Six months later, Kassie found herself sitting across from a man named Ryan at a small bistro downtown, trying to summon enthusiasm for what should have been a perfectly pleasant first date. He was attractive, successful, age-appropriate, and had made her laugh during their initial conversation at Emma’s preschool pickup line. On paper, he was exactly what she should want.
“So photography,” Ryan said, cutting into his salmon with precise movements. “That must be really rewarding, capturing people’s special moments.”
“It is,” Kassie agreed, though something about the way he said “special moments” made it sound like he was reciting from a greeting card. “I love being able to freeze time for families, to give them something they can look back on years later.”
“I’ve always been more of a di
