Beneathe the Surface

Family Bonding

"But you were never around," Taylor says.

"I know but I'm here now and so is your sister." I roll my eyes. "How about we go and get some ice cream before I have to go back to work." Taylors' eyes shine brightly.

He looks at me. Eyes wide, his face so innocent. "Is it ok Holly?"  I can't help but laugh.

"Sure bud but I need you to go and put on a pair of boots and your jacket." He nods and sprints back to his room.

"He really has taken to you." I shrug.

"Yeah well people get along when they have things in common. Like oh, I dont know abandonment issues, a dead beat dad, dead mothers stuff like that."

"Holly." The pain that shows up on his face saddens me and I can't seem to figure out why. this is a man that let his family fall apart, our family. Why would I feel for that?

I shake the clenching around my heart and say, "Oh so thats why you let housekeepers and chauffeurs raise me."

"No, that wasn't my intention."

"Wasn't it dad? Hell they did a better job than you or mom ever could have but it would have been nice for me to atleast feel like you both cared." There was that sadness again. I was raw and it was real. 

"We do care."

"Well, of course, you do otherwise you wouldn't have hired someone to watch me while you were gone." He runs a hand through his graying hair. I can tell he's frustrated and running out of patience.

"What did you mean earlier about Jet?" He says changing the subject. 

"Nothing," I say looking away from him.

"He hit you?" He asks.

"I said its nothing." I grab my peacoat off of the hook by the door along with my keys and leave, slamming the door behind me. I run outside to my car and decide to drive until I find somewhere to stop.

I look around the streets at the stores and I come across a photography center, I park and go inside. I go up to the desk and there's a kid who looks about fourteen there.

"Hi," I say sweetly.

He looks up at me and smiles. "Hi. What can I do for you today?"

"Are there photography classes here?" He nods. "Could I have a sign-up sheet or something?" He shovels through a bunch of stuff and hands me some forms.

"We're having our last session of the day. Would you like to go back?" I look around.

"Umm sure why not." He points to a door and I give him a small smile and go inside. When I get back there people are taking pictures everywhere. There are random photographs on the wall showcasing a wide variety of talent. 

"Don we got a newbie!" Someone from across the room shouts startling me out of my trance.

"Wonderful." An old guy with a peppered beard and long hair to match walks up to me with a large smile. "Hello and what is your name."

"I'm Holly."

"Hello, Holly I'm Don. What brings you in today?"

"The kid in the front sent me back and I just wanted to check things out before I sign up.

"Alright well these are my students and this is their work." I look around again taking n another chance to study the work on the walls. "We have a showcase every month." I nod. "How long have you been taking pictures?" I look away from the pictures nervously.