Family Pieces (4 page)

“Work up an article and print a mock-up. I want it on my desk by 2 p.m. Not a minute later.” She shooed him out so she could finish changing.

David, Addison’s photographer, arrived promptly for their nine o’clock shoot. She updated her photo for the inside editorial page every three months to keep it fresh. In reality, she’d rather be behind the scenes than in the magazine at all, even though her looks could easily rival any cover model. Much to her chagrin, in addition to
Urbane
, her flawless beauty and sporadic love life kept her dabbled across the news and, of course, the occasional tabloid.

“Addy, darling! How are you?” David flared his arms to grant her a welcoming embrace. “You look stunning as always,” he added admiringly. David had photographed her for the last four years. She liked how his photos perfectly captured her professional image.

“You always make me out to look a zillion times better than I really do, my friend. How have you been?” Addison kissed him on both cheeks in greeting.

“Good. Extremely busy. I just shot the fashion show for Givenchy yesterday. It was unbelievable. Gerdie had a baby six weeks ago and commandeered the runway with her taut little belly. Had I not seen the baby myself, I’d think it was a hoax.”

Smirking, Addison thought to herself,
she probably doesn’t eat,
and focused on the task at hand. “So where do you want me today, David? By the window? In the chair?”

Bored with shooting the standard, stifling corporate headshot, he made his usual plea to try something new.

“Oh, Addy. Let’s make it real today, shall we? You aren’t the stuffy broad you portray. Let’s let the rest of the world in on the secret,” he said mischievously.

Addison started to say no, but stopped mid-sentence. “You know what? With the morning I’ve had, I don’t have the energy to argue with you. What do you have in mind?”

“Yes!” David exclaimed like he’d just won the lottery. He pulled his camera bag over his shoulder and tossed her the coat hanging by the door. He then grabbed her hand and hurried her toward the elevator before she could change her mind.

Taking the elevator to the lobby, he quickly led her through the exit to the outside curb. Addison followed willingly, but still felt a bit less than her usual take charge, alpha-dog self.

Climbing into a cab, David directed the driver to Central Park.

“You want to shoot in Central Park? Should I find a bench with a bum to pose with?” Addison asked sarcastically.

David shot her a piercing look, surprised to hear a comment like that come from her. “Addy, I can’t believe...”

“Sorry. That came out wrong,” she cut him off mid-sentence, realizing she didn’t like the person she’d become over the last few weeks. She was behaving like a bitch and she knew it, yet she couldn’t seem to get herself under control. She had to get a grip.

After a short ride, the cab driver pulled to the curb where David indicated. David paid the fare and led Addison to a large, quiet area within the park.

“Stand over there. We’re going to shoot a soft, natural side of you.” He pointed to the base of a large tree trunk, the branches above still dusted with a light layer of snow. He quickly unpacked his camera and flipped through his bag to choose the appropriate lens.

“You do realize that it’s winter, right?” Addison shivered as she shed her coat and walked to the tree.

He held his finger to his lips, ignoring her remark and instructed her further. “Foot up. Hands crossed behind you. Chin down.”

“You mean my chip?” she asked. He looked at her funny, not getting the joke. She laughed nervously, which broke her gloomy mood. “Read next month’s issue.”

“Okay, eyes up at me.”

As she glanced up, she felt like a trained monkey. How models did this for a living was beyond her.

David walked over to her. “Fabulous. Now dear, take down your hair.” Her fingers trembled from the cold as she pulled the bobby pins out, allowing her warm chestnut hair to fall in soft waves around her shoulders. David paced backwards.

“Hmmm.” He squinted, face perplexed. “Still too stiff. Off with the scarf,” he demanded.

Addison pulled it off and threw it aside.

“Better. Now, unbutton the top few buttons.”

“Why, David. I never...,” she teased, knowing it was all for the image.

“Sorry dear, you know you’re not my type. All right, you look sexy, girl! Come on, give me sexy. Grrrr!” David raised his brows suggestively.

Addison couldn’t help but giggle and began to relax. “What did I agree to?” She shook her head as she undid two buttons. Her necklace peeked out above the opening.

“Perfect,” he said, lifting the viewfinder to his eye. The shutter clicked repetitively as he snapped what seemed to Addison to be a hundred photos.

“I can’t feel my fingertips, David,” she said, blowing into her fists to warm them.

