“Thank you,” I mumble, making my way to the dressing room to get back into my clothes.
As soon as I’m outside the hospital, I call Kathy. “Hey,” she greets me.
“It’s done,” I tell her.
“Jeez, Whit, sounds like a drug deal or something. I’m glad you finally did it. Is Aaron with you?”
“No.”
“Oh, I just thought he would have been there.”
Shit. Here we go. “I didn’t tell him, or anyone for that matter.”
“Whitney! You should not have had to do this on your own,” she scolds me.
“It’s just a routine test, right? No big deal.”
“Yes, but you have history and this is your first and, damn it, kid, they care about you. Let them,” she says, irritated.
“I just want to get it over with, get the results and move on.”
Kathy releases a heavy sigh. “All right. I’ll call you as soon as I have them.”
“Thanks, Kathy. I need to go. I have to get to work.”
“All right, Whitney. Call me if you need anything.”
I end the call just as I reach my car. Once inside, I slump against the steering wheel and let the tears fall. Life is unfair, I know that. I’m scared as hell as to what the results are going to be. I give myself five more minutes to get through the emotions of the morning before wiping my face, clearing away the tears, and heading to work.
“Morning, Whit,” Kinley greets me. “Your shoot just called to cancel. Little Mary is sick today.”
“Aw, I hope she feels better,” I say about the adorable little girl I was to shoot today. Her first birthday pictures. “Oh, I have your edits for you.” I reach into my bag, pull out a flash drive, and hand it to her.
“Thanks, although my brother grumbled at me this morning because of this.”
“What? Why?”
“He claims that he didn’t get to stay with you last night because you had editing to do. He blamed that on me, considering you did our shoot yesterday.”
“Crazy man. He knows I get lost in editing, and yours was not the only one I had to catch up, but it was the most fun.”
“It always is with people you’re close to, at least it is for me.”
“I agree. I hope you like them.”
“I’m sure they are amazing. Let’s take a look. I don’t have a shoot until eleven.” She grins as she puts the flash drive in her laptop. “Whitney! I love these. Thank you so much. Eeep! I can’t wait to get prints.”
“What’s got you so excited?” Aaron asks as he enters the studio.
“Don’t you have work to do? You know, a farm to run?” Kinley teases him.
“Yep, but not before I see my girl.” He stops next to me, places his hand on the small of my back, leans in, and kisses me. “Missed you,” he says, not caring his sister can hear us.
“Me too,” I say softly. I feel guilty as hell.
“Look at this, your girl is good,” McKinley says, turning her laptop so he can see.
“Tell me something I don’t know,” Aaron says, looking at the screen as she scrolls through the pictures. Reaching out, he laces his fingers through mine and pulls me to him.
The three of us stand there and look at the pictures, Kinley oohing and awwing at every single one. “I can’t do it. I can’t pick,” she whines.
“Let Evan pick them out,” Aaron suggests.
“Good idea. Whitney, what are your favorites?”
I laugh. “I knew you would ask me that. There is a separate file on the drive with my faves.”
She clicks back to the flash drive file and opens it. “Yes! These are great. Thank you again, so much. I can’t wait to order prints.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I need to get back to work. Dinner later?” Aaron asks.
“Yes.” I smile up at him.
“Love you.” He kisses me and is out the door before I can reply.
“I love that. I love him in love, and I love that it’s you. That’s a lot of love.” Kinley giggles.
“I’m lucky. He’s a great guy.”
“You’re both lucky. Now, what do you say we tag team this shoot at eleven and call it a day early? I have a feeling my brother will thank me.” She winks.
“Sounds good to me.” I laugh at her.
It’s just after one and the guys and I are breaking for lunch. I see Whit and Kinley leaving the studio. “Hey,” I call to them. “Bankers’ hours?”
They share a smile. “You know it, big brother,” Kinley replies. She gives Whit a hug before going in the house—to get the kids, I assume.
“Early day?”
“Yep. We did the last shoot together so we could call it a day. How about you?”
“I’m the boss. I can make it happen. What did you have in mind?”
She shrugs. “Just thought we could spend the afternoon together.”
“Done. Give me a few minutes to tell the guys I’m leaving.” I pull out my phone and call Joe to tell him I’m taking the rest of the day off. “Right, now let me grab a shower.” I lace my fingers with hers and lead her up the front porch. “Be right back.” A quick kiss and I bolt up the stairs.
After one of my signature fast showers, I find Whitney in the kitchen with Mom. “Ready?” I ask her.
“Yes.” She stands.
“What are you kids up to?” Mom asks.
“No concrete plans,” I tell her. “We’ll probably grab some lunch. I’m starving. Have you eaten yet, babe?”
“No, not yet.”
“Oh, then let me pack you a picnic and you can take it out to the pond,” Mom offers.
“You don’t have to do that,” Whitney tells her.
“Oh, I know that.” Mom waves her off. “I want to. Besides, I made plenty, assuming Aaron was going to eat with us. It will only take a minute—I made sandwiches, nothing fancy.” She busies herself making us a picnic lunch.
Whit looks at me, a hint of a smile tilting her lips. “Your mom’s kind of awesome.”
“Shh, don’t tell her. She’ll get a big head.”
“Thank you, Whitney, you are kind of awesome too, for putting up with this one.” She points at me.