Chapter 16
Tucker and Conner ran from the barn. “We’re done, Mom. Can we go for a hike?”
“As soon as I finish pulling up the last of these weeds. We’ll have visitors coming for the funeral, and we don’t want them to think the Wolfe family doesn’t keep our home ship shape.”
“Dad kept everything ship shape,” Conner murmured as his lip trembled. He swiped his eyes to keep Tucker from seeing the tears.
“Tucker, why don’t you grab our water bottles and fill them?” she asked. As her son ran up the steps, she pulled Conner into her arms. “It’s all right to feel sad. Jeremiah loved us. I’ll miss him, too.”
“Tucker says crying’s for babies,” he whispered. “I miss my dad.”
She hugged him tightly, knocking his hat askew. “I cry. Do you think I’m a baby?”
“No, but you don’t count. You’re a girl,” Conner informed her. “They cry all the time.”
“Who told you that?” she said, pulling him away to see his face.
“Tucker. He says only girls and babies cry,” he said, sniffling.
“I say you can cry because it makes your heart feel better, it releases the pain inside,” she explained gently. “When you lose your dad, it’s all right to let out those feelings.”
Tucker returned and sat on the steps. “What’s the matter?”
“Conner misses his dad. He’s letting out his sad feelings. And no one will call him a girl or a baby,” she warned sternly.
“Do you think it’s all right if I let some out, too?” Tucker asked, watching Conner.
Leslie smiled and held out her other arm, inviting him into the circle.
They cried together, missing Jeremiah. After a while, she pulled them away, using the edge of her shirt to dry their faces.
“When someone dies, they never leave your heart. Sometimes you can find them in their favorite spot. You can’t see them, but you can feel them with you.
Shall we hike up to the fishing spot and see if we feel Jeremiah there? ”
Both boys nodded and sniffed. They grabbed their sticks and took off down the trail.
They passed the long-abandoned cabins and headed up the mountain to the spot she dreaded.
The memories of her and Owen became more potent when she took the boys there.
Resembling Owen, they reminded her of her and Owen’s childhood.
She always played with the Wolfe brothers at the lake.
Owen kissed her under the willow tree for the first time.
They made love in the same spot four years later.
She smiled, recalling the awkward moment of teenagers having sex for the first time.
Then she blinked back tears as she recalled the night he proposed.
Owen asked her to drive to his house on her birthday, stating his truck died. Taking her hand, they hiked to their favorite spot.
Stopping at the top of the trail, Owen stopped and covered her eyes. “No peeking,” he teased, gently kissing her lips.
“It’s not as if I don’t know we’re at the lake,” she said, laughing.
He led her around the side. Owen seemed nervous as he stopped her.
“Wait right here,” he said nervously.
“What time did you get the tickets for the movie? Won’t we be late?” she called.
“We have plenty of time,” he answered. “Give me a minute.”
A few minutes later, he approached her, took her hand, and led her to the left. Stepping behind her, he removed the blindfold. Her heart raced as she saw the flameless candles in the shape of a heart. They stood in the middle of it, the ground covered in rose petals.
Owen knelt to one knee and gazed into her eyes.
“I know I don’t have a ton of money. But I promise to make up for it with love, loyalty, and honesty.
You will always come first, Leslie. I’ll leave for the military soon because I want to secure our future.
Then, we’ll travel the world together. I love you and want the honor of having you at my side forever. ”
“Yes,” she cried, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him senselessly.
Owen slipped the small diamond engagement ring over her finger.
Their love felt invincible as he pulled her close and kissed her.
Leading her to the bed of his truck, he lifted her onto the tailgate, and their passion for each other took over.
They made love on top of the rose petals he sprinkled over the blankets.
They held each other until the sun rose over the lake.
Three weeks later, Owen walked out of her life and never returned.
Holding out hope, Leslie tried desperately to reach him.
She watched as child services took Owen’s brothers away, and his dad was charged with reckless endangerment.
The family who once played, laughed, and argued together disappeared within weeks.
“Mom, who’s that?” Tucker asked, pointing toward someone by the lake.
She shielded her eyes when the man waved to her.
“It’s only me,” the man shouted.
Recognizing the voice, Leslie smiled. “Hello, Mr. Bigsby. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I lost my samples from the lake. The resort wants a full report. Of course, Jeremiah gave me permission before he died. I rang the doorbell, expecting one of his sons to return home. When no one answered, I thought I’d run up and grab them again,” he said, passing the boys.
“Yes, Jeremiah told me they wanted the water tested. What did they expect to find?” she asked, keeping an eye on the boys.
“They want the I’s dotted and T’s crossed,” Mr. Bigsby explained. “It’s a formality. I imagine if they get their hands on the property, they’ll want to expand and build a hotel. They can’t redirect the creek leading from the lake. They’ll have to work around it. It’s protected land.”
Leslie stared at the beauty of the mountain. “This place doesn’t deserve humans to touch it. It’s meant to always be appreciated.”
“I agree with you,” Mr. Bigby said. “It’s beautiful here. There’s a magical spell cast over the place. I can feel it.”
“It’s my Grandpa Jeremiah. Mom said we might find him here. He loved this place,” Tucker said as he balanced on one of the rocks. “I can feel him, too.”
“Me, too,” Conner agreed. “He’s right here,” he said, pointing to his heart.
“You’re right,” Leslie agreed.
“I’m done,” Mr. Bigsby said. “You enjoy your hike. Don’t forget about the wild animals up here. You don’t want to venture too far off the path,” he warned.
“I never come without a weapon. We respect nature unless it threatens us,” she informed him. “Owen and his brothers will arrive in a few days. You’ll need their permission if you come back here. They may have other plans for the place.”
“Will do. I don’t know what happened to my last samples. I guess my memory must be going,” he complained. “Have a good day.”
“You, too,” she said, walking to where the boys poked their sticks in the clear water, attempting to catch a fish.
“If I catch it before you do, then you’ll clean it,” Tucker challenged Conner.
“Fat chance, you can’t even hold your stick right,” Conner argued.
Leslie sat on the rock, watching the two, recalling Owen and Cade playing the same game.
“What if you deploy and find someone else?” she asked worriedly.
“Don’t ever think my love for you can ever end easily,” he said heatedly.
“I’m not stupid. Do you know the divorce rate in the military? You’ll be gone for months at a time…” she said softly.
“I’m more concerned about you. You’ll be here. Don’t think I don’t know about Jay’s crush on you,” he teased, earning a punch in the arm.
“Leave him alone. He’s very smart, and one day, he’ll be a great doctor,” she said sternly. “They pick on him in town because he’s into books instead of sports and shooting animals. Jay has a heart.”
“Yeah, and he’s already pledged it to you,” Owen said sarcastically. “Maybe I’ll give him a warning before I leave.”
“You will not,” she said, crossing her arms. “You know I’ll never stop loving you, even in death.”
Leslie brushed the tear from her cheek. She refused to shed another one for the man who callously left her behind.
“Mom? You, all right?” Tucker asked, shaking her arm.
“Yes, sweetheart. I got lost in my memories,” she said, smiling at her son. Little did he know he stood on the spot where Owen and she made their precious boy.
“Will you let us camp here next weekend? It might help Conner take his mind off his dad,” he suggested, appearing innocent.
“Uh-huh,” she said. “And what about you? Do you think it’ll make you feel better?”
Tucker gave her a cock-eyed grin. “It might help.”
Tousling his hair, she said, “We’ll see.”
“Mooom, you know when you say it that way, it means we can’t,” he grumbled.
“We don’t know the funeral arrangements. Saying goodbye to our loved ones supersedes fishing. We can do this anytime,” she said firmly. “Get Conner and let’s head home. I need to put on dinner.”
“Conner,” Tucker yelled. “Mom says we have to go.”
“Thanks,” she deadpanned. Next time, I’ll do it myself.”
Tucker grinned as he picked up his stick and waited for Conner. The two boys stayed close together, a few feet in front of her. Their heads bent together, and she wondered what transpired between them.
Her thoughts wandered to Owen and how he fared with his brothers. The Wolfe family always acted before they thought.