“About me?” I frowned.
“Well, yes, d-dear.” She gave herself a second. “You did such a sweet thing, coming to visit, but then you disappeared without a trace.”
“I’m sorry, things have been kind of busy.”
“Too busy to see my grandson?” Her brow lifted.
“Why would you think—”
“I may struggle to get my words out occasionally, young lady, but I can assure you my brain is… is still functioning. You think I don’t know when a young lady is trying hard to impress a boy?”
“I…”
“Four in a row,” Martha blurted, and Miriam muttered something under her breath.
“You should call him, dear. He isn’t doing so good.” She gave me a knowing wink.
Mrs. Sinclair and Mom chose that second to enter the room with Cooper and the photographer in tow.
When I’d suggested coming to talk and meet with the group, Cooper and Mom had been very vocal about waiting until the photographer was ready.
“Okay everyone, if we could have your attention, please.” Mrs. Sinclair stood front and center. “We have a very exciting opportunity today. The local newspaper is going to run a feature on the center and our newest board member Mrs. Delacorte, and my grandson Cooper have kindly agreed to be in some photos to highlight all the fantastic work we do here.
“Claudia has some release forms for you all to sign and will answer any questions you have.”
“Sounds like a bunch of horse crap if you ask me,” Miriam scoffed.
“I quite like having my photo taken,” Martha fluffed her hair.
“Ladies,” Claudia greeted us as she came over. “Celeste.” Her disdain was palpable, but so was her displeasure at the press release. I’d seen the slight curl to her lip when Mom stepped into the room.
Maybe we had more in common than I first thought.
“Do either of you have any questions about the photoshoot?”
Miriam waved her off, taking the release form and scanning it briefly.
“Well, if you’re happy to participate, I just need you to fill out the form and sign it. Celeste will help if you need her to.”
Well, okay then.
I glanced over to where Mom was deep in conversation with the photographer, completely in her element offering direction and ideas.
Mrs. Sinclair welcomed another group of people into the room and my heart sank at the sight of Zane. His expression said it all, he didn’t want to be here. But before he could voice his protests, Claudia hurried over to them with more release forms.
Surely, he wasn’t going to be a part of this?
Zane Washington. The boy least likely to ever participate in organized activities.
I didn’t get a chance to ask him, or even try and eavesdrop on his conversation with a couple of other regulars I noticed from helping out Lewis the other day. Because Cooper appeared behind me.
“And what are you lovely ladies up to?” he asked, laying his hand on my shoulder. I flinched at his possessive touch and Miriam caught my eye, frowning. Cooper was oblivious though, squeezing gently, awkwardly massaging my shoulder in some gross display of ownership.
“You know, y-young man… it’s rude to touch a woman without her permission.”
“Oh, Celeste doesn’t mind, do you, babe?”
My eyes grew to saucers, hardly able to believe my ears. “Actually.” I shook him off and moved my chair forward a little. “I would prefer it if you didn’t do that.”