each other in her large bed.
“Bri,” I whispered into the dark room.
“Yeah?” she murmured back.
“How long have you liked Donny?”
I waited anxiously in the silence that followed, hoping that I hadn’t crossed some line in our friendship.
“Years,” she eventually whispered back. She rolled onto her side and looked at me for a long moment, opening her mouth and then closing it firmly, as if she had wanted to tell me something important, but reconsidered.
Instead, she smiled softly, “Good night, Evie.”
I hesitated in my response, wondering if I could ask her about Stone or maybe even hint at Alec’s feelings for her. I sighed, taking my cue from Bri and deciding to leave well enough alone.
“Night,” I said back, turning onto my back and slowly falling asleep.
six
On Monday, Billy took me with him to his studio. I jiggled my legs in anticipation as we pulled up outside a white brick building. Large, black writing along one wall read: Bright Photography. The rest of the building was obscured by bright-coloured flowering trees. I scrambled out of Billy’s sleek black sedan and followed him up the cobbled footpath to a heavy, black door. An aging, but beautiful woman opened it, wearing a black caftan and tight, blue jeans. Her entire outfit was deliberately splattered with bright paint. She looked to be at least part Indigenous, though whether her ancestry was Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, I didn’t know. She smiled wide as she looked me over.
“Hi, Evie,” she greeted warmly, “I’m Betty. Billy’s secretary slash wardrobe lady slash makeup artist.”
I smiled shyly. “I know,” I whispered. I wanted to tell her how amazingly talented I thought she was, but didn’t wanted to start the day by ass-kissing.
She laughed. “C’mon in and take a look at the place,” she said, grabbing my arm and pulling me through the door.
Billy chuckled and saved me from her overwhelming enthusiasm. “You go and get ready for the first shoot, Bee,” he said gently, “I’ll show Evie around.”
Betty’s face fell a little in disappointment, but the first customers came in and she brightened. She hurried over to greet them, before escorting them to a room on the right side of the studio. Billy gave me a knowing smile as I sighed in relief.
“Betty can be a bit much sometimes,” he said with a grin. I tentatively smiled back.
“C’mon,” he said, taking my arm gently, “This way.”
He led me through his waiting room and into the main part of the studio, showing me the different set pieces he had and I watched as he set up a scene for his first customers. Next, he showed me his office, followed by his filing room and dark room.
“We’ll come back in here later,” he told me, whilst we were in the filing room, “You can look through my past work. Most of it is from before I met Phillipa.” I’d blushed as I recalled the sorts of subjects he worked with before his marriage.
He let me sit through his first photo shoot (an expectant couple) and I frantically took notes, my scribbles almost illegible as I hurried to record as much as possible. Afterward, I sat in his office with him as he shared the pictures with the happy couple. I smiled in appreciation of the simple beauty of the pictures. Billy didn’t over complicate his scenes. His scenes were focused on the people in them and not any elaborate costuming or backgrounds. I could tell the clients were pleased with the photos and I felt extremely grateful to be allowed to witness this process. After they left, we broke for lunch and Billy let me interview him.
We talked for hours about our inspirations, our favourite photographers, what methods we liked to employ. Later, we pored through his stash of old photos and I blushed madly at all the erotic images. Billy talked about each one with professionalism, but threw in a light-hearted joke from time to time. It was dark by the time we reached the last folder. Billy grinned and pushed it towards me.
“Briar said this series was your favourite,” he said with a wink.
I peeked inside at the top picture and shut it quickly with a flush. “I, um, like the idea of taking pictures from a concealed place,” I mumbled, “I like the idea of fading into the background and capturing authentic responses by my subjects.”
Billy stared at me for a few moments, his face thoughtful. “I expect you are good at that,” he said quietly.
I shrugged and looked away. “Or people are good at ignoring me,” I responded casually.
“Don’t let them then,” he said firmly, “You have a lot to offer the world Evie. I’d hate to see you keep it hidden.”
I couldn’t think of anything to say to that, but Billy let me off the hook and opened the folder, spreading the prints out. My heart raced as I snuck a glance down at the erotic images that comprised his Voyeur catalogue. Each picture was taken from a hidden spot, as if the photographer was stalking the oblivious couple. As if the photographer was poised in some cramped position, watching the couples as they made love for hours.
I stopped at my favourite picture, fingering the cardboard trim surrounding it. Billy raised an eyebrow and glanced down at the picture in question. He chuckled fondly.
“It was hell trying to get into a good position in that tree,” he said with a grin, “But well worth it.”
