by Stacy Monson
Mikayla smiled. “You didn’t even know you were protecting Walt.”
“I would have done the same if I’d known,” she declared.
“Dear Vi, you are such a gift to this town.”
“Go on. You, on the other hand, have been a gift for our Dawson.” She sipped her coffee. “Never seen him so happy. The last time he was in here, he was full of ideas, and all of them included you.”
Tears burned again and Mikayla looked away. Vi’s hand on her arm was warm, comforting. “Darlin’, you need to go home, and take care of your mama, and get things right with your family. But nothing says you can’t come back.”
Mikayla fingered the bracelet and sighed. Except for the possibility of her proposal getting picked up which would keep her busy for years. “It will be too late by then.”
The timer beeped in the kitchen, and Vi patted her arm before going back through the swinging doors. Mikayla had finished her coffee and slid a five-dollar bill under the register when Vi returned carrying a square bakery box.
“Oh, no, you don’t.” Violet retrieved the money and slid it under the red ribbon tied around the box. “The ten you left me last time pays for today’s coffee.” She wrapped Mikayla in a hug that spoke calm and encouragement into her heart. “We won’t say goodbye because I have a feeling I’ll see you again.”
Violet leaned back and wiped the tears from Mikayla’s cheeks. “Go do what needs to be done, and then be open to what God is calling you to next. Whatever it is, it will be good. Now, get on your way before the Denver traffic gets too crazy.” She handed the box to Mikayla, then bent down to stroke Lula’s head. “I hope I’ll see you again too, Lula.”
Mikayla pulled away from the shop with a wave, determined to believe she’d see Vi and Abe, and Brenda and the Outlook staff again. Following the winding road out of town, she squinted against the rising sun at a sign propped in a tree, then laughed. Minnie-sohtah! was painted in bright blue letters. No doubt Brenda’s handiwork. Another sign was propped against a boulder. U rock!
Farther down the road, a sign rested against a tree. Remember. Her smile wobbled. These weren’t from Brenda. They were Dawson’s. She glanced at the leather bracelet. Of course she’d remember. This place had changed her.
Around another bend, a sign up on the hill—Sing. Maybe she’d hear music in the woods of Minnesota. She sighed. It wouldn’t be the same, but it would remind her of Dawson. The next sign was a cross, and her heart sighed. Perhaps he hadn’t been totally truthful about Walt, but he’d shared the greatest truth of all, and for that she’d always be grateful.
One more curve and there, at the end of the straight-away, a sign moved high above the road. As she neared, a strangled sob broke out. Dawson stood on an outcropping, waving a big red heart. Lula jumped up, paws on the dashboard, barking excitedly.
Mikayla slowed to imprint the image in her mind, then gave farewell honks as she passed. She watched him in the rearview mirror until she went around the next bend and cried until Denver came into sight.
~ 34 ~
“Anybody home?” Mikayla stood in the doorway of the familiar townhome and listened. “Guess I should have let her know when I was getting in.” Red roses filled a clear vase on the coffee table, and she leaned close to breathe in the fragrance. “Well, Lu, this is our home until the wedding. Then you’ll go back to your mama, and I’ll find a new place.”
Lindy’s text last night said Mom had been released and was resting comfortably at home. No sign of a heart attack or damage. Reading the news, Mikayla had to fight the overwhelming urge to head back to Colorado. No, her journey to find Kenny Johnson was over. Her focus now had to be on building her future.
She set her luggage in her bedroom, then went to the kitchen to make coffee. What a disaster! She now had proof that Lindy was the messy one. Boxes lining one wall of the dining area looked like wedding gifts. Lots of expensive wedding gifts. An assortment of wedding favors littered the table, along with candles, holders, and various-shaped vases clustered together.
Lula darted from room to room, sniffing, exploring, then checking on Mikayla before bounding off on another adventure. Mikayla sighed, watching her happy companion. She’d have to consider getting a dog of her own once she landed somewhere. Life would be way too quiet, not to mention lonely, without a furry buddy to share it with.
The front door opened. “Mickie?”
She popped out of the kitchen, gratified by Lindy’s squeal. Bags and a large purse scattered as her sister dashed forward and caught Mikayla in a heart-stopping squeeze. “You’re home!”
“As promised.” They exchanged tear-stained grins.
Beau joined them, smothering Mikayla in a hug when Lindy finally released her. “Welcome home, Mikayla. You’ve been missed, especially by me.”
She laughed as Lindy elbowed him. “Getting cold feet now that you’ve had a taste of what life alone with Lin will be like?”
He cut his nod short when Lindy pouted up at him. Wrapping her in an over-zealous hug, he said, “Of course not! What’s not to love about life with a crazed bride-to-be who missed her sister more than I think she’d ever miss me?”
Lindy wiggled out of his grasp and hugged Mikayla again. “I didn’t know when you were coming, or I’d have been here. Oh, and that must be Lula. She’s adorable.” She scooped the wriggling, wagging furball into her arms and held Lula’s face close to hers. “Wouldn’t I be a cute dog owner?” She batted her lashes at Beau.
“No dogs. No. Dogs.” His firm response was met with a huff. “We’ll have enough of an adjustment learning to live together after the wedding.”
“You don’t need a dog when you’re starting married life,” Mikayla added.
Beau mouthed “Thank you” and retrieved the bags they’d brought in. “I’ll put these on your bed, hon, and then get out of here so the nonstop talking can commence.”
Once he’d left, Mikayla filled coffee mugs and settled beside Lindy on the couch. “Your last text said they let Mom go home.”
“Yup. More tests to be done, but they’re pretty sure it wasn’t a heart attack.”
“So what was it? It couldn’t have been heartburn if they kept her overnight.”
Lindy lifted her shoulders. “The doc said it could be a reaction to stress. And seriously, what could be more stressful than my wedding? I’m surprised I haven’t had a heart attack. We can head over to see her later if you want, but for now I want to hear everything. Especially about Dawson Dunne. Even his name is cute. You must have tons of photos. I love, love, love the blog. How was the camp? I can’t believe you slept on a mountain with bears and such wandering around. I’d never have closed my eyes. What did you find out—”
Mikayla lifted a hand, giggling. “Okay, okay. Give me a chance, and I’ll tell you everything, I promise. I just…” She sighed, studying her sister’s familiar face. “I need to appreciate being home again. I missed you.”
Lindy’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank you for coming back. It’s been awful without you.”
They clasped hands and leaned their foreheads together. “I can’t believe we’re not actually related,” Mikayla said.
“Legally we are,” came the correction. Lindy leaned back and forced a smile. “And in every other way that matters. Just not by blood.” She waved long manicured fingers. “That’s a technicality.”
“We could do that thing where we cut our fingers and share blood.” Mikayla watched her sister’s face contort. “You know, that blood sister thing kids do.”
“Like I said, a technicality. And you know I hate anything to do with blood.”
“Good luck with childbirth.”
“I’m already planning on lots of drugs.”
They shared a giggle, then Lindy waved her on. “Okay, let’s hear it. From the beginning.”
Mikayla wandered back through months of memories. “It seems like I’ve been gone a lot longer than three months.”
“It felt like three years to
me. So you went to Aunt Cindy’s and then what?”
Walking through the journey again, this time from an outside perspective, Mikayla marveled at how each day, every new event was a building block. The chess board image flashed again, and she smiled.
“So that’s how you met Dawson Dunne? Playing Florence Nightingale on a mountain?”
Mikayla laughed. “I guess that’s one way to put it.”
“And he was so impressed by your skills and captivated by your beauty that he hired you on the spot.” Lindy did love a good romance.
“Not exactly. But we ran into each other at a coffee shop the next day, and that’s when he offered the job.”
“Which you accepted immediately, of course.”
“Nope.”
Lindy rolled her eyes. “You don’t know the first thing about romance stories, do you?”
She did now. “I’m not going to change things to fit your romanticized version. Anyway, I called him later and got a tour of the camp, and then I said yes.”
“Finally! Then what? Wait, let me get us a refill.”
With their mugs full, Mikayla shared some of the camping experiences, playing up the bear-scare event.
Lindy sighed at the part where Dawson charged off with his rifle. “A real-life hero. I need to see some pictures before you say any more.”
Mikayla retrieved her laptop and clicked through a handful before stopping on one of her and Dawson side-by-side, backpacks on, ready to head up to her first True Adventure Camp.
Lindy’s brown eyes went wide. “Wow! Mickie, he’s gorgeous!”
She smiled fondly at the photograph, lightly touching his bracelet on her wrist that had been so comforting on the long drive home. “He is. I’m sure most of the female guides he’s worked with have had a crush on him at some point.” The smile faded, and she clicked on the next photo—Lula with Bruno and Pal.
Lindy burst into a fit of giggles. “Look how tiny she is compared to them!”
The next photo made her laugh harder—Lula standing on Bruno’s back, her expression victorious, Bruno’s head drooping. “That is so cute! You need to post that on Hiker Girl.”
“Both of those big boys were afraid of her for a while. Even once they got used to each other, she was definitely the alpha dog. It was funny. To the humans, anyway. The boys were always on edge because she wasn’t afraid to put them in line.”
As they looked through more photos, Lindy’s phone buzzed. She checked it and looked at Mikayla. “It’s Dad.”
Her heart did a two-step as she shrugged.
“Hey, Dad. Yup, she’s home. Yes, she’s fine.” She rolled her eyes at Mikayla. “I don’t know. I’ll ask.” She covered the phone. “Do you want to meet them for dinner? We could go to their house, or out somewhere. Or wait until tomorrow.”
“Mom’s up to it?”
“Dad? Are we sure it’s okay for Mom?” She listened, then nodded at Mikayla.
Both parents her first night back? Mikayla wiped her palms against her jeans. No point putting it off. “Not at the house,” she whispered.
“Okay, Dad? Let’s meet at that new pasta place. Wellington’s, right. And you’re sure Mom feels up to it? Okay. Yes, 6:30 would be great. See you there.”
The silliness gone, they sat in silence before Lindy tossed the phone aside. “Will things ever be normal again?”
“Not the way they were. This is our new normal.”
“I don’t like it. Sometimes I’m so mad at them, then other times I just want life to go back the way it was. And then I wonder who my other parents are.”
“Yup.”
Lindy shifted to face her. “How are you? Really.”
Missing Dawson and the camp like crazy. Homesick for the mountains. Longing for a noisy game of cards with Brenda and the guys. “I’m okay. I’ve done lots of thinking about what really matters, what I want in life, who I want to share my life with.”
“And you’ve come up with…”
“Spending the summer in Colorado made me realize I want to keep doing what I’ve been doing. Writing about my outdoor experiences, creating ways for girls and women to enjoy what God created. I love being outdoors more than anything, Lin. It’s where I feel the most me. And I learned that being me is okay. I don’t love fashion like you, but I think I could learn how to be feminine and sporty at the same time.” She grinned. “Maybe even wear lip gloss while I’m camping.”
“Yes!” Lindy’s fist pump made them giggle, then her face lit up. “Hey! Maybe we can create a whole new line of activewear for women.”
“I think that’s been done.”
Lindy winked. “Not designed by fashionista Lindy Gordon, it hasn’t.”
Mikayla rolled her eyes. “I also learned I don’t need much to live on.”
Lindy made a buzzer noise that set them giggling again.
“And most importantly I learned that truth matters. No matter how difficult it might be, honesty is always best.”
“Agreed.”
“I’ve also figured out that family matters.” She squeezed Lindy’s hand. “But family comes in different forms. I have my family here, where we share a lifetime of memories, and I don’t ever want to give that up. But I also have a family at Outlook, where family means working together toward a common goal, depending on each other, sharing daily life.”
Lindy studied her. “You’re different.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.”
“I mean different from when you left. From who you were before. There’s a calmness you didn’t have. But sadness too.”
“I learned things I didn’t really want to know. That’s been painful. But I found my way to God, thanks to Dawson. Being out there where nature is breathtaking and there’s endless silence, I heard the mountains sing. It changed the way I see life.”
Lindy nodded slowly. “I can see that. I want to know more. But now…” She glanced at her watch. “We’d better get ready to meet Mom and Dad.”
As Mikayla unpacked and changed, Lindy’s words swirled around her. You’re different. She paused, studying her reflection in the mirror over her dresser. That girl didn’t look different on the outside, but there was something in her eyes. She leaned closer. The anger was gone, but there was a new wariness. She’d learned to believe in herself, but lost trust in others. Most importantly, she’d learned to trust God.
She finished dressing and glanced at the girl before leaving the room. There was work to be done starting tonight. God, lead me and give me strength.
Following Lindy into the restaurant, Mikayla pushed back against the nerves that made her nauseous. They’re your parents, not the mafia. And they’ve had a lot to deal with these past months too.
“They’re back there.” Lindy pointed toward the corner, then reached for Mikayla’s hand. “Ready?”
“No, but here goes.” As they neared the table, she bit back tears. Dad had flecks of gray at his temples that hadn’t been there when she left. And Mom, always strong and in charge, looked tiny beside him. She slid into the chair next to Dad and managed a nervous smile. “Hey, Dad.”
“Hey, kid.”
She moved her gaze across the table.
Tears shimmered in Mom’s eyes. “Welcome home, sweetheart.”
“Thanks, Mom.” She’d last seen her mother through the red haze of fury and hurt. “How are you feeling?”
“Better, now that you’re home. Really, I feel good. The discomfort is long gone, and they’ve ruled out a heart attack. I think I wasn’t taking care of myself, and it caught up with me.” She smiled. “I’m taking it as a warning to get focused. Right after the wedding.”
Dad put his hand over hers. “Right now,” he said, and they exchanged smiles.
“I’m glad it wasn’t a heart attack.” Mikayla would never have forgiven herself if her mother had died before they could reconnect. Thank you for a chance to start over, God. Show me how.
“Okay,” Lindy said. “Let’s order, and then we can
talk about the last of the wedding plans.”
They studied their menus in silence until the waiter arrived with a platter of water glasses. After he took their order, Lindy pulled a tattered notebook out of her oversized, expensive bag. “Okay. So the girls have their dresses except for Mickie. You need to have your fitting tomorrow. And the guys have had their final tux fittings. Dad, is yours scheduled?”
She chattered on about flowers and favors, napkins, and the live band they’d added. Mikayla watched in amusement—Lindy in her element. How different it looked from her own element of climbing a mountain path in hiking boots, jeans, and a T-shirt. The change of attitude surprised her. Instead of feeling threatened that she didn’t measure up, she was simply happy that Lin was happy. She blinked at the realization and took a long sip of water.
Dad leaned toward her. “I’ve seen that epiphany on your face before,” he said as Lindy and Mom continued chatting. “Care to share?”
She smiled. “I’ve learned a lot about myself this summer. Right now it’s realizing I’m not threatened by how different Lindy and I are. It’s something to appreciate.”
“Glad you finally see that. The three of you have skills and knowledge in very different areas of life, and that’s how it should be. God designed each of us to be unique, not carbon copies.”
“God?” Neither of her parents had talked about faith or God.
His rugged cheeks pinkened. “Through the upheaval of this summer, your mom and I started going to church. It’s made a world of difference for us personally, and for our marriage. I wish we’d made faith a bigger part of your childhood.”
Wow. She’d never have dreamed that would happen, certainly hadn’t thought to pray about it. Dawson would have.
“I connected with God over the summer too,” she said. “My friend and boss, Dawson, shared his faith story with me while we were leading groups of kids, and I realized it’s what I’ve been missing.”
He sat back, grinning like the Dad she remembered. “I knew something was different about you, kid.”
“I also learned some new fishing techniques, so be prepared,” she added. The declaration startled her. She’d wondered how they would start rebuilding their relationship.