Capturing Savannah

by Krajcirovic, J. L.

  After all that relaxation we are ready for a night out on the town. Instead of the traditional separate bachelor and bachelorette parties Cami and Alex want to have the party together. The guys all wear casual beach resort wear, which consists of Hawaiian looking shirts, varying shades of khaki shorts and sandals or flip flops. Us girls all wear sundresses. Cami’s is white of course. Mine a pale greenish yellow with light grey polka dots. The other girls’ dresses are shades of blues, greens, and reds. I take a photo of Cami laughing and then ask the girls to all line up for a shot together.

  We meet the guys by the elevator. Everyone crams inside but I linger back before stepping in with them to take some photos. Alex and the guys pick up Cami and hold her sideways along them. I keep taking shots of them smiling and laughing until they pull me inside with them. We all fill up the elevator space.

  It’s a good walk to Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar on Duval Street. I hesitate going inside but my cousin Naomi pulls me in with her. The place is packed even though the pianists haven’t started yet. The bar overlooks the two pianos and the four steps leading down to them. There is a small dance floor off to the side. It’s tiny. I am surprised David would even notice it, as tiny as it is and knowing how much he doesn’t like to dance.

  It’s dark in here. It reminds me of being in a photo lab darkroom. The main lighting is over each of the pianos and it has a similar amber tone also like the dark room.

  “Hi Thea.” David says suddenly next to me.

  “Hey.” I say as Naomi nudges me. “Oh. This is my cousin Naomi.”

  “Good to meet more of Thea’s family.” He says with his sideways smile.

  “Good to meet one of Thea’s friends.” She says back.

  “Can I buy you two a drink?” David says.

  “Sure.” Says Naomi answering for the both of us.

  We glide towards the bar. I can’t take my eyes off of David.

  “What’ll you have Thea?” he asks me after Naomi orders some frilly girl drink.

  “Bud light please.” I say.

  “Drinking on the job?” David says eyeing the camera around my shoulder and giving his sideways smirk.

  “It’s only a job if you get paid.” I say joking back.

  “So how do you two know each other?” asks Naomi.

  “Friends in college.” David says looking over at me.

  I take a swig of my beer and we all take a seat at the bar.

  “That makes sense. So tell me a story about my cousin in college.” Naomi asks.

  I take another swig of my beer. This time a big one.

  “Do you know anyone that has been stung by a jellyfish?” he asks.

  “No. No way. You or her?” she says back.

  David goes onto to tell her about that day at the beach and how he threw me in and probably got what he deserved with the jellyfish. He finishes the story ending with the part about me spending fifty dollars to get some secret jellyfish tonic cure. We all laugh and I also think about the photos I took of him, Dax and I that day just sitting in the sand with our feet.

  The pianists make their entrance and introduce themselves. Cami and Alex call the three of us over to the rest of the group. When we trot down the stairs they make the girls sit together on the right for pianist Joe and the boys sit together on the left for pianist Charlie. Pitting us against each other for the piano duel. A few songs in and Cami and Alex each get called up to their respective pianos. Joe lifts Cami up and sets her atop the piano. She laughs and crosses her legs swinging them briefly. They take turns singing You’re the One That I Want by John Travolta and Olivia Newton John. The two sides of the crowd sing and cheer for their singer and piano all along the way. I get photos of each of them amidst their full out singing.

  My phone rings and I have go outside to answer it. I know who it is and it’s probably a serious call. I am his secondary sponsor so even if he is my ex-husband I need to answer it.

  “Thea?” he says with a scratchy sound to his voice.

  “I’m here.” I say.

  “Thea. I really want a drink right now.” He says.

  “You can talk to me about it. Why do you want a drink right now?” I say.

  “You know why. Because my brother is dead. Because you and my kids are scared of me.” He says.

  “I’m glad you are in my life. I will always be here for you. And the kids love you very much.” I say.

  “I know. Then why do I need it?” he says quietly.

  “I don’t know. But I know you can be strong. And I know we are looking forward to seeing you in a few days for your dad’s birthday.” I say.

  “Thea. Can I get that second chance?” he pleads.

  “We have already been over this. If you want we can talk more about it when I get back.” I say.

  “Ok.” He says.

  After a long pause he adds “I am ok now. Thanks for talking.”

  “It’s good to talk to you.” I say.

  “Goodnight.” He says sounding a lot better but still with a hint of that scratchy voice.

  “Goodnight.” I say back ending the call.

  I stand outside for a little while taking in the night air and looking up at the stars. I can faintly hear the singing and piano playing coming from inside. I take a few more breaths and open the door to go back inside. I go to the bar first and order a diet coke. I drink it at the bar not quite ready to go back to the screaming crowd.

  “Everything ok?” David asks joining me at a bar stool.

  “Ya.” I say taking another sip of my soda.

  A new song starts up. It’s “Sweet Home Alabama”. A few couples start up on the tiny dance floor.

  “Wanna dance?” a random and pretty good looking guy asks me. He puts his hand on my shoulder and I am just about to answer when David jumps in.

  “Sorry man. This dance is taken.” David says pulling me towards the dance floor with him.

