voice. The questions the scrubs-wearing neighbor asked were intrusive and way too personal for Summer’s liking.
The moment she saw a four-door sedan turn onto the street, she signaled to the driver and hurriedly walked to the curb. Nervous tension gripped her. When the car stopped, she didn’t wait and opened the back door. Removing Arianne from the uneasy situation was all she could think of.
“Hold on, Summer. Let me help you.”
The last thing she needed was help from Todd.
Blocking the baby carrier with her body to stop him from reaching for the handle, she held up her hand and took a protective step back.
“I’ve got this,” she snapped.
Todd threw his hands up in mock surrender. Though the gesture was commonplace when he did it, all she felt was hostility—aimed at her.
“Sor-ry,” he complained in a sniveling voice. “Just trying to be helpful.”
At that moment, she didn’t give a pixie’s ass about being friendly. The guy was bad news. Pretending otherwise was stupid.
“You’re assuming I need help,” Summer snarled. “I do not,” she stated coldly.
Lynda intervened before things got heated, and by things, she referred to herself.
“Excuse us. We have an appointment.”
Summer pushed the baby carrier to the center of the back seat and climbed in next to it. She yanked the door shut, catching the scowling frowns of Mrs. Dinkins and her creepy son.
It only took two seconds for Lynda to speak with the driver, and then she too hurled her body into the back seat and slammed the car door.
As the sedan pulled away from the curb, Summer gave an exaggerated shudder.
“I have a bad feeling about Todd.”
“I’m glad it’s not just me. Bud thinks I’m nuts.”
“Has he ever spoken to them?”
“Once or twice but my husband isn’t what you’d call observant. I’m not complaining,” she quickly added with a grin. “I’m not the type to put up with a man who’s checking out random ass.”
A funk descended upon Summer. Her earlier enthusiasm for going out in public suddenly dried up. If Ari weren’t the reason for this outing, she would have pulled the plug and returned home.
For once, the traffic cooperated, and they made it the ten miles from Sherman Oaks to Burbank in decent time.
“Here we are!” Lynda exclaimed. Her bright smile was a reminder that not everything was about Summer.
With the garage door open, it was hard to miss the temporary photo studio. As they made their way down the driveway, Lynda’s excitement grew.
“You’ll just love Walt. He has a smart eye and takes the most wonderful pictures. I mean, come on!” She chuckled. “Look at the backdrop!”
The colorful autumn backdrop depicted seasonal perfection. Summer loved it.
They bypassed the front door and headed straight to the makeshift studio. Walt thought of everything, including an umbrella table and lots of chairs. Summer lugged the baby seat to the table and checked on Ari. Her adorable infant sunflower was sleeping.
Lynda deposited the diaper bag on the table and suddenly pulled Summer in for a hug.
“Lighten up, sweetie. Your face reads like doom and gloom. Whatever it is, stop.”
She winced. “You mean as in, don’t worry, be happy?”
“Worry is standard-issue in a mother’s kit. And it never goes away. Not even when your kids are grown.” Lynda hugged her one more time. “But happiness is a choice. Maybe not all the damn time, but close.” She waved her hand and took a deep breath. “It’s a beautiful fall day. I smell plumeria and jasmine. Sunshine and cool temperatures. Ahh.”
The lady was right. This moment deserved a chance to be all it could. There was enough natural negativity to go around without her helping things along.
She heard the sound of a door opening and turned with Lynda as her photographer friend came from the house into the garage.
“Walt! I brought you someone special. Drag your butt over here and meet this beautifully photogenic mother-daughter duo.”
Lynda wrapped her arm through Summer’s. “Summer Leigh, this is Walt Denron. I knew him back in the day.” She chuckled. “Believe it or not, we went to the same high school and were in camera club together.”
Summer smiled at the delightful sliver of background information and laughed out loud when her friend went on to explain that Walt took her wedding photos.
“Bunch of drunk assholes,” Walt snickered after hugging his old friend and turned to her. “It’s a pleasure, Summer. And who is this lovely sunflower?”
She smiled. Big. “This is Arianne. She’s almost a month old and sleeps quite a lot. I hope she wakes