I couldn’t hold back a smile as I imagined a young Billy cramped up in a high tree as he aimed the lens through the rich, green foliage to capture the couple in the tray of the ute below. My smile faltered as I looked closer, taking in the expressions of love and rapture on the entwined lovers’ faces. They were out in the bush, at night, making what looked to be slow love to each other under the stars. The woman’s eyes were wide and focused up into the tree, straight at the camera, as if she’d just caught the person watching them. Her mouth was open on a gasp of pleasure and the man was staring down at her face, watching her response with unconcealed triumph and tenderness.
The picture spoke to me. I wanted a man to look at me like that when deep inside me, focusing on my pleasure. I shuddered slightly as I recalled my previous experiences, where I’d felt used and trapped. I glanced back at the woman’s face as she looked up into the camera lens. I felt like she was looking right at me. Like she knew I was watching her man love her. Like she saw into me and saw all my buried desires and wishes. Like she saw me, when no one else did.
“Your favourite?” Billy asked quietly, scrutinising my features. I lowered my lashes, concealing the raw emotion in my eyes.
“Yeah,” I tried to sound nonchalant.
“That’s the original print,” he said with a smile.
I dropped the thing in horror. I’d had my dirty hands all over it.
“Oh my god,” I whispered, trying to examine it for damage without touching it further.
Billy picked it up and ran his eyes over every inch of it, a small frown of concentration forming between his brows.
Oh god, he’s mad I’ve wrecked it!
Yet, he said nothing as he put it back in the folder and we packed up our mess. We rode back to his house in silence and I shifted uncomfortably at the thoughtful expression he kept on his face. His face broke into an elated grin as we pulled up the drive though, and he practically jumped from the car once
we’d stopped. I climbed out more slowly, feeling confused, until I noticed another car was parked next to ours. Curious, I hurried inside the house and poked my head into the living room.
“Where are you?” Billy yelled with a gorgeous, playful grin.
“Right here, Daddy,” an amused, feminine voice responded as she came down the stairs.
“Abby!” Billy boomed, striding over to where a stunning looking brunette was skipping down the stairs. He wrapped her in a tight hug, lifting her off the floor and carrying her down the last few steps.
“Put me down Dad,” she admonished, “I’m too big and you’re too old.”
He scoffed, “You are not and I’m not old.”
Her vivid green eyes turned on me and she cocked her head in question. “Who’s this?” she demanded curiously.
Briar came into the room behind me and threw an arm around my shoulders. “This is my new friend Evie, Abs,” she said with a laugh, “She wants to be a photographer. Dad’s been hogging her all day.”
“That’s my big sister Abigail,” Briar explained.
“A photographer, hmm?” Abby said, walking around me in a circle, “You any good?”
I blinked at her, unsure of how to respond.
“I’d like another photographer on the books,” she explained, “When do you graduate?”
Billy chuckled, “Who says I won’t steal her first?”
Abby glared at her father, “I get my photographers from you anyway, so what does it matter?”
“Gail’s one of those Nazi wedding planners,” Liam explained as he stomped down the stairs.
Abby scowled, “Liam, if you call me Gail one more time, I’ll…”
“Whatever, sis,” he said, rolling his eyes.
“Behave children,” Billy said with a smile, before turning on Abby with a frown, “How was Washington?”
Abby shuddered. “I don’t see why you made me go,” she grumbled, “I’m twenty-five years old, I don’t legally have to visit her anymore.”
Billy sighed, “You hadn’t visited since you turned eighteen. She’s been on my back about it.”
“Well it was awful,” Abby said with a grimace, “Louise was all fake sweetness and sugar in front of hubby number four, but Nancy and Portia were bitches.”
Briar rolled her eyes. “Louise is Abby’s mum,” she told me, “Nancy and Portia are her daughters from her first marriage. Some rich American she moved away for. Nancy is two years older than me and Portia is Liam’s age.”
“Louise is my mother, not my mum,” Abby snapped, then looked around with a frown, “Where is Mum?”
“Out with Aunty Rose,” Liam said, taking a bite from an apple.
“Out where?” Abby asked, looking put out that she was here and her mum wasn’t.
“What about your new step brother?” Billy interjected.
Abby made a face. “Bastian’s only eight,” she said with a shrug, “A bit spoiled, but better than Warren.” She shuddered and Billy scowled.
“Was Warren around?” he asked stiffly.
