CHAPTER 43
CHAPTER 43: THE WEEKEND TRIP
My mother had an idea.
A dangerous thing.
"We should go to the lake."
"The lake?" Samantha repeated.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I want to."
No one argued.
Two days later, we rented a small cabin.
The weather was perfect.
The water sparkled.
Sunny chased birds for three straight hours.
That evening, we sat around a fire.
Ella roasted marshmallows.
My father told terrible jokes.
Samantha laughed so hard she nearly dropped her drink.
I looked at my mother.
She seemed peaceful.
"So," she said, "this is nice."
I smiled.
"It is."
She looked at the lake.
"I spent so many years waiting for special moments."
I listened.
"But maybe this is one."
I followed her gaze.
The sunset.
The fire.
The people I loved.
"Yeah," I said softly. "I think it is."
Later that night, Ella fell asleep in my lap.
My mother watched us.
"I wish I'd appreciated moments like this more."
I looked at her.
"You're appreciating this one."
She smiled.
May you like
"I am."
And somehow, that felt enough.