“All right, we’re done. Here.” He handed her her coat.

“Thanks. You’re going to owe me for this one.” She pulled on her coat and wrapped her scarf snuggly around her neck.

“Not once you see the prints. They’re going to be magical!” he said excitedly, making a starburst gesture with his fingers.

“You mean marvelous?” she corrected.

“No, magical. I just have a feeling these photos are going to bring you happiness.”

3

F
lying into Chicago was predictably unpredictable. In the summer, the winds or lightning storms could close down the airport without warning. In the winter, the snow often grounded more planes than not. But Karsen and Brad managed to make their connecting flight.

When they arrived in South Bend, their dad stood waiting just beyond the secured area. Under his jacket, Karsen could see the faded blue of an old Colts t-shirt that she could tell hadn’t been washed. His eyes looked more tired and aged than she remembered from just a few days before. He hugged them one at a time, holding each embrace longer than his usual welcome hug.

“Hi, Daddy,” Karsen muttered. For a brief moment, she felt as though her mother would appear, having popped into the one novelty store in the tiny municipal airport while she awaited their arrival. The feeling passed and she held back tears as only the three of them trudged toward baggage claim. Life as she once knew it would never be the same.

Outside, the rain poured down. The car was parked in the economy lot and by the time she climbed into her father’s car, Karsen’s dark hair hung soaked around her face.

“Are all the arrangements set?” Brad asked his father.

“I wish I could say yes, but your mom always took care of these sorts of things. The viewing is scheduled for Friday evening and the funeral services on Saturday.”

“Karsen and I can help finish the planning tomorrow. Try not to stress about it, Dad. It will come together.”

Karsen kept quiet. She couldn’t help but think of how frivolous people were taking a year to plan a wedding, yet they had only a day to plan her mom’s final farewell. It didn’t seem right.

They arrived at the Woods’s home and conversation eased slightly as they made small talk over where to set the suitcases and whether or not they were hungry. Karsen scanned the room as her mother’s favorite companion, her fluffy, five-pound Maltese, pounced at Karsen’s feet.

“Hey, Belle, ol’ girl,” Karsen bent down to pet her. The dog looked as though she appreciated the attention. “Yeah, I miss her too.” Karsen couldn’t help but understand. She also sensed her mother’s absence. Although her mother’s belongings filled the house like she’d return any moment, Karsen felt an indescribable void deep inside.

Mr. Woods and Brad finished moving the luggage to the bedrooms before returning to the kitchen.

“I’ve got deli meat for sandwiches, if that’s okay with the two of you. Sorry it’s not anything fancier,” Carl said.

“Sure, Dad. That’s fine.” Brad answered.

Karsen couldn’t fathom eating, but at her father’s insistence she prepared a plate. The three sat down at the kitchen table.

“Dad?” Brad began. “You didn’t really tell us what happened.”

Carl finished chewing, more to delay than out of manners. “I’m sorry. I guess I didn’t want to burden you. It doesn’t matter anyway. Nothing does.”

“I understand. But, I guess I just need to know how.” Brad said.

Karsen sat silently. She picked a tiny bite from the corner of her sandwich and tried to force it down.

Mr. Woods looked down. He knew this conversation was inevitable. Just like the phone calls he had to make. “She was just running up to the market.” He paused to clear the lump in his throat. “She headed down County Road 17 like she always did. Another car was heading in the opposite direction and crossed over the line. He didn’t hit her, but your mother swerved. The roads were still wet from the thunderstorm we’d had the night before. Apparently, she lost control and veered head-on into a tree.”

“Oh, Mom, no,” Brad said softly as Karsen sat numb, unable to process anything more.

“The police said she died instantly.”

“Was the guy drunk?” Brad felt his blood start to boil.

“No, he even stopped to call for help. In his statement, he admitted that he glanced down to check a text message. Damn cell phones. Worse than drinking if you ask me.”

Karsen couldn’t listen any longer. Instead, she excused herself and set her plate of untouched food in the sink. On the counter, she noticed a plastic bag still housing her mother’s possessions collected from her vehicle. Her mom’s keys, lipstick and a photo of the family were among other items. Seeking comfort, she cocooned on the floor in the living room and bundled herself under a blanket by the fireplace. Belle snuggled around her feet. She turned the television on to deafen the silence, but had no interest in watching. Just as she felt more tears begin to emerge, she heard her father and Brad enter the room.