Page 17 of Saint
She posed with her legs staggered and her chest pushed out, causing a slight arch in her back. Her free hand was tucked behind her slightly.
“Saint?”
“Yes?” I dragged, my thumb hovering over the capture button on my phone.
“Can you lower the phone a bit? Not too low. Yeah, right there.”
Audibly, I sighed. “Are you ready now?”
“Take several.”
“You said two,” I fussed.
“Haven’t you taken pictures for a girl before? Your mom or a sister?”
“They usually know not to ask me.”
“Well, you have a wife now,” she stomped, and it took all the strength in me not to laugh.
“Are you ready?” I asked, reopening the camera application.
“How do I look? Is my makeup okay?” She patted her hair.
Lowering the phone to my side, I looked at her. Like, really looked at her. She was dressed in a white off-shoulder gown by Demure with little white frilly shit on the arms. It hugged her subtle curves until it flared at the knee. Her ears housed these diamond-shaped earrings covered in rhinestones. Her hair was free and curly, like the previous day that I saw her on the beach –only this time much tamer. Her makeup was light, letting her natural beauty shine.
“Well, Saint?”
“You look gorgeous, Beauty.”
Her cinnamon rounds were big and playful. Her lips were full and kissable, imposing my attention. She looked like a Miller woman. Understated splendor. She looked like mine.
“Okay,” she motioned to the phone, returning to her original pose. “Snap at leisure.”
Placing the phone back in the position she’d initially instructed me to hold it, I began snapping nonstop because something told me she wouldn’t be satisfied with the several she’d mentioned.
In a few photos, she smiled. Not a modest, polite grin. She smiled, big and toothy like a child. It was the first time I’d seen her look so… happy. I knew it was staged for the image, but still… It did something to me. For me. A hidden dimple made its presence known on her right cheek, which I hadn’t noticed initially. It seemed only to make an appearance when she was smiling.
“Wait. Come here,” she motioned for my proximity.
“What now, Beauty?” Stepping closer, I waited for the subsequent request.
“Take one with me.”
“Victoria.”
“I know it’s not real, but… please. That lady has been staring at us the entire time. We can get her nosy ass to take the picture. Miss! ‘Scuse me!”
Already, Victoria was summoning the librarian’s attention. As the woman approached, she code-switched, requesting her assistance.
“Hiiiii. We just got married. Could you snap a few photos of us? For my memory book.”
The woman grinned as if we’d just made her day. “Oh, sure! How delightful. You know, I was married for forty-two years until my Harvey passed away. Spending life with him was one of the best experiences God gave me.”
Victoria was nodding as she snatched my phone from my hands and pressed it into the woman’s elderly fingers. I stood beside her, posing awkwardly. Noting my stance, Victoria repositioned herself. She stood in front of me off to the side, causing the scent of lavender emanating from her limbs to attack me. Sliding my hands to her hips, she then signaled the librarian.
“Beautiful,” the woman gushed. “Do you want another pose? This is forever, remember?”
“No–”