Show Up by Renee Dahlia

Author:Renee Dahlia
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: friends to lovers, sapphic romance, found family, fake dating, only one bed
Publisher: Renee Dahlia
Published: 2021-12-09T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Reiko couldn’t believe the quality of photos Mr Simms had created, using just her phone camera and clever use of light and angles. She wanted to frame the one of herself draped in Yolande’s arms. The soft sunshine through the stained glass windows created shadows on Yolande’s face, each one highlighting her beauty and somehow capturing the juxtaposition between her strength and vulnerability. Her brunette bob-cut conveyed motion, with one strand clinging to her temple, out of place, and the lack of perfection added to the drama and realness of the scene.

The bus drove along a typical narrow laneway from the church back to the main house, with the driver hitting the horn at every corner in an oddly gentle reminder that he was coming through. Reiko didn’t rate their chances of getting past another vehicle if one came from the opposite direction.

“The photos are amazing.” Yolande sounded subdued. Hopefully, she wasn’t overthinking their kiss or worse, regretting it.

“Mr Simms is incredibly talented.”

“You meant what you said back there?”

“I always do.” The idea that Yolande would doubt her promise to Mr Simms shook her to her core and she couldn’t help but glance askew at her. After a long silence, during which Reiko ran back over their important conversations, she conceded that her behaviour last night probably gave Yolande the impression that she’d fudge the truth to suit the occasion. It was what everyone did.

“Obviously there are times when I’m uncertain about what I want or have misconstrued a situation, but I always speak my truth and I keep my promises.”

Yolande side-eyed her. “And that’s supposed to reassure me?”

“Yes. A blanket statement guaranteeing complete truth isn’t possible. Not for humans, who are flawed, and even when they aren’t, people change their views when they acquire more information.” Reiko’s academic work highlighted the complexity of people and habit meant she tried not to use either/or language to describe anything.

“That’s too complicated for me. How did we end up in the discussion?”

“You asked if I would keep my promise to Mr Simms and show Father his photos. I wanted to be clear that I always keep my promises, and I tell the truth as I understand it at the time.”

Yolande rolled her eyes. “Yeah, clear as fucking mud. Can you hear how slippery that makes you sound? Is this why you don’t talk much when you are working at Seraph’s?”

“What do you mean?” Reiko reeled from the change in Yolande. She stiffened up at the accusations, wanting to defend herself, even though some of it was warranted. She didn’t talk because she liked to help and to listen. Besides, almost everyone at Seraph’s knew more about burlesque than her.

“I’ve seen a side of you during this wedding that I didn’t expect and I’m uncertain how it fits with the person I knew before. Where is the Reiko who charmed my cat?”

“Still here. I’m still the same.” Except she knew exactly what Yolande meant. She wasn’t the same here as she was at Seraph’s, nor was she the same as she was with her PhD supervisor.

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