Sammy did a quick check of the tires. “The spare still looks fine, but you’ll need to replace it in Deep Haven after this long of a drive.” He climbed into the passenger seat as Robin fired up the engine. “Want an adventure?”
She glanced sideways at him. “Sure?”
“Let’s eat in that rotating restaurant. I’ve never been there. Have you?”
“I’m game. I’ve never been there either. Let’s do it.”
A dark night had fully encompassed them by the time they arrived at the restaurant.
“Whoa. I was not expecting to need sea legs tonight,” Robin said as they stepped into the restaurant. Situated at the top of a hotel in the center of Duluth’s steep hill of a downtown area, the room was ringed by glass windows. Beneath them, the floor spun slowly.
Sammy laughed. “This will take some getting used to. But the 360-degree view of the harbor will be worth it.”
Lights twinkled in from outside. The waiter led them to a table and took their order. They both ordered that evening’s special—almond-crusted walleye with a side of mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam.
After the food arrived, Sammy dipped his head and said a quick prayer for their meal.
“Thank you,” Robin said. “My grandpa used to pray before every meal, but I’ve gotten out of the habit.”
“I’ve always admired your grandparents.” Sammy took a bite of his walleye. The buttery fish melted in his mouth.
“Yeah, they’re pretty great.” Robin pushed some potatoes around on her plate. “They’re basically the only parents I’ve known.”
Sammy remembered a little of the story. “Your parents died in a boating accident, right?” She nodded, kept her eyes on her plate. “I’m sorry. We don’t have to talk about it if it’s too much.”
“No, that’s fine.” She put her fork down. “We were out boating on Lake Superior, just off the harbor in Deep Haven, when a storm came up. I don’t really know much about boats, but Dad was trying to get us in to shore somehow when Mom was knocked overboard.” She hugged her arms around herself. “Dad went in after her but it was too late. Hypothermia. Dad couldn’t get back in the boat either. They’d both been pushed too far away by the waves.” She unwrapped her arms and went back to playing with her fork.
Sammy reached across and took her hand in his. It was freezing. He held it between his hands, rubbing gently. “That must have been awful.”
She looked up, a wetness in her eyes. “It was.”
He reached for her other hand, and she placed it in his. “I’m so sorry.” Her hands began to warm.
“Thank you. The weight of it isn’t so heavy anymore. The grief still hits sometimes, but mostly I remember the good memories.”
“So, is that when you moved in with your grandparents?”
Robin gave his hands a squeeze and let go. She picked up her fork and scooped a bite of fish. “No, first we lived with my mom’s sister in Madison, Wisconsin.”
“It must have been a comfort to live with her.”
“You would think, but it didn’t turn out that way. She used to get so upset with us for making any kind of a mess. She needed everything to be perfect.”
“That would be difficult.” He took a long drink of water, the liquid cooling him a little.
“One time I had decided to make an art project and drew a hundred beautiful flowers. Each one was different and colorful. I was so proud of myself.”
“Seems like a good thing. You were expressing yourself.”
“It was on the wall.”
He barked out a laugh. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t laugh. Your aunt must have been livid.”
“She was. She yelled about how I was ten years old and should know better than to draw on the walls.” The color was high on Robin’s cheeks. “She took us straight to my grandparents the next day and dropped us off. She barely said goodbye.”
“What a terrible thing to do to a hurting kid.”
“I know. I look back now and see that we were a big disruption in her life. She’d just lost a sister and was grieving too. Also, she was a really well-known real estate agent in her area, in high demand. We didn’t really fit into her well-ordered life. I tell myself I can give a little grace because she was in a tough spot.”
