The Reunion(16)

“I miss the water too,” Larkin says with a wistful tone. “A lot. I miss going fishing on Sundays with my dad and Beau. Taking the dinghy out on the channel and sharing a box of doughnuts while we sucked down hot chocolate and whispered so we didn’t scare the fish away.”

“Every Sunday?” I ask.

“Every Sunday.” Her shoulder brushes up against mine. “Beau would skip out on occasion, which led to it being more of a thing I did with my dad when we got older.”

“No wonder you were always in Watchful Wanderers,” I say, thinking back to the stories she told me of coming to the store with her dad. Even though we grew up on a small island, I don’t recall seeing Larkin all too much in the store . . . or at school, for that matter. Maybe because I’m older than her, or maybe because I was always in the back of the store with Dad, learning the ropes on the admin side.

“It was our absolute favorite place ever. I remember when I was twelve, going to the store with Dad and checking out the live snake tank you guys had in the front window for Snake Week.”

“Snake Week?” I ask, confused. “I don’t remember . . . wait, was it when Dad was trying to bring snake awareness to hikers?” I scratch the side of my jaw as the store comes into view just over the crest of the road. The triangular log cabin–style roof peaks up, followed by the pitched wooden porch and classic carved bear that rests just out front—a pretty famous bear who’s been featured in hundreds of thousands of pictures.

“I can’t believe you don’t remember Snake Week—it was all the town talked about. Your dad brought in a snake specialist, and every day that week, at seven at night, she’d give advice about each dangerous snake we should stay away from while hiking, and then of course countered that with info on the friendly ones. It was enthralling.”

“Huh,” I say as the food trucks also come into view. “Kind of wish I remembered that.”

“I always wondered why you guys never brought it back. It’s a great promotion and wonderful for the stores to help sell more product. Free lessons, free food, and products for sale. With social media being so big, you could really make a thing. And you could set up displays in each of the stores. Displays that show off the snakes instead of hiding them.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“Well, years ago, Dad, Beau, and I were visiting Colorado Springs to hike the famous Incline, but we also went to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Their reptile exhibit was like an art piece. Each tank was designed to highlight the creatures’ colors with beautiful marble rocks and inspiring sculptures. I’ve never seen anything like it. You could do the same here, maybe use products for the snakes to slither over—carabiners and lanterns and the like—really make an exhibit out of it.”

Jesus . . . she’s so smart.

“That’s actually a really good idea.”

She smirks at me and nudges my shoulder. “Been sitting on that idea for a while.” She points to a red truck. “Gah, the Waffle Machine. Don’t mind if I do.”

She takes off toward the food truck, and I can’t help smiling as she skips right up to the window and waves. I always forget that Larkin grew up here too. She knows the town, she knows the people, she knows the store. She has history here.

“Ford,” she calls out. “They have waffles benedict.” She waves me over.

Chuckling, I join her, and we both put in our orders. “They have coffee in Watchful Wanderers; want me to grab us some?”

“That would be amazing,” she says. “I’ll wait for the food and find a spot to sit. You know how I take my coffee, right?” She grