Photo Opportunity by Jess Dee Read Free Book Online Page B

accepted I was okay, and moved on. I think that now, for the first time, he’s realizing how precarious the whole situation was, and it’s taking its toll on him.”
    Amy nodded. Sarah hit the nail on the head. While the Tanner women always spoke openly about the leukemia, Daniel kept it firmly locked away. As a child, he’d simply accepted the return of her good health and left it at that. During the shoot, however, he’d had to come to terms with just how difficult Sarah’s illness had been for the whole family.
    Daniel and Lexi chose that moment to join them.
    “Things look pretty serious here. You guys not having a good time?” Daniel had a broad grin on his face and Amy noticed he’d cheered up significantly. In fact, he looked downright exuberant.
    “Not really,” Sarah answered as she wrinkled her nose. “The entertainment’s lousy and the décor stinks. The least they could have done was hang some decent art on the walls.”
    “Don’t worry,” Daniel said with a straight face. “I know the gallery owner. I’ll have a word with her.”
    They all laughed.
    Molly hugged her son. “You’ve made me very proud tonight.”
    “Thanks, Mum,” Daniel answered and left his arm around his mother’s shoulders.
    “Dad would have been proud too,” Sarah said and they all agreed.
    Daniel’s father had died a few years ago and Amy envied the family’s ability to remember him with such love. Unfortunately, she couldn’t think about her own father in the same light—hell, she didn’t even know if he was dead or alive.
    “So,” Lexi asked her brother, “how does it feel being the center of attention?”
    Daniel couldn’t hide his smile. “Not bad. Although my eyes are still burning from all those flashes.”
    “About time you learned what it’s like being on the other side of the lens,” Amy pointed out.
    “Flashes are good,” Lexi said with authority. “They mean publicity. And the more publicity we have, the more money we can raise for the ward.”
    “I don’t think raising money will be a problem,” Molly said, her indulgent smile back in place. “Valerie told me she already sold fifteen photographs—and that was an hour ago, on opening night. You still have the rest of the week!”
    Amy thought about the price tags attached to each photo, did a quick mental calculation and gave a silent whistle. If sales over the next seven days continued the same way, they’d be able to refurbish the entire hospital, never mind just the ward. Well, almost.
    She looked at Daniel, ridiculously happy for him. He was staring straight at her and for a moment their eyes locked. The room around them fizzled away. All she could focus on was her friend, his hooded eyes and that intense, unreadable expression.
    Her stomach did three quick cartwheels, a summersault and a backward flip in quick succession.
    What the—?
    And just like that, it was over. “Sarah, I think Steve is looking for you.” Daniel gestured across the room.
    Sarah looked up and waved at her husband who was beckoning her. “I’m sorry to do this,” she said, “but it’s getting late. We have to get back home to the kids.”
    Amy looked at her watch. It was close to eleven.
    “Are you ready to go, Mum?” Sarah asked.
    “I am.” Molly hugged Daniel again. “Tonight was just wonderful.”
    Sarah kissed everyone goodbye and Molly did the same, pausing to squeeze Amy’s hand before she left. “Keep well, my dear. I hope to see you soon.”
    “You too,” Amy said, still slightly breathless from Daniel’s look.
    “I’m going to see what the doctors on the ward thought about the show,” Lexi said, then added with a wink, “Don’t worry, Danno. I won’t let Leona near you.” Chuckling, she walked over to her friends.
    A jolt went through Amy. Leona was here? She hadn’t seen her. What would she have done if she had? What was the appropriate behavior when confronting a woman who was after your best friend? Should she tell her how