Again, the rock sank.
“Try again.”
Another failure.
He chose more rocks, handed them to her, and resumed his position behind her, holding her, showing her how to toss the rock.
The rock sank.
“Why can’t I do this?”
“Addie, are you crying?” The tears coursing down her cheeks were answer enough. “It’s just a silly little trick.”
“That’s not it.”
“What’s wrong?”
She sniffled and dashed away the tears. “My pa tried to teach me how to do this, and I couldn’t.”
He guided her to the nearby log and eased her down beside him, his arms clasping her shoulders. She held his gaze as she talked.
“I was maybe eight years old. Pa said he kept hearing wonderful things about a waterfall north of where we lived. He wanted to take Mama and me to see it. I don’t remember where we were living or what the falls were called, but I will never forget the trip.”
Hearing her voice quiver, Nash would have pulled her closer. But he didn’t want to break her intense stare, so instead, he let her find comfort in his steady gaze.
“Pa said it was too far to go in one day, so we took supplies to stay overnight.” Her audible swallow informed Nash just how special she found this memory.
“We couldn’t drive the wagon right to the falls, so we made a camp. Pa set up a tent. Then we walked up the trail to where water raced to the edge of the rocks and then flung itself over to crash into the river below. The rushing water echoed in my chest like music. Spray wet our faces. I laughed with pure joy. Papa wrapped his arms around Mama as they gazed at the display. I think seeing their love pleasured me as much as seeing the waterfall.”
Her sweet smile brought an answering one to Nash’s lips. He didn’t recall seeing that sort of love between his parents, although Ma had insisted Pa had been a different man when they first married. Before he gave into greed. Nash brought his attention back to Addie as she continued her story.
“That evening, Pa made a fire, and Mama cooked a meal over the coals. We laughed a lot. Mama and Pa hugged me often. That night we slept together in the tent, me between my parents. We visited the falls again in the morning—the sunlight fractured in the water. A rainbow hung over the falls. We stood hand in hand enjoying the spectacle. Pa skipped rocks on the water.” Her words crackled at her memory. “He tried to teach me how, but Icouldn’t do it. I’ve never been able to. I feel like I’ve failed him.” She ended on a wail.
Nash drew her to his chest and rubbed her back. “I don’t think he’d believe you’ve failed. I think he’d look at how you’ve helped the Stones, how you help others, and he’d be proud.”
“I hope so. I try.”
He held her as her muffled words breathed into his shirt.
Her crying ended, but she didn’t move. Nor did he. He’d hold her as long as she’d let him. But it would never be enough. The latter thought blasted through him.
With a deep sigh, she pushed upright and wiped her face on her dress sleeve. She wouldn’t meet his gaze. “I’m a mess.”
He caught her chin and turned her face toward him. “Addie, you are not a mess.”
Brown eyes met his. Although she didn’t say anything, he heard her silent request to say more.
“I’m glad you told me about your parents. It’s sweet that they were so loving and kind.”
She nodded, never breaking eye contact.
“They loved you very much.” That was evident in the way she talked about them.
Again, she nodded, drawing in a slow breath. “I miss them.”
“Of course.”
“I will always miss them.” A dark shadow darted through her eyes. “Their deaths were so needless.”
