Partway to the meadow where Cal planned to take them, they stopped along the river to eat a quick lunch. Cal took out a picnic blanket, which was not something April had predicted from a rugged guy like him. She supposed he’d brought it for her sake and was silently grateful. While she’d had the forethought to wear appropriate clothes for the hike, she still didn’t adore the idea of ruining her pants if she could avoid it.
Lunch was peaceful, and even though it was a little too warm out, April could not have imagined a more comfortable meal. The only sounds were rustling leaves, the birds, and the occasional fish jumping from the winding river in front of them. The sandwiches were delicious, and not just because she was so hungry. Cal had clearly seasoned and cooked the meat himself. The vegetables were fresh cut from his garden. Something about this life—and this family, if she was being completely honest—appealed to her so much that she had to stop herself from begging Cal to keep her like she was a lost puppy dropped on his doorstep.
“Do you want one of my cookies?” Owen asked when she had finished her sandwich.
April smiled over at him. “Oh, I’ve had plenty, but thank you so much for offering.”
Owen didn’t skip a beat. “Then, can I have yours?”
April burst out laughing. What a shrewd little kid. She decided his cleverness alone should get him some kind of reward. “Well, I can’t say no to that now, can I?” She glanced at his father, who granted his permission with a nod. “Here you go.” She handed her last cookie to Owen, who took it with the biggest grin on his face.
He started stuffing it into his mouth with glee. After he swallowed his second mouthful, he took a moment between bites to ask, “Are you going to be my mother now?”
Cal nearly spit out the drink he’d been sipping when he heard that.
For a moment, April was worried that Owen had figured something out and spooked his own father. Then, she remembered that he was a little kid and had probably asked a random question without any provocation at all. Probably, he just wanted a mother who would give him her cookie whenever they went on a picnic. She answered, “Let’s be friends first, OK? Then, we’ll figure out the rest.”
Owen nodded to himself. “I bet you will be. Dad’s going to lie and say you won’t, but I bet you’ll be my mother. Anyway, I’m going to wish for it the next wish I have.”
“That’s really sweet, Owen.” It was about all April could think to say. She didn’t want to crush his hopes, but she didn’t want to fuel them either. It was a delicate tightrope to walk, but April hoped she was managing it well enough for Cal’s liking. From across the picnic blanket, he gave her a knowing smile that led her to believe she’d said the right thing.
“Let’s get going,” Cal said, “while we still have good light left.”
They packed up and continued their walk along the river until Cal led them to veer off into a part of the forest he knew well. He had a particular hiding place, which he’d made comfortable for the hours of waiting he sometimes had to do. April was prepared to wait as long as he would have needed to for hunting. She pulled out her camera and chose a lens. Cal watched with interest as she clicked it into place.
“That’s pretty impressive,” he said in a low whisper. “You use it like there’s nothing easier, but I’m sure I’d fumble it right away.”
April held the camera in one hand and whispered back. “It’s not all that hard, really. Owen used it very well. Do you want to try?”
A half smile appeared on Cal’s face. “I might break it.”
“You won’t,” she assured him. “Put this around your neck so you don’t drop it.” She helped him put the strap over his head. Then she showed him how to advance the film, adjust the shutter speed, look through the viewfinder, and focus the shot. “See, it’s not so hard. Do you want to take the first pictures?”
Cal pulled the camera back down from his eye and questioned her. “Are you sure?”
“Of course,” she said, laughing under her breath. “I can use the camera any time I like. For me, it’ll be more fun to see what kind of shots you get. There’s no such thing as a waste of film. Just remember that.”
“If you say so.” Cal smiled. “Don’t forget you said that when you’re developing my terrible photos.”
They sat a long time, waiting for wildlife to show up in the space. Owen was surprisingly patient for a five-year-old. His father must have taken him on these trips many times. He was able toentertain himself by drawing animals in the dirt, stacking twigs into miniature cabins, and using fallen leaves to decorate the space around them in interesting patterns.
Before long, a doe wandered into the clearing. Cal adjusted his focus and snapped a shot. When a couple of younger deer followed her, he did the same. He then saw a bird he wanted to get several shots of. He seemed to be getting into the activity, showing pride every time he got a shot he thought would make a good photo.
Then, it was Owen’s turn, and he took pictures of his leaf designs and twig cabins.
After April took over the camera again, she took several gorgeous shots of the meadow and the wildlife around it. On the way back to the cabin, she took several more pictures of the river, the fish, and the forest around them with its vibrant leaves. Even after arriving at the cabin, she asked permission to get several more shots of the home itself, the garden, the front porch and the rabbits that lived under it.
She had no good reason to take photos of this place, except that she thought it was beautiful and wanted to be able to see it even when she wasn’t visiting. And sure, it was an objectively beautiful structure on its own, but she also found it particularly attractive because of who built it. She could admit that now, having admitted her feelings for Cal.
After getting Owen set up in his toy room, Cal walked April to her car to say goodbye. He glanced around to see whether Owen was watching. When he discovered they were alone, he leaned in and kissed April. She backed into her car, and suddenly, his hand was on one side of her, keeping him anchored against her.He reached down and squeezed her hip as he continued to kiss her.
April’s heart thundered in her chest, and she allowed herself to hope that this relationship was one that would last. The way he kissed her said so much. He didn’t just think of her as a fun time, as a no-strings-attached date. He touched her not only with desire, but with adoration, too. He touched her the way she imagined a man might touch his future wife.
“You’re a brilliant photographer,” he said when he finally pulled away, “and so beautiful.”
“So are you,” she said, blushing. Then, she had an idea. “Do you want to meet my friends sometime? I’d like to show you off to them. We could all go out together. They’re the closest thing to family that I have in town.”
“Sure,” Cal said, though she could tell he was a little hesitant. That was more likely due to his discomfort with Summit Falls itself than his discomfort with the idea of meeting her friends. “Make it a kid-friendly place, and Owen and I will be there.”
