Page 77 of Completely Captivated
With all sincerity, I answered him.“It’s the only wish that matters to me.”
“Your wish is granted.From this moment until I die, I will spoil you with more love every day.”
He took my overnight bag from my hand and checked the weight in his.“You didn’t pack much.Is that because you expect to be naked most of the time?”
I actually did, but that wasn’t why I didn’t pack more.“I just put enough for one night in there.I’ll have to be at work early Monday morning, and I didn’t want to be that presumptuous.”
“How about you add a few more outfits to this bag, and let’s play it by ear?I can take you the café early whenever you need.It’s not like I won’t be there eventually anyway.”
“If you’re sure?”
“I’m positive.You can bring your whole closet, and it wouldn’t bother me one bit.”
“A few outfits for now will do.”I was secretly thrilled he said that, but I was trying not to hit the throttle too hard.
After I rummaged through my clothes and threw a few in to cover anything we may do the next day, we climbed into his car and came to a stop in front of the Museum of Modern Art.
“I didn’t know you were an art fan.I don’t think they normally have valets out here.It looks like they’re having a gallery showing tonight.”
“They are, but you get to see it first.”
“How exciting!How did you arrange that?”
“I’ve told you before—it’s good to have friends in high places.”
The valet took Aaron’s keys, and we walked into the museum hand in hand.Once we reached the third floor, Aaron gestured for me to enter the exhibit area first.
The first photograph we saw was amazing.The detail the photographer caught in the landscape made me feel like I was there with him.Aaron asked my thoughts of each one and listened to my replies, but he didn’t add his own commentary.
Every picture was better than the last, and my excitement of discovering the next one in the series was hard to contain.When we turned the corner to find the centerpiece of the exhibit, I couldn’t breathe.
I couldn’t move.I was rooted to the floor in front of the enormous photograph.
Of our field in the woods.
Of our trail.
With our picnic basket and blanket in the exact spot where we spent the day.
But this photograph was taken at night, under a full moon.
“This is where I was when I didn’t get home until dawn.The centerpiece of the exhibit had to be perfect, and I worked night and day to make it exactly what I needed.I was afraid it wouldn’t make it in time for opening night with the rest of the exhibit.But now I’m convinced you’re my lucky charm.It was after our talk that morning when I learned the printer could meet my specifications on such short notice.”
I looked closer at the name of the photograph.
Completely Captivated.
“You took all these?”I whispered, afraid to break the spell of perfection around me.
“Yes, this is my new job.My passion is photography.I love being behind the lens and capturing the beauty in normally mundane subjects.”
“No wonder I love this entire exhibit so much.You’re a part of every subject in here.I can tell they hold significance to you in the way you present them.”
“That’s because every single picture in here was taken with you in mind.Something that reminded me of you.Something I thought you would like.Something I wanted to show you, or somewhere I wanted to take you.”
“What did you name the entire exhibit?”
“Love of a Lifetime.”
