Chapter 43: Family Photos

Kael had never expected taking a family picture to be difficult, but he discovered his mistake on Saturday morning when Sera asked him to help take one with Noah.

"Kael, hold Noah a little higher," Sera instructed as she adjusted the phone on the small stand near the sofa.

Kael shifted Noah in his arms and looked at Sera. "Like this?"

"A little higher," Sera replied.

Kael adjusted his hold again. "Now?"

"That’s too high. You’re covering half his face with your hand," Sera pointed out.

Kael looked down at Noah, then at his hand. "How am I supposed to hold him without using my hand?"

Sera covered her mouth to hide her laughter. "You know what I mean. Move your thumb."

Kael fixed his grip while making sure Noah’s head remained properly supported. The baby was awake and staring at the ceiling with the calm expression of someone who had no idea that his parents were trying to take an important family photograph.

Sera stepped back and checked the phone screen before joining Kael on the sofa.

"All right. Let’s try this," she said as she leaned close to him and smiled at the camera.

The phone flashed, and Sera immediately picked it up to check the result.

"Done," she announced.

Kael leaned over to look at the photograph. He was blinking, Sera was smiling, and Noah had turned his face away from the camera.

Kael stared at the picture for a few seconds before commenting, "Well, at least two of us were ready."

Sera burst out laughing. "Delete it. We’re taking another one."

Kael shook his head, but he didn’t argue. He wanted a proper family picture too, even if Noah seemed determined to make the process difficult.

They had been talking about taking a family photograph for several days. Sera wanted something they could keep as a memory of Noah’s early months, especially since everything had changed so quickly since she came to live with Kael. They didn’t have many pictures of the three of them together. Most of the photographs on their phones were either pictures of Noah or pictures one of them had taken of the other.

Sera thought it would be nice to have one that included everyone, and Kael had agreed immediately. Now that they were actually trying to take the picture, he was beginning to wonder whether they needed professional help.

===

Their second attempt was worse than the first.

This time, Kael managed to keep his eyes open, and Sera smiled at the camera. Unfortunately, Noah began yawning just as the phone took the picture.

The third attempt caught Sera laughing because Kael had whispered something to Noah. In the fourth photograph, Kael was looking at Sera instead of the camera. The fifth was almost perfect until Noah scrunched up his face and began crying.

Sera picked him up while Kael retrieved the phone.

"Maybe he’s tired," Sera suggested as she gently rocked Noah.

"Or maybe he doesn’t like having his picture taken," Kael replied.

"He’s a baby, Kael. He doesn’t know what we’re doing," Sera reminded him.

"He knows something is happening. Look at how he’s reacting," Kael argued.

Sera gave him an amused look. "Are you seriously arguing with a baby?"

"I’m trying to understand his position," Kael replied.

"His position is that he’s hungry," Sera said.

Noah’s cries grew louder, proving her point.

Kael quickly moved aside to give her room to feed him. While Sera settled into the sofa, he checked the pictures they had taken. Some were blurry, others showed one of them looking away, and one caught Kael making a face because Noah had grabbed his shirt.

Kael stopped at that photograph and studied it more closely.

Sera noticed him staring at the screen. "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing. This one is actually pretty good," Kael replied.

She leaned over to look at the picture. It showed Kael looking down at Noah, who had a small fist wrapped around his shirt. Sera was sitting beside them, smiling at something outside the frame.

It wasn’t the photograph they had planned to take, but it felt natural.

"I like that one," Sera admitted.

"Really?" Kael asked.

"Yes. Look at your face," Sera replied.

Kael glanced at the screen again. "What about it?"

"You look like you’re trying to figure out how someone so small can cause so much trouble," Sera explained.

Kael laughed quietly. "I was trying to figure out how he managed to grab my shirt with that much strength."

Sera smiled at him. "He’s your son."

"Are you saying I caused you trouble too?" Kael asked.

"I’m saying you were very good at making things difficult in school," Sera replied.

Kael turned toward her. "I don’t remember you complaining back then."

"That’s because we weren’t dating," Sera pointed out.

Kael nodded. "Fair point."

Sera laughed and returned her attention to Noah. After feeding him, she burped him and held him upright until he settled. Kael waited until she was comfortable before suggesting another attempt.

This time, they decided to keep things simple. They moved the phone closer, sat together on the sofa, and let Noah rest in Sera’s arms. Kael placed one arm around her shoulders, taking care not to squeeze her or disturb the baby.

"Ready?" Sera asked.

"Ready," Kael answered.

The phone flashed, and they immediately checked the picture.

Noah was looking at the camera, Sera was smiling, and Kael had his eyes open. His smile was a little awkward, but at least he was smiling. For once, nobody was blinking or looking away.

Sera stared at the screen for a moment before saying, "I love it."

Kael leaned closer. "Let me see."

Sera handed him the phone, and he studied the photograph carefully. It wasn’t perfect. The lighting was a little uneven, and part of the sofa cushion was visible behind them. Noah’s expression was serious, as if he had been forced to attend an important meeting.

However, Kael liked the picture. He liked the way Sera leaned against him, and he liked that Noah was awake and calm. Most importantly, they were all in the same photograph.