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“You look like a piece of chalk.”

He pulled a face. “Beg your pardon.”

“A very cute piece of chalk,” she quickly corrected.

Did she just call him cute? Was that good in the States? Or was she saying he looked like a wee boy?

“Just smile normal,” she instructed.

“We’re not exactly known for smilin’ in our photos here. Least not like you lot.”

“Okay, then just say, ‘cheese’.”

“Cheese,” he repeated dully, his lips moving forward more than from side to side.

The pink pigs on the back of her phone smiled at him mockingly. “That didn’t work.” She sighed. “Do you like jokes?”

“If they’re class.”

“Okay, I’ve got a great one. Where do generals keep their armies?” She paused, and Finn shook his head. “In their sleevies!”

She popped her head above the phone, her mouth spread out in a wide grin as she looked at him expectantly.

Her look alone was enough to nearly make him crack a smile, but he decided to play as if he was still unamused.

“Oh, come on,” she said. “That was a great joke!”

“That was a terrible joke,” he retorted.

“Fine, let’s try something else.” She looked at him, then back down to the camera. “Stand to the right a bit. No, my right. A bit more. Bit more. Just a little bit more.”

Finn did as he was told, but after further instructions, he sighed. “Are you havin’ a laugh, Maisie? I’ve stood in this exact same spot over and over again.”

She grinned. “I just wanted to see how many times you’d move before giving up.”

He laughed in surprise. “You cheeky wee minx.”

“Hey, it made you feel more comfortable, didn’t it?” She moved forward, showing him the photo he hadn’t known she’d taken.

He stared at the image of him, his shoulders lower, his stance more relaxed, and his smile completely natural.

The woman was a miracle worker.

“Now one more for good measure,” she said, backing up again.

“Ach, naw,” he said, waving his hands. “One is good enough.”

“Nope. I’m gonna make you take photos for as long as you made me sing that song.”

He laughed again.

“That’s it,” she said. “Now just look right here and think of how funny you are. Bragging about yourself usually brings about a smile.”

Once again, he felt a grin tug at his lips.

She took another photo, then stared down at her phone. “There we go. I got some great ones.” She looked at him with a pleasant smile. “And you’re all done.”

“Thank heavens.”