baby. Just trust me.” I lean back and hold out my hand. She studies it for a long moment before she puts her hand in mine, and when she does, I release the breath I was holding and look across to my boys.
“Max, move to the next platform. Mitchell, I’m gonna send December over to you,” I call out, and Max quickly swings himself onto the next platform while I adjust her rope overhead so it’s clear of mine. “Baby, you’re gonna jump to Mitchell,” I instruct, and she eyes me warily. “I’m not going to leave you here alone. It’s better if you jump to him, he jumps to the next platform, and I come over next.”
“Okay.”
“Okay.” I touch her cheek with my gloved hand then ask, “Ready?”
“Not really, but yes.”
“You’ve got this. Get into position then I want you to jump. It’s not far.”
“You mean it’s not far across,” she grumbles, making my lips twitch.
“On three.” I count her off, and she jumps across the open space then squeaks when she lands on the wide platform. Both boys cheer, and Mitchell hugs her, making her laugh. “All right, I’m coming over. Mitchell, go on ahead,” I say, and he jumps to where his brother is, and Max moves on. We continue on like that through that part of the aerial obstacle course, and I listen to her let out a relieved breath when she jumps down to a large wooden deck.
“This is my favorite part,” Mitchell says as I jump down and land next to her.
When she turns to see what he’s talking about, I see her face pale.
“This just gets worse and worse,” she hisses, taking a tentative step to the edge to look out at the floating log bridge, which is basically a long row of logs tied individually, making them completely unstable.
“I’m going first,” Max says, attaching himself to the catch rope, and then he quickly makes his way across without stopping once. Mitchell is right behind him, and the boys high-five on the other side.
“You know how you said I owe you huge for agreeing to go to breakfast with your mom?” December asks as I attach her to the catch rope at the top of the bridge. “I think we are beyond even. Actually, I’m pretty sure you owe me now.”
“You’re probably right,” I agree. “That said, you’ve got this.”
“I don’t have a choice but to have it, since I can’t go backward, and I’m for sure not jumping from here.”
“True.” I kiss the tip of her nose that is scrunched in annoyance, leaving out that there is a ladder to get down. I can tell, even if this is freaking her out a bit, that she’s starting to enjoy herself. And what is the point of life if you’re not living it?
“Here goes nothing.” She sighs then grabs hold of both side of the bridge. Stepping onto the first log that swings under her weight, she lets out a scream and the boys laugh. She lifts her head, and I’m sure she’s glaring at them. “I don’t know how I’m going to pay you guys back for this, but just know I will be plotting my revenge.”
“Aw, just admit it’s fun,” Max says, still laughing.
“Whatever,” she grumbles under her breath, carefully moving to the next log then the next. When she’s safely to the other side, she starts to laugh, and the boys wrap their arms around her and start jumping up and down with her in excitement.
I stare at the three of them, feeling completely overwhelmed with a mixture of pride and happiness like I have never felt before.
“It’s your turn, Dad,” Max breaks the spell, and without a word, I attach my harness then walk across the bridge with the ease of practice.
“Now my favorite part,” Max says.
“What now?” December asks gloomily. “Are we jumping over a pit filled with man-eating alligators?”
“Nope, just flying through the air.”
“Oh joy,” she groans, and we all laugh as we head to the last platform where there is a zip line set up.
“Who’s first?” the kid running the line asks when we approach, and Max steps up. A moment later, he lets out a hoot as he jumps down and disappears out of sight.
Once Mitchell is gone, the kid looks between December and me, and I can tell by the way she’s holding herself that this is making her more nervous than anything else she’s done today.