“I can buy my own ticket, Luke.”
“Charley invited you, so I’m buying your ticket.”
We stepped up to the window, and he purchased three wristbands. I tried to give him my money, but he wouldn’t take it.
“If I let you buy my ticket, then this becomes a date. I don’t do dates,” I said to him.
He stared at me for a minute. “I can assure you that this isn’t a date. I don’t do dates either.”
“Will you two stop it and hurry up,” Charley said with an attitude.
“I’ll make you a deal,” Luke said. “You can buy the food.”
“Deal,” I said as I held out my hand to him, and we shook on it.
We both held one of Charley’s hands as we walked around the carnival. The lights were bright, and the music coming from the games was loudly blaring through the speakers. Charley saw a ride she wanted to go on, so we waited in line.
“Do you watch Charley a lot?” I asked as I looked at Luke.
“Yeah, I do. I try to help Maddie out as much as I can. It’s hard being a single parent.”
“I’m sure it is. I could only imagine,” I said.
“What about your parents?”
“They help out a lot. Right now, they’re on a month long cruise.”
“They own the apartments?” I asked.
“Yes. They’ve owned those apartments for over twenty years. I remember them buying the building when I was seven years old. It’s where Maddie and I spent most of our childhood. What about you?” he asked.
I didn’t want to talk about my childhood or my family. It wasn’t a topic that I was comfortable with. The only thing I ever wanted was a normal, happy childhood. I can thank mommy and daddy for not giving me that. I felt horrible for having to lie to Luke about my family, but I didn’t want him to know about how horrible they were. I didn’t want to be judged for their actions. And as far as I’m concerned, my family is dead.
“I grew up in Seattle with my parents and my sister. They died a couple of years ago in an accident.”
Luke looked at me, and I could see the empathy in his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he said.
“Thank you. I don’t like to talk about it,” I said so he wouldn’t ask me any other questions.
Luke nodded his head. We finally arrived to the front of the line, and Charley got on the ride. We stood there, waving to her as the car she was sitting in sped by us.
“She’s a great little girl.” I smiled.
“She’s the best,” Luke said. “She’s a huge part of my life, and I will do anything to protect her.”
I looked at him and smiled. The ride ended, and Charley got off. She grabbed onto our hands once again and led us over to the games.
“Miss Gilmore, do you like to play games?” she asked as she looked up at me.
“I love to play games, Charley.”
“So does my uncle Luke.” She winked.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Charley, when we’re not in school, you can call me Lily.”
“Really?!” she asked in excitement.
Luke looked over at me and laughed. “Just remember though, she’s Miss Gilmore during school hours,” he said.
“Ok, I’ll remember,” she said as she led us to the game that had the huge, stuffed purple cat hanging from the tent. “I want that cat, Uncle Luke,” she begged.
I laughed as we approached the milk bottle toss. There was no question that Luke was going to win that cat for Charley. He paid the guy behind the booth as he handed him three baseballs. He told Luke to stand behind the line. I looked at him and frowned.
“That seems pretty far back,” I said.
“Nah, it’s fine. I used to play some baseball in high school. I can do this.” He smiled.
Luke threw the first ball and knocked down the milk bottles. There was something about watching him throw those balls that made my heart beat faster. I was scared, because I suddenly saw him as almost perfect. As promised, he won Charley her cat.
“Here,” he said as he handed me the baseball. “Try it.”
I shook my head. “No, I can’t throw. I’d just embarrass myself.”
“Just try it for fun.” Luke smiled.
I sighed as I stepped behind the line and threw the ball. I almost hit the man behind the counter. Good thing he ducked when he did. Luke and Charley started laughing. Suddenly, Luke was behind me, and he grabbed my hand.
“Here, let me help you,” he said as he continued laughing.
He brought my hand up over my head and counted to three. His touch was amazing, and my impulses were starting to go crazy. My heart was rapidly beating, and the sensation deep below was back. I closed my eyes for a moment. On the third count, he helped me throw the ball. Needless to say, I knocked down all the milk bottles. I jumped up and down, clapping my hands as Charley was cheering with excitement, and Luke was smiling at me. The carnie told me to pick which animal I wanted, so I picked the smaller version of Charley’s cat.
“Look, now we match,” I said as I held my cat next to Charley’s. “Can you do me a favor and hold it for me while I take some pictures.”
“Sure I can!” she said excitedly.
I brought my camera up and started taking pictures of Charley walking in front of us. I would call her name, and she would turn her head right before I pushed the button.
“Why photography?” Luke curiously asked.
“I love to capture people in a way you normally wouldn’t see them when they’re standing in front of you. Pictures capture true emotions. You know how people say that ‘a person’s eyes are the window into their soul’?”
“Yeah,” he responded.
“That’s how I feel about pictures. I feel photographs capture the true nature of a person at that moment. The people don’t just become images, they become stories. If you know what I mean.”
“Yeah, I think I do.” Luke smiled as he looked at me.
“I see the world differently through the lens of a camera.” I smiled.
I felt comfortable talking to Luke. Too comfortable in fact, and it was scaring the shit out of me.
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