Second time lucky

63

"Where are we going?" His face scrunched up as I winded down the little country roads.

"It's a surprise Riley, that's why I wouldn't let you drive!"

"I understand that, I just .." what he said next almost had me slamming on brakes. "I don't want you to avoid talking about what happened to you."

"I'm not." My face flushed with the lie. "I just want to forget for a little while."

I could feel him watching me as I focused on the road. My hands gripped the wheel a little tighter as the unspoken issue continued to raise the tension in the front of the car. This wasn't how I planned this day to go.

"What?" He asked as if he had heard my thoughts.

"Nothing."

"Britt." He sighed rubbing his hands across his face. "Talk to me, please. I don't need you to shut me out."

"I'm not." I shot back defensively. "I just, I don't want all these things to keep defining my life. I'm not saying I won't talk about it at all, just not today. I need us to have a good day, me and you, without all the other stuff."

There was a few moments of silence before he audibly blew out a long breath. "Okay."

It wasn't his words that told me he was accepting my choice, but his actions. His hand slid into my thigh and squeezed reassuringly. When my hand came down to rest over his he laced out fingers together and I knew that he wouldn't press this further. At least not today.

We spent the rest of the drive listening to country music winding up the mountainside until I reached the parking lot where I would start our little surprise adventure.

I'll admit I didn't have most of it planned out, it was more a spur of the moment decision this morning when the feeling of getting away from reality washed over me.

I parked the car and grabbed my bag, then I glanced over at Riley as I pulled my hand away from his. "Let's go." I smiled.

"I can only imagine what you're about to make me do?" He shook his head with a smile.

I rolled my eyes and pulled him to the trail head, turning quickly and smiling up at him. "Welcome to our hiking day! Me, you, and miles of trails with no distractions and no problems!" I grinned.

"Okay." He smiled back and if I hadn't been paying attention I would have missed the small furrow in his forehead that doubted this whole trip.

I chose to ignore it and together we began the trail head. I wish I could say it was one of those romantic hikes where we held hands and laughed the whole time but it wasn't. The trail was too narrow and the uphill terrain had us both out of breath and unable to speak.

I had chosen wisely. There was no way to think about anything other than the burning in my chest as we finally reached the peak of the trail head and stood on a huge cliff face.

I crouched down before sitting, throwing my legs out in front of me as I reached into my small backpack and took out two water bottles. I handed one to Riley and moaned when the water hit my lips and cooled down my sweat ridden body.

"Are you trying to kill us both?" He asked as he sat down beside me, gulping down his water.

"No, I've just always wanted to do this trail but it's not exactly kid appropriate.

"You're right about that! Probably not December appropriate either" He chuckled as he looked out over the cliff.

I didn't need to explain why the emptiness of a mountain top was soothing to me, or why it helped me get a grip on reality. I think that honestly it was just a reminder that life is bigger than all of us. Every mountain top stood tall and a little different from the rest. Each view was equally as spectacular and yet never the same, even when the trees were bare of leaves preparing for the new life spring would bring.