“Who are you drawing?” Tyler asked.
“Probably Mom.”
Daniel grinned.
“That’s brave. Your mother used to hate having her picture taken.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Excuse me?”
He laughed.
“You know what I mean.”
Emma looked curious.
“Mom, why didn’t you like photographs?”
I hesitated.
Then I realized Daniel was giving me an opportunity to share something I’d never discussed with our daughter.
“When I was your age, I dated a boy who criticized my smile.”
Emma frowned.
“Your smile?”
“He said my front teeth were too big and that I should keep my mouth closed when I smiled.”
“That’s ridiculous!”
“It seems ridiculous now. But back then, I believed him.”
I glanced at Daniel.
“For years afterward, I covered my mouth whenever I laughed. Even after that relationship ended, I struggled to feel comfortable smiling in photographs.”
Emma stared at me.
“You never told me.”
