Sharon Carter is a super spy (exshieldagent) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2017-05-21 17:51:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, henry townshend, sharon carter |
Who: Sharon Carter and Henry Townshend with NPC Viv
When: Early May
Where: Sharon’s place
What: Spring Photos!
Rating/Warnings: Low/None
Status: Complete!
As promised, Henry arrived at Sharon’s house a little bit before 9:30 in order to get a sense of the lighting. He liked doing these family portraits for Sharon. He could tell these photos meant a lot to her. He was always sure to give his clients the best shots, but for Sharon, Henry took a little extra care to be sure that all the photos were excellent ones.
He had been a little surprised (and maybe even saddened) to learn that Bucky was no longer around. But Henry, of all people, understood that things happened to even the happiest of families. His family was a prime example. His parents had been happily married up until his father had taken that job in Arizona. Then everything had pretty much gone to shit. It was sad and it was painful. All the more reason for Henry to make these photos the best Sharon ever had.
Camera bag on his back with as much of his equipment as he could get into it, Henry knocked on Sharon’s door.
Sharon and Viv were both fed, washed, dressed, and ready for their photo shoot. Only, Viv had conked out for a morning nap. So Sharon was the one to answer the door on her own. She had done her hair and makeup, and was wearing a flattering blouse. It wasn’t sexy--she was a mom after all--but she looked beautiful. She broke into a warm smile at the sight of him.
“Hi, Henry. Come on in.” She stepped aside to let the man with the equipment into the apartment. “Viv should be up in about fifteen minutes.”
Henry returned Sharon’s smile. She was the kind of person who could make you feel comfortable and at ease. Henry only saw Sharon a couple times of year, but it always felt as though he was welcome.
“Thanks,” He said as he came in. “Fifteen minutes is perfect. I was taking a look at the gardens outside and I think that would be a good place to get a few shots. The light will be fine for a little while yet. Then maybe we can get a couple of you two under the tree?”
“That sounds lovely.” Sharon agreed with a nod, She closed the door behind him and moved into the living room. It was obvious that she’d cleaned a portion of the apartment, but not the whole thing. Her dinner table was covered with paperwork and baby toys, and the kitchen counters were littered with food packages and dishes. The living room was practically spotless, though, near the fireplace where they’d taken pictures before. She motioned to sit on the sofa. “I can bring a blanket out with us so we can sit, if you want. And my mother will be here in an hour--if you can stay that long? Maybe we can take some pictures with her, too?”
Henry set his camera bag down with a soft thud on the floor before taking a seat on the sofa. He glanced at his watch. They could wait a few minutes for Viv to wake from her morning nap and the light would still be alright. However, in an hour the light would have changed completely. However, Henry believed if they continued to take photos by the tree, the change in light wouldn’t effect them too badly. He nodded his head, “that should be fine. A blanket will be good for you to sit on. Does your mother live in town?”
“Yes.” Sharon moved from the sofa over to the linen closet to get a blanket. Things were just a little different than the last time he’d come over. Any trace of Sharon’s ex were gone--no photos, no man’s coat hanging on the coatrack, no men’s shoes sitting by the door. Sharon had been pretty depressed right after he’d gone, but she was better now. A lot better. Not quite back to normal, but she was getting there.
“I can send her a text and see if she can come earlier.” She pulled the blanket out of the closet and hugged it to her chest as she came back to the sofa.
Henry wondered what it would have been like to have his mother living in town, to be able to see her whenever he wanted and to just call her out of the blue and have her at his home a few moments later. It probably would have been different than Sharon’s relationship with her mother. Henry decided having his mother that close on a permanent basis was a recipe for disaster.
“Are you close with your mom?” He asked as Sharon fetched a blanket from the closet. “Does she know...what goes on around here?”
Sharon nodded. She wasn’t really sure where to start, but talking about it all might help. And Henry was a really good guy--she trusted him. With a gentle sigh, she sat down on the sofa once more. “I was in love. Deeply. You know? The kind of love a person doesn’t ever get over, I don’t think. And I was convinced it wasn’t going to happen… so I had a drunk night with a good friend. Well, it happened. Then I found out I was pregnant with my friend’s baby. It scared off the man I loved, and I was alone.” Since Sharon hadn’t talked about it in a long time, she was surprised by how heavy the feelings were that came with the words to her story. It hurt still. Even after so much time had passed.
“My mom was a huge help through it all. When we lost my father, I convinced her to come live out here closer to Viv and me. It’s been absolutely amazing having her here. I don’t know what I would have done without her.” She shrugged her shoulders.
Henry frowned a little. Sharon’s story was so sad. It reminded him a little of his own parents. Only it had taken a lot longer for one to chase off the other. The whole ordeal had turned them both into bitter shadows of themselves. Henry sighed, “I’m very sorry you had to go through that, Sharon. I’m glad that your mother has been able to be here with you to help out. I don’t have a great relationship with my mother. With either of my parents. They divorced when I was young and I spent a lot of my childhood being pushed and pulled between them.” He gave her a soft smile, “it’s really good that you have a good relationship with your mother, and you’ll have that same kind of connection with Viv when she gets older too.”
Sharon wished there was something she could do or say to make things better for him. She nodded, listening intently, and folded her hands on the blanket in her lap. “I’m sorry, Henry.” She said, gently. “I knew that my relationship with Viv’s father had to be strong. I didn’t want her to go through something like that if I could help it. And, thankfully, it’s been really good. She has an amazing father.”
And, speak of the little angel, some happy baby sounds started drifting down the hall.
Sharon grinned. “I think she must have heard us talking about her Daddy. I’ll go get her.” She stood from the sofa, set aside the blanket, and headed down the hall to pick up Viv from her crib.
Henry had made a kind of peace that his relationship with his parents was the way that it was. He couldn’t change them, he couldn’t make either one of them see that the other wasn’t any better off. He couldn’t heal the bitterness the divorce had left them with. It had taken him to the end of high school to come to that conclusion, but it had made going through his adult life a lot easier.
“So long as neither one of you put her in the middle or use her against the other, then I think you all will be fine,” He said with that same soft smile. His attention was caught by the sounds of cooing coming from the hall. His smile broadened and he got to his feet while Sharon went to collect the little girl.
Thank God they all had a good, strong relationship. Sharon and Viv’s father were on excellent terms. He wasn’t around as much as she’d like, but helped financially and emotionally. They got nearly daily phone calls, letters, and photos from him, and responded in kind. It was a good situation, really. A lot better than it could have been, that was for sure.
Sharon brought a still slightly sleepy little girl back with her from the bedroom. She’d taken a moment to smooth down Viv’s hair and replace the headband on her daughter’s head. “Well? Do we look photo ready?” She asked, grinning brightly as she held up the girl.
Henry got to his feet when Sharon returned with little Viv in her arms. He couldn’t help but smile. The little toddler was just adorable.