In preparation for the next series of shots, Sean rolled out apiece of artificial turf marked with white yard markers. As the baby’s motherdressed him in the onesie decorated like a football, Sean assembled the smallerversion of a football goal post that he’d built for her out of PVC pipe andspray-painted yellow. She found the layout a bit boring, but this particularshot had been set up exactly to the mother’s specifications. Casey hadn’t beenable to convince her that there were other, more creative ways to shoot afootball theme. She planned to take a few like this, then switch it up a littleto better fit her style and let the client decide which she liked best in theend.
“Do you need anything else before I head out?” Sean asked.
She pulled him into a hug, which he merely tolerated at first,but then he wrapped his arms around her shoulders as well. “Would it be toomuch to ask that you not go?” She pressed her cheek to his chest and swallowedagainst the tightness in her throat. Her baby boy had topped six feet by thetime he graduated high school.
“Mom, classes start next week. You know I like to get moved intothe dorm and settled early.” Last year, she and Jacqueline had both helped himmove into the dorm at Middle Tennessee State University for his freshman year,neither willing to forego such a milestone. This year he would be handling themove-in himself, taking all that he could fit in the Camry that Jacqueline hadgiven him for his birthday.
“I got spoiled having you around all summer.” She reluctantlyreleased him and resisted the urge to ruffle the dark mop of hair he’d let growshaggy over his forehead and ears.
He smiled, and for a moment Casey glimpsed the boy who hadsomehow managed to keep his beaming smile despite being taken from his birthmother and placed in foster care at five years old. The first time she’d seenhim, she’d been taking photos for the Department of Children’s Service websiteas part of a charitable donation. She’d met several caseworkers and thechildren in state’s custody at a park to get some candid shots for the DCSwebsite to showcase the kids that needed loving homes.
That night, at home, she hadn’t been able to shut up about thelittle curly-haired boy who’d stolen her heart. Within days, and after severalserious discussions with Jacqueline, she’d scheduled the necessary parenting classesto gain approval as a foster parent. She figured Sean would’ve already found ahome in the time it took for her to become fully qualified. But as soon as shefinished, she inquired about him and found he’d been placed only temporarily.She and Jacqueline had brought him home days later. For over two years, theyendured frustrating supervised visitations with his birth mother, which oftenleft Sean disappointed and cranky for days afterward. Finally, his mother’sparental rights were terminated. He had officially become theirs three daysbefore his eighth birthday.
Sean slung his backpack over his shoulder, but before he couldease away, she cupped her hands on either side of his face and pulled him downfor a kiss on his cheek.
“Did you already say good-bye to Mama?”
He nodded. “She had to get Poppa’s groceries today. Then she’sheaded out of town this afternoon. I went by her place last night.” He was usedto living his life around Jacqueline’s schedule. They both had been. Not longafter making Sean legally their son, Jacqueline had accepted the promotion thatpulled her away from home at least two weeks a month.
Casey had assumed most of the daily responsibilities for Sean.After trying unsuccessfully to juggle her own schedule with his, she’d quit herposition at a growing art gallery. She’d converted their garage into a homestudio and invested in enough new equipment to launch her own photographybusiness.
As Jacqueline advanced through the ranks, the amount of travelrequired increased. If Casey dared complain, Jacqueline promised someday itwould pay off and they’d spend more time together. But they’d split up beforethat day had come. And now, eight years later, Casey didn’t get the sense thatJacqueline had slowed down at all.
“Text me when you get there.” She wanted a phone call, but thatwould be too much to ask. Sean had been trying to assert his independencelately. During his freshman year, he’d seemed to experience some of the sameseparation anxiety she had. But this year, he’d seemed braver, more ready toconquer the world.
“Sure thing.” He headed for the door, pausing long enough to callover his shoulder, “Tell Nina I said bye.”
She smiled as the door closed behind him, suspecting he onlymentioned Nina for her benefit. She’d been seeing Nina for a year and a half,and though he’d been away at school for most of it, when they did spend timetogether, neither of them showed interest in getting to know the other.Somewhat solitary by nature, Nina had told her when they first started datingthat she didn’t want kids. But they’d agreed to see where things went. Afterall, Sean was grown; it wasn’t as if she’d need to parent him.
The next round of photographs went smoothly. In fact, the babyslept through most of them. She even managed to snap a few with her own,more-minimalist take on the football theme. Though she wished she’d captured abit more variety in his expressions, she knew better than to suggest they wakehim in order to catch a couple with his eyes open. Most likely, the parents wouldchoose only one photograph in this outfit to include in their purchasedpackage. Certainly, this young mother wouldn’t think one more option would beworth the effort of getting the boy back to sleep afterward. Especially sinceshe’d likely end up picking a proof in which
