Chapter 145

“What kind of photos did you want?” Sara asked as Jon stepped up behind her.

“You’re the expert, baby. You tell me.”

Sara rolled her eyes. “Oh, you’re a lot of help.” She hefted Romeo higher on her hip as she thought, Jon hiding a smile as he watched her, watched the unconscious way she knew what to do with the little boy. “Why don’t we do some sort of formal ones - y’know, posed all together, and I’ll do some of the kids individually - then you and kids can just relax and I’ll see what else I can get. More candid stuff.”

“Sounds good. Get the posed stuff done before they get bored, huh?”

“Something like that. Just don’t mention the candid stuff to the kids - it’s harder to catch them unawares.”

“Whatever you say, ma’am.”

“Oh, pllllttt!” Sara blew an unladylike raspberry at Jon, collapsing into giggles when Romeo immediately copied her.

They went across to find the rest of the kids, who were all over by the long window, gazing outside, but turning around when they heard the adults approaching.

“What’s up, guys?”

“Nothing. We were just watching the dog.”

“What dog?” Jon stepped up to look outside, seeing an elderly dog eating from a bowl of kibble out on the waste ground.

“He’s just an old stray.” Sara said softly as she looked out with a smile. “I put out food for him every couple of days, help him out a little. I did try to get him to come to me, but he’s very timid.”

“And you’re just a soft touch for strays, huh?”

“I guess so. Strays and wounded puppies.” Sara’s eyes dimmed for a moment as she remembered how that was just the way she’d thought of Jon, the night Dot had told him about her new guy, then she forced the memory away, smiling brightly again. “So - we going to take some photos, guys?”

The three older kids nodded and said yes, while Romeo laughed excitedly, still holding tight to Sara’s shirt. She led them all over to the main area, getting them all posed together as naturally as possible, then she tried to hand Romeo back to his daddy. The little guy looked horrified that she was trying to put him down, but Sara whispered to him, asking him to be good, and he giggled again as she put him into Jon’s arms.

“You’ve certainly got a way with him.” Jon smiled, and Sara shook her head slightly.

“Same mental age, that’s all.”

She gathered up a camera and got to work, changing their positions once or twice until she had enough photos to work with. Rather than ask the kids to stand there alone, making them nervous and shy, Sara took some closeups of each of them without telling them, just letting them assume she was still doing group shots.

“I think that’ll do.” She finally said, moving to field Romeo as he toddled toward the edge of the backdrop. “Who wants a drink?”

Everybody did, so Sara waved them across to the couch as she headed for the kitchen. Stephanie followed her, and Jon grinned as he watched his daughter disappear into the kitchen to help Sara. Between them, they brought through juice for all the kids and a pile of cookies and snacks. As Steph sat down with her brothers, Sara asked Jon if he wanted juice or coffee.

“Coffee, thanks.”

“Okay. Be ready in a minute. Guys - just dig in - if you don’t eat those cookies, I’ll have to eat them all myself.”

She headed back for the kitchen, pouring coffee as she listened to the noise level increase as the kids relaxed and started to mess around. As usual, she’d slipped her shoes off while she was working, and she was able to pad silently through, catching a photo of a laughing Jon holding the last of the white chocolate cookies out of reach as his boys climbed on top of him, trying to steal it. Stephanie was holding Romeo, and Sara was struck - not for the first time - by how much she looked like her mother. Sara took more photos as she approached, walking up behind Jon and taking the cookie out of his hand while he was still play-fighting with his sons.

“Hey!” He yelled as she stole the cookie, looking up at her, and Sara snapped a photo of his expression, catching the two kids as they looked up, too.

Sara broke the cookie in half, handing a piece to each of the boys, who grinned at her as they climbed off Jon with their prize.

“What about me?” Jon complained.

“I’ll buy more tomorrow.” Sara sighed with a smile. “Drat! I forgot the coffee. Back in a minute.”

She laid her camera on the table, safely in the middle so it couldn’t be knocked off, and went back to the kitchen, bringing through two mugs of coffee. Handing one to Jon, she looked at the couch, which was filled with kids, then just perched on the arm of Jon’s chair to drink her coffee.

“Can I take a photo of you and dad?” Stephanie asked suddenly.

Sara started to say how she hated having her photo taken, but Jon spoke first.

“Sure, Stephy.” He glanced up at Sara. “Okay with you?”

Seeing the look on his face, Sara suddenly realised what a big thing it was, that Steph was accepting her enough to want to see her with Jon, and as that sank in, she nodded.

“Sure. Steph - if you just flip the wheel around to ‘auto’, it’ll work everything out for you.”

Stephanie carefully picked up the camera from the table, studying the controls for a moment, then changing the setting as Sara had instructed. She took a couple of photos, then squinted across at Jon and Sara.

“You need to move in.” She decided, and Jon shifted to the side of the chair, closer to Sara, sliding his arm around her waist.

“Better?”

“Mmmm. Sara - put your arm around dad.”

Hardly able to believe how relaxed Stephanie seemed to be about her dad’s new girlfriend, Sara did as she was told, and they hugged close as Steph took another photo before laying the camera down again with a smile.

“I may as well load these up while the camera’s still switched on.” Sara said, and Jon squeezed his arm around her for a moment before letting go.

Sara collected the camera and took it across to her computer, hooking it up and downloading the photos. While she was reviewing them, Stephanie came across, soon followed by Jon, and between the three of them they chose some photos to print for closer inspection. The printer started to draw paper through, then Jon glanced at his watch and winced.

“Uh, babe - it’s getting kinda late - the kids have school tomorrow.”

Looking at her own watch, Sara saw it was, unbelievably, almost eight thirty, which meant the kids weren’t likely to be home much before nine thirty.

“Well, I can get a cab home, or I can just leave these to print.”

“Just leave them. Come with us, and you can show me the photos tomorrow.”

Leaving the computer, they turned back to the couch, finding the two older boys still finishing off the cookies while Romeo had succumbed to tiredness and was fast asleep on the couch. The kids got their coats back on as Jon carefully but skilfully manoeuvred Romeo back into his coat, the little guy grumbling in his sleep at being disturbed.

“Everybody got everything?” He asked, and the kids all said yes, so he carried his youngest son over to the door.

Sara switched off the lights and locked up as the others headed downstairs, then she caught up to them at the car. Jon was trying unsuccessfully to put Romeo in a seat, and she laid a hand on his sleeve.

“Do you want me to just hold him? Is that okay?”

“He gets heavy after a while.” Jon warned her, but Sara just smiled and climbed into the front seat, holding out her arms for the boy.

The moment he felt himself folded into her arms again, perhaps lulled by the familiar scent of her perfume, Romeo relaxed back into sleep, and Jon was grinning as he walked around the front to get into his own seat.