Chapter 6

by T'Mara

(scroll down for previous chapters)

 

Even though Alan's removal from the reunion by his brother quickly became the main topic for discussion among the assembled Bennett clan, neither Diana nor Jake could shake the feeling that they were not entirely safe yet, that the question of her private and – given the picture – rather unusual wedding would surface again, if not this weekend, then certainly further down the road, and probably sooner rather than later.

Jake in particular seemed to become more and more restless; therefore, at one point, Diana quietly steered him away from his cousins.

“Don't worry too much, Jake,” she told him. “Relax. We are off the hook for the moment. If you appear so agitated, the others will suspect that something is wrong, that we are hiding something. You need to pretend that everything is fine. Then the others will hopefully forget about our situation and concentrate on other problems, like Uncle Seamus and his drinking or the fact that my cousin Lily once again has neither shown up nor bothered to send in a regret.”

Jake looked down, nervously playing with the strap of the camera around his neck.

“What if...?” he whispered.

Diana put her arms around him, squeezing the trembling boy close to her own body.

“Nothing will happen to our family,” she promised. “You and I will make certain of that. And the first step in order to achieve that is for you to be calm and relaxed, to play with the other kids, laugh, and enjoy yourself.” After a short pause, she added, “Also for your father's sake. You know he can pick up on your mood, sense when you are nervous. We wouldn't want him to get worried, would we? We'll tell him everything when we are back home, and then we'll decide together what to do about Alan and some of my relatives having seen the wedding picture. So, can you promise me not to worry for the time being and to pretend that everything is fine?”

Jake nodded. Now that his mom had explained the situation to him, he understood it was vital not to let the others know of his growing uneasiness.

“Good,” Diana smiled, hugging him once again. “Now that this is settled, I will take the next step and talk to Jessica.”

She pulled out her Blackberry and dialed Jessica's number.

Jessica was not too happy to interrupt the developing of some photos urgently needed by a customer, in order to answer Diana's phone call. But when she learned about the problem that had arisen at the Bennett family reunion, she immediately turned serious.

“Oh, Diana, I am so, so sorry!” she exclaimed. “This is all my fault. I was already exhausted after working in the dark room for hours when I got to develop Jake's pictures. I must have overlooked that particular film roll.”

Diana tried to calm her, explaining that they had the situation well under control for the time being.

“It's just,” Diana continued, “we have reason not to trust this, Alan. He was made to leave the family reunion a while ago - for totally unrelated reasons,” she hastily added. “But he is, of course, heading back to New York, and I am certain he will try to get some information about the wedding picture out of you. It will of course, take him some time till he gets there, which gives you a few hours. Could you please check if Jake's negatives are at the lab with you and remove them if so? I have managed to secure the wedding picture, but if this man is in possession of the negatives and/or has made more than this one print...”

Jessica gasped. “Oh dear, I hadn't even thought about that yet!” she cried, “of course I will look for the negatives at once.”

She hesitated. “Diana, what was Alan doing at your family reunion anyway? I didn't think he was related to you. And did you just say you do not trust him? Why? What makes you think so?”

Diana sighed. “He's my sister's brother-in-law, but obviously something like a black sheep. He's been in conflict with the law on occasion.” She told Jessica what she had learned from her research on the national database.

Jessica was devastated. “I had no idea!” she mumbled, “I knew him years ago, he was such a talented photographer, doing really well with pretty, artsy pictures. I thought he'd have a great future in that area. But then he moved to LA and we sort of lost contact for a few years. It was a mere coincidence that we ran into each other a couple of months ago and renewed our friendship. He seemed just the way I remembered him, friendly, charming, intent on working hard, and still completely fascinated by everything to do with photography. It would never have occurred to me that he might have developed some criminal interests...”

“You couldn't know,” Diana tried to console her. “Not even my sister and her husband knew, since he'd been out of touch with them for a few years as well, although I have a feeling that Dan might have had some suspicions. He most definitely discouraged everybody from investing in one of Alan's supposedly great business schemes.”

Diana then told Jessica how she had explained Vincent's looks in the wedding picture to Alan. “In case he asks you about it,” she added, “it's best our answers match.”

“Oh, I could also say that I have no idea what was in the picture,” Jessica replied, “since it was not me who developed it, and I therefore never saw it. Thus, I could also make Alan feel guilty for having done so unauthorized. And yes, I will immediately start looking for the negatives,” she promised. “It's just... this may take a while, since the situation here might be best described as creative chaos. I'll let you know as soon as I've searched the place.”

xxxx

“Stop pacing, Vincent,” Father admonished his son. “I know this is a new situation for you, being separated from Jake for so long, but the boy is with Diana, and I trust her completely to keep him safe.”

Vincent growled. “A short time ago, I felt that Jake was agitated, worried, and nervous. I can't shake the feeling of something potentially dangerous...” He shook his head. “That feeling is gone now, Jake seems calm, but...”

Father put a reassuring hand on Vincent's shoulder. “I would guess then, that at the moment everything is fine, that there is no immediate danger. Maybe the boy was just a bit overwhelmed by all the new impressions, the many new people he has met, and anyway, Diana and Jake will be back tomorrow. Then they will be able to tell us everything about the party, and you will know why Jake was so nervous.”

Vincent sighed. The few hours till their return would feel like an eternity to him, now that he feared that something might be threatening his family.

Father tried to change the topic to make Vincent stop brooding. “By the way, how is Rolley doing? Has everything been arranged for his surgery?” he asked.

Vincent nodded. “Everything should be fine,” he explained. “Peter has helped him with the necessary paperwork, application to the medical trust that Catherine has established. He will be admitted to the hospital next Monday.”

“Then I guess you should continue to work on your surprise for Diana,” Father smiled. “There is no better time for such things than when the person you want to surprise is away.”

xxxx

Alan seethed. What was Dan thinking, treating him like that? Who did Dan think he was? What gave his high-and-mighty elder brother the right to practically force him out of the premises in front of all the Bennett-clan and send him packing?

“He will pay for that,” he swore under his breath while driving back to New York. “He humiliated me, and for what? I wasn't doing anything wrong, just proposing some lucrative business to his wife's relatives and trying to get some information that might help me get back into journalism.”

He could not shake the feeling that he had inadvertently stumbled onto something great – the kind of story that could make him famous and finally get him the recognition – and the financial security – that had so far eluded him.

Sure, the explanation Diana had given him was not entirely unbelievable. He was well aware that some couples preferred to have a wedding theme of sorts, that was reflected in outfits, decoration, even food - after all, he had been hired as a photographer at one or two such events in the past, but...

“Normally, if there is a big dress-up for a wedding, they have dozens, if not hundreds of guests,” he mused. “But apparently not so at that specific event. None of the relatives seemed to have been present; nobody could tell me anything.”

