A Future Woven From Storms

Victor Weller's gaze moved over the dust covering my work clothes, and his voice mixed pity with contempt.

"I admit I treated you badly back then, but after disappearing so dramatically, how did you still end up living like this?"

I adjusted the lens without interest.

"If you still want the session, please hurry. The deposit isn't refundable."

My mother, Lorraine Weller, wiped her eyes over and over and reached for me.

"A family portrait should have the whole family in it. Remy, come stand with me."

I stepped away from her hand.

"The booking says four family members: three people and one dog. The dog's already in position, so could you please go back to your seat and cooperate?"

My father, Martin Weller's face darkened immediately.

"Disgraceful."

His finger nearly jabbed my forehead.

"You cried for years because you wanted to be in these pictures, and now you think you're important enough to turn us down?"

I was about to call security when Victor stood quickly and tried to calm him.

"Don't get worked up. We still have dinner with the Fairchild family tonight."

He checked his watch, wrote down a phone number, and held it out to me.

"We're in a hurry today. Find a time so we can talk this through properly. Families can survive any misunderstanding."

I didn't take the paper.

"Use the studio phone if you want another appointment. After eighteen years of marrow and stem-cell collections, I don't owe any of you anything. I was never even registered in your household as a child, so stop pretending we're close."

My parents went pale and tried to speak, but Victor checked his watch again and set the paper on the worktable.

"I'm about to marry into the Fairchild family. For the sake of our history, I could still give you a hand. You've been on your own for five years, so think it over."

He steered our parents out, all three of them walking off like they'd won something.

I'd just asked my assistant to throw the paper away when Elena Fairchild called.

"I'm so mad, babe. I've got a business dinner tonight that I've pushed back three times, and now I can't get out of it. We'll have to look at wedding clothes tomorrow instead."

"That's fine. Who are you meeting?"

Elena started complaining right away.

"A supplier we've worked with for years. Their contract's about to renew, and now they suddenly want to renegotiate the whole thing. It's absurd. They're stealing time from my future husband."

That answered it. And the second I said so, Elena caught the change in my voice.

"You sound upset. Did another strange client come into the studio?

"We opened that place because photography makes you happy. Block anyone who ruins it."

I smiled.

"My biological parents and older brother came in for a family portrait.

"And judging from what you just said, they're probably the people you're having dinner with tonight."