Chapter 16

Alexa held up her camera, snapping photos of the vacationing family early Friday morning. She and Callie had gotten to the location thirty minutes beforehand, with Callie hauling her camera gear from the parking lot. It wasn’t overly heavy, but Alexa knew she needed to be careful. They’d walked slowly from Callie’s car down to the beach, and Alexa had realized that the wedding she was taking photos for tomorrow would be difficult. Normally, she thrived on the energy and excitement. When she was somewhat gingerly moving around, however, she could already tell it would be a challenge.

She said goodbye to the family twenty minutes later, explaining that she’d email them the proofs in fourteen days.

“Girl, you’re a pro,” Callie said with a grin as the family walked away, heading back to their hotel.

“I love what I do,” Alexa said, looking around at the gorgeous sunrise on the beach. “I mean look at this scenery. It’s so perfect, it almost doesn’t seem real.” She turned, feeling slightly sore, and didn’t miss the frown on Callie’s face.

“Are you sure you’ll be able to handle the wedding tomorrow?” Callie asked.

Alexa shrugged. “I have to. I’m a one-woman-shop if you didn’t notice. I’ll just try to take it slow and carefully.” She turned her camera around, clicking through some of the digital images on the screen of the session she’d just finished.

“Ohh, those look incredible,” Callie said.

“Thanks! I should photograph you and Wyatt sometime,” Alexa said as they were packing up. “You guys are so cute together.”

“I’m sure Wyatt would love to know we’re calling him ‘cute’,” Callie said with a laugh. She zipped up the bag and stood, hefting it over her shoulder.

“Eh,” Alexa shrugged. “You could probably call him whatever you wanted, and he wouldn’t mind. That man is head-over-heels for you.”

“Kind of like someone else I know with you.” Callie flashed her a knowing look as they began to walk back to the parking lot.

“Austin wasn’t too happy I’m doing these photoshoots,” Alexa admitted. “He’s worried I’m not resting and letting my body recover. He got all quiet the other night when I was talking about them. I think he’d have preferred I cancel them all—or at the very least postpone what I could.”

“Well, he was horrified when you collapsed on the beach, Lex,” Callie said, brushing back a strand of blonde hair. “Seeing such a big, tough guy look completely gutted was something else. I was freaking out, too, but he’s usually calm. Things don’t faze him, and I’ve never seen him looking that way before.”

“I do understand his concern,” Alexa said. “I wouldn’t like it if he was hurt either. It’s kind of ironic though, don’t you think? Here he’s literally putting his life in danger any time he deploys, and he’s worried about me snapping a few pictures.”

“He’s protective,” Callie said gently.

“Yeah. At least it’s not overly so. I mean, he didn’t try to stop me, which I can’t say about my father. My dad wanted me to basically throw in the towel and move home. Between recovery and that Duke guy threatening my father, he was trying to convince me to stay there.”

“That makes no sense. The guy after your dad knows his name and no doubt where he lives. Wasn’t he sending threatening messages? Staying with Austin was bound to be safer.”

“Yeah. I don’t like that Austin had to leave for a variety of reasons, but according to my father, Duke isn’t even in Hawaii at the moment.”

“And thank goodness for that,” Callie said with a shudder.

Alexa huffed out a sigh. “Yeah, well, he’ll be back. He lives in Oahu.”

“Lucky us,” Callie muttered.

Alexa shot her friend a look. “You’ve been through so much. I feel guilty dragging you into my own troubles.”

“Don’t be silly. None of this is your fault, and I don’t mind driving you around. I can work on my blog posts just as easily at your place as mine, and with Wyatt gone, it’s a little lonely. I’m still not used to it.”

“I wonder if it’s ever something you get used to.”

Callie shook her head. “I doubt it. I’m sure I’ll always worry about Wyatt, but he won’t be a SEAL forever. He’ll definitely be putting in all the years he can, but someday he’ll either command or train other Navy SEALs, or possibly do something totally different.”

They got to Callie’s car and climbed in, Alexa checking the messages on her phone as Callie started the engine. “Oh, did I tell you about these potential new clients I’m meeting next week? They just got engaged, but the woman I’ve been emailing was asking if I’d consider coming to Kauai for a photoshoot.”

“Kauai? Wow!” Callie said with a laugh. “That’s incredible, but aren’t there photographers already there?”

“I had the same question. The couple’s wedding will be here in Oahu, and they wanted to work with the same photographer for their engagement session and eventually their rehearsal dinner and wedding. It’s a bit unconventional, but apparently, she has her heart set on having photos taken in Waimea Canyon.”

“Wow. Are they loaded?” Callie asked with a laugh. “I mean, no offense, but they’d have to fly you to Kauai and back, and of course also pay for the photography session. It would be cheaper just to use a photographer who lives there.”

“I’ve got no idea,” Alexa admitted. “I’m not meeting with them for a week. We’ll meet for coffee one morning and go over all the details. I’ll have to work up a contract, because this is different than what I normally do.”

“Ask for payment in advance,” Callie suggested.

“I require a deposit when a client signs a contract, so that wouldn’t be an issue. I obviously would need advance payment for the airfare and any travel expenses.”

“Good point. You’ll need to rent a car or catch an Uber or something once you land in Kauai. It actually sounds kind of exciting,” Callie said.

“It does, doesn’t it?” she asked as Callie put the car in reverse and backed out of the space. “I need to figure out the timing, because I’m not really in the condition to hike around a canyon at the moment, but they might just want the scenic background. There are some amazing lookouts you can drive to.”

“I haven’t been to Kauai yet,” Callie said.

“Wait, seriously? You’re a travel blogger. You need to come with me! We’ll make a girls’ trip out of it. Business, too, of course, but you could do some blogging. I’ll do my photography session, and then we can spend the rest of the weekend relaxing.”

“Actually, that sounds pretty awesome.”

“Are you okay with flying?” Alexa asked, suddenly worried.

“What? Sure. I eventually flew home from the Philippines after the hijacking, and I flew from California to Hawaii. This will be a piece of cake in comparison, and I’m ready for an adventure, quick as though it may be.”

Alexa beamed beside her. “I knew there was a reason we’re friends. I can’t wait until I meet with my clients to nail down the details. Oh, and I want to take you out to breakfast this morning since you got up at the crack of dawn to help me.”

“Are you sure you feel up for it?” Callie asked, glancing at her.

“Absolutely. I’ll skip the drinks this time, but I can eat.”

“Coconuts?” Callie asked with a grin.

“Where else?” Alexa joked.

Callie flipped on her turn signal to change lanes, merging onto the highway. Palm trees whizzed by them, and the bright sun shone above. “Ahhh, I can’t wait. I can already taste the crab and spinach omelets,” she said with a happy sigh.