for Rori there was a tramp out in the Cannon’s back yard with her name on it.
Today was the day Aurora Borealis Townsend was going to join the rest of humanity in the experience of jumping on a tramp. And she was going to do so sans onlookers.
Creeping down the stairs, Rori was careful to be silent, only to have the alarm system give two high beeps when she opened the back door. She froze, feeling like an intruder, and wasn’t sure what to do until Mr. Cannon poked his head out around the corner of the hallway.
“Sorry,” Rori said, offering him a little wave. “Can’t sleep. Mind if I use your tramp?”
“No problem,” he said with a tired smile. “Just lock the door on your way back in.”
“Will do. Good night.”
“Night,” he said, and disappeared again.
For a moment, Rori stood in the open door still looking at the spot Mr. Cannon just vacated. He’d responded quickly when he the alarm beeped. Not an armed guard, security service, or even a dog. The dad actually got up out of bed, protecting his house—his family. It was…nice. Like something that would happen in some heartwarming TV movie. And if Rori would have seen that movie, she would have rolled her eyes and thought, That never happens.
But apparently it did. Some dads were the first line of defense for their homes and families. Just not her dad. Or her step-dad.
Rori closed the door behind her and moved across the porch and toward the tramp. Hopping up, she felt the material sink beneath her, urging her toward the center of the trampoline. It was kind of disconcerting. She was supposed to jump. She knew that, but spent the first little bit just walking around and getting a feel for the thing. Then she jumped, amused when she felt nervousness build up in her as she got higher. She’d just flown across the Atlantic with a virtual stranger and agreed to marry him, and she was getting nervous about bouncing on a trampoline?
Willing herself to overcome the ridiculous fear, Rori bounced higher. It was actually kind of fun and decent exercise. Earlier, the kids had been doing flips and tricks along with their uncles. They made it look so effortless, but the thought of flipping had Rori feeling a little unsure. She dropped to her knees instead, bouncing back up to her feet.
Hardly rocket science. Rori kept trying new tricks, mimicking what she’d seen the children doing, and feeling a little ridiculous in the process. “Hee-haws” and “peanut rolls” looked much better when little bodies did them. Or at least Rori assumed so, based on how awkward she felt as she failed in her attempts.
When she successfully executed a back drop, Rori heard distinct clapping coming from the direction of the house and immediately turned to see who it was. At first she saw nothing. Then she realized the clapping was coming from the roof, where Mike sat comfortably, watching her.
“First time on a tramp, huh?” he asked, as if sitting on a roof in the middle of the night was the most natural thing in the world.
Rori had the moonlight to thank for hiding her embarrassment, but there was no disguising her squeak of surprise. “Que estas—” She stopped, correcting herself. “What are you doing out this late?”
“I heard the springs squeaking and thought I’d check out who was on the tramp. Want some pointers?” he offered, standing up. “You look like you’ll be a natural.”
Mike Cannon made quite the picture standing above her and all but glowing in the white of the moonlight. Sort of like an urban angel, which was a ridiculous notion, of course. But it made a damn fine picture. “Any tricks to doing a front flip?”
“Timing,” he said before jumping from the roof to the tramp without hesitation and executing a flip on his first bounce and landing near her. The show off. “Front flips are actually harder than back flips. But just bounce up, wait until you’re almost at your peak height, then throw your arms forward and tuck. Your body will do the rest. Want me to spot you?”
She hesitated, eyeing his outstretched hand warily. The confident way he positioned it told her that he had spotted many people before. He knew what he was doing and would keep her safe from injury, just like he kept his niece safe when she and Luke had bounced her way too high.