“You sure?” Wy asks.
I arch a brow at him. “Are you worried about your ol’ dad now because you’re leavin’ the nest. Naw, kid. I’m still fightin’ fit, even if fifty is knockin’ at the door.”
“Hmm. Does that mean you’re overdue for a mid-life crisis, Red?” Mags pipes up, earning a laugh from my son.
“Don’tyoustart” I say with a chuckle. “You’re the same age as me.”
Mags sees right through me, rolling her eyes. “Yeah, but I’m not the one grumblin’ now, am I? She goes to step out of the truck. “You goin’ to stretch your legs, old man? Or just sit here and complain about needin’ to?”
“Oooh, she’s got you there, Dad.” Wyatt gets out of the truck too, following behind Mags who walks in the direction of the lookout.
“Quiet in the cheap seats. Or else I’ll makeyoudrive the rest of the way to Anchorage,” I grumble out the window at them, wondering how the conversation went from me feelingsomethingweird in my chest to being an old grump.
“Deal. Then you can nap in the back,” Wy calls back.
“That does it.” I quickly get out and rush at him, wrapping my arm around his shoulders and pulling him into my side. I shake my fingers through his hair and play fight with him, laughing the whole time I do it. "Keep callin’ me old, kid. I can still run circles around ya.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he snickers, giving as good as he gets. “Whatever you say,old man.”
When we straighten and I finally let him go, I feel a hell of a lot lighter andfarfrom old. Mags just stands there, arms crossed over her chest, a huge grin on her face.
“You two quite finished there?”
“You want to have a go, Mags?” Wy goads, darting and dancing around her like a boxer in the ring.
She makes a show of sizing him up before rolling her eyes. “One touch from me kid and you’ll be flat on your butt.”
I chuckle at their antics. “Not sure you should poke the bear, kid.”
Wy attacks her, but instead of roughhousing, he hugs her, a peal of laughter escaping them both. Watching them together has me feeling grateful too.
I'm glad Wyatt asked Mags to come along because it wouldn't be the same without her. She's been there through the highs and the lows of the past eight years and at least ten before that. It’s justrightthat she’s here for this next milestone too. One last hurrah with my son before Wyatt steps out on his own—at least for a little while.
The undeniable sense of change coming still swirls in my gut. That hasn’t gone away even after Wyatt told me about his new job. Since I’ve never gone through my only child leaving home before, I figure this is just part and parcel with kids growing up and leaving. He’s no longer going to be dependent on me andthat’sgoing to take some time for me to get used to.
“I’ve got to grab somethin’ from my bag,” Wyatt says, running back to the truck and rummaging in the back.
“You doin’ OK? You seem a little lost in thought today,” Mags asks, bumping her shoulder against my arm. “Not feelin’tooold?”
I smirk. "Of course, I'm feelin’ old. That’s because Iamold.”
“Well, you’re only as old as you feel, remember?”
“Yeah. And that’s ancient,” I chuckle. “Naw, I was just thinkin’ that I’m glad you came. I’m not the only one who’s overdue for a break. How long has it been again? A decade?”
“Never been much of a traveler, Red. You know that. Besides, I love our little town and I love my life–family, friends, the diner, all of it. Even that rowdy crowd from Bull Mountain Ranch that tears my place up every Friday night.”
I smile before looking out over the valley stretched out in front of us. “Are you happy, Mags?”
“Whoa, you are all deep in your feelin’s today, aren’t you,” she answers as she comes up next to me. I don’t have to look at her to know I’ve caught her off guard with that question because her deflection method of choice has always been humor.
"Just doin' my job. Got to make sure my best friend is doin' OK," I say, nudging her playfully.
She snorts and shakes her head before going quiet and taking in the valley view. "I think I am. But happiness is a state of mind that changes from year to year, moment to moment, you know?" I nod before she continues. "Take yesterday. I wasn't happy when Greg and Char frogmarched me out of the diner. But then I was because they knew I wouldn't leave otherwise."
I laugh because it was me who made sure that both her ex-husband and daughter got her to leave early. "And look at me now, happy to be sharin’ this trip with you and Wy. Anna would've kicked my ass or poked my voodoo doll with a needle or somethin' if I'd let you guys do this alone. You may come across as rough and tough men but deep down you're both sensitive souls when it comes to family."
I bark out a startled laugh. "You think she's got a few of those dolls up there. Dollin’ out some revenge on anyone who wronged her."