  “Thanks. I didn’t know what to say to that guy. I think he is gone so we can go back to the bar now.” I say.

  David doesn’t say anything just keeps walking to the dance floor. When we get there we join into the sort of line dancing that is going on. I am shocked at David for actually stepping on the dance floor. The song is over before I know it and I pull him off the floor with me to talk.

  “Wow. Didn’t think you ever danced?” I say.

  “Well there is a first time for everything.” He says.

  “So…where is the best key lime pie around here?” I ask genuinely interested but also wanting to change the subject from me.

  “Kermit’s. Come on I’ll take you.” He says grabbing my hand and pulling me up from the bar.

  “Alright. How far is it?” I ask. “No alleyways on the way right?” I say half way joking.

  “Don’t worry it’s a few doors up. And I won’t let anything happen to you.” He says it so sincerely it hurts in my gut.

  He is still holding my hand, leading me when we get to the shoppe. It’s a quaint storefront with cream colored siding and hints of dark green trim and shutters. The porch flooring is a sandy wood color. There are intricate banisters and balconies and railings. The porch has a large bright greenish yellow bench. The inside mimics the same color scheme as the outside. Light sandy wooden flooring with cream colored shelving and island stands. Dark green trim outlines the baseboards and doorframes around the inner perimeter. The prepared pies are encased in bright greenish yellow boxes. I am glad I have my camera with me.

  David picks up a packaged pie letting go of my hand in the process. It feels strange for him to move his hand away from mine. It hurts even. He pays for the pie, grabbing two plastic forks and we take a seat on the bench outside on the porch.

  “A whole pie, huh? Now we are talking.” I say teasing.

  “Well this one is for me. Not sure what you are eating.” He says jokingly.

  We both laugh and he hands the pie box and a fork to me.

  “You first.” He says.

  “Ok.”
I say opening the box and digging my fork right into the center of it.

  I savor the taste on my tongue for a moment and close my eyes.

  “What do you think?” David asks.

  “It’s delicious. Not too tangy. Nearly perfect really.” I say opening my eyes.

  “I couldn’t agree more.” He says back starring at me with those big, cool blue grey eyes.

  He leans towards me slightly grabbing a fork full of pie from the box. His closeness gives me butterflies.

  “So what rating do you give it?” I ask as I did the first time we had a slice of key lime pie in Savannah at the Paper Moon. “I mean compared to the Paper Moon’s eight of course? And I am sure you have tried your fair share of them around here now.”

  “Mmm. I’d say a ten.” He says getting another bite.

  “Wow. So you did move here for the key lime pie then?” I say smiling at him.

  His devilish grin spreads across one side of his perfect mouth. I eat until I can’t eat anymore. Before I know it half the pie is gone.

  “So teaching art. That sounds great for you.” I say.

  “It took me awhile to be able to go back to school. But I am glad I did. And I am excited to teach. What about you? What are you up to these days in your photography career?” he asks.

  “I work at a studio in Savannah. Doing a lot of event shots like weddings and things for the university or the city.” I say.

  “I knew you were a great photographer.” He says.

  “Well, I didn’t say that. But thanks.” I blush a little like back in the day.

  “I can’t believe it’s been about seven years since the last time we talked.” He says.

  After a long silence he adds. “I guess we should go back soon.”

  “Ya.” I say getting up.

  He follows my lead and we walk a few doors down back to the bar. Once inside we rejoin our dueling teams. Every now and again we both catch a glimpse of one another looking at the other and we both smile. Him with his sideways grin and me with my toothy grin. The last song of the night ends with I love Rock’n’Roll.

  David helps me get all of the mostly drunk wedding party into cabs to go back to the hotel. The last cab arrives and we load up the remaining group. There is one spot left in it and I start to say goodbye to David.

  “Wait. Thea. Can I drive you back?” he says.

  “Ok.” I say.

  We get into his barely worn white Jeep Cherokee. I remember the white Honda Accord he drove before. On the way to the hotel the faint sound of the radio plays in the background.

  “Are you ok if I go to the wedding tomorrow? Alex invited me.” He says.

  “Ya. If you want to. It’s up to you.” I say.

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure.” I say.

  “Do you think we can be friends again? I mean really friends.” he says.

  “I don’t know. But I would really like that.” I say.

  “Me too.” He says back.

  We pull up to the hotel and he lets me out up front under the covered lobby entrance.

  “See ya tomorrow then.” He says.

  “Goodnight David.” I say.

  Chapter Eleven

  While the sun is still up I take photos of the wedding party goofing off before the ceremony. It’s fun to just watch people when they are having a perfectly happy moment and even better when you can capture it with your camera. There is a beautiful breeze flowing over all of us and every few shots the girl’s hair dance on their faces. It’s an intimate gathering with less than twenty people, just close friends and family. The sun begins to set and it ques the music to begin the ceremony. The groomsman all wearing khaki pants and white button up shirts escort the bridesmaids across the sand towards the tide. The bridesmaids all have on various styles of short cocktail dresses each a different shade of blue, ranging from turquoise to topaz to midnight. I have on a kind of bright sea blue color.

