“Venus…” Fred sits up in his seat, breaking the glare between Mom and me, and clears his throat.“New Zealand sounds exciting.”
Venus twists her napkin under the table.I reach over, resting my hand over hers.“Staying is also an appealing option.I haven’t made a final decision yet.New Zealand is a great opportunity, but in light of the new offer, I don’t?—”
“What new offer?”I cut in.
“UNCW offered me a permanent teaching position,” she says.“They want me to teach more special topics classes across two disciplines—environmental sciences and art.”
“Art, too?That’s incredible.”
She shrugs.“I have advanced degrees in both concentrations.I’d have an office next to Dad’s and all the art supplies I could ever want.That’s what they said, anyway.It’s a lofty promise, though.”
“Wow, congratulations,” I gush, incredibly proud of her.
“Yeah, congrats, honey,” Fred says.“Henry showed us your teaching videos.I’m not surprised they’re trying to win your heart with art supplies.”
“It’s a great reason to stay,” Mom says weakly.
“Henry and Olly are the best reasons to stay, and reason enough, truly,” she says dryly, and I squeeze her hands tighter.“But a career that matches my qualifications and experience is important to me, and those are scarce around here.I-I don’t know if I want to be a teacher.”
When silence takes over, she glances in my direction, a worried crease between her brow.My hand falls on my heart again, and her smile returns with my secret assurance.
CHAPTER43
Venus
My interactionswith Maggie felt strained, but to her, I’m a catalyst that causes Henry pain.She’ll need more data to counteract what history has supported—data that only time will provide.
But tonight was a start.The tension vanishes when it’s the three of us again, snaking our way through the woods with flashlights.
After we return to the campsite, Olly and Buster pile leaves, twigs, and logs in the brick circle of our fire pit.
“Is it time for s’mores and stories yet?”he asks while Buster yaps his usual,“What?”
When I have the fire blazing, we make gooey s’mores while Henry tells us about the Cape Fear’s “Gentleman Pirate,” Stede Bonnet, and his associate, Blackbeard’s, final battle.
He then tells us watered-down versions of ghost stories about the Battleship North Carolina, Bellamy Mansion, and Thalian Hall, until Olly says, “Dad, tell us about the elephant again.”
So, he shares about Topsy the escaped elephant instead.And Frank the Frog.
He is excellent at storytelling, which I imagine also makes him a great teacher.We giggle over owls above our heads, bats zipping by, and fireflies dancing through the trees.We talk about the nearly full moon and lie on our backs to gaze at the constellations.
Then, when Olly gets tired, we put out the fire, clean up our snacks, and get ready for bed.I go to my hammock, but Olly rubs his eyes, tugs on Buster’s leash, and says, “Venus, sleep with us.”
My eyes meet Henry’s and find his easy side-smile.“There’s plenty of room.”
“That, there is, if you’re sure it’s okay.”
Their urging expressions are identical, making me chuckle.We kick our shoes off at the door, and they lead the way into the spacious Greene family tent.Buster and Olly settle on the right, curled to each other.Henry unzips his sleeping bag, laying it out flat for the two of us to climb onto.Then he pulls an extra blanket over us and nestles against me.
It’s surreal and all-consuming, the perfection of it, that we’re camping together like a real family.This could bemyfamily.I could be with Henry like I’ve always wanted.
Olly’s lips pucker with a sudden snore, waking Buster with a sleepy yap.
A giggle rumbles through me, and Henry does the same against my back.His hand slips up to my lips, gently covering them and chuckling as he says, “Shhh” in my ear.
Olly and Buster go still and peaceful again.
I twist around to face Henry, still holding in my laugh.“He gets that from you.”