Or had they just not wanted to tell him more about that wedding? He did not think so. He had expected that the adults would keep silent if there was something fishy or at least unusual, so he had talked to the children, tried to bribe them. That children could resist the promise of some additional pocket money surprised him; in his experience, that was unusual. But this failure to extract some information from them was, of course, easily explained if they knew nothing, thus he was pretty much convinced that the wedding had taken place without Diana's relatives. The question was: Why?

“No relatives at the wedding, the picture quickly put away safely in her purse,” Alan mumbled. “It is clear that there is some reason for this secretiveness. And I am sure it's got something to do with the groom. For some reason, nobody seems to have met that husband of hers...”

He wondered. What was that make-up hiding? Had Diana married some high-ranking politician or a celebrity who wanted the marriage to remain secret? But if so, where did Jake come in? Surely if his father wanted to keep his relationship with Diana a secret, the boy would not be allowed to be seen with her either. Or was her husband maybe a well-known criminal?

“I will find out what that broad is hiding,” he promised himself. “I just have to keep investigating. There must be somebody who knows more.”

He grinned. “Jessica!” he realized. The picture in question had been taken by that boy, Jake, a truly talented youngster. But Jake had brought the film roll to Jessica for development. He could therefore have had no problems with her seeing that particular picture, and Jessica had told him repeatedly that her family and Jake's were old friends.

“If anybody knows something about this mystery, it's Jessica,” he concluded. “I bet she has met that husband of my dear sister-in-law's sister, since he is a family friend. And she considers me a friend...”

xxx

The assembled members of the Bennett-clan were getting ready for their annual reunion's highlight, the dinner, when Dan approached Diana.

“I must apologize for my brother,” he told her. “Actually, not just to you but to everybody here, for it was not right how he tried to extort money from the adults and bribe the children. But the way he treated you was particularly bad. The way he made a big deal about your wedding based on a picture was uncalled for, as were whatever assumptions or conclusions he made based on that picture. Your marriage is your personal affair and none of his business. You can marry whoever you want to, wherever you want to, in whichever way it pleases you and your groom. You don't owe anyone an explanation and even less so a justification, not even for the fact that you did not invite any family.”

Diana blushed. “Thank you, Dan, it is sweet of you to say that.”

Dan smiled. “Susan agrees with me on everything I just said, but since the offender is my own brother, we both felt like the apology should come from me. And by the way, it is obvious that you are happy, your relationship with your stepson is very warm and loving, the boy has obviously been brought up well, which gives a lot of credit to his father, so... well... I guess what I want to say is, Susan and I think your husband must be a fine man, and even if you don't need it, we approve and give you our blessing.”

Diana had tears in her eyes as she thanked her brother-in-law for his kind words. She was about to approach Susan and tell her as well how much their support meant to her, when her Blackberry buzzed, signaling an incoming text. Diana grabbed the phone to read her message and paled. It read: “Sorry, could not find the negatives. Jessica.”

 Chapter 5

by cb mcwhorter

(scroll down for previous chapters)

 

Dan gave Diana a lop-sided smile. “It’s bad enough when your sister does that, you know?”

Diana snickered until Alex called over her shoulder, “Yeah, Aunt D has monetized it!”

“Monetized?” asked Jacob, following her into the back seat.

“Really?” Diana grumbled.

“You don’t really use that term about someone who makes an honest living, I think,” Susan said.

“Oh,” said Alex. “Good to know.”

Dan had backed the car out and turned down the street by the time Diana said, “So?”

“So, what?” said Susan.

“So, why don’t I trust Al?” said Dan.

“Ah,” Susan nodded.

Dan sighed. “My little brother has a real talent for photography. Kinda had it made in fashion photography until he got caught with his hand in some fashion house’s till.”

“More words I don’t know,” Jacob huffed. “Till?”

“He wasn’t arrested, but he was definitely blackballed from the industry,” Dan went on.

“Then he had a stint as a gossip columnist in L.A. Called himself a reporter,” said Susan. “As it turns out, there are actually rules for that job.”

“Like knowing the difference between slander and calumny?” Diana said. She ignored Jacob’s whine.

Dan laughed. “It wound up in court. Al won’t talk about it. And I don’t know where he’s been for the last several years. Maybe he’ll actually tell us.”

“Maybe he was in jail,” Susan muttered, barely audibly.

Diana felt a bit of chill run down her neck. This weekend was starting to look like a bad idea in many ways. She sighed. All they had to do was get through this afternoon, and they could go home. 

“You know, I can find out for you. All you have to do is ask,” Diana said.

*****

Vincent took his breakfast back to his chamber. He admitted to himself – and to Father – that he was out of sorts. It wasn’t unusual for Diana to be away, although long stints like that last one were becoming rare. But he’d never really been without Jacob, and certainly he’d never lacked both of them at the same time. He could feel Jacob as well as he could when the boy was in the school room, and there had been times of anxiety, but mostly, his mood had been happy. But that didn’t change the fact that Vincent missed them.

His conversation with Rolley hadn’t helped. Years of addiction, complicated by physical consequences of a hard life, were causing constant pain. His knees were especially bad. Because of his addiction, an entire class of medications was unavailable to him for any but the most emergent needs. Rolley admitted to being tempted to start using again. He felt guilty for taking his troubles out on the kids, and he apologized over and over. But that didn’t solve the underlying problem, did it?

They talked about the possibility of surgery. A knee replacement could make an enormous difference. Rolley was understandably afraid. Vincent couldn’t blame him.

Today, Rolley and Vincent would talk to Father about arranging for surgery. Peter was retired now, but he’d arranged for the Tunnel dwellers to have access to help Above when needed. Catherine had set up a medical trust for emergencies, and Rolley would have access to it for the operation. It wasn’t hopeless.

There was one truth Vincent had learned early: life is not fair. Rolley had weathered more hardship than most, and now it seemed he was being penalized for overcoming it all. That it wasn’t fair seemed a terrible understatement. Couldn’t the past just stay in the past every once in a while?

*****

As soon as they entered the house, two cousins raced up to Jacob, shouting about a great big toad in the pond, and all three boys raced away, followed by a chorus of “No running in the house!” and “No shouting in the house!”

Diana rolled her eyes and looked at her cousin Bridget, a mother of two boys.

“Tell me it gets better,” Diana begged.

“Sure,” chirped Bridget. “You bet.”

Diana cased the living room. “How can there be more people today than yesterday?”

“Yeah, Aunt Helen has the constitution of an ox,” Susan said.

The sisters moved into the crowd for greetings and hugs.

 

Outside, the toad had become bored with the loud boys and hopped into the water. Lizzie, Eddie’s sister, had joined them.

“So, Aunt Di is your stepmom?” she said.

“Yeah,” Jacob said, and tried to process why he just got goosebumps.

“How long has she been your stepmom?”

“They got married a couple of years ago. But she’s been there all my life.”

“What happened to your real mom?” Eddie asked.

