by Nan Dixon
“Mphfgh,” he mumbled.
She leaned into his ear. “Wake up!”
His arm flailed. “What’s wrong?” His voice was scratchy with sleep.
“Why did you do it?”
“Do what?” He rubbed his eyes. Shaking his head, he sat up. He looked so at home—in her bed. He stared at the clock. “Come to bed.”
“Why did you do it?” She forced herself to ask again. “Why did you steal my picture?”
“Steal?” He flipped on the end-table light, wincing at the brightness. “Darlin’, I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”
Her stomach flopped. “I got the link. Is that why you had the interviewer send it to me? So I knew that you took credit for my pictures?”
“I’ve never stolen a picture in my life.” His lips formed a straight line. “I told them to put our names on the pictures.”
“How can you take credit for a picture you never took?”
“Because we work together.” He pushed his hair back. “Because I helped you edit your photos. My name will give you a leg up.” He threw the covers back and sat up. “That’s what you wanted, right? My help in getting your name out there?”
“Any picture I take, you can claim?”
“I asked you today.” He pushed off the bed and stood. “You were bloody excited.”
“But...” Is this how it was done? When she’d agreed to be an apprentice, he could do something this...this vile?
He came closer. “I thought you’d appreciate using my name to get noticed. We worked together on all the pictures I sent in.”
“Because you made one small suggestion for a change in a picture I took?” She couldn’t keep the doubt from her voice.
Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the bed.
“You’re my apprentice.” He sounded so damned reasonable.
Swallowing hard, she whispered, “I assumed it would be my name.”
He sank next to her on the bed. “I thought you knew what I was asking this afternoon.”
She should get up, get away from him. But everything inside crumbled. “I didn’t.”
He swore. “I’m trying to help you.”
“It doesn’t feel like it.” Her throat ached from holding back tears.
“Luv.” He slid closer and tugged her head so her cheek rested on his bare chest. “I was thrilled when my mentor did the same thing.”
She should pull away, but her muscles had filled with lead.
“I’m sorry you misunderstood.” He hesitated before brushing a kiss on her forehead.
She wanted to believe him.
He wrapped his arm around her waist, anchoring her to his warmth.
“I wanted to do something nice for you.” He tugged her onto his lap. “And now I’ve hurt you.”
She couldn’t talk. If she did, the stupid tears would fall. She burrowed into his chest.
He rocked her like she was a child. Maybe she was just as naïve. Is this really how things worked for an apprentice?
“Let’s get you in bed.”
He tucked her in. Shutting off the light, he slid in behind her. He brushed a kiss on the top of her head. “Sleep, luv.”
She stared at the curtains, unable to shut her eyes.
He thought she’d misunderstood.
But these were her pictures.
Had he done it on purpose?
She hated her doubts. Hated that she wasn’t sure an apprenticeship equated to taking credit for her work.
Hated that she just might be falling in love with Liam. Her chest tightened. And if he wasn’t telling the truth, this was betrayal.
* * *
HAD HE MISLED HER? Liam wished he had Dolley’s phenomenal memory to replay their conversation.
Sharing credit wasn’t a bad thing. He’d done it before.
But Dolley’s sparkle had vanished in the last two days.
Sonjia rapped on the table. “Are you with us?”
“Yes, right.”
She slid a piece of paper down to him. “Here’s today’s shooting schedule.”
Before he could review the list, his phone buzzed. He turned his back on the morning staff meeting.
“We’re getting excellent buzz on the interviews,” Barb said without saying hello.
“That’s good.” But he couldn’t fake enthusiasm for something driving him and Dolley apart. “Did you look at Dolley’s latest website mockup?”
“Fabulous. Where has she been hiding all this time?”
“In plain sight in Savannah.” He heard the pride in his voice. Dolley was talented at everything she did.
“I’ve gotten the go-ahead to offer her a job,” Barb said.
“You have?” He straightened. Would Dolley take a job working for Barb? Would that be good or bad for their relationship?
“She’s got more creativity than any website designers we’ve worked with before,” Barb said. “I want her working for us and not our competition.”
“Good luck.” After Barb hung up, he set his phone on the table.
Maybe a job offer would get him and Dolley back on track. Because for the last two days he felt like he was on trial, with a guilty sign hanging around his neck.
Her withdrawal hadn’t stopped them from being together the last couple of nights. But he hated the speculative looks she shot his way.
Last night he’d dreamed he lived in Savannah—with Dolley. Her large extended family had visited their house and he was host. The Foresters, Cheryl and her son, the people from the wedding had all shown up in his dream. He’d awakened with a smile.
He wanted that dream to become reality.
Everything clicked into place. This was where he belonged. Savannah. With the Fitzgeralds. This was what he wanted. To be part of the craziness and joy surrounding their family.
He turned back to the table.
“How’s the script?” Sonjia asked.