  It’s a short walk anyways but Alex and Cami walk themselves down the aisle together. They stop under the sheer cream colored canopy that drapes the simple wooden frame surround. Cami is stunning. Her hair is braided into a bun and she has a creamy white garden rose at the base of the bun. Her strapless champagne gown starts with veiled corded lace and tulle neck detailing that flows into a trumpet skirt with ruffle train. Alex’s attire matches the groomsmen except he wears a khaki jacket over his white button up shirt. My dad performs the ceremony.

  I click the button rapidly. The sun is setting and creating an incredible pale yellow halo around the happy couple whiting out the water behind them. I stop taking shots for awhile and listen to their vows. I start back up with the photos when they kiss. Their lips part and they make their way down the sand. The guests line up to create a pathway and toss yellow rose petals at the beaming couple. I take shots of the group and then lead the couple a little farther down the beach. I take photos of their faces, their hands, their feet, and of them facing each other looking into one another’s eyes. For the next ten minutes the sunset creates an intense apricot orange color that puts them in shadow for some of the shots. Next I lead them to a lonely palm tree, which they naturally lean up against and hold each other.

  “Awesome. That’s a rap Thea.” Cami says.

  “Congrats you two.” I say.

  Holding hands they jog along the tide and down the beach towards the beachfront restaurant that we are all going to celebrate at together. I get shots of them as they run. I am playing with the focus when someone walks into the frame. I take my eye out of the viewfinder and see it’s David walking towards me.

  “You like to walk into the path of the camera huh?” I say teasing.

  “Or your camera likes to follow me.” He says back as the corner of his mouth grins. The same devilish and mesmerizing grin that continues to give me butterflies.

  After a few laughs we walk along the tide towards everyone else not saying another word. We sit down together at one of the four round tables. Cousin Naomi and two of the groomsman, good friends of Alex, Paul and Winston sit with us. The palm trees that encircle the brick patio are strung with white lights. Every five or so lights there is a large circle bulb that is ten times the size of the other lights. The sun still lingers slightly just peeking over the horizon of water. Soon it will disappear so I mess with the settings on my camera to prepare for it.

  Over dinner the table talks as a group. After dinner the group starts to separate more. Paul and Winston go dance. Naomi makes the rounds to talk to other tables, which leaves David and I to talk.

  “How is your studio work going? Have you had any gallery showings lately?” David asks.

  “No. I had a showing a few years after college but that was a long time ago now.” I say.

  “Ya at Pinnacle Gallery.” David says.

  “Wait. How did you guess that?” I ask.

  “It’s not a guess. I was there.” He says.

  “You were?” I say surprised. “You should have said hello.”

  “I knew it was a big night for you and you had a lot going on.” He says. “But I always wanted to ask. What was with the eye patch?” he says.

  “Oh. I forgot about that!” I say laughing as I remember.

  “And, what was the story with that?” he says.

  “I blame the wind. I was walking to work at The Tea Room and a leaf blew into my eye. It got lodged in there and they had to pry my eye open to get it out. But upside is I got to be a pirate for a few weeks. Probably could have gotten a job on River Street too.” I say laughing even more at myself.

  He gives a chuckle to the story too.

  “So wait. Why were you there?” I ask seriously.

  “Visiting Savannah and I heard about your showing.” He says. “I am glad I went because I got see to see those amazing photos from the people in the squares and all the ones you took after that of the homeless around the city.”

  “I am glad you went but wished you would have said hello.” I say. “So you
know about my work, what about yours? Tell me more about teaching and what you’re drawing these days.”

  “Teaching illustration seems just as exciting as drawing yourself. Talking about the shading techniques and compositions helps me understand why I draw things the way I do. And I really like helping others figure that out too. And hiring nude models can’t be all that bad.” He chuckles.

  “I bet.” I say smiling.

  “I’ll be finished this May with my Masters and the college here offered me a full time position on the staff. It’s a great opportunity.” He says.

  “What about your sister? How is she doing?” I ask.

  “She is doing ok I guess. She got married five years back and I don’t see her too much lately. But I drive up to Pensacola every now and again to see her.”

  Our conversation pauses as Alex makes a toast to Cami. I bring my camera back out too.

  “Cami, the day we first met, my world stood still. I couldn’t help but fall in love with you. And the more I got to know you, the more deeply in love I fell. I knew that I wanted to always hear your laugh, see your smile and feel your heart beating. This song is for you my wife, Cami.” Says Alex raising his glass.

  A small band walks out with guitars and mics. The lead singer is dressed just like Elvis. They look a little funny but then they start to sing that beautifully famous Elvis song Can’t Help Falling In Love. And they sing it well.

  Alex pulls Cami up from her seat to dance on the brick patio floor. I move around and capture shots of them dancing and the family and friends that are sharing in this moment with them. The band continues to play Elvis songs and others join in on the dancing. I keep clicking away pictures but stay near the table where David is sitting. Cami and Alex are big Elvis fans. They actually met in Graceland. Cami was working there one summer and Alex was visiting.

  One of the groomsmen, Paul, bumps into me seemingly on purpose.

  “Wanna dance?” he asks me.