“She died when I was a baby.”

Their eyes widened, and Lizzie hissed.

“If she’s been there all your life, how come we’re only meeting you now?” said Eddie.

What’s going on here? Jake thought. “Why? Did you miss me?”

“Silly!” Eddie laughed and shoved Jacob good-naturedly. Jake shoved back, and the boys started chasing each other around the yard.

“But wait!” Lizzie cried. “Uncle Alan said…”

I need to talk to Mom.

 

Diana and Susan had been pulled into the kitchen. “Aunt Helen?” Diana said. “Why am I here? You know I burn water.”

Helen laughed. “Maybe. But you can still peel potatoes.”

“Ah.” Diana picked up a potato and a peeler.

Alex and a cousin (who, again?) came in for sodas. “Hey, Aunt Di!” said the cousin.

“Hi, girls.”

“How come you won’t show us your wedding pictures?”

“Come again?”

“Uncle Alan said you hid your wedding picture.”

All three older women turned to stare at the girls.

“Alan,” Helen said. “Was that the pudgy man with the mullet who wanted me to invest in his new business this morning?”

Susan groaned. “He didn’t.” When Helen nodded, she groaned again. “He’s not a Bennett. He’s my brother-in-law. And why is he talking about Diana’s wedding when he hasn’t been around for years?”

“He’s been asking everyone if they were there and what was it was like, and who her husband is.”

“And why does he care?” Diana asked.

“He says he’s just curious. Reporter instincts, he says.” 

Alex chimed in. “He’s telling the little ones he’ll give them five bucks for more information.”

Aunt Helen gasped. “Get him in here,” she growled.

Diana threw up a hand. “Wait.” She pulled her Blackberry from her pocket. “I offered to check him out if you want,” she told Susan. “Now I’m the one who wants to know. But Alex, you might want to quietly get your dad.”

The girls left, and the kitchen was silent except for the tapping on Diana’s keyboard and a pot boiling on the stove.

Dan and Alex appeared. “What?” he said.

“Have you talked to Alan today?” Susan asked.

“He seems to be avoiding me. Spending a lot of time with the kids and a few of the older relatives.” He took in Aunt Helen’s thunderous face. “Oh, shit,” he sighed, and no one corrected him. “Why can’t he be the drunk uncle?”

“We have Seamus for that, dear,” said Helen.

“Finally got into the national database,” Diana huffed. All eyes were on her as she scrolled and pecked at tiny keys. “Whoa,” she finally said. “Well, sister, dear, he has been in jail.”

“Maybe Alex shouldn’t be here,” Helen said.

“Too late!” Alex said.

“Breaking and entering, trespassing, photographing the home’s resident without consent, five years,” Diana read off. “He was hoping to get pictures of the homeowner engaging in deviant acts.”

“Deviant?” said Alex.

“What counts for deviant in LA?” mused Aunt Helen.

“Oh, boy,” Diana made a strange face. “Well, for Rex Hardy, it’s homosexuality.”

Alex gasped. “Say it isn’t so!” she begged.

“No worries,” Diana said. “His visitor was his brother. Alan got pictures of them watching a game.”

“I can breathe again,” Alex grinned. “But I think I’d better head off the little ones. They’ve been bugging Jake.”

Now, Diana growled.

“And, Dan, he’s asking my generation for money,” Helen said.

Dan exchanged glances with his wife as he took a deep breath. “Well, Aunt Helen, it’s a shame he needs to leave before dinner.” And he stamped out of the room.

The ladies watched from the kitchen door as he marched over to Alan, who was talking to Uncle Seamus. Dan grabbed his brother by the back of his neck and hauled him to his feet. He said not a word as he dragged Alan, who squawked all the way, out the door. The gathered relatives watched this silently, then turned to Aunt Helen, who said, “Something came up. Dinner in about twenty.” And she returned to the kitchen. They watched out the front window as Dan spoke sternly to Alan. He didn’t seem to be giving Alan much chance to say anything. He opened the car door and shoved Alan into it, then watched as he drove away.

When Dan entered the house, he realized he had to say something. “I’m sorry, everyone. I’m embarrassed to say that Alan is the black sheep of the family. If he offered you money, know that he was lying. If he asked for money, know it was for something illegitimate. If he shows back up, please call me.”

Uncle Seamus said, “He had a great business idea!”

“I’m sure he did,” said Dan. “But I promise it wasn’t the one he was telling you about. Really, I mean it, he contacts you, hang up, and call me.”

One of the kids piped up, “He said he’d pay us five dollars if we could find out why Aunt Di’s wedding was secret.”

“It wasn’t secret,” Dan said.

“But we weren’t invited,” a cousin said irritably.

“Sharon, that isn’t the definition of a secret. And it’s none of our business.” He sat down next to Diana and Susan’s brother to resume the sports talk he’d been taken away from.

Jacob crept into the kitchen. “Mom,” he said. “The kids are bugging me about Dad.”

Diana hugged him. “That’s Alan’s fault, sweetie.”

“Not to intrude,” said Helen, “but when do we meet him?”

Jake looked out from Diana’s arms. “Dad doesn’t go out in public,” he said, returning Diana’s warning squeeze. “’Cause of the burns he got when he was a baby. People don’t like his face.”

“Oh, the poor man!” said Helen.

“Hence the cat makeup,” said Susan. “I guess he didn’t want to get married in a balaclava.”

Diana laughed, and so did everyone else. This could still come back to haunt them, but she was going to enjoy her people now.

 Chapter 4

By (Cece)

(scroll down for previous chapters)

 

Below, Vincent, preparing to leave for the music chamber, paused at a chest beside the bed in his chamber. A sudden sensation touched him from Jacob like a gentle nudge at the edge of his mind. Not fear or worry. A combination of concern mingled with a good helping of uncertainty reached out to him. Vincent cocked his head as though listening to a faint sound, familiar but distant. He sighed. Jacob, his son, could be, what was Diana’s expression? Oh yes, a firecracker. But he was also thoughtful. That sensation dominated his perception of Jacob. He sent sensations of confidence and support, knowing Jacob would perceive it. Breathing a soft sigh of understanding, Vincent waited. Then a sensation of calm acceptance reached him. He smiled before heading to the music chamber and an overdue conversation with Rolly.

****

Diana emerged from the bathroom, toweling her hair after a quick shower, and noticed Jacob seated on the edge of his bed, hands turning his camera over and over. Lost in thought.

“What’s up, kiddo? Something wrong with the camera?” She drew the towel down around her shoulders, cocking her head to examine her son more closely.

Jacob shrugged, looking into her eyes, the contemplative expression fading. A smile blossomed slowly, covering the uncertain expression. “No. I mean, not with the camera. What do you think about Alan?”

Diana shrugged. “Well, I don’t know. We spoke a little. Seemed interested in the wedding photo. Why?”