He forced his head back into the work at hand. “I’ve made changes. Tell me what you think.”
He grabbed the correct folder.
She flipped through his handwritten notes. “These are good. I’ll finalize and print.”
“I think we should tape down on River Street, while the crowds are light,” Jerry said. “Then we’ll have a comparison with the holiday crowds.”
Liam checked the shooting schedule for the day. “Are we trying to get there today?”
“Dolley thought an evening shot would have more atmosphere. I’ve slotted it for tonight.”
“Okay.”
Tom flashed some media badges. “We’ve got what we need to film the crowds for the actual holiday.”
Things were coming together like a perfect picture materializing in a darkroom.
Him. Savannah. The Fitzgeralds. Dolley.
Yes.
* * *
DOLLEY MADE THE final adjustments to the documentary website. The pages winked from the three monitors she had active in front of her.
The site would continue to change, but Barb’s staff was capable of handling updates.
She pushed away from the desk she’d set up in the apartment’s extra bedroom. Bending forward, she stretched her aching lower back.
What was Liam doing now? She checked the printed schedule on her desk.
He should be finishing a staff meeting. Then there was an interview with another family helped by James and Fiona Fitzgerald.
Lately, all she’d worked on was the documentary. Liam had bumped her hours again. She’d poured hours into his research, helped with scripts, suggested spots to shoot and he took credit for her work.
Her photos had been out for two days, the pictures the world thought were a collaboratio
n between her and Liam.
She swallowed the sour taste in her mouth. He’d never mentioned her in the article. Maybe her talent wasn’t strong enough to stand on its own.
The purpose of pursuing the apprenticeship had been to escape her sisters’ brilliance. Nothing had changed. She still faded into the background, except now she was stuck in Liam’s shadow.
Her thoughts were ugly. Was she only dating Liam for what he could do for her new career? It made her sound like a...a gold digger. A user. Like the men she’d dated. And exactly what Courtney had accused her of being.
Snatching her mug from the desk, she took a swig. Cold.
In the kitchen, she flipped on the kettle. Why couldn’t she focus on how generous Liam had been with his talents and mentoring and stop wanting more?
While the water heated, she picked up a travel magazine. On the cover, a bikini-clad woman rested on the beach. The blue of the water was achingly beautiful. A rock set in the upper left drew the eye to the distance.
Other than beauty, she didn’t get an emotion from the picture. Liam would have tossed it. She flipped through the pages. Instead of reading the articles, she examined the pictures. Some had been taken by a photojournalist, some articles had both a reporter and photographer.
She could do both. The blog had taught her how to keep her audience interested. Longing whipped through her. When she pictured her life in ten years, it included a passport filled with stamps from countries she’d never heard of and pictures of people and places where she didn’t speak the language.
First, she had to get a passport.
The kettle boiled, and she added water to the teapot, then filled her mug.
Back in her office, she took one more pass through the website and checked the mobile version. She was happy with her work and she’d beaten the deadline by two days.
Time to ship it to Barb.
Just as she hit Send, her cell rang.
Liam? She kicked herself. How needy was she?
Instead, it was Barbara. “Hi, Barb.”
“Dolley. How’s it going?”
“I just sent you the website for approval.”
“Wow. You’re good. Don’t forget to copy Samantha.”
Dolley smiled. “Already done.”
“Excellent.” There was a small tapping noise in the background, like a fingernail on ceramic. What was up?
“I really like your work,” Barb said.
“Thank you.”
“How would you like to take on all Wonderment, Inc.’s website work? Full-time.”
A small thrill pulsed through her. Barb liked her work enough to offer her a job.
But it wasn’t the job she wanted. Her body slumped.
“We’d help you find an apartment in New York. You’d have full control of the websites. I understand you made security change suggestions on the hosting service.”
Butterflies danced in her belly. “You’d want me to move to New York?”
“That’s where the job is,” Barb said. “I’d like you to look at our old sites and revise them to get better hits and accessibility. You’d spend time in our LA office, too.”
She couldn’t get over the idea of moving to New York. And working between LA and New York. Her head spun like she wasn’t getting enough oxygen.
“We also have a London office. But we’d want you to get your feet wet on the North America productions first.”
London? She let her head sink onto the back of the chair, her phone clenched in a death grip. “I...I...”
“Why don’t I send you the list of websites so you know what’s in front of you? And I’ll send you this quarter’s projects.” Barb added, “We’ve done this all with contract help, but I’ve convinced the partners it’s better to bring you onboard, and you can create your own department.”
“I’d have staff?”
Barb laughed. “When I send you the list of sites, you’ll understand why. We have a lot of upcoming projects.”
“I appreciate the offer.”
“Then let’s talk money.” Barb named a figure that had Dolley tucking her head between her knees.
When that wasn’t enough to stop her head spins, she slid out of the chair and lay flat on the floor.
“Say you’ll think about it,” Barb said.
