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It only took a few minutes to realize none of us actually knew what we were doing. That wasn’t very surprising for the toddlers in the group, but Tori and I weren’t any more help than they were.
After our third wrong turn, Tori threw up her hands in frustration. “That’s it. It looks like we’re stuck in here forever.” She sat down right where she was standing and let out a long sigh.
“Forever?” Emery looked up at me with wide eyes. “If we’re here forever, we’ll miss trick-or-treating!”
“Don’t worry. Your Aunt Tori is just being dramatic.” I tried to glare at Tori, but couldn’t stop myself from smiling. “We’ll find our way out of here. I promise.”
As if things couldn’t get worse, it started to sprinkle. The little bit of warm rain didn’t feel bad to me, but Bella screamed as soon as the first drop hit her.
“Well, this is going great,” I whispered under my breath.
I was about to lose all hope as well, when I saw a rainbow form out in the distance. Words that Willow said years ago immediately popped into my head. “I’ll be the rainbow that shows up after the storm.” This wasn’t exactly a storm, but I still had no question that was Willow trying to lead the way for us. Willow—the woman who actually happened to be very good at corn mazes.
I pointed to the rainbow and laughed as I looked down at Emery. “I think your mommy is trying to help show us the way out.” I focused on Tori next. “I know it sounds crazy, but I think we need to follow the rainbow.”
Tori jumped to her feet and wiped off her pants. “You heard the woman. Let’s follow the rainbow.”
I guess I wasn’t actually that crazy, because following the rainbow worked. Five minutes later, we were out of the corn maze. Sure, we went back out the entrance, but at least we were out.
“I’m beat,” Emery said as soon as she walked out. “Can we go home?”
“Of course.” I scooped Emery into my arms. “And do you know who’s going to be at the house soon?”
“Who?” Emery wiggled around in my arms.
“Meemaw and Peepaw.” It still made me laugh that my parents were actually okay with those ridiculous names.
“Yay!” Emery wiggled around even more now. “Let’s go!”
Less than a half hour after we got back to the house, my parents arrived. After catching up for a few minutes, Tori asked if I was ready to get my things together and head to the barn.
“You girls should just stay there tonight,” my mom said as I went to stand from the couch. “We can get the girls to school tomorrow.”
“Oh no. That’s fine. I have to get up for work tomorrow, so I’m not planning on doing anything crazy tonight.”
“Still. No sense walking back here after dark. There’s more than enough space for you two to stay at the barn, right?”
“Yeah, definitely.”
“Then stay. Please. I need some time with my granddaughter without her old mama around.”
Emery jumped off of my mom’s lap and stared up at me with her hands on her hips. “Yeah, Mama, stay. I want Meemaw to take me to school.”
I put my hands in the air as if I was surrendering. “Fine. We will stay at the barn.”
“Are you sure?” Tori asked my mom. “I feel bad making you take responsibility for my daughter too.”
“It’s nothing. Bella is just as much of a granddaughter to me as Emery is.”
“That’s really sweet of you to say.” There was a crack in Tori’s voice, and I could tell she was trying not to cry.
“Do you think your mom really meant that?” Tori asked as soon as we loaded our bags into her car. “You know, about considering Bella her granddaughter.”
I opened my door and took my spot behind the wheel of my car. “Seeing as how I have never heard my mom say something just to be nice, I’d say she definitely meant it. Emery and Bella are practically sisters. It makes sense my mom would see her as a granddaughter. She’s definitely more than just your daughter to me.”
Tori blinked her eyes rapidly as she stared straight ahead. “So, was this your plan? Make me cry on my birthday weekend?”
“I promise it wasn’t, but crying isn’t a bad thing. Especially when they’re happy tears.”
