A Picture's Worth
Copyright© 2026 by Ewan Oliver Niven
Chapter 3: Making Amends
“You’re supposed to be family! What right do you have, saying such things?!”
Ethan halted in the doorway of the Wolfe house, uncertain. Steeling himself, he stepped inside. Alanna and Sydney were in the living room. Although Syn was taller than her cousin by several inches at least, she shrank away beneath the older woman’s wrath. What is going on here? he wondered, frowning. Although he’d rather stare down the barrel of a gun, Ethan put himself between Sydney and Alanna, bringing his cousin to a surprised halt.
“You!” she growled, her eyes narrowing on him.
This was a bad idea, Ethan decided. He forced a smile to his face and said, “Look, let’s leave Syn out of this, all right?”
“No,” Alanna said, folding her arms across her chest. “She’s the one who was talking trash about my friend.”
“I didn’t mean it that way!” Sydney protested. “Honestly, I didn’t!”
Ethan turned to look at his sister. She did look genuinely upset; tears glittered in her dark eyes and her lower lip trembled in that way that told him the floodgates were close to opening. Sydney had become oddly emotional in certain circumstances--and oddly unemotional in others--since their parents’ accident. I’m going to need a miracle to get through this alive, Ethan thought. He did believe that Sydney hadn’t meant to be hurtful, but she seemed to have the same foot-in-mouth problem that he did.
Turning back to Alanna was the last thing he wanted to do, but he did it anyway. She doesn’t know, he thought, so of course she can’t understand. Sydney was just looking out for me. Ethan really wasn’t about to drudge up his past so his cousin could understand why he didn’t approve of Bea. It wasn’t any of her business, anyway.
“I don’t think Sydney meant anything by it,” Ethan said. “Honestly ... she’s a good kid, Alanna.”
“Maybe she didn’t,” Alanna said, her eyes narrowing on him. “But you did! Who the hell are you to judge her?”
“Look, I ... I didn’t mean ... it’s not like that,” Ethan stammered. “It’s ... it’s nothing against her personally ... I just...”
Hoo boy, he thought, I need to quit while I’m ahead. He wanted to explain to Alanna that he didn’t dislike Bea because she was promiscuous, but he wasn’t sure that was true. It wasn’t something Ethan was proud of or anything, but he’d rather not interact with her if he didn’t have to. Looking down into Alanna’s pale blue eyes, which blazed with anger, he decided he was going to have to. How do I get myself into these things? he wondered, sighing inwardly. And how’d I get cursed with even more pushy female relatives!?
Bea adjusted her camera, settling it more securely atop the tripod. The night before had been so cold that the fountain water had frozen in perfect, icy falls. It was still cold, cold enough that she shook, and her fingers burned. I don’t care, she thought, I just want to get this shot. She was still upset, even though Sydney had called her and apologized. She’d sounded so sincere that Bea had forgiven her. But I don’t have to forgive her obnoxious prick of a brother! she thought, glowering through the camera.
She’d been angry before, but never like this. Who the hell does he think he is? she fumed. Comparing himself to Gabriel! Hmmph! Never in a million years could he hope to be as good a man as Gabriel Wolfe! Bea pulled away from the camera with a frustrated growl. There was no way she could get this shot if she couldn’t calm down. Grumbling beneath her breath, she settled down on the bench surrounding the fountain, keeping a close eye on her camera.
“Bea?”
Don’t turn around, she told herself, taking a deep breath. If you turn around, you will claw out his eyes. She recognized Ethan’s voice, although she couldn’t fathom why he was here or how he’d known where she would be. Alanna had been the only person she’d told. Of course, Bea thought, rising slowly. That’s what I get for sticking my nose in with her and Drake. Fair’s fair, I suppose. She walked over to her camera before turning to face Ethan.
Why did the Wolfe men have to be so good-looking? Oh, she supposed they could have been homely as could be, and still they wouldn’t lose their appeal. It was something in their eyes, in the way they smiled; that was the attraction. Even Ethan’s smile, which was hesitant and unsure. She was a little surprised to see that his hair was loosely braided and wondered if one of his sisters had gotten to him. I can see that, Bea thought, fighting a smile. I can just picture a younger Bailey using her brother for hairstyling practice.
“Um ... can we talk?” Ethan asked.
He looks like he thinks I’m about to tear his throat out with my teeth, Bea thought. Out loud she said, “About what?”
“I know you’re mad at me,” Ethan said quietly. “I uh ... probably shouldn’t have said ... what I said. So um ... I thought I’d...”
“Apologize?” Bea suggested, her eyebrows raising.
“Uh ... yeah...” Ethan answered, looking defeated.
Bea reached up and fiddled with her camera. She wasn’t sure if he really wanted to apologize, but she didn’t want to fight with him, either. It would have been nice to get along with him, she thought, taping her fingers against the hard casing of her camera. It would have been nice to ... well, I can dream on about that. Bea sighed inwardly and turned to look at him again. She wondered what ill fate Alanna had threatened him with.
“Look, I don’t want an insincere apology,” Bea told him. “If you’re only here because of something Alanna said, I’d rather you just go away.”
“I ... I’m not,” Ethan said, but he’d hesitated a moment too long before he spoke.
Bea rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Go away, Ethan.”
She stepped behind her camera again and readjusted it, focusing it once more on the fountain. Unfortunately, Ethan was in the line of her shot. Bea pulled back and narrowed her eyes on him until he moved out of her way. He didn’t leave, though. What is he doing? she wondered. Glancing sidelong at him, she saw him studying her curiously. Trying to ignore him, she started taking her pictures of the fountain. Bea liked to use the tripod for level shots, but she removed it to get shots from a lower vantage and from different angles.
She couldn’t explain exactly what it was she loved so dearly about photography. People who didn’t love it didn’t tend to understand. This was for a project she was putting together, but often Bea took photos to Alanna. Black and whites became drawings and color shots became paintings. Sometimes if she found something compelling enough to shoot, she brought it to Quinn.
“Look,” Ethan began again. “I really am sorry ... I mean, your personal life is none of my business...”
“Personal life?” Bea muttered through gritted teeth.
“You understand, it’s just something I don’t want my little sister involved in,” Ethan went on. “There must be something I can do...”
Fed up, Bea whirled to face him. “You want to know what you can do!?” she snapped. “You can get your head out of your ass!”
He stared at her, stunned. Bea grabbed her camera case from where she’d left it and secured her camera. She was so angry her hands were shaking. The tripod was collapsible, so she folded it up until it was small enough to settle against her shoulder. I cannot believe he’s related to the Wolfes, she thought. He’s supposed to be one of them, but ... Bea shouldered her camera case as well, then turned to give Ethan a last, long look.
“It’s easy for you,” she said, shaking her head. “You sleep around and society says you’re a man! Me? I sleep with a few people and I’m the town whore.”
She left him standing near the fountain. I don’t care what he thinks anymore, she thought, as she headed for her car. He can go find himself a sweet, docile little Catholic woman who wants to wait until she’s married. Bea knew that wasn’t really fair; some of her best friends had waited a long time before getting involved with men. Not that you can really blame them, she thought, scowling. It only takes one time. Spread your legs once and bam! Insta-Slut.
To read the complete story you need to be logged in:
Log In or
Register for a Free account
(Why register?)
* Allows you 3 stories to read in 24 hours.