“Wait, before you leave.” Mom slips her hand into her sweater pocket then brings it to my hand, slipping something cold and heavy into my palm. I instantly know what it is, and tears spring from my eyes.
“Your father would be so damn proud of you today, and so am I. This belongs to you now. It’s what he would’ve wanted.” Then she launches herself at me, pulling me into a hug as we cry together, but they’re happy tears.
As she steps back, I look down to see my father’s shiny silver Boston firefighters’ badge with his number on it cradled in my hand. Mom has kept in her little wooden treasure box that sits next to her bed all these years.
“Thank you,” I manage to say without crying again. “I will treasure it always; the same way I treasure you, Mom.” We embrace once more, quickly, before she lets me go, and Landon walks me to my car in the garage.
“I love you to the end of the rainbow,” he says as he kisses me on the forehead.
And I offer my own reply that I started a while ago, “I love you for being my pot of gold at the end of my rainbow.” Reaching up, I pull his face down and kiss his forehead.
Then I quickly get in my car and reverse out of the garage before I get emotional again.
I wave goodbye, and soon, he disappears in my rearview mirror.
“Okay, Poppy, time to trust your gut; it will never steer you wrong,” I say to myself out loud in the car, then turn up the music and sing loudly and out of tune the whole way into the city.
Another 3 months later
(Late April)
LANDON
“I’m glad the boys are getting to spend this week with Lucinda’s parents. It was great to finally meet them in person yesterday when they came to pick them up.” Poppy says from where she’s sitting in the passenger seat of the car, wearing a knee-length white floral dress, looking so gorgeous and carefree.
“They’re good people, and the boys are going to have so much fun at Disneyland with them. Plus, it saves me the punishment of having to take them.”
Poppy gasps at my words. “Landon Wood, what is wrong with you? Disneyland is the most magical place in the world. We’ll be taking the boys there another time, and I’m going to make you wear Mickey Mouse ears and go on every ride with me,” she babbles with excitement in reply.
“Ughhh, only because it’s for you.” I groan, pretending to be annoyed, but we both know if she asked me to jump out of plane without a parachute, I would.
Her head is swiveling back and forth, looking out all the windows, trying to work out where I’m taking her. It’s a surprise I’ve been planning for a long time, I just had to wait until thetiming was right. And when Lucinda’s parents called to ask me about the trip, the timing was perfect.
“Can’t you tell me where we’re going?” she asks, looking across at me. I take her hand in mine, resting them on the middle console.
“No, it’s a surprise date, which by definition means you don’t get to know anything, Miss Nosy.” My reply makes her groan a little, and then we both start laughing.
Parking a few streets away, I take the picnic basket from the trunk of the car that Momma B packed in secret for me.
“Oh, thank goodness, you brought food. I’m starving,” Poppy declares as she eyes the basket in my hand, reaching out to open it, but I swat her hand away.
“When are you not hungry?” I take her hand in mine, and we start walking toward the Esplanade that runs along the Charles River in Boston.
“I can’t help it if I work hard and build up a good appetite. I need fuel to keep me physically fit.” She winks at me and giggles.
“Why do you think I have a whole basket of food for you. You’re going to need every bit of strength and stamina this week, because with the boys away and you on a five-day break from work, I intend for you to be naked for most of it andvery physically activeto test out that fitness.” I look down at her and see the spark light up in her eyes.
“Then what are we doing here? Let’s take the food to go, we have a very important place to be,” Poppy replies with a smile and the faintest blush creeping onto her cheeks.
“Because we have a date under the flowering cherry trees first,” I say as we stop at the edge of the path that leads to the riverbank and trees.
“Landon,” Poppy whispers with delight.
“Come on,” I say and keep her walking until I find the perfect spot, set out the blanket, and help her to sit and just take it allin. She told me one day when we were talking about how much I love the smell of cherry blossom on her, that even though she grew up here, she’s never been able to see them in bloom.
“I have never seen anything more beautifully stunning in all my life,” Poppy says, looking around in awe.
“I have,” I reply as I push up onto one knee next to her. She gasps, and her hands jump to cover her mouth in shock and excitement.
