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Jacob shook his head and cleared his throat. As he walked toward the others, he asked, “Does anyone need some trail mix?” He held out mini-bags filled with peanuts, raisins, and chocolate chips.
I closed my eyes, inhaling the fresh mountain air.
The hike back down was easy and fast. I stayed back with the sorority girls, making small talk about where they were from and why they decided to do a whitewater rafting and camping trip.
The redhead, Hannah, was the most talkative. “People think that just because we’re in a sorority, we aren’t capable of doing something adventurous. We wanted to prove them wrong.”
She was in front of me on the trail so she couldn’t see my face. Surprised to learn I felt the same, I said, “I know what you mean. I hadn’t wanted to do this trip but my problems seem a little less daunting out here. I’m glad I’m here now.”
She stopped and turned abruptly. I almost ran into her. With raised eyebrows she asked, “Really?”
I nudged her forward, laughing, and said, “Yes, really.”
“But you look so together.” She looked over her shoulder and slowed her pace.
“Funny things, looks.” I stopped on the trail. They both turned and waited. How much could I tell them? I settled on the most recent events. “I haven’t lived up to my family’s expectations. And instead of doing something to change their views of me, I continued to work on my party-girl-socialite image.”
They looked a little confused. Emily asked, “Why is that bad?”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “It’s only bad if you’re doing it to punish others. I’m actually really good at party planning and organizing.” I shrugged. “My parents wanted something different from me, I think.”
Emily spoke softly, “My parents are law professors at Vanderbilt. They expect me to go to law school.” Her voice cracked. “I want to be a travel blogger and they think that’s a waste of time.”
I nodded, thinking about my own Olympic dream crushed, taking my identity with it. I put my hand to my stomach and thought about everything else I’d lost as well.
I reached for her hand. Surprisingly, she let me take it. “Follow your dreams. You’ll land upright.”
Hannah hugged her. “Start taking pictures on this trip. See what happens.”
Emily wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. Maybe I should take my own advice.
“C’mon, let’s catch up with the others. You can help me make dinner.”
We walked single file down the trail. My steps were lighter. I was happier. The girls talked about boys and what kind of pictures Emily could focus on. I heard Hannah mumble, “Start with the hotty, McTotty guide.”
Emily asked, “Jacob or Cody”
Hannah responded, “Both.” They looked at each other and erupted with laughter.
When we returned to camp, it was a flurry of cooking and stretching, joke-telling and card playing.
Jacob and Stephen prepped burgers to grill over the Coleman stove. They talked comfortably. Jacob looked relaxed and Stephen held a beer in his hand. He must have said something funny, because Jacob threw his head back and laughed, the spatula flinging to the side.
When the burgers were finished, Jacob called everyone to the picnic table. Cody spooned country potatoes onto our stainless-steel plates. Everyone reached for buns, and catsup, talking about the day and the wild mountain flowers.
Nora chatted with Cody, and the sorority girls shared secrets with the twins. Jacob and I talked with Stephen about life as a single parent.
“It’s tough, but the girls are really good girls, so they made the transition easier.”
Jacob and I shared a look.
When dinner was over, Cody cleared the plates and took them to the water canister to wash them.
Jacob broke our connection. He addressed the twins. “Hey girls, how do trees make so many friends?”
We all stared at him in anticipation.
He raised his eyebrows. “They branch out.”
