Holiday at Mistletoe Cottage by Nancy Robards Thompson

Author:Nancy Robards Thompson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises ULC
Published: 2023-09-19T19:43:22+00:00

Chapter Eight

Louis Garnier, the owner of Le Marais, seated Forest and Avery at a quiet table for two in a snug corner in the back of the restaurant that was shielded by a floor-to-ceiling wine rack.

“Is this table satisfactory, monsieur?” Louis pulled out the chair for Avery and helped her with her napkin after she scooted up to the table.

Forest looked at Avery, who nodded.

“It’s perfect, Louis,” said Forest. “Thank you.”

While he didn’t mind who saw him having dinner with Avery, Forest welcomed the privacy. Since they were tucked away in a private corner, there was less of a chance he would be approached with questions about the new water meters that were due to be installed in the northeast quadrant of the city beginning next month. And no one could inquire about paving, or speed bumps, or a host of zoning questions that usually came up anytime he was spotted out in the wild—at dinner, in the grocery store, at the dentist’s office. You name it, and people seemed to think he was free game.

“Wonderful,” said Louis as he handed them each a menu. “William will bring you some bread and a wine list.”

“Attentive service,” Avery said after Louis walked away.

Forest watched her glance around. “Sometimes it pays to be the mayor. Other times, people take it as a standing invitation to join you or interrupt your dinner. That’s why I’m glad he seated us back here. I don’t want you to get the wrong idea that we’re hiding back here.”

“It hadn’t even crossed my mind,” Avery said. “Then again, I’m all about cozy corners and private tables.”

“Are you?” Forest asked.

Avery nodded. “I guess that’s why I’m more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it.”

“Speaking of,” Forest said. “I’m surprised you didn’t bring your camera to the tree lighting tonight.”

Avery offered a one-shoulder shrug. “I haven’t taken it out of its case since I got here.”

“That’s surprising. I remember you used to always have a camera with you in high school.”

“You remember that?”

“I do.”

“I didn’t even remember that, but I guess it’s true. I’ve always loved to take photos. It was like stopping time. If I captured something, like a person smiling or laughing, or even staring somberly into the camera, I’m capturing them in that decisive moment, in that specific moment in time. All the things—the emotions or environs or circumstances that led to that moment—will probably never be exactly the same because that moment is gone, except for it being captured in the shot.”

“I never really thought of photos like that. It gives an entirely new meaning to them. I’ll never look at them the same way again.”

Avery nodded. “We are all evolving and changing from one second to the next. The person you are today is ever so slightly different from the person you were yesterday. Those small changes add up over time. That’s why I’m fascinated by the long-term projects I’ve seen some photographers do, where they take a photo of a person—maybe a son or a daughter—every day for years.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.