Sonny is delighted. Everly has white knuckles as she peers out the windows.
I’m in one of my happy places, especially with the two of them along for the ride.
After a few minutes, she sighs and says, “It’s almost like I can walk out on the clouds.” Her voice has a dreamy quality.
“It’s peaceful up here. Well, aside from the sound of the propellers.”
“This place truly is magical,” she says.
Shortly after we’re airborne, we land on the other side of the lake on the shore of my parents’ property. Orparent. My mother still lives here after my dad died.
It’s a short jaunt to the church from here. Everly wears practical shoes for walking, but it doesn’t escape my notice that she plants her feet firmly on the ground after the flight.
“That was intense, but exhilarating. I feel like we’re on our very own adventure.”
I chuckle. “That brings me back in time. Bran and I used to mess around on the property, build forts, and swim in the lake during the summer until it got so dark, we were afraid a monster lurked in the deep. Camped out in the backyard, we’d readour favorite book series calledChoose Your Own Adventureby flashlight.”
She giggles—presumably at the monster comment. “I remember those books from school. Well, before I started homeschooling with tutors, so I could increase my time on the ice. Do you still have your copies? When Sonny is old enough, I bet he’d like them.”
“My mother saves everything, so there’s a good chance they’re somewhere around here.”
Sonny grips my leg. “Monsters?”
“No, no monsters,” I assure him while hoisting him into my arms. “In a way, we’re choosing our own adventure. Whatever we want to make of life.”
“Sometimes life chooses our adventure for us, though.” She pulls the scarf tighter around her shoulders.
“True, but we get to pick how we respond and the adventure we’re on right now includes meeting my mom, so we’d better get moving.” I extend my free hand for Everly to take.
She starts walking in the other direction until there’s no more slack and I draw her back to me.
“Where are you going?”
Forehead a rumpled mess, Everly says, “I didn’t realize this was a meet-the-parents adventure. What if she learns that I’m helpless in the kitchen?”
“Your cookie dough will win her over.”
“What if she notices that I’m wearing a scrunchie circa 1998?”
“She’ll appreciate your thriftiness.”
“What if she finds out I married you for reasons of convenience?” But I pretend not to hear her because I haven’t yet figured out how to handle that particular issue. Hopefully, at least for this first meeting, it won’t come up in conversation. It’s not like I plan to blurt something like,We got married inthe courthouse, and lucky thing too, because it allowed me to obtain custody of my son. She needed my insurance, and don’t worry, we don’t have rules that resemble those outlined in the book and movie Fight Club.
I don’t plan to bring up marriage at all. At least not during this first visit. Hopefully, Sonny will provide enough of a distraction.
We turn from the lake and climb the well-trod path, past the house, and to the church that I’ve been going to since I can remember. However, what I hadn’t remembered to do was mention to my mother that I have a visitor, or that I’m going to be here at all.
Ingrid Adams’s life is predictable and she likes it that way, but I imagine she’ll appreciate my visit and meeting Everly, no matter that I didn’t let her know ahead of time. I come home as often as possible and know I should make an effort to get here more, especially now that she’s alone.
“This is where you grew up?” Everly asks when we pass the mailbox printed with the nameAdamsin a little boy’s scrawl.
I nod and point to it. “When I was in first grade, I was very concerned that Santa wouldn’t be able to find our house way out here, so I snuck out on Christmas Eve and wrote our last name on the mailbox.”
“Santa comes here?” Sonny asks.
“He sure does, and we have an extra-large chimney at home, so don’t you worry.”
“I’m guessing Santa appreciates that.” Everly giggles.
