I looked at him and smiled. The ride ended, and Charley got off. She grabbed onto our hands once again and led us over to the games.

“Miss Gilmore, do you like to play games?” she asked as she looked up at me.

“I love to play games, Charley.”

“So does my uncle Luke.” She winked.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Charley, when we’re not in school, you can call me Lily.”

“Really?!” she asked in excitement.

Luke looked over at me and laughed. “Just remember though, she’s Miss Gilmore during school hours,” he said.

“Ok, I’ll remember,” she said as she led us to the game that had the huge, stuffed purple cat hanging from the tent. “I want that cat, Uncle Luke,” she begged.

I laughed as we approached the milk bottle toss. There was no question that Luke was going to win that cat for Charley. He paid the guy behind the booth as he handed him three baseballs. He told Luke to stand behind the line. I looked at him and frowned.

“That seems pretty far back,” I said.

“Nah, it’s fine. I used to play some baseball in high school. I can do this.” He smiled.

Luke threw the first ball and knocked down the milk bottles. There was something about watching him throw those balls that made my heart beat faster. I was scared, because I suddenly saw him as almost perfect. As promised, he won Charley her cat.

“Here,” he said as he handed me the baseball. “Try it.”

I shook my head. “No, I can’t throw. I’d just embarrass myself.”

“Just try it for fun.” Luke smiled.

I sighed as I stepped behind the line and threw the ball. I almost hit the man behind the counter. Good thing he ducked when he did. Luke and Charley started laughing. Suddenly, Luke was behind me, and he grabbed my hand.

“Here, let me help you,” he said as he continued laughing.

He brought my hand up over my head and counted to three. His touch was amazing, and my impulses were starting to go crazy. My heart was rapidly beating, and the sensation deep below was back. I closed my eyes for a moment. On the third count, he helped me throw the ball. Needless to say, I knocked down all the milk bottles. I jumped up and down, clapping my hands as Charley was cheering with excitement, and Luke was smiling at me. The carnie told me to pick which animal I wanted, so I picked the smaller version of Charley’s cat.

“Look, now we match,” I said as I held my cat next to Charley’s. “Can you do me a favor and hold it for me while I take some pictures.”

“Sure I can!” she said excitedly.

I brought my camera up and started taking pictures of Charley walking in front of us. I would call her name, and she would turn her head right before I pushed the button.

“Why photography?” Luke curiously asked.

“I love to capture people in a way you normally wouldn’t see them when they’re standing in front of you. Pictures capture true emotions. You know how people say that ‘a person’s eyes are the window into their soul’?”

“Yeah,” he responded.

“That’s how I feel about pictures. I feel photographs capture the true nature of a person at that moment. The people don’t just become images, they become stories. If you know what I mean.”

“Yeah, I think I do.” Luke smiled as he looked at me.

“I see the world differently through the lens of a camera.” I smiled.

I felt comfortable talking to Luke. Too comfortable in fact, and it was scaring the shit out of me.

Charley wanted to go on the Ferris wheel. In fact, she wanted all of us to go together. I hated Ferris wheels because I’m afraid of heights, and the thought of being stuck at the top scared the shit out of me.

“Come on, Uncle Luke and Lily; let’s go on the Ferris wheel!” Charley squealed in excitement.

“Ok, Charley, we’re coming.” Luke smiled as he tried to catch up with her.

“You two, go ahead. I’ll watch from the sidelines.” I smiled.

“You don’t like Ferris wheels, do you?” Luke asked with a small grin on his face.

“No, I don’t. I’m scared of heights.”

We got up to the gate, and Luke grabbed my hand. I looked at him as he smiled at me.

“Luke, what are you doing?” I said in panicked tone as he pulled me through the gate.

“Face your fears, Lily. It’s the only way you’ll get over them.”

“Luke Matthews, I’m not getting on that Ferris wheel,” I said as I tried to loosen the tight grip he had on my hand.

“Just like you weren’t getting on my bike?” he asked.

He stopped pulling me, turned around, and our eyes met. “You’ll be safe; I promise.”

Just like with the motorcycle, I trusted him. I took in a deep breath as the three of us climbed into the seat of the Ferris wheel.

“Lily, since you’re scared, you can sit next to Uncle Luke,” Charley said.

I sat in-between Luke and Charley. The ride started to move, and I gripped the bar so tight that my knuckles turned white. My heartbeat quickened as my panic grew, so I closed my eyes, wishing that the ride would end before it even began; then Luke took my hand.

“Take slow, deep breaths, Lily,” he whispered as he gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

The touch of his warm hand soothed me as my racing heart began to slow down, and a sense of calm slowly washed over me.

“Now, open your eyes. You can get some great pictures,” he said.

I slowly opened my eyes to see Charley was staring at me.

“Are you ok, Lily?” she asked.

“I’m fine, sweetie.”

The time had come for the ride to end, and of course, we stopped at the top. I gasped. Luke looked over at me and smiled.

“Look at the world through your camera lens,” he said. “It’ll calm you down.”

I brought my camera up to my face and began taking pictures of the bright lights and the people down below. Luke was right. For a minute, I forgot we were stopped at the top because I was focused on getting the best pictures. Before I knew it, we were back on the bottom, and it was time to get off the ride. Luke took my hand and helped me out of the seat.

“I’m hungry,” Charley announced.

“Me too, peanut,” Luke said as he picked her up to give her a piggyback ride.

Charley was giggling. I wanted to capture the sweetness and innocence of this moment, so I began snapping pictures of the two of them. We stopped at a stand where they sold burgers, hot dogs, and fries. Charley ate a hot dog, while Luke and I ate hamburgers. We were sitting down at the wooden table eating, when Luke and Charley started throwing French fries at each other and laughing.

“You both need to stop.” I laughed at them.

Luke picked up a fry, threw it at me, and smiled. I looked at him and smirked as I threw one back. After our food fight had ended, I glanced at my watch and saw that it was late, and Charley looked exhausted. Luke picked her up and carried her to the Jeep while I carried her oversized cat. He set her down and buckled her in. Being with him tonight and seeing him act the way he did with Charley told me he would be an amazing father. It’s just one more thing about him that seems to be making him perfect. We arrived back at the apartment building, and I held the door while Luke carried Charley into his bedroom and laid her in his bed. Luke walked out of the bedroom as I whispered good night to Charley. She opened her eyes and gently took my hand.

“I haven’t seen Uncle Luke so happy in a long time,” she whispered.

I smiled and kissed her gently on her forehead. “I had a great time too.”

Sam and Gretchen were sitting on the couch, watching a movie when I walked back to the living room.

“Hey, you guys, did you have fun?” Sam whispered as not to disturb Charley.

“Yeah, we had a great time,” Luke said as he walked into the kitchen.

“It was a lot of fun,” I agreed.

Gretchen looked at me and winked. I rolled my eyes at her.