Hardy gave Miracle a minute to get situated before he turned to speak to her. His heart hammered as he thought of what he would say. Never in his life had he been nervous to talk to a girl.
I’m not really nervous per se, he told himself. But he was. For the first time he could remember, he actually cared what a girl thought of him, actually wanted to make a good impression. Normally, they sought him out. He didn’t even have to try. At all. Even though he’d been dating Cheyenne for going on four years, he’d never lacked feminine attention. Apparently girls didn’t care whether he was taken or not. They just wanted him. Period.
Finally, clearing his throat, Hardy turned in his seat, hanging his arm casually over the corner of Miracle’s desk. “Miracle, right?”
Idiot! Hardy thought. She knows you know her name. Now you just sound like a mental patient.
“Yes,” she said, her lips curving into that angelic smile. “I didn’t catch your name.”
“Hardy,” he answered, bringing his right hand around in offer of a handshake. “Hardy Bradford.”
Miracle glanced at Hardy’s hand and her smile widened. He felt like kicking himself.
Dude! You’re offering her a handshake? You’re offering a girl a handshake?
It was too late to rescind the gesture, however, so Hardy held his position, praying she wouldn’t think him a complete jackass and run as fast as she could in the other direction. Slowly, much to Hardy’s relief, she slid her fingers into his and clasped them for a surprisingly firm handshake.
The skin was cool and as soft as anything he’d ever felt. Hardy wondered absently if her cheek felt the same way. He imagined that it did.
“Nice to meet you, Hardy.”
They pumped each other’s hand, smiling into each other’s eyes for several seconds before Miracle tugged as if to pull her hand from his. When she did, Hardy squeezed for just a moment, unwilling to let it go.
“Since you two have already made your own introductions,” Mr. Gault said from right behind Hardy, causing him to jump and release Miracle’s hand, “why don’t you help her catch up with what she’s missed and show her around a little, Hardy? We’re only discussing natural light this period anyway, and it sounds like Miracle knows as much about it as you do. I doubt either of you will miss much.”
Hardy cleared his throat again. “Yes, sir.”
Hardy purposely held his lips in a neutral line as he turned back around in his seat. It took quite a bit of effort to suppress the bubble of goofy laughter he felt tickling in his chest. He just couldn’t believe his luck!
After Mr. Gault went over announcements, he nodded to Hardy. Reaching for his camera bag, Hardy turned quietly to Miracle. “Let’s go. Time to get the tour.”
Hardy nearly held out his hand for Miracle to take. Luckily, he realized it in the nick of time and stuffed that hand in his pocket instead.
He had no idea what was wrong with him, why he was reacting to Miracle like he was; he only knew he’d have to mind his Ps and Qs. For some reason she was making him feel kind of crazy, and of all the years Hardy could’ve afforded a little crazy, this was not one of them.
The first place he took Miracle was the dark room.
“This place is off limits to anyone not in a photography class, but we still have a sign-up sheet since there are quite a few of us. It’s set up for two people to develop in here at a time, so you should always be able to get in,” Hardy explained. “In fact, if you want, I could sign you up for a few of my times. Just so you’ll be able to catch up and stuff. You know…”
Miracle smiled her sweet, slightly sad smile and Hardy’s stomach flipped over. “Thank you. I really appreciate that. I don’t know how many times I’ll be able to come, but I’d like to try and stay caught up.”
Miracle tilted her head to one side and let out a small sigh, reaching forward to run one finger wistfully along the edge of a tray. He wanted desperately to ask what she meant by that, but something about her expression gave him pause.
Uncertain of what to say and hesitant to interrupt her thought, Hardy took the clip board down from the nail on the wall. As he looked down the list of assigned times, he cursed every person who had signed up to share time with him. There were still a few open slots, however, so he scribbled Miracle beside his name in every last one.
“So, I’m assuming you’ve developed your own pictures before?”
Miracle nodded distractedly.
“Last year, we were allowed to use digital cameras for a couple of projects, but for the most part he wants us to stick with the old-school method in black and white.”
Again, she nodded.
“Okay, well, let me show you the ‘conservatory,’” Hardy said, using air quotes.
“There’s a conservatory here?”
Hardy hated to disappoint Miracle when she seemed so impressed by that.
“Uh,” he chuckled. “No, not really. That’s just what they call it. Come on. You’ll see.”
Hardy led Miracle out of the dark room, down the hall and out into the afternoon sun. Even though he’d lived in Florida his whole life, the late summer heat still struck him like a slap in the face on occasion. He sucked in a breath.
“Oh my god, it’s so frickin’ hot!”
Miracle said nothing, simply followed him along the paver path, past the horticulture building. Hardy rounded the corner at the back of the brick structure and then veered left, continuing along the trail down a slight incline to an ancient greenhouse. He stopped a few feet in front of the door and swept his arm out in a grand and dramatic gesture.
“The ‘conservatory,’” he announced with a facetious flourish.
Removed from any other structure at the school, the greenhouse was constructed of wrought iron ribs with foggy, aged plexi-glass spanning the space between. The panes toward the top were cracked open to allow for the release of hot air, undoubtedly cooling the sweltering inside temperatures.
“The ‘conservatory’ is an old greenhouse?” Miracle asked, the corners of her mouth twitching.
“And that’s not even the best part,” Hardy declared, stepping forward to hold the door open for Miracle to enter.
“Oh, there’s more?” she asked, playing along in an excited voice.
“Think your heart can stand it?”
Miracle chuckled lightly and mumbled under her breath, “My heart’s not the problem.”
Hardy wasn’t certain he’d heard her correctly, but again, he was loathe to ask her any personal questions. The image of her delicate face beneath a hairless scalp still circled the outskirts of his mind, making him uneasy broaching any sensitive subjects.
Letting the door close behind her, Hardy directed Miracle’s attention to the green foliage that lined the workbenches and multi-level shelves on the left and right.
“The horticulture classes use this to grow plants and play with soil composition and all that stuff. I don’t know much about it. It’s pretty boring,” Hardy said, moving slowly down the narrow walkway that cut through the center of the greenhouse. “There is one thing I think’s pretty cool, though.”
“What’s that?” Miracle asked, turning her head this way and that to check out every plant they passed.
For a moment, Hardy was silent, feeling a little bedazzled by the soft look of appreciation on her face. Glancing quickly toward the nondescript green plants he’d seen dozens of times, he wondered what she found so interesting, wondered what she was thinking of as she looked at the foliage.
“It’s back here,” he said quietly, turning to lead Miracle around the only corner in the greenhouse.
A small addition had been constructed off to one side of the structure. The glass was clearer and the temperature was slightly warmer in the tiny wing. The facilities were discernibly newer and more high-tech, too. Those were the things Hardy noticed normally and was prepared to comment on.
But not today. Today, he was only aware of the girl in front of him and the expression of wonder she wore. For the first time, he thought he might be seeing what she saw.
Orchids of every shade and hue lined the metal benches on either side of the walkway. Compared to the fairly monotone view in the larger room, this one looked alive with color, with life. The floral scents of the different orchids mingled, giving the air a sweet, seductive smell he’d never noticed before.
But the most incredible thing of all was Miracle. Her green eyes were round with amazement and her pouty lips were slightly parted in awe. She moved her head slowly, taking in every detail it seemed.
Compelled to photograph nature in a way he never had been before, Hardy quietly unzipped his bag and removed his camera. After he flipped off the lens cover and snapped a couple shots of the beautiful flowers, Hardy found himself focusing on a view of a different kind. A face—Miracle’s.
The bright afternoon sun poured onto the top of her head. As she bent forward, cupping the delicate blossom of a deep purple orchid and burying her nose in the center of its petals, her face fell into shadow. Through the lens of his camera, Hardy saw her eyes drift closed as she inhaled. He was captivated. He took pictures as she sampled the delightful aromas of several different orchids. Each time she raised her head, he fell a little more in love with the sweetly sad smile that seemed ever present.