Jacob lifted his camera, wiped its lens, and sighed. “He asked a lot of questions about my photography.” Jacob paused, uncertain. “I don’t know why his questions made me… I don’t know… uneasy.”

Diana froze for an instant. In some ways, Jacob was as sensitive as his father. She lowered herself carefully to the bed, scooted his hips over sitting as close as possible. “What did he ask?” she inquired softly.

Jacob shook his head again, feeling silly. “Nothing really: Did I like photography, and where did I like to go to take pictures. Oh, and then Alex was going through an envelope of photos Al had given her when she found some of mine.” It was then that Jacob flushed, appearing sheepish. “I don’t know how they got there, Mom, really.”

She drew him into a comforting embrace. “Yeah, I believe you. We forgot about the wedding photos.” She paused. “I saw them and had to come up with the fairy tale wedding thing.” Diana sighed, struggling with the desire to roll her eyes. Romantic, she was up to a point. She loved her husband’s exotic features, but she was no ren-faire groupie! “Vincent’s tunnel garb fit the look so well,” Diana added. It hadn’t been intentional, and yet a beautiful wedding.

She continued, “We’ll put our heads together. This wasn’t your fault exactly. Depending on Jessica, who was using someone else to develop your negatives, maybe it wasn’t our best idea. Things happen in spite of our best intentions.”

“Dinner!” Diana’s sister Susan’s voice penetrated the room from the floor below.

 

Both sisters were seated on the sofa in the family room after dinner, when Susan confessed, “Sometimes the clan can be a bit much. In the words of our neighbor, ‘Oi vey!’ They give me such a headache!”

Jacob laughed. He blinked in surprise and guffawed, gasping for air and guffawing for nearly a minute, tears running from his eyes. Diana and Susan stared in equal quantities of merriment and genuine surprise.

“Aunt Susan, that did not sound like you at all. It was perfect.” Jacob declared.

Alex glanced up from her comic book for an instant, chortling, “That’s my mom.”

Susan gave a mock bow and dusted imaginary dust from her shoulders with a smug smile on her face. She winked at her sister before continuing, “I love the clan, but sometimes… we just need a little peace.” She concluded.

“By the way,” Susan added a few minutes later.  “Dan called and left a message on the machine. His plane is stuck in D.C. Something about a weather delay. He will officially see us tomorrow.”

“I think he’ll want to crash once his plane lands,” Alex added.

Diana blinked, unruffled. Her brother-in-law, an easy-going guy, liked his coffee and had a low threshold for drama. She smiled.

The sisters slouched quietly, half watching a movie, and the kids were by turns sharing Alex’s comic book. Jacob reading with interest. He didn’t have access to comic books, Below. The youngsters chuckled at something, and Alex nudged Jacob, who nodded in what had to be agreement.

Diana turned to her sister and said quietly, “I hadn’t met Alan before.”

Susan nodded, distracted. Half of her attention focused on the drama on the screen. “Yeah, hasn’t come around that much.” She turned back to the program again, murmuring, “Dan said he was too busy being ‘artsy-fartsy,’ his words, to come to our middle-class shindigs.” Susan shrugged then. “I don’t know. Maybe Dan’s not being fair. They were kind of at odds growing up. You know how annoying younger siblings can be?”

Diana laughed. She loved Susan, but when they were younger, they drove one another nuts. Fortunately, they grew up. Susan married. Diana joined the department. She couldn’t blame anyone for not keeping up with a relative who didn’t come around a lot.

Diana’s attention returned to the movie. In the back of her mind, she considered what to do about Jacob. Well, not about Jacob but for him. ‘Think Bennett, you’ve got to come up with something cause this guy…’ something about this Alan hinted at a kind of persistence. Persistence, as in stubborn or something else. Pleasantly relaxed in a way that didn’t happen too often away from Vincent, she decided to wait until morning.

 

What a relief it would be to lie in bed the next morning, both Diana and Jacob sighed. No relatives to worry about saying the wrong thing to. No questions that turned into traps. Jacob didn’t have to think so hard before answering his questions. Diana could relax within the less cluttered atmosphere of Susan’s home.

 

The murmur of distant voices penetrated the fog of sleep. Diana had a good night’s sleep, stretched, and gazed around the room, remembering she was in her sister’s home. Then Diana sat erect like a band of steel in her spine snapped vertically. The voices murmured low, accompanied by the smell of coffee brewing. The sofa was empty of any other companions.

Entering the kitchen, she said, “Good morning.” Smiled at her brother-in-law before adding, “Hi, welcome home.”

Dan raised his steaming cup. “Morning. Were we talking too loudly?”

Diana stretched. “No. Really. I think the smell of coffee got to me.” Stocking feet moved across the floor to the cupboard where the cups were kept, then turned her toward the coffee maker. She poured a cup then sighed.

“Thanks. Um, this is good! Alex, did you make this?”

Her niece shook her head. “Uh, uh. Mom made it last night and set the timer.” She smiled.

“Someone mention me?” Susan swept into the room, spotted her spouse, and beamed. “The airlines actually left on time!” Susan and Dan hugged and kissed.

Alex reproved, “Yuk! Mom, Dad, in front of the kids!”

Jacob entered the kitchen in the next instant, watching the couple share a moment of reunion and joy, and thought about his mom and dad. They sent out the sensations whenever they came together after time apart. 

“Okay, you two. The rest of us are going to lose consciousness if you suck all of the air from the room. Good to see you, Dan,” Diana added, taking a sip of coffee.

Susan and Dan parted. Dan resumed drinking his coffee, and Susan turned to the cupboard to snag a bowl and cereal. Pouring a bowlful, snagging escaped kernels, popping them into her mouth, crunching happily.

“Hey, guess who came to Great Aunt Helen’s yesterday?”

Dan looked over his cup, a thoughtful expression on his face, brows raised. “No, who? Not Alyssa’s weird roommate?”

Susan and Alex winced. “Uh, no! They split a long time ago,” Alex said, lip curling in disgust.

Susan shook her head. “I forgot about him. No, your brother, Al. He came and stayed most of the evening.”

Dan lowered his cup. “Huh, well,” Dan muttered at a loss. “Good. Hope he shows up tonight. It will be good to see him and catch up. It’s been a while.”

Jacob studied his uncle’s expression with curiosity. Neutral. No joy, no disappointment, just neutral. Unlike the reunions between Jacob’s father and his Uncle Devin, all smiles and embraces, the release anticipation like fireworks around them. Uncle Dan and Al probably will not meet that way.

Diana studied her usually jovial, genial brother-in-law, knowing that something between the brothers had been festering within the family. Outsiders were better served by not interfering. However, she had a son and husband to protect; if protection was required, Diana would bear a lion in its den to protect her family.