“No, Daddy,” Abby said with a small smile, “Louise doesn’t invite him over anymore. Not after the last time you rang and threatened to go over there.”
“Well that ex-step-brother of yours better stay the fuck away from you,” he growled.
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not going back for another visit anyway. I told the bitch that she could come here and visit me if it was so important to her.”
“Don’t bad mouth your mother,” Phillipa chastened as she walked into the room, laden with shopping bags. Liam rushed over to help her. She smiled brightly and kissed his cheek.
“I’m so lucky to have such a nice, sweet baby boy,” she cooed. Liam smirked at his siblings and carried the bags into the kitchen.
“Suck up,” Briar and Abby grumbled at the same time.
Billy chuckled and wrapped his daughters in a tight hug.
“Ow, Dad,” Briar snapped, pushing away from him, but only barely concealing a smile. She grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the stairs.
“Evie and I are going to bed!” she called down, but Billy, Phillipa and Abby were already engrossed in a heated conversation.
“Evie,” she said quietly as she pulled back the covers on her bed.
I looked over at her and waited.
Eventually, she looked away and slipped into the bed. Taking a deep breath, she asked, “Donny is in love with Fredi isn’t he?”
I didn’t answer. I didn’t have to…she already knew.
She sighed and turned her back to me, snuggling down into the covers.
“Too bad she’s a lesbian,” I whispered into the dark.
Briar shouted a bark of laughter, then collapsed into giggles. She slowly turned over and studied my face with interest. A smile began to tug at the corner of her mouth and her dimple began to crease.
“Night Evie,” she said simply.
“Good night,” I mumbled back.
***
I was sad to leave Sydney at the end of the week, but still excited about going home to Darwin for five weeks. Billy was quiet as he drove me to the airport, but he stopped me as I jumped out of the car.
“Here,” he said, handing over a wrapped parcel, “I want you to have it.”
I looked over at him in question.
“It’s the original,” he said with a grin, “I had it framed for you.”
I nearly dropped it as I realised what I was holding. My favourite picture.
“Th-Thank you,” I stuttered, unable to find something better to say.
“No problem,” he said with a shrug, “Feel free to come and stay whenever you like. Briar’s friends are always welcome.”
I nodded slowly and slid the package into my carry-on bag.
“Study hard Evie and I might even find you a place working for me,” he said, clapping me on the back. My heart sped up at the thought of working for Bright Photography and I walked into the Sydney airport with a large smile. Once on the plane, I carefully unwrapped the photo and stared at its framed beauty. A wicked smile spread over my face.
I’m going to hang it above my bed!
***
All three of the triplets met me at the airport in Darwin and as soon as I stepped out the doors, they picked me up in a tight, painful group hug. I let them though, but only because I knew that this was probably the most amount of attention or affection my family would show me for the entire visit. Mike bugged me with questions about Sydney the whole way back to our house. I was almost relieved when the car stopped and I was attacked by my mother instead as she pumped me for story ideas. I sighed in annoyance.
Looks like I've become one of my out-of-town siblings that get pestered by constant, bizarre phone calls about their 'interesting' lives.
Poor Zane usually suffered the worst. Mum thought working in the special forces was sexy and exciting, a perfect profession for one of her heroes. If you asked me, being married to someone that got shot at and was away for months at a time was NOT sexy.
Paul and I spent the most time together while I was there. He was on university holidays as well. Unfortunately, he was often out with his friends, preferring their company to that of his little sister's. By the end of the first week, I was badly missing Briar and her family. Even her friends would have been nice. She and Candy rang a few times, but hearing about all the fun they were having didn't really help. Cooper emailed me every couple of days, which made me feel slightly better, even though he couldn't visit, but the highlight of my holidays was probably the email I received from Zane. I'd hurried to send one back, hoping that he would get to read it before he moved on to somewhere without internet access.
I was relieved when it came time to return to Alice Springs. I grabbed my suitcase and rolled it to the top of the stairs. I eyed them warily, before calling softly for Paul to carry it down for me.
There was no answer.
I called for each of the triplets.
Again, no ans
wer.
There was however, loud banging and scuffling coming from outside the back door and I left the suitcase to see what was happening. I groaned at the scene before me, knowing that I'd have to break up the fight if I wanted a lift to the airport. I have no idea what the fight was about, but all three triplets were hammering into each other with their fists and rolling around in the grass. Paul came out the door with a frown.
"I'll handle this Evie," he said gruffly, puffing up his chest, "Stand back or you'll get hurt." Then he pounced right in and started fighting alongside them.