“I’ll think about it.” She rubbed the tension in her jaw. “This is a busy time for my family’s B and B. Is it okay if I let you know after we get through St. Patrick’s Day?”
Barb’s fingernails tapped out a rapid beat. “Sure. Why not.”
“Thank you, again.” She needed time to figure out her life.
“Great. I’ll get Samantha to send those lists.”
“Thank you.”
After Barb hung up, Dolley let the phone slip out of her hands. New York. LA. London. The cities had slipped off Barb’s tongue as easily as if she traveled there every week.
She stared at the ceiling. It was part of her dream.
But only part.
Could she start from there? Leapfrogging off this opportunity?
And what about her sisters and the B and B? It wasn’t like what she contributed was that unique, but they would have to hire someone to do the bookkeeping. And the new reservation system was coming online after they survived the March craziness.
What would Liam think of her job offer? She sat up, wrapping her arms around her legs. Would this mean she would see more him or less? Wonderment produced all his films, but that didn’t mean he would always do that.
She didn’t want whatever she and Liam had begun to end. She’d never dated a man this long.
Her head pounded with questions.
Swiping her phone off the carpet, she called Abby. “We need a sisters’ meeting tonight.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The photographer is like the cod which produces a million eggs in order that one may reach maturity.
George Bernard Shaw
“YOU’D LIVE IN NEW YORK?” Bess chewed on her thumbnail.
“Yes.” Dolley tapped her sister’s hand and then paced the kitchen’s sitting area. She’d been stewing about Barb’s offer all day. “Although she talked about working with their LA team and possibly the London group.”
“New York.” Abby’s eyes were huge. No smile creased her normally happy face. “You would love living there. You’d fit in.”
“I don’t know about that.” Dolley waved a hand over her jeans and red top. “Everyone who works with Liam thinks black is the ultimate wardrobe choice.”
“So you’d stand out.” Bess leaned forward from her spot of the sofa. “You’d add a spark of color to their dull worlds. People would circle you like you were an exotic plant. Or a light and they’re all moths.”
Dolley shook her head. “Don’t moths eat clothes?”
Bess waved her hand. “You know what I mean.”
“But what about what we’re building here?” Abby asked.
“You and Bess are the creative forces behind Fitzgerald and Carleton House.” She sank down onto the sofa. “What I do can be done by other people.”
“We’re a team.” Abby’s strawberry-blond ponytail shook back and forth. “And you’re a valuable member of Team Fitzgerald.”
Dolley rolled her eyes. “I can monitor whoever we hire to pick up my slack. With Fitzgerald and Carleton House both running, our cash flow is stronger. I’d stop taking a draw.”
“You’re an owner.” Abby rubbed her temples. “I can’t picture the B and B without you.”
Dolley’s stomach flipped. Would they want to buy out her B and B share? Her legacy?
Bess grabbed her hand. “I love seeing you every day.”
“You’re both too busy with Gray and Daniel to mis
s me.” But Dolley swallowed. She saw her sisters almost every day. Even if it was hard living in the shadow of their accomplishments, they were her best friends. “All your gooey love eyes are making me sick.”
“What does Liam think?” Abby asked.
Dolley pulled on a loose thread on her jeans. “I haven’t talked to him yet.”
“But you two are...” Bess wiggled her fingers.
“I wanted to talk to you first.”
And there was the difference between her older sisters and her. They had someone they loved who would always be first in their lives. Gray and Daniel put them first, too.
She wasn’t sure where she and Liam stood or where they were going.
“So, what was the apprenticeship for?” Abby’s forehead furrowed into a frown.
Dolley popped off the sofa again, unable to sit. “For my photography.”
“But they aren’t hiring you as a photographer,” Bess said.
“No.” She shook her head. “But once I get my feet under me, I might be able to launch a career in photography in New York.”
Except she’d looked at the website list Samantha had sent. She had months of work ahead of her. And that was without the new projects.
Abby let out a puff of air. “Have you hated being tied to Fitzgerald House?”
“I...” Dolley shifted on her feet.
“I didn’t realize.” Abby’s face fell. “I’m so sorry.”
“I love working with you.” Dolley didn’t want to hurt her family. “It’s just... I want to travel and take pictures instead of build websites.”
“But isn’t that what you’d be doing for them?” Bess asked.
Dolley swallowed. “But it would be in New York.”
“So Savannah is the problem,” Abby stated.
“Abby, you lived in New York.” Dolley pointed at Bess. “And you went to college in a different town. I stayed here.”
“And we’ve never taken vacations.” Abby twirled her wineglass between her fingers, but didn’t take a sip.
“I love Savannah,” Dolley whispered.
“Then why don’t you want to stay?” Bess asked.
Why? “Because I’m the other Fitzgerald girl.” Dolley pressed her fingertips to her head. “I’m your sister here. Not Dolley Fitzgerald.”