Chapter Twenty
Hunter
Sitting at my desk, I get the feeling I am being watched. My eyes move to the left, then the right, and that’s when I spot Bailey sitting on the couch with her camera resting on the edge pointed right at me. A grin tugs at my lips. I tried to take Bailey to the zoo earlier in the day to show her how to get the best pictures of animal life. We struck out with a bunch of no show animals due to the rain. So, we moved the lesson back to my place where Bailey is pretending I’m a lion in the savannah.
I quickly spin around in my chair, raise my hands up like claws, and let out a mighty roar. Bailey gets her picture then falls back on the couch hysterically laughing. I nearly fall out of my chair laughing right along with her. There is never a dull moment around Bailey. Getting to spend one on one time with her is one of the highlights of my day. I jumped on the opportunity when Lucky announced she was going to go back to teaching art classes at the Alki Community Center. At first, Lucy thought it would be too much for me, running the Gallery and taking care of Bailey after school, but I assured her I could handle it, and now that I hired a manager to take on the day to day stuff, my afternoons are wide open. Plus, this is my opportunity to show what a good father I can be, but mostly, I just like hanging out with Bailey.
When the weather is good we photograph a new neighborhood in the city. Bailey is a natural with photography. She is picking up all my tips and tricks fast, and she has an amazing eye for a ten-year-old. She’s also gotten really good at sneaking up on people. I’ve lost count of how many times she has gotten pictures of me and Lucy kissing when we think she is not looking. Just one of the many adventures of dating a mom.
The Hunter from ten years ago would have stayed as far away from a single mother as possible. Now, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Every night I get to have dinner with my two favorite girls. We watch movies together, and I get to read to Bailey before she goes to bed. Then I get Lucy all to myself to do all the dirty things I’d been whispering in her ear all night. I’m getting the life I wanted on the other side of the lens. Life is fucking perfect.
“Hunter, did you always want to be a photographer?” Bailey sets her camera on my desk.
“When I was your age I wanted to be a police officer just like my dad,” I reply.
“I don’t see you as a cop. Was your dad mad you didn’t become a one?” She plops down in the chair next to the desk and swings her legs over the edge.
“We had a lot of fights when I decided I wanted to become a photographer. My dad didn’t think it was a real job and kept pushing me to join the force after I graduated from college.” Our battles are still legendary in our old neighborhood back in Boston.
“Aren’t parents supposed to support their kids? My mom says she will support whatever I do as long as it doesn’t involve me going to jail.”
“Not everyone is like your mom. There are some parents that want their kids to follow the path they have laid out for them instead of letting them decide.”
“Well that’s dumb.”
“Pretty much. So, what does Bailey want to be when she grows up?” I ask, leaning back in my chair and folding my arms across my chest.
She doesn’t hesitate for a second with her response. “I want to be a teacher. Specifically, a kindergarten teacher.” A proud smile lights up her face.
“Why a kindergarten teacher,” I ask curiously. I can definitely see Bailey as a teacher. Watching her with Ella and Matthew, showing them how to do things and being so patient with them. She has a big, giving heart, which every teacher should have.
“They teach kids to read in kindergarten. Mom says teaching a child to read it the best gift you can give them, because books are the best things on earth. I want to give that gift to other kids.” It still blows my mind at how amazing this kid is. With Bailey as a teacher, the children of the future are going to be better human beings because of her kind spirit.
“I think you will be an amazing teacher.” I smile warmly at her.
“You think so?”
“I know so.” I sit back up and see that the rain has let up. “Looks like it stopped raining. How about we go sneak over to the coffee shop and practice your stealth picture taking skill on your mom before we take her to dinner.”
Bailey excitedly leaps up from her chair and grabs her camera. “Let’s go.”