Picture Perfect

Chapter 10

                   

VICTORIA'S POV:

Harry pulls out of the parking spot and begins the decent down the long driveway.   He has a smile on his face as he turns and looks at me through his sunglasses.

"Your car drives really nice and we haven't even gotten onto the roadway yet" he chuckles.  "I may have to consider getting one of these.  What made you decide to go with a Tesla?" he asks.

"Environmentally good, love the way it drives and just like the style" I admit.

"You'll have to give my Rover a spin.  It really does drive well and you sit up higher."

"Hmm, maybe – I've never been an SUV type person.  Guess I have the preconceived notion of a family van/SUV vehicle not being very 'cool'" I say laughing.  I'm sure that will get a rise out of him.

"A family van?  Ouch!  That isn't very nice."

"Sorry, I don't mean to insult your Rover – I've just always enjoyed cars" I say as I look at him and bat my eyelashes.  "No offense."

"Okay, I forgive you.  Mind if I turn the radio down?" he asks. 

"Sure, sorry – I tend to crank up the radio or music when I drive as it's typically just me" I say as I turn the radio off.  Thankfully I didn't have my iPhone plugged into the stereo.

"So, when you go to your shoots, you show up in this, huh?  I would expect something larger just for the space.  You know cameras, etc."

"Yeah, but this has more than enough room.  Besides, I typically have a studio to do the shoots" I remind him.

"True.  So you said you moved to Oxfordshire because of its location and the estate.  Any other reason?" he asks.

"You've no doubt seen I am known for being quite the hermit.  You've also seen the estate and the garden.  Why wouldn't I select Oxfordshire?  The house is a dream come true; the views, the privacy, the rooms – I can play my music as loud as I want without concern for the neighbors calling the constable."

"I see your point; you do have lots of privacy – not bad reasons for sure.  You aren't too far from the village either" he states.

"Yep, although I have to say, the locals are already anxious for me to open a shop downtown" I say laughing.

"Why is that funny?" he asks, confused but still smiling.

"Because I met this nice man at the newsstand and he told me in no uncertain terms, if I am a photographer and I take photos, why would I not open a shop so people could come in and get their pictures taken?"  I laugh again thinking of Patrick and then look to Harry.  "I'll introduce you and you'll see why I'm laughing.  He is a nice old man who says exactly what's on his mind.  I have to appreciate that."

"Okay, I trust you.  Are you really entertaining that thought?  As private as you are, I can't imagine you doing that."

"Yeah, but I have a feeling I could go unnoticed somehow.  I don't know, we'll see.  I guess that's why I'm saying yes to brunch today.  Maybe if I just come and go, people will just see me as another one of the locals, you know?"

"That's been the way I've gotten through it" he says.  "I don't want to alter the way I come and go or not do things I want to do simply because of the notoriety.  I've made a lot of concessions in my life.  I'm not ready to make more at this point in time."

"I can't imagine.  Your life really did change a lot after you gained success.  I'm very fortunate.  Most people don't know who I am.  If I'm in a larger city like Los Angeles or New York, people tend to know who I am.  Anywhere else, I'm pretty much left alone.  I like it that way." I tell him.