Cherry Two

Part 8

Chapter 6

"So are you going to tell me?" Kate probed during the overcooked meal.

James tried to shrug it off and sound trivial. "He's a photographer. He's offered to take photos of the family, including Winona and Raymond."

"I told you the man was selling something. Who gave him our name? It wasn't Ray by any chance? I'll kill him." Kate retorted.

Peter laughed and made stabbing sounds as he tried to impale a pea with his fork. "Kill, kill."

James countered this notion. "Not Ray or your sister. It goes back a long way—some friend of a friend. Anyhow, I agreed."

"I see." Kate still looked suspicious. "And how much will all this cost? We had a family portrait done two years ago, remember? It's in there, in case you forgot." Kate pointed into the front room with her knife.

James didn't quite know how to say it. "Um, Mr. Ward said he'd do it for nothing—as a favor. He's done it before, apparently." His shifty lack of eye contact would speak volumes to Kate.

"Let me get this straight. Someone you don't know from Adam has offered to take a family portrait, free of charge, out of the goodness of his heart? Does he have anything else to give away whilst he's at it? A million pounds, perhaps?"

"I know it sounds strange," James sighed. "Look, what's wrong with a free photo? He does it in his spare time. He can't afford to pay professional models to pose, so he practices on people like us."

Kate stood up and lifted her empty plate. "Come on, James. Haven't you figured it out? He's seen Calley. He's just a dirty old man that wants to get close to a beautiful young girl. Well he's out of luck. Calley won't be here."

This accusation caused James to flare. "Will you stop making Wallace out to be some kind of pervert?" he retorted as she walked to the sink. "I think he's genuine."

"What's a pervert, Daddy?"

The boy's feigned innocence defused James slightly. "Wallace knows Calley is away for the summer. It didn't matter. Must you always assume the worst of people? Do you honestly think I'd let anyone like that near us?"

Kate glanced back over her shoulder to the kitchen table. "Hmm, perhaps not. But I know you, Nameth. There's more to this you're not telling me. So what did you arrange?"

He sighed with relief. "Next week. The weather is supposed to clear up and be nice for a change. I suggested we do it outside in the back garden, provided Pancake hasn't made it a minefield. You can call Win and Ray to see what day suits them. Tell Win to bring her kids too. Might as well make the most of it."

"Okay." The dishwasher door opened. "I'll arrange what I can. Don't you have a free day coming up? After the photos we can take the car out for a run. I know petrol is expensive, but what the hell. We deserve it."

"What the hell." Peter echoed, still playing with his food.

James grabbed the boy's ear. "Hey, monster, eat and less of the cheek."

***

On the day of the photo session, a Sunday, everyone turned out in their best finery, except Winona's husband, Tom, who had to work a weekend shift. Even the kids looked presentable for a change. Kate and her sister, Winona, had combined their talents as they often did, and prepared a special Sunday dinner crowned with prime roast beef, a safe choice not knowing what Ward liked, or anything else about the man. James surreptitiously crossed his fingers, assuring the ladies that Wallace would be delighted with any menu choice the superb cooks decided on. As expected, Raymond, Kate's bachelor brother, overflowed with questions. He seemed even more suspicious of Wallace Ward than Kate, but wasn't about to pass on a weekend sit-down nosh prepared by his culinary genius sisters.