Finally, Miracle turned to Hardy, tilting her head to one side as if to say you’re in trouble, mister! Hardy smiled, snapping photos for action shots as she smirked and shook her head.
“I don’t remember telling you it was all right to take my picture,” she scolded gently.
“Price of the tour, ma’am. Price of the tour,” Hardy said from behind his camera.
“Is this why the ‘conservatory,’” she said, holding up her fingers for air quotes as he had done, “is included in the photography class tour?”
Hardy lowered his camera.
“Actually, it sort of is. Mr. Gault talked them into letting us use this for some of our course requirements. The light is so great, and the colors, back here especially. Plus, when it rains, it’s hard to go outside and take pictures, and that’s what one of our main focuses is this year—nature.”
“Well,” Miracle said, looking up into the sun as she turned a complete circle. “There is definitely some very nice nature in here.”
“That’s exactly what I was just thinking,” Hardy murmured bemusedly.
Miracle’s head dropped back into place and her eyes locked with his. For a few tense seconds she didn’t say or do anything. Her expression was simply blank.
But then, slowly, as though someone were painting them with brushstrokes from Heaven, her cheeks blossomed with color and she smiled again. Hardy was positive he’d never seen anything more haunting than her smile. It was radiant. It was breathtaking. And it was heartbreaking.
Or heartbroken.
CHAPTER THREE
“What are those?” Miracle asked hurriedly, as if anxious to change the subject. Her eyes had shifted and she was looking past Hardy to the end of the short addition, to the back wall where a row of pots lined a single shelf there. The flowers emerging from them looked quite different than the other orchids.
“I think they are night-blooming orchids. The bloom only opens at night and then closes back up during the day.”
“That’s amazing!” she exclaimed, slipping past Hardy to further investigate the unassuming-looking flower. As she passed, a light scent wafted up to envelop him. Unable to stop himself, Hardy inhaled. Lavender. Somehow, the delicate aroma suited Miracle perfectly.
“I love flowers almost as much as I love photography,” Miracle mused softly, running a finger down one green leaf. “There are few things that make me happier.” Hardy noticed that, as she spoke, Miracle absently stroked the small black camera bag that hung at her left side.
Much to Hardy’s dismay, the bell chose that moment to ring. It didn’t seem possible that the period was already over.
“Wow, that was fast,” Miracle observed, turning back toward the exit.
Without a word, Hardy replaced his camera in its bag and slung it over his shoulder. He motioned for Miracle to precede him to the door, flexing his fingers to keep from placing his hand on the small of her back as she passed. He’d never wanted to touch another person so badly in all his life.
They were both silent as they made their way back into the school. Hardy stole glances at Miracle as they walked. Her eyes were trained on the ground. He couldn’t help wonder what she was thinking,
All too soon, they were back at the door in front of the photography lab and Hardy found himself at a loss for something to say. He knew whatever he said would bring an end to his time with Miracle, an occurrence he’d have done anything to prevent.
“Well, thank you,” she said finally, smiling shyly up at him. “I really appreciate—”
“There you are,” Cheyenne exclaimed as she rounded the corner onto the hall. “I’ve been waiting at your locker.” Making her way quickly to Hardy’s side, Cheyenne looped her arm through his and smiled brightly at Miracle. “Hi! I’m Cheyenne.”
“Hi,” Miracle said, a tolerant smile curving her lips. “I’m Miracle.”
Forcing himself not to pull away from Cheyenne as he so desperately wanted to do, Hardy watched Miracle’s face. Although it was subtle, he thought he could detect a difference in her smile. It seemed the tiniest bit cooler, though not something he suspected anyone else would’ve noticed. He’d just been paying an inordinate amount of attention to her smile. It was starting to feel like something he couldn’t live without, which was ridiculous. Ridiculous, but true.