Percy’s eyes widened with delight. “Like a real-life video game!”
“Even better,” Kirk said, crouching down beside a small clearing just ahead. “Come see what I found.”
Percy darted over, Isla following more slowly behind him. Kirk pointed to a small patch of wild thyme growing between two rocks, its tiny leaves releasing their fragrance as the breeze stirred them.
“What is it?” Percy asked, kneeling beside Kirk.
“Wild thyme,” Kirk explained. “Smell it.”
He gently pinched a leaf between his fingers, releasing its aromatic oils, then held it under Percy’s nose. The boy inhaled deeply, his eyes growing round with surprise.
“It smells like the spaghetti sauce Mom makes!”
Kirk chuckled. “That’s probably because she uses thyme in it. This wild version has even more flavor than the kind you’d buy in a shop. Want to pick some for our basket?”
“Yes!” Percy reached for the plant, then hesitated, looking up at Kirk. “How do I do it without hurting it?”
Kirk hid a smile, charmed by the boy’s thoughtfulness. “That’s a great question. You want to pinch the stems, like this…” He demonstrated, carefully taking just a few sprigs from the plant. “Never take all of it. We leave plenty so it can keep growing.”
Percy nodded seriously, his small face intent with concentration as he mimicked Kirk’s movements. His fingers were clumsy compared to Kirk’s practiced ones, but he was gentle and careful.
Kirk’s first instinct was to help, to guide Percy’s hands more directly, but he held back. The boy needed to learn by doing, to feel the satisfaction of getting it right for himself. Besides, plants were resilient. A few broken stems wouldn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.
“Look, Mom!” Percy called, holding up his small handful of thyme. “I did it!”
“You did,” Isla agreed, stepping closer. “That was very gentle.”
Kirk glanced up and found her watching them, her expression soft with something he couldn’t quite name. Their eyes met, and for a moment, he wondered if he’d done something wrong. Was he overstepping by teaching her son? Should he have asked permission first?
But then she smiled, and the knot in his chest loosened.
“You’re good with him,” she whispered, echoing the words he’d said to her the day before.
Heat flushed Kirk’s cheeks. “He makes it easy. He’s curious about everything.”
“Like his mom,” Isla admitted with a small laugh. “I’ve always had too many questions.”
“There’s no such thing as too many questions in my book,” Kirk replied, standing up. He brushed the dirt from his knees and glanced ahead, spotting the berry patch he knew was coming up. His mouth quirked in a small smile as he considered how to handle it.
Tell them!his bear urged excitedly.Berries are the best part!
No, let’s make it more fun than that,Kirk countered.
As they continued along the path, Kirk deliberately slowed his pace, giving Percy time to explore. The boy darted from tree to tree, examining interesting rocks and fallen branches, occasionally asking questions about the things he found.
“Hey Percy,” Kirk called when they were about twenty feet from the berry patch, “do you see anything unusual up ahead? Something with color?”
Percy squinted in the direction Kirk was looking, his face scrunched in concentration. Kirk held his breath, hoping the boy would spot the blue-purple flash among the green.
“I don’t…” Percy began, then suddenly gasped. “Berries!” he shouted, pointing excitedly. “I see berries!”
Kirk couldn’t help but laugh at the boy’s enthusiasm. “Good eye! Let’s check them out.”
Percy raced ahead, stopping just short of the bushes laden with plump blueberries. Kirk followed quickly, not wanting the boy to eat anything before he’d confirmed it was safe.
“Are they the eating kind?” Percy asked, looking up at Kirk with wide eyes. “Or the poisonous kind?”
“Definitely the eating kind,” Kirk assured him, plucking one and holding it up. “These are wild blueberries. Smaller than the ones in stores, but much sweeter.”
