Model Behavior

CH 8: Thanks, Dad

Early the next morning Zac was startled awake by a knock on his bedroom door. It was his mom and she seemed slightly annoyed. "What's up?" Zac asked slipping his hair into a messy ponytail. Diane pulled him into the hallway and in a hushed tone advised him that he had a visitor this morning and to clean up and get downstairs. She turned around to entertain whomever it was in her home at 8:00 a.m. while Zac pulled on a hoodie and jeans then brushed his hair and teeth. Before leaving the room he poked his head in the shower where Ally was trying to get rid of the wine induced headache she had. "Hey, mom says there's someone downstairs to see me. It might be one of my old friends saying hi. I'll be in the kitchen if you need me." Ally nodded in understanding as Zac trudged downstairs. "Who in the hell is visiting me this early in the day? " Zac didn't have to wait long for an answer. When he walked into the kitchen she was standing there in his mother's kitchen nervously grasping at a locket that hung around her neck. This wasn't just any old friend; this was Mara. 

Mara and Zac met in high school at a home school dance and dated for five years. He begged her to make the move to New York after graduating and saying it was a disaster would be kind. Before moving Zac made a show of proposing to her in front of both of their families on her eighteenth birthday and she accepted. When they got to New York she complained the whole time about how homesick she was and would spend her days online or on the phone with her friends and family from home. She and Zac were both enrolled in college courses and although they both excelled Mara still found it hard to fit in and even harder to navigate the city. Zac tried to help her out by taking her for romantic evenings, making her dinners, and letting her decorate their small apartment. She gave it one semester and when Christmas came she informed Zac that she had cancelled her plane ticket back to the city and would need him to ship her things back. 

After packing up her stuff and shipping it to Tulsa, he called her everyday and night for six months and didn't get an answer. Emails and hand written letters as well as bouquets of flowers also were also sent to Tulsa without any reaction. So in the Summer he wrote her a three page letter apologizing for whatever he had done and left it on her parents' porch. They never spoke to one another again. 

Zac took a moment to catch his breath before grabbing a coffee cup and being the first to speak. " What can I do for you, Mara?" His tone was level and he looked at her as he sipped the strong brew. She looked exactly the same way she had the last time he saw her fifteen years ago. She adjusted the messy blonde bun on top of her head and took a breath. "Um..my sister is getting married next year and she's a huge fan of your photos. I saw on Nikki's facebook that you were in town so I thought that I'd come down and see if you would be willing to photograph the wedding. I would love to give this to her as a surprise gift. I know that you must hate me, but I thought that for old time sake you could do me a huge favor. You always liked Lila and this would be huge." She bit her lip and looked at him with huge emerald eyes. At one time she could get anything from him with the bite of a lip and by batting her lashes. He stirred sugar into his coffee as his mind floated to Ally who was now getting dressed upstairs. He got a second cup down and gave Mara a serious look. 

"First of all, you should know that I don't hate you, Mara. I could never ever hate you, but I won't be doing Lila's wedding. I wish her all the best, but I will not do that; I'm sorry." Mara scrunched her nose and forced a smile before coming over and hugging him saying, "Well, you can't blame a gal for trying, right?" Zac felt instantly guilty and closed his eyes as he sighed and spoke. "I'll tell you what. I'll do her engagement photos. I can do them at Christmas when I'm back in town." Mara jumped up and kissed his cheek not being able to contain her excitement. "Zackie you've made my day. You don't even understand! You are just the very best. Thank you." Mara grabbed her bag and hugged Zac once again then left. When he went back to the kitchen he was faced with his dad and and Ally. Both were sipping coffee while Walker made pancakes

"So what did Miss Mara want son?" Zac took a seat and cradled his warm cup and looked down into it then answered his father. "Lila is getting married and she wants me to do the pictures but I told her I couldn't but I'd do her engagement photos instead." Walker looked from Ally curious to see if she knew about Mara. He had his answer when Ally stood up suddenly and grabbed her coffee, excusing herself. "Mr. Hanson, I'm going to get dressed and get things together to photograph Ike's family. I'll take a rain check on the pancakes." She then gave Zac a look and brought her coffee upstairs.

Walker continued to make pancakes in awkward silence for a few moments wanting Zac to acknowledge the mistake he'd just made with Ally but it never happened. So, he did it for him. "You know, Zachary that young lady upstairs loves you very much and she's very sweet. Your mom even likes her and you know that's not very easy. If doing Lila's pictures is going to mess that up you cancel. We'd like to see Miss Ally at Christmas and after that too. You don't owe Mara a thing." Zac smiled at his dad and knew he was right. He loved his Dad very much and always valued his advice. He needed to make things right. 

Zac loaded a plate with pancakes and smiled at Walker then hugged him. "Thanks, Dad." He prepared himself as he carried his and Ally's breakfast upstairs.