3. Tyler #3
She asks, pointing to the sweatshirt I’m wearing.
“Yeah, totally. Same thing for me, going from a small town to a bigger one. Eugene, a couple of hours from here. It’s not a ‘big city’ by any means, but it felt like it was for me.
For the first time, I felt like I could breathe.
I discovered rock climbing while I lived there.
Met some of my best of friends. I fell in and out of love. I lived on my own for the first time.”
“I can relate to that, the feeling like you can finally breathe freely. I felt the same way when we moved to San Diego. Like I could reinvent myself.” She smiles longingly at me.
I think she’s going to elaborate more, but then she says, “Well, wait, why did you come back? It seems like you loved it there.”
I can feel myself closing up at Chloe’s question.
She doesn’t know what happened. I never told her or Annika.
They know I moved back for a family reason.
Annika asked me about my parents, and I said they weren’t around anymore.
She got the hint and didn’t mention it again.
I’m guessing Reid told her about it in private.
I assumed she told Chloe, but I guess not.
I should tell Chloe myself, but it’s just too sad.
I don’t want her to feel sorry for me. I don’t want her to look at me any differently than she does now.
And that always happens as soon as I tell people that both of my parents died.
“I did love it there. I still do. I’ve been back a few times.
My best friend from college, Miles, lives there still.
So, I’ve visited him and his wife a few times a year.
” Chloe nods along, letting me continue.
“One day, about a year after I graduated from college, I got a call that my parents were in a car accident.” And there it is.
The truth tumbled out of my mouth because I couldn’t not tell her.
Something about Chloe just makes me want to be real.
Even if it means she’ll treat me differently.
Chloe gasps softly and stops, grabbing my arm. “Ty, I’m so sorry. You don’t need to say anything.”
“No, it’s okay. I want to tell you. I came back to Auburn Hills when my parents got in an accident four years ago.
I intended to come back, sell the ranch and go back to Eugene.
But as soon as I stepped foot in my house, I realized it was the only thing that connected me to them.
” Chloe gently rubs circles on my arm with her thumb.
I take a deep breath and close my eyes briefly.
“It’s not the only place,” Chloe says.
I open my eyes and look down at her. “What?”
“You said the house is the only place you’re connected with them. It’s not true. You will always be connected to them. No matter where you are.” She takes me in her arms, and I feel small. Despite being a foot taller than her, I let her comfort me.
I pull apart and dab my eyes with the back of my hand.
“They’d be so happy to meet you,” I say to her.
“All of you. They’d love our friend group.
My dad would probably make everyone their favorite type of cake for their birthday, and my mom would tell everyone about their horoscope.
They were eccentric and fun. They let me try new things and explore as a kid.
I miss them like crazy, Chloe. I don’t talk about them enough. ”
We start walking again; Chloe slips her arm around mine as we walk. Her warmth next to me feels comforting and safe.
“Why don’t you? Talk about them, I mean.”
“Because each time I say they died, it feels like I take three steps farther away from the memories of when they were alive.”
Chloe grips my arm tight, and I look down; she’s tearing up.
“Oh, Chlo, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have told you anything.”
“No, no, it’s fine. I am glad you did. I am honored you trust me enough to share something so personal.” She wipes her eyes and smiles back. “I lost my parents, too. Not in the same way, but they aren’t present in my life.”
“I’m sorry you lost your parents. Do you miss them?”
“Um.” She pauses and thinks before continuing. “I miss what kind of parents they could’ve been. I miss Annika’s parents more, honestly. But, luckily, Annika’s mom, Mia, calls me every other weekend.”
“Just you?”
“Well, no. She will call Annika and me, but we spend at least twenty minutes chatting on the phone. She’s more of a mom to me than my biological one. I’m so grateful for her and the rest of Annika’s family.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting them next month.”
“Oh my gosh, me too! You will love her brothers; they love baseball, and I bet Wes would love to learn how to rock climb.”
“Well, we will have to teach them. You’ll be a pro by then.”
Chloe laughs and unlinks her arm from mine to take a photo of oyster mushrooms sprouting from the side of a fallen tree.
“Just up ahead, there’s a view I’m sure will inspire you.” I point to the bend in the trail.
She stands and turns to me, trying to focus on the sound we are starting to hear. “Is that water?”
I smile and nod, and Chloe takes off, running down the path, with Scooter at her heels, pulling the leash in my hand.
I follow her, and we both stop at the edge of the trail that opens to the waterfall.
This time of year, it is more of a water trickle, but still beautiful.
The water brightens the blue and black rock beneath it and collects in a small pool at the bottom.
Chloe veers off the path, climbing rocks, with Scooter pulling me to go after her.
She takes a few pictures and then squats to sit on a flat rock.
She pulls out a small sketchbook and a pencil from her bag.
Scooter and I carefully climb the rocks and make our way over to her.
I crouch next to her, watching her sketch the scene in front of us.
She shades in the rock side and draws long lines demonstrating the waterfall.
“I can’t wait to paint this later,” she says, finishing up and closing her book. “I like photos, but sometimes a quick sketch needs to be done in the moment.”
“Do you paint a lot of water landscapes? You drew that so quickly, I’m so impressed.”
She blushes and says, “I used to. I would paint beaches, mostly at sunset. Annika would always go to the beach to take photos. She’d leave the photos scattered all around our apartment in San Diego after developing them, so occasionally, I’d take a few for reference. But this will be my first waterfall.”
“There’s another spot along the trail I think you’d love.”
“Let’s go!” she says, leaping from rock to rock, not missing a beat until she’s back on the trail.