Through A Magnolia Filter

It is more important to click with people than to click the shutter.

Alfred Eisenstaedt

DOLLEY HANDED THE clean porcelain wall sconce to Bess. “This one has a chip.”

Bess turned the sconce, found the chip and dabbed enamel on the spot. “Not anymore.”

“I hate cleaning lights.” Dolley picked up a rusty sconce and plopped it on the worktable she and Bess had set up in the carriage house.

This mindless work wasn’t enough to keep her from reliving the moment two days ago when Liam had brushed back her hair at Bonaventure. His fingers had rubbed the strands like they were...precious. Was the pull she’d felt between them the reason he’d agreed to mentor her?

She’d almost reached out and touched his hair. Thank goodness the cemetery guard had arrived.

There was too much at stake. She was sticking to her dating hiatus. She’d given up her day job to work with Liam. Just spending an afternoon together had improved her pictures. He could take it away as easily as he’d agreed to work with her. Nothing was going to screw up her apprenticeship.

Dolley shot a glance at Bess. She needed to break the news to her sisters. Not only was she working for Liam, Jackson had changed her employment status. She blew out a big breath. Already this morning, she’d bid on a project for one of her old clients. That sucked.

With a toothbrush, she loosened the dirt around the base and metalwork. “How many more do we have to clean?”

Bess glanced at the boxes. “I don’t want to depress you.”

“Great.” Dolley dipped her cloth in the soapy water and rubbed gently on the bronze fixture. “Should we take off the patina?”

They both stared at the sconce.

“Mamma had us strip all the Fitzgerald House’s lamps.” Bess chewed on her thumbnail.

Dolley touched her hand. “Let’s find out if we have more metal or porcelain.”

They spread everything on the floor, organizing the lamps by type.

Crossing her arms, Dolley said, “Holy cow, that’s a lot of work.”

“Abby’s just finishing up breakfast. She’ll be here soon.” Bess walked around the lamps and sconces laid out on the canvas. “I would like to have everything bright and shiny.”

Dolley sighed. “Okay, we remove the patina just like Fitzgerald House.”

“How come you’re not working today?” Bess settled back into her folding chair.

“I’ve cut back my hours.” She opened the bronze cleaner, the smell sharp and unpleasant. Pouring a small amount on a clean cloth, she gently rubbed the metal.

Bess frowned. “I thought you planned to wait until January.”

Dolley’s finger tapped the edge of the table. “I’m helping out Liam. Delaney,” she added in a rush. Just saying his name had her remembering the stroke of his fingers in her hair.

“Delaney?” Bess’s reddish-blond eyebrows popped up. “Is he the long-term guest? The Irishman?”

“Yup.”

“How are you helping him out?”

She focused on bringing the lamp back to its original gleam. “Research. And he agreed to take me on as an apprentice.” The words spilled out in a stream.

“Wait.” Bess laid her hand on Dolley’s arm. “Apprentice?”

Abby walked in. “You’re taking on an apprentice, Bess?”

Dolley rolled her eyes. Of course an apprenticeship wouldn’t be about her, right? She was void of creativity.

“It’s Dolley,” Bess explained.

Abby pulled out a chair next to Dolley. “I didn’t know they used apprentices in website design. Is that a new thing?”

“It’s not for website design.” Dolley huffed out a breath. “Liam Delaney is mentoring me in photography.”

Both sisters’ heads twisted, and they stared at her. Their eyes, variations of green and hazel, were wide with surprise.

Their shock hurt.

Abby placed a hand on her back. “You want to be his apprentice?”

“I want to improve my photography,” she said.

Bess rubbed Dolley’s arm. “Is this just for the website?”

Her sisters, the two people she was closest to in the world, didn’t know she wanted to be a photographer. She swallowed. “I want to be...better.” I want to make it my career.

“Then it’s good Liam is here.” Abby bumped her with her shoulder. “And he’s not bad on the eyes. Does he ever smile?”

Dolley frowned. “Not often. Once? That I caught.” And she’d never heard him laugh.

Did that make him romantically tragic, or just tragic?

She took a deep breath. “And I added myself to the B and B’s health plan.”

Abby grabbed a sconce. “Why?”

Dolley shrugged. “Jackson made me an independent contractor.”

“Oh.” Abby’s eyebrow went up. Censure filled that single syllable.

“Cheryl raves about Liam’s accent.” Bess winked.

Dolley pressed her chest. “I could listen to him for hours.”

“Oh. Ooooh.” Bess drew out the last word, pain twisting her face. “Be careful.”

“It’s not like that.” Dolley hated the sorrow in her sister’s eyes. Daniel Forester had done that. He and Bess had dated, but Daniel had pulled the plug and broken Bess’s heart.