Let It Snow(19)

As she pulled up under the large sign featuring a giant camera lens that read ‘Say Cheese’ in the center, she saw a very familiar red VW Bug parked around the side. It hadn’t even occurred to Tessa until right this second that Mary might not be here. Or even that Say Cheese might not even exist anymore.

It was strange, but when you left a place, especially one that felt so much like home, it just seemed like everything should be exactly the same as it had been when you return. But a lot of times it wasn’t. So seeing that Say Cheese was still open and Mary’s car was parked beside it made Tessa want to do a happy dance. She was almost as relieved as she had been last night when she’d finally gotten to pee.

When she’d moved to Hope Falls her senior year of high school, Mary had been looking for a photography assistant and hired Tessa even though she’d had zero experience. From the first session she’d assisted on, Tessa was hooked. She’d loved it all. The equipment, lighting, angles, focus. It had become her passion overnight, and Mary had supported her every step of the way.

Climbing out of her car, she hopped over a large puddle that had formed in front of the sidewalk and practically skipped up to the front door. As she entered, the small bell that hung above the entrance rang. Tessa was flooded with warm fuzzies as she looked around the small lobby of the photography studio and saw that, aside from some of the pictures that hung around the walls, it looked exactly the same as she remembered it.

A tan couch with purple throw pillows sat against the side wall. There were two oversized chairs, one deep purple and one a walnut brown, that were positioned opposite the couch. And a round oak coffee table sat in the center, creating a warm and inviting sitting area for customers to look through their proofs or browse through the albums.

The walls were still painted a muted lilac with white trim. Dark chocolate brown curtains hung in the doorway, separating the lobby from the studio. And the best part was that the small coffee bar Tessa herself had built still sat in the far left corner of the room. There was a fresh pot brewed, but oddly enough, the room didn’t smell of coffee. It smelled as it always had, like cinnamon and cupcakes.

“Well, shut the front door and call me Sally. If it isn’t Miss Tessa Hayes?” Mary’s voice sounded loudly from behind Tessa. “I heard you were back in town and hoped you would stop by, sweetie pie.”

When Tessa turned around, she couldn’t believe her eyes. Mary Higgins had not aged a day in the last thirteen years. Standing a good three inches shorter than Tessa, she still wore her hair piled wildly on top of her head in a loose bun. It was the same eye-popping shade it had been the last time she’d seen her. Of course the fact that she dyed it fire-engine red helped to hide grays, but her face looked exactly the same as well—a perfectly round circle with full cheeks, big brown eyes, a button nose, and penciled-in brows.

She was even dressed the same, wearing a loose-fitting pair of black slacks and one of her signature colorful animal sweaters. Today’s featured a big peacock with its feathers spread boldly across her large chest. Tessa’s favorite had been one that had showed bullfrogs on lily pads with a large heart in the middle of them.

“Hi, Mary,” Tessa beamed as she threw her arms around her mentor and hugged her tightly.

Pulling away from her, Mary shook her head, making a tsk-tsk-tsking sound. “Have you been eating? You’re thin as a rail.”

“Yes, I have. I promise,” Tessa assured her. Mary was always trying to “fatten her up” and “put some meat on her bones.”

Reaching up, Mary cupped her hands, cradling Tessa’s cheeks. She smiled up at Tessa like the sun was shining down on her. “Well, I didn’t think it was possible but somehow you managed to get even prettier.”

Tessa leaned into Mary’s soft palm. She didn’t want to start crying again, but she’d missed feeling nurtured and…special. Her Gran had passed nine months ago, but it had been well over five years since she’d had her faculties about her. Tessa had never imagined how painful it was to watch a person you love slip away slowly until they don’t even know who they are, who you are, where they are. It was heartbreaking.

Mary’s eyes grew worried when Tessa began tearing up, “You okay, pumpkin?”

“I will be,” Tessa spoke in faith, because honestly she had no idea if she would be.

“Come on.” Mary ushered Tessa to the couch. As soon as they were seated, she handed her a tissue. “So why do you look like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders?”

“Oh, I’m fine. Just a lot of emotions are coming up being back here.” Tessa tried to gloss over how she was feeling.