"The f-stops tell you how much light is being let in through the lens and it also affects the depth of field whi—"
"Sorry, Therese—honey, you lost me," Carol said, and reached for her cigarette case. They had been going at this for the past half hour. Carol had asked Therese a couple of weeks ago to give her a mini lesson on how to take photos, because she wanted more pictures of Therese around the house. Therese had excitedly agreed, thrilled to be able to share her passion with the woman she loved.
However, it was proving to be quite the chore. Of course, Carol was fascinated by Therese's knowledge of cameras and she truly wanted to learn how to use the damn thing, but there was just so many different settings that it seemed as though she would never be able to take a good photo. She felt doomed to never be able to take a photo that truly captured Therese's youthful, innocent beauty.
"I'm sorry, Carol." Therese gently grabbed the camera from Carol and looked down, embarrassed. "I'm not used to teaching this… I sort of just—I taught myself and I read a lot about it. No formal classes."
The older woman was suddenly reminded of their first meeting, Therese behind a counter, shy and young and eager to please. She may be older, Carol thought, but that shy girl is still there, underneath it all.
"It's okay, love." Carol wrapped her arms around Therese and pulled her close. "I must not have the talent for this sort of thing."
"Didn't you once say that talent is something people tell you that you have?" Therese mumbled, disappointed by her inability to teach.
"Well, you haven't raved about my photos before now, have you?" Carol asked, smiling into Therese's hair.
"No, I guess not." The mood lightened at that, and Therese hugged Carol just a little tighter.
A couple weeks later Therese stopped by the furniture store with a wrapped box in hand. Seeing that Carol was busy with a customer, she took the time to tour the shop and appreciate the pieces Carol had so clearly picked out. There was a subtle elegance to them, and Therese wasn't sure whether the furniture was that way before, or if Carol had added it with a touch of her hand, as she seemed to do with everything in their apartment.
She was admiring a particularly elaborate lamp when she felt a light touch on her arm. "What do you think?" Carol asked, leaning ever so slightly into Therese.
"I think it's beautiful. Where did you find it?"
"Oh, some old couple was cleaning out their storage. Said this lamp had been in their family for years, but it was time for it to go on to someone else." Carol paused, noticing the box tucked under Therese's arm. "What's this?"
Therese's face suddenly brightened and she handed the box to the blonde woman. "It's for you!"
"What? You didn't have to get me anything…" Carol took the box from her, their fingers brushing against one another's as she did so.
"I think you'll like it."
Carol slowly unwrapped the gift to reveal a box with an image of a young man and woman smiling and the words 'where there's fun there's a snapshot' printed on the front.
"It's an easy to use camera! Danny told me about it." Carol remained silent, so Therese decided to elaborate. "He said all you have to do is look through the viewfinder and press the shutter. I've seen some sample photos and they all turned out very nice."
Carol lifted her gaze from the box and looked at Therese, her eyes shone with unshed tears. "This is the most… thoughtful gift I've ever received." She exhaled loudly, and lurched forward to hug Therese tightly in thanks.
"Oh, you're welcome, Carol." She relaxed into her embrace momentarily, before remembering that they were in a public space.
Carol seemed to remember at the same time and pulled away quickly, glancing back at the storefront before looking at the camera box in her hands. "I will thank you more… appreciatively, later this evening." Therese blushed furiously and turned back to the lamp.
"I'll see you later," Carol said casually, a smile in her voice, and walked back to the front of the store.