my arms before she’s crashing into them. “I’m sorry,” we both cry simultaneously. We both laugh even as we pull back an arm’s length.
Kevin makes a disgusted snort. “Women,” he says before walking past us to the television.
“I don’t think so, mister,” I yell after him. I didn’t raise my son to make a comment like that. Though thinking about it, it’s something my brother would say when Maris and I would be together, so I can’t prevent the ends of my lips curving.
“You ain’t seen nothing yet, bucko!” Maris yells after him. But her own tip up as well.
It takes everything to hold back our laughter at his “Whatever, Mar!”
She sighs, dropping an arm around my shoulder and resting her head on mine. “I love that kid.”
“I know you do.”
“And I love you, Kara. I lashed out because life without Jed…”
“I know. You’re the only person I know who is there for me, no matter what.”
“And I always will be.” A darkness settles between us as those words hold such a heavier meaning now than when she used to say them before. Her voice is pitched low so Kevin won’t overhear. “I’m sorry, Kara. You were right.”
“And so were you.” I know my quietly spoken words shock her. “But I can’t look back. I can only move forward.” Facing my best friend, I push a strand of her hair away from her face. “But right now, there’s only one person who I’m terrified for.”
“Kevin,” Maris whispers.
I nod, before telling her, “I’m taking him out to the glacier tomorrow. I’ll tell him about his father. I’ve never lied to him, and I won’t now.”
“Remember what I said before?”
I hold her gaze as I reply, “All of it.”
She swallows audibly before whispering, “You made the right decisions. You created a life full of love, and that boy in there has wanted for nothing. And no matter what happens tomorrow, Kevin knows, the same way that I do, that he can be angry, disappointed, sad, and you will always be by his side through it all.” She leans over and kisses my temple. “I’m the one who wasted her life waiting for love.” Maris lets me go abruptly as she races for the door.
I’m gaping like a fish behind her, trying to find the right words when she calls out, “Night, Kevin!”
“Night, Maris!”
“Be sure to eat, Kara,” she admonishes. But the light in her eye isn’t because she got in the last word. It’s because we’re okay. And we always will be.
“I will,” I call back, finding my voice. She gives me a wink, her shields firmly in place.
I’m rooted where I stand, worrying about her, about tomorrow. That is until the sound of the TV penetrates, and I demand, “Kevin, what are you watching on that TV?” I yell.
“Oh, come on, Mom,” he whines.
“I don’t let you watch that garbage at home. What makes you think I’m going to let you watch it here?”
“But it’s not blocked out on Maris’s TV,” he says hopefully.
“Because she’s an adult who’s allowed to watch whatever she wants,” I counter.
“Can’t I just watch one episode?”
“No.”
“Please?”
“Do you want all of your television privileges revoked?”
“You’re no fun, Mom,” Kevin pouts before changing the channel.
“No. But I love you very much.” Then I dash upstairs to retrieve my food.
For the rest of the night, we play tug-o-remote until we both call it a night. Reminding Kevin I’m going to wake him up early in the morning so we can go hiking, I hug him. “Dress warm. Night, sweetheart.”
“Night, Mom. Sleep well.”
I doubt I’ll sleep at all, I think as I watch him head down the stairs. But I’ll be thinking of you.
And that’s all that matters.
Kara
“So, what’s so special about this place we’re going to?” Kevin asks on a huge yawn.
My left leg is bouncing up and down. “Hmm?” I answer distractedly, as I lift my to-go cup of coffee to my lips.
“Why are you getting me up at the crack of dawn to go hiking. I mean, jeez, Mom. It’s not like we’re not going to be here all summer.” Kevin reaches for his coffee. “Why did you get the bigger mug?” he grumbles.
I scoff as I take another drink. “Because I’m the mom? That’s why.”
“That’s your answer to a lot of things.”
“It’s worked so far.” I turn left onto Mendenhall Loop and wait for Kevin to put his coffee back down. “I wasn’t much older than you when I realized what I wanted to do with