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Part of me thinks that this is crazy, that she and I just met, and that it might be better for her if I let her go now, instead of dragging her into a long-distance deal with me, but I’m too selfish for the little bit of peace that she’s brought me over the last few days.
I park my truck and head into the station. Like a few of the places in town, the station boasts a fresh coat of paint, and if I’m not mistaken, the deck has recently been redone. After shoving through the door, I note that the layout is the same, the plaque on the wall for Dad’s office in the same place as always.
I nod to the only ranger in the station before heading toward Dad’s office, and I take note of the little changes that are apparent in the space. There’s a new whiteboard that breaks up the daily assignments for the rangers, and I note that there are only four names on there.
After a two-knuckle rap on the door, I wait for Dad to answer.
“Come in,” he says.
Dad’s sitting behind his desk, clicking through something on the computer. “It’s like a ghost town out there,” I say in greeting.
The corner of Dad’s lip lifts in a half smile. “Yeah. Been like that for the last three years.”
I plop down in the chair. “Who’s that?” I ask, throwing a thumb in the direction of the lobby.
“Jensen. He’s been here for about a year. He mainly works weekends and nights.”
I nod. “I’ll come work for you.”
Dad’s eyes get wider, like he’s surprised. But he shouldn’t be. I can’t let him work himself into an early grave, not when I have the ability to help. Jackson can stand to lose me. He’s got enough rangers to spread the work until he replaces my position. My dad needs me here now.
I hold up a finger. “On the condition that I get to help you implement some of the community outreach programs that will help to keep rangers busy longer than the tourist seasons that we have.”
Dad’s nodding before I finish my sentence. “That’d be fine by me. Do you do that kind of stuff for Jackson?”
“Not really. At least not tied to the station, but I do a lot of community service in Felt. Setting up food pantries, helping to deliver groceries to the elderly, and assisting some of the more disabled residents to be able to live more independently.”
Dad nods. “We don’t have anything like that here yet. Sure, we chip in as a town when someone is in need, but there aren’t any specific programs for that type of thing. At least not tied to the station.”
“I’d like to work with the mayor about starting something like that up.”
Dad grins at me. “I’m sure we can figure something out.”
I knock my knuckles on the desk. “Okay. I’ll have Jackson get started on the transfer paperwork when I get back to town. Are you okay with me staying with you until I find my own place?”
“Of course you can stay with me. That’s your home too.”
Dad’s quiet for a minute before he says, “Your mama would be proud of you. I’m proud of you. You know that, right?”
I do know that. Mom and Dad never failed to make us feel loved and appreciated in our family.
“What about you and Jem? I really like her. Seems like she keeps you on your toes.”
I laugh. “She does. I haven’t talked to her about it yet. She wants to wait until we get back to Felt.”
“Don’t come home to help me at the expense of your own happiness. I don’t want that for you.”
“I know you don’t. Come on. We don’t want to be late to meet the guys.”
Dad’s eyes open wide. “You’re going up the mountain with us?”
Understanding why he’s surprised, I just nod. I haven’t been up there. Not once since Mom passed. I’ve done my own thing back in Felt to remember her. I even went so far as to change the subject anytime one of my brothers brought it up on their sparse trips to Felt.
“Yeah. Jedd said y’all are meeting around one, and we should probably head out now so we’re not late.”
Dad and I pile into his truck, and bump along the service trail up the mountain. I know that Mom’s ashes were spread out here, but I didn’t know that it was so far up.
I should have. Mom always wanted to touch the clouds if she could.