 

Diana dressed for dinner, walked downstairs wearing an off-the-shoulder sweater that sparkled from tiny spangles woven into the threads. Smoothed her slacks, brushed her shoes on the back of her legs. Alex and Jacob were already dressed and ready, sitting in the kitchen.

“You kids, wow. You both look nice.”

Alex glanced at Jacob, who grinned.

“We raced,” Jacob admitted. “Alex bet me she could get ready before me.”

“Really?” Diaa asked.

“Yes, but I let her have the bath first,” Jacob admitted, looking toward the room entrance.

Susan and Dan entered the kitchen, arguing over tie or no tie, and sputtered to a halt.

“Wow, you two. Ready already.” Susan quipped.

Her nephew Jacob and daughter Alex grinned proudly. Dan gave them a wink and put the tie aside. Diana smiled as Susan threw up her hands.

“I knew you had it in you,” Diana whispered as they headed for the garage and Susan’s car. “Now, tell me why you don’t trust your brother.”

Dan stopped walking so abruptly that Diana almost stumbled into his back.

 

 Chapter Three

Angie

(scroll down for previous chapters)

The party was going well, and Diana didn’t feel out of place, which she thought remarkable given how she had rarely met most of these people.

She had decided to keep it casual and was wearing a pair of CK’s she had found in a discount store on one of the rare occasions when she had shopped for clothing. With a slightly dressy top and jacket, she fit right in – what was it called? Dressy casual? Luckily, the weather was fine and warm.

She mingled and moved around, talking to people she had met, and reconnecting with her great aunt. All the time, she tried to avoid Alan for long enough to put together an explanation, and she thought of it just in time. He approached her near the end of the party, with Jacob holding onto her hand. The boy had been somewhat overwhelmed, and she guessed he was looking forward to not having so many strangers around at her sister’s.

 Give him a chance to wind down, she thought.

“Hi… Uncle Alan?” Jacob greeted him, uncertain.

Alan smiled. “Just Alan is fine, Kiddo.”

Jacob nodded. “Thanks for the photos.” He was not happy that a wedding photo of his father and Diana had been included in the bunch, but said nothing.

“Hi kiddo, nice wedding photo,” Alan commented, getting right to the point.

“It is,” Diana agreed. “We wanted to make our wedding special, so we dressed up.” 

Sometimes she amazed herself at how glibly she could lie – but that too was part of her profession, along with being cool under stress. She didn’t really remember Alan; she had been to too few functions, although she had seen him at her sister’s wedding. Just someone else she had lost track of over the years. Unfortunately, it seemed he also had an inconvenient curiosity about her.

“Why those costumes?” Alan asked, his curiosity now buzzing in his head.

“We both like old legends and myths – my heritage, you know – and we decided to pay them homage.”

“Your costume is interesting – definitely mythical - but where did you get the inspiration for your groom’s?”

“Oh, that was just chance. We love the Beauty and the Beast legend, but that Beast was too scary for a wedding, so we chose a different figure. We remembered reading about the now-famous lion man figurine found in Stadel, Germany, and looked it up. It was made 40,000 years ago of mammoth ivory. It was certainly made with skill.

“My husband loved the idea of it, suggested that the image must have been of someone the people revered, perhaps a storyteller, and our ideas ran from there. He tried to duplicate what he thought was the costume – with considerable artistic license. As to his face, we have occasion in the 210 to use the skills of certain anatomy and facial experts - you don’t want to know – and they told me about a makeup artist who could do the job.”

“Fantastic,” was Alan’s response to this, and he relaxed. There was always an easy explanation, so why was he so surprised?

“Thanks for the photo,” Diana said. “Jessica must have forgotten that roll. Not like her, but Jacob here has been very busy with his camera, and we’ve had to reduce the number of photos she’s developing. What do you think of his work?”

“It’s terrific,” Alan admitted with a smile. “He has talent - and an eye for scene, lighting, and context.”

Diana nodded.

“Are you planning to be a professional?” Alan asked Jacob, looking down at him.

Jacob hoped Alan accepted the explanation. He was glad to speak about his photography instead.

“I love seeing the world through a camera lens,” he told Alan. “I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up, but maybe something that uses photography.” He shrugged.

Any talk like that was not likely to be important for some years, so he wasn’t worried. His father always told him not to rush things. Much could change; he was told. Enjoy what you do now and let the future take care of itself. So, he was. He would have to be more careful with his photos, and film rolls - and so would Jessica. The wedding photo should not have been on a roll with other work. He had taken a lot of photos that day – so how had that happened?

While he was talking, Diana made a mental reminder to tell Jessica to recover the negatives and any other prints made. She would be distraught that Alan had let his curiosity win over his morality. She suspected there would be words. Jessica did not take kindly to being put on the spot. Perhaps Jacob would have to find another pursuit for a while too. They had been taking advantage of Jessica’s talent and access to a photo lab far too often. A break would be good for everyone and give Alan time to forget the photo.

“Well, we must go,” Diana told Alan at last, as Jacob stopped talking and Alan seemed at a loss as to what to say next. “Susan is waiting, and we promised we would have dinner with her.”

“See you tomorrow then,” Alan said, smiling.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Diana lied again.

She decided she wanted no more conversations with this relative. It could only get worse from here on in, and she would never hint at her secret life. If it came to it, she and Jacob could just show up for the main meal. She had seen just about all she wanted to see of her extended family for some time. She was not a social animal herself, and she was almost as overwhelmed as Jacob at the flurry of talk, hugs, and questions. No one had pried too deeply and had accepted her somewhat bare-bones explanations in the ongoing fun, but families were nosy. She hoped she could deflect any overt questions at the dinner, so she and Jacob would have to come up with a story together tonight.

Much as she loved her family, she had not sufficiently considered how nosy they would be. She had a lot more sympathy for Catherine Chandler now. She had not had so many relatives, by all accounts, but she had many friends and a father, and from all Vincent said, she walked a tightrope too, often alone.

Of Catherine’s acquaintances she knew of, only Elliot Burch had met Vincent, and he’d had a terrible accident and was now very much less in the public view. He had recovered in the tunnels, after Vincent found him weeks later on the streets, almost unrecognizable and in hiding from the outcome of Gabriel’s attempts to ruin him financially – and the explosion on the Compass Rose. Elliot had recovered and returned to his company, his fortune largely intact, but now focused on small scale social housing projects instead of large urban renewal. A tribute, he had told her, to both Catherine and his tunnel friends. His friendship was valuable, but he was cautious of his interactions above and below, although he had formed a friendship with the tunnel dwellers and become a helper.

Her boss, Joe Maxwell, had not met Vincent, but had agreed not to meddle in her personal life. He respected her, and knew she was married, and that Catherine’s son was in her life, but that explanation had not had to be further explained – yet. He had met Jacob, some time ago, not long after he had been rescued, and was content to know the boy was being cared for and thriving. He had apparently twigged to the fact that getting more pointedly personal might lose him Diana’s friendship. Joe had confessed that he was partly responsible for Catherine’s abduction and death and would live with that guilt for the rest of his life. He gave Diana all the personal space she needed – something he belatedly wished he had given Catherine more often. He’d known she had a private life, even if she didn’t say much about it, but he had needed her to work, often long hours.

As Catherine had done, Diana often skirted the truth about Vincent with Joe and others, by saying he was often unavailable for public functions in the world above. That explanation would need to be adapted a little too, she thought, as she and Jacob got into the back seat of Susan’s car. She sighed silently as they drove back to her sister’s house and Jacob took her hand. She looked down at him, knowing he had been uncomfortable with Alan too. She nodded, not willing to say anything that Susan might question later.

“Too much?” Susan asked, after they all, wearily, got out of the car and went in the front door.

Diana heaved a large sigh and nodded. “I love you all, but you’re overwhelming, and Jake here is tired too. We’ll have an early night after dinner, if that’s okay with you.”

“Of course,” Susan agreed. “I have it all ready to go, and we can eat in half an hour or so.”

“Wonderful,” Diana told her. “We’ll go and tidy up and see you shortly.”

Susan nodded and headed for the kitchen.

 Chapter Two

By Jessica Webb

(scroll down for previous chapters)

 

The tunnels were quieter than usual as Diana made her way to the chamber she shared with Vincent when she was Below. The familiar tapping on pipes and distant laughter echoed through the stone corridors, but tonight, a gentle anticipation seemed to hang in the air. She paused at the entrance, looking for any sign of Vincent; it was quiet.

Inside, the chamber was warm and softly lit. Candles flickered on the shelves, casting golden halos over the books and keepsakes that made this underground home feel lived in. It was as if time stood still here. Not much ever changed. A few of Jake’s toys were on the floor, and books were moved, but it all still matched the mental picture she’d taken before she left four months ago. 

Diana set her bag down and pulled the invitation from her pocket, smoothing the creases with careful fingers. The green card caught the candlelight, its embossed letters a reminder of the world Above—and the family she seldom saw.

She was still lost in thought when Vincent entered, his presence filling the room with quiet strength. He moved with the grace of someone used to shadows, his blue eyes gentle as he regarded her.

“You’re home,” he said, his voice a low rumble.

Diana smiled, holding up the invitation. “Aunt Helen’s at it again. The Bennett clan reunion. She wants us there—well, me, at least. But I was thinking… maybe Jacob could come too this year. He deserves to know the rest of his family.”

Vincent’s expression softened, but a shadow flickered across his features. “The world Above is not always kind, Diana. You know that.”

She nodded, understanding the weight of his caution. “I do. But he’s growing up, Vincent. He’s curious. He wants to belong—to both sides of his family.”

Before Vincent could answer, Jacob burst into the chamber, cheeks flushed from running. He held up his camera triumphantly.

“Jessica says she’ll have the pictures ready soon! And Elizabeth wants to paint one on the dining chamber wall.”

Diana ruffled his hair. “That’s wonderful, Jake. But how would you feel about meeting some of your cousins? Maybe going to New Jersey for a weekend?”

Jacob’s eyes widened. “Really? I’ve never been out of the city. Will Dad come too?”

Vincent hesitated, then knelt beside his son. “It would be… a big step. But perhaps it is time.”

Jacob grinned, hugging his father. “I want to hear all the stories Aunt Helen tells! And maybe take pictures of everyone. I can show you, and you won’t feel left out.”

Diana exchanged a hopeful glance with Vincent. “We’ll talk about it as a family. No promises yet, but… maybe.”

As Jacob darted off to tell his friends, Vincent stood, his hand resting on Diana’s shoulder. “You’re right. He deserves to know more of the world. But we must be careful.”

Diana squeezed his hand. “We will be. Together.”

Outside, the pipes tapped out a new message—news of Diana’s return spreading through the tunnels. Somewhere, William was preparing dinner, and Samantha’s violin echoed faintly from the music chamber. Life continued, Above and Below, but for the first time in a long while, Diana felt a sense of peace, and some hope. Maybe, just maybe, this year the family gathering would be different.

XxX

Alan sat at his kitchen table, staring at the pictures spread out before him. He’d taken the chance to get back in touch with his brother and sister-in-law when he’d returned to New York. His niece had found out that he was a photographer and hadn’t hesitated to ask a favor. He was happy to grant it. The photos he’d printed for her had turned out well. She would be pleased. He’d be seeing her at a family thing in a few days, and he’d give them to her then. He put the photos on the corner of the table.

His eyes strayed to the other photos on the table. They were the prints from the roll Jessica had left behind.

He picked the photos up and looked at them

“The kid really has talent,” he said aloud to no one in particular, as he studied the shots of the park. The angles were good, and the lighting was perfect.

The photo at the bottom of the stack was the one of the bride and groom. This time, he picked up a magnifying glass and studied the man in the photo.

“Good makeup,” he commented before picking up the negative and studying it with his film loupe. “Not doctored,” he concluded. “Could be the Beast from the Broadway play, but where are the horns? This guy looks more feline.”

He studied the photo for a little longer before putting it and the park pictures on top of the stack for his niece.

“And I’ve got to stop talking to myself,” he added with a chuckle.

XxX

Jacob was doing his best to sit still as he and his stepmom rode the train to New Jersey. She told him that someone would meet them at the station. It was going to be a day of firsts for him: first train ride, first time out of Manhattan, first time to New Jersey, first ride in a car, and the first time he would meet the relatives that Diana had told him so much about. He felt like he was walking on clouds.

“Come on, Jake,” Diana said, taking his hand. “This is our stop.” As the train rolled to a stop, they made their way to the door and were the first to step out when the door was opened.

When they entered the lobby, Diana spotted her sister, Susan, near the door and waved. Susan rushed over, and the two women hugged.

“Who’s this?” Susan asked, stepping back to look down at Jacob with a smile.

“This is Jacob,” Diana said, smiling as she pulled Jake forward. “Jake, this is my sister, Susan. She has a daughter, Alexandra, who is a few years older than you.”

“She’s fourteen,” Susan said with a laugh. “And she won’t let you forget it. And you thought the terrible twos were bad.” She leaned down and hugged Jake. “I’m glad to finally get to meet you, Jake.”

XxX

Jake would be the first to admit that he was more than a little overwhelmed by the exuberance of Diana’s relatives. He’d been hugged and welcomed more times than he could count, and he knew that he’d never be able to keep track of all the names.

But there were a lot of kids, most of them older than him, and they were all nice and included him when they played games.

He had his camera on its strap around his neck, and when Aunt Helen greeted him, he asked permission to take pictures.

“As many as you want,” she told him with a smile. “Just make sure that your mom sends a set to me.”

He learned there would be dinner that night, nothing fancy. As far as he could tell, it was a lot like how William served meals: the food was set out on tables, and everyone helped themselves and ate wherever they could find room.

“Are we going home after this?” he asked Diana as they ate.

“I’m sorry. I thought I told you. My sister lives nearby, and we are staying with her tonight. We will be back here tomorrow, and there will be a big sit-down meal in the afternoon, then everyone will head home after dinner.”

Jake had just finished playing a card game with some of the children when a man approached the table. He said hello and handed Alexandra a large manila envelope.

“The pictures I asked for?” she asked, as the other children left and the man sat down across from them.

“They are, Princess,” he answered with a grin.

Alex started to open the envelope, then remembered her manners.

“Sorry, this is my cousin, Jake. Jake, this is my Uncle Alan, my dad’s brother.”

Alan extended his hand across to shake Jake’s.

“I see you are a photographer,” said Alan, nodding at the camera. “How long have you been at it?”

“Since I was about six,” Jake answered. “A friend of my grandfather’s gave me one of her old cameras.”

While they were talking, Alex pulled the stack of photos from the envelope and looked through them.

“What are these?” she asked. “These aren’t pictures of people… except for this last one. The woman in it looks like Aunt Di.”

Jake looked over her arm at the pictures she was holding and recognized his photos.

“Where did those come from?” he asked. “Those look like an old roll that Jessica was developing for me.”

Alan looked from Alex to Jacob.

“You’re the child prodigy with the camera that Jess was telling me about?”

It was at that moment that Diana walked up and saw the picture that Alex was holding.

“What’s going on?” she asked as she all but snatched the photo out of Alex’s hands.

“Uncle Alan had some pictures for me,” Alex started to explain.

Alan recognized the woman before him as the one in the photo.

“I had some photos that a friend accidentally left behind. I meant to give them back to her, but accidentally mixed them up with Alex's prints.  I forgot all about them.”

Diana was holding the wedding photo of her and Vincent, and Alex handed the pictures of the park to Jake.

Alex was exclaiming over the other photos in the envelope as Jake put his into his camera bag. He noticed that Diana had put the one she had into her bag. 

Susan came up and greeted Alan with a hug.

“After all these years of Aunt Helen inviting you to these things, you’ve finally decided to come. It’s good to see you.”

“I wasn’t working this year and decided that a Bennett-style party would be just the thing,” Alan told her. He was talking to Susan but looking over her shoulder at Diana. 

 

 A Picture Worth a Thousand Secrets

a Beauty and the Beast, Season 3 Round Robin

 

Chapter One

By Mel

 

The pipes overhead tapped in a familiar rhythm as Diana Bennettt Wells drew closer to the community tunnels, her head bent in concentration, the realities of life unescapable even underground.

Bill, bill…ad, another bill…why do I even keep the loft? Nothing but freaking bills…oh!

Diana paused her perusal upon seeing her Great Aunt Helen’s handwriting scrawled across an envelope. Was it that time already? Stuffing the other pieces of mail in her bag, she tore open the envelope and pulled out a green invitation card.

 

 

Nice alliteration. Vincent would like that. Diana stared at the invitation to the annual Bennett clan or this year’s brood reunion. Her Great Aunt Helen, with help from her cousin Beth, had outdone themselves this time with the new card design.

Over the years, the challenges of hunting down the darkest criminal minds for work in the 210 unit had kept her from attending to the point that the invitation seemed more a matter of politeness or obligation than of desire or expectation.

But now her captain had given her a decent amount of time off. And DA Joe Maxwell had been silent in requesting her help, for which she was grateful. The latest case of a psychopath abusing kids had taken her Above for four months away from the tunnels she now called home.

Holding the invite in her hand, she allowed happier memories of fall festivities to run through her mind, from curving pumpkins to bobbing for apples. Her great-aunt Helen was now the keeper of the old family stories and folklore from the Emerald Isle, since her maternal grandmother had passed two years ago. Stories, she was certain her ten-year-old stepson, Jacob, the child of her heart if not her womb, would love to hear if Vincent would let him travel all the way to New Jersey for a weekend.

Diana frowned. Yeah, right, Bennett, when pigs fly… the kid hasn’t even left Manhattan.

She never blamed Vincent for his overprotectiveness of his son, the living embodiment of the love he once shared with Jacob’s beloved birth mother, Catherine Chandler. The woman whose tragic murder and the torture he himself endured at the hands of the madman Gabriel had left permanent, if invisible scars within Vincent’s soul. Thus, even a decade later, Vincent was more cautious about where his son could go.

Her blue gaze shifted to the claddagh ring set upon her left hand. The small silver heart pointed inwards to symbolize the love and loyalty of marriage. While she had brought some of her stuff from the loft over the years, the ring was the only real memento of the wider Bennett clan within the tunnels. Her heart swelled in a mixture of pain and joy. Unlike the beautiful only child Catherine Chandler, Diana had more family she wished could know, if not the whole truth, then as much as possible.

Ten total years of friendship, officially meeting on October 13th, its own anniversary of sorts, but two years this June, and they only know I’m married… a quick, no-fuss civil ceremony with a new stepson.  Her older sister, Susan, had suspicions, but Diana kept her at a distance.

She could easily explain her husband’s absence, but her stepson deserved to know the other side of his family and all the cousins, aunts, and uncles that came with it.

As if summoned by her thoughts, the running of feet drew her attention as the young Jacob Wells rounded the corner. The now familiar camera bounced against his chest as he stumbled to a stop in front of her.

“Hey there, buddy,” Diana cried, catching him. “What’s the rush?”

The boy had the grace to look at least momentarily ashamed. “Sorry, Mom… and hi. Are you back home for a bit? You caught the bad guy then? Will you tell me about it?”

“One thing at a time. Yes, we caught the bad guy, maybe I’ll tell you later, and yes, I’m home for a while.” Diana eyed the bag. “But it looks like you’re not. Where are you going?”

His blue eyes, like Vincent’s, brightened. “More pictures for Jessica to develop.”

Diana laughed. “Ah. How many this time?”

Jake peered into the bag. “Um…five rolls.”

“That many…. All full?”

The boy grinned again. Despite his human features, he reminded her of his father.

“You know, Jake, your dad, Jessica, and I aren’t made of money. We might need to talk about cutting back on the number of pictures you can take.”

“But I’m giving Elizabeth some new stuff to paint for the tunnels. The photos help her.” He shifted restlessly, anxious to be going. “Jessica’s gonna meet me.”

Diana shook her head fondly. “Fine, get going then. But I’ll be talking to your dad later.” She reached out and paused. “Are you too old for a hug yet? I’ve missed you.”

Jake smiled and gave her a big hug. “Thanks, Mom.” 

A second later, the kid was off running.

“Hey, Jake,” Diana called. “Don’t make Jessica develop all those pictures. Six max.” 

“Can’t hear you,” Jake called back with a laugh.

Diana’s laugh melted into a sigh of affection. No doubt Jessica would develop the various shots of Central Park as she always did. Her niece Alex would surely like to see those pictures and enjoy her little cousin. 

Her eyes briefly rose to the pipes as another message went out; no doubt they had signaled her arrival. If Vincent was available, he would find her, but the various tasks and repairs in the tunnels kept him busy.  And after months on one ugly hunt, she didn’t wish to venture into an unneeded one.

With a sigh, she smoothed out the invite she had accidentally crumpled when she saw Jake, the date catching her eye again.

October 13th was only a week away. In her mind’s eye, she could see her side of the family and Jake getting along.

Those are pictures you could show Elizabeth, Diana mused.

Taking a deep breath, Diana resumed her walk to the chamber she shared with Vincent from his childhood.

XxX

A sob caught Vincent’s attention as he rounded the corner to the music chamber. His sharp, blue eyes fell on a teenage Samantha, huddled in the corner; her violin case propped against the wall. The teenager spotted him a moment later, rubbing a hand across her eyes.

“Samantha, what’s troubling you?” Vincent asked.

“It’s nothing… it’s…” Her gaze fell to the violin case. “It’s this new music, it’s too hard.”

Vincent’s fingers grazed the top of the case. “I’m sure you’ll get it. New pieces are always hard to learn, you know that. It just takes practice.”  

“Rolley doesn’t, he’s perfect. And he yelled at us. We’re not getting it fast enough.”

Vincent frowned. His old friend, the tunnels' music teacher, despite his former addiction, hadn’t lost his skill to recall and play anything he heard. Such a skill made him a tough instructor, but never cruel. What was going on with him?

“I shall speak to him. No one should ever make students cry.”

Samantha dabbed at her eyes once again with her sleeve. “Thank you, Vincent…. how goes the construct…”

Vincent held a finger to his lips and pointed up toward the pipes. His voice lowered to a whisper. “She can sniff things out from up in her loft. No more talk.”

Samantha giggled and put her index finger to her lips in camaraderie. Everyone knew of Diana Bennett Wells’ almost otherworldly abilities to figure out surprises.

“Now go then. I’m sure William has some leftovers from lunch.”

“Okay.” Samantha gave a tentative smile and picked up the violin case. “Thanks, Vincent.”

Vincent nodded as the teen turned and hurried off down the tunnel. With a sigh, Vincent turned his focus to finding his old friend. The music he had requested might not be the typical classical pieces the children normally played, but that didn’t mean Rolley could be a diva about it. 

XxX

Above in the city of New York, Alan Johnson, a photographer of models, knocked on the darkroom door. “Hey, anybody in there?”

“Yeah… one second, Al,” Jessica Webb called.

A moment later, the door opened to a wall of red light. Slipping inside quickly, Alan saw an array of pictures of Central Park across various seasons and times of day hung along the wall.  His old friend scurried around the room, dressed in a cobalt-blue dress with a drab brown apron thrown over it, matching gloves on her hands. Her faded red hair was pulled back into a bun to keep it out of her face.

Alan gave a smirk. Finally, you don’t blend into the red light. “Huh, I thought camels lived in the desert, not the middle of the city.”

“Ha, ha, very funny, Al,” Jessica said as she began to take down the dried photos.  “I already sent those pictures in to the boss.”

“You know the gallery’s not gonna like you using up the space like this.”

“I provide more money to this gallery than you,” Jessica said with a light smile. “Besides, it’s only a couple of pictures, and I ran out of the stuff to do it at home.”

“A couple?” Alan laughed. “Last month, it was what, twelve… twenty pictures you developed for this kid. And you’re sure he isn’t related to you?”

Jessica shook her head with a smile. “No, his family and mine are just old friends.”

Alan again found his eyes drawn to the few pictures still hung up. Over the past few months, he had gotten a glimpse of the various photos of the Central Park landscapes this mini modern Picasso photographer had taken.

“Well, kid’s certainly got talent.”

“Ah, is someone jealous?” Jessica asked with a grin. “You’re a true artist Al.”

Alan ran his hand through his curly brown hair. “Bah… not all that great. Haven’t had a real job in months. And I certainly don’t look like one now.”

In the past few months, he had taken to wearing just casual shirts and jeans, no brand names or anything, as he would have done in his youth. Though he had never been as fancy as Jessica Webb. Today, he had opted for a purple long-sleeved shirt and blue jeans.

“You’ll find something. What are you doing here then?” Jessica asked, sliding the photos and case into her bag.

“I have some old family photos my niece wanted.” Alan held up his own bag as he mimicked a teenage girl’s voice. “’Done proper… no homemade stuff.’”

“I’m not sure I could tell the difference now. Alexandra must be wiser than all of us. And you say I misuse… ah,” Jessica covered a yawn.

“How long you been here, Jess?”

Jessica glanced over at the clock. “Hm…six hours, I think.”

“You should go get some rest. It looks like you’re done,” Alan said, handing over the last picture to her.

“Yeah… (another yawn) thanks, Al,” Jessica said, tucking the photos into her bag.

Alan handed the older woman her jacket and bid her a goodnight. As he began his own work, he noticed another bag set on the counter. Curious, he moved over and peeked inside.

A forgotten film roll lay within.

Alan dashed over to the door and into the hall, waving.

“Hey, Jess, you forgot- Jessica… Bah.” Alan huffed a sigh of frustration as the older woman disappeared around the corner.

Half an hour later, the film container that had a dab of white tape dated two years ago rolled in his hands with indecision. Everything in him as a follow photographer told him to just leave it be. Jessica would surely remember and come back for it tomorrow. But the fatigue in her eyes made him pray she got some much-needed sleep.

You can develop them and drop them off tomorrow. No harm done.

Peering closer, it looked like there were just five pictures.

Over the next few hours, Alan had the last few pictures. Four of them were from various parts of Central Park at different times of day as he expected. But the last one that gave him pause as he hung it up to dry.

It was shot at a Dutch angle and slightly blurry, as if the camera were unfocused. Maybe the kid got bumped when he was trying to take it.

Despite its awkward or accidental creation, there was still a remarkable artistic skill to it. Though it was the actual subjects that gave him pause. In the center of what appeared to be a stone wall a… medieval or Renaissance bride and groom set at the head table gazing lovingly into each other’s eyes, sharing some silent communication. The bride’s red curls were half hidden by an off-white veil. Even in profile, her pale, porcelain skin glowed under the candlelight set around them, bouncing off the solid stone wall behind them.

That kid’s a master... His hand hovered over the bride’s smiling face. So beautiful… and huh!

His eyes shifted to the… groom. Dressed in a medieval vest, he looked like the perfect picture of a knight or prince from those stories.

Except that his face and indeed body seemed to be that of a lion.

Hm… Jess, what’s this? Some Shakespeare in the park thing? Alan mused. …a new Beauty and the Beast?