I looked to the two photos in the center of the board, staring so hard the images of Elle and me became a little wavy.
“I’m never going to like showing off my pictures,” I said.
“Get used to it.” Mr. Hollon winked at me. “You’ve got a unique eye.”
“So,” I said, “you think it works?”
Mr. Hollon raised an eyebrow at me and pointed toward the ribbon, walking away just as my parents burst through the double doors from the parking lot. My mother was carrying a large gift bag with a bunch of ribbons flouncing out of its top.
“Oh, God,” I said, ducking my head. “She didn’t.”
“She did,” Darcy said with a smile. “And I helped.”
“Tell me you’re kidding.” I looked up at Darcy as she popped another bubble.
“You’re gonna love it!” She clapped her hands together as my parents made their way through the crowd.
“Tessa,” my father said, rubbing the top of his head as he looked at my photographs. “These are great.”
My mother reached out and squeezed her arms around my shoulders. “You got a ribbon,” she said. “Grandpa Lou would be so proud.”
Max stepped forward with a hand extended toward my father. “Hey, Mr. McMullen,” he said with a smile.
“Hello, Max,” my father said, clasping Max’s hand and giving it a solid shake.
My mother caught my eye and mouthed, So cute, scrunching her shoulders up to her ears like a fifth grader. I tried not to roll my eyes.
“You’re totally embarrassing,” I said, looking from my mother to my father.
“He didn’t see,” my mother whispered into my ear. “And so what if he did? He’s adorable.”
“The gift,” I said, pulling away from my mother. “I mean, really?”
“It’s your first public showing. Look at everyone.” My mother swooped her hand in a large circle, pointing out all the people. “And you need this.”
“Truly, you do.” Darcy nodded. “But don’t freak out, okay?”
“Yeah,” Max nodded. “Just go with it.”
I grabbed the bag from my mother’s hand and set it on the ground in front of my display board. I swear I pulled out a tree’s worth of tissue paper before getting to the box inside.
When I saw it, I sucked in a breath. It was a new Nikon. Digital. Top of the line.
I looked at my mother. And then my father. Opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out. Darcy bent down and lifted the box out of the gift bag, opening it and pulling the camera from its dark compartment.
“We know how you feel about your grandpa Lou’s camera,” my father said, wrinkles of concern creasing his forehead. “But trust me, if he’d been able to take pictures with this, he would have.”
“Yeah,” Darcy said as she flipped one of the camera’s many switches and pulled off the lens cap. “This thing is sweet. And it’s not like you have to get rid of your other one.”
Max ran a hand through his hair, and several curls popped out between his fingers. “Change can be good, Tessa.”
I took a deep breath and looked at my large purse, which slumped sideways on the floor, holding the only camera I had ever wanted. But my thoughts of rejecting the gift fluttered away as I remembered my grandfather, standing at the base of a tree in the woods, pointing his camera into the twisting branches where I, in my sundress and pigtails, struck a pose for him to shoot.
You gotta take lots and lots of shots, he’d said, to get the right one.
“Thanks,” I said, knowing that they were right. Grandpa Lou would have loved everything about this new digital camera. “It’s really nice.”
“Okay, you two,” Darcy said, shoving me toward Max. “Step in front of the redbrick wall. That’s the best backdrop.”
“I’m sure it has to be charged first,” I said. “You’ll have to wait—”
“Darcy told me to charge it ahead of time,” my mother said, tilting forward on her toes. “It’s ready.”
I leaned into Max as Darcy’s fingers fluttered over the camera’s settings, choosing the best for indoor lighting.
“Hey,” Max whispered in my ear as Darcy knelt in front of us. “This is the first photo of us together.”
“That’s a lot of pressure,” I said, looking over my shoulder. “What should we do?”
Max tilted his head to the side. “I could sweep you off your feet.”
I shook my head. “Way too cheesy.”
“We could gaze into each other’s eyes. Go for one of those introspective shots.”
“Only if we want to give my father a heart attack.”
“Okay. That’s out.” Max laughed, his eyes gleaming. “I’ve been told I rock at making a fish face.”
“You’ve been holding out on me?” I asked, stepping away from him.
“It’s just wrong to show all your talents right up front.”
“So there’s more I don’t know about you?”
“Much, much more.” Max’s face took on this serious look, and then he sucked in his cheeks and plumped his lips, pulsing them up and down like a freakish-looking fish.
I laughed so hard that when Darcy snapped the shot, I wasn’t even looking at the camera.
Acknowledgments
The creation of this book would not have been possible without the guidance and support of some very special people. It seems insufficient to offer you only two pages, considering the fact that without you, my book would not be. I sincerely hope that the following words relay your importance in my life.
First, I must mention my amazing family and all of my extraordinary friends. I’m fortunate that there are way too many of you to name—you know who you are. I appreciate your constant reminders that I just needed to keep writing, and that I really could turn my dreams into reality. Your inspiration and encouragement kept me going during the most challenging times.
Jimmy Chesire, the only official writing teacher I have ever had, deserves a distinguished recognition. Your gentle critiques always nudged me in the right direction. Without our discussion on synchronicity, I might never have given this a real try.
My earliest readers were my loving and supportive parents, Diana Dermody and Keith McBride, and my talented writer friends, Mara Purnhagen and Janet Irvin. Thanks for struggling through those initial drafts and offering spot-on revision suggestions. Mara earns a gold star for helping me navigate the most difficult aspect of becoming published; your guidance during my search for an agent was truly invaluable.
The entire crew of children’s librarians at the Washington CentervillePublic Library has been so uplifting. What fun it has been to share all my book news with you!
I am extremely fortunate to be working with Regina Griffin, Nico Medina, Alison Weiss, Mary Albi, Greg Stadnyk, and the rest of the gifted team at Egmont USA. I appreciate all of you for believing in this book, for fighting for it, and for treating it with such care.
My two children are the real reason this book came to be. You gave me an excuse to quit teaching and take a chance on myself. I love you for your giggles and hugs. And the fact that you are such nappy-nappersons.
Eric, my husband and best friend, where do I begin? If not for you, none of this would be happening. Thanks for taking that leap of faith with me, for supporting me in my decision to dive headfirst into my writing. It was scary, right? I’ve hardly caught my breath. But look, it worked!
I give the highest praise to my agent, Alyssa Eisner Henkin, to whom I will never be able to express the depth of my gratitude. Thanks for propelling me from one draft to the next, for all the hours of brainstorming, and for not settling until this thing was in top shape. You are incredibly talented, and I am still reeling with excitement that you plucked me out of your slush pile and offered me representation!
Thanks to all of you for believing in me, and for helping me believe in myself. Much love.
KRISTINA MCBRIDE, a former high-school English teacher and yearbook advisor, wrote The Tensio
n of Opposites in response to the safe return of a child who was kidnapped while riding his bike to a friend’s house. She lives in Ohio with her husband and two young children. This is her first novel. Visit her online at www.kristinamcbride.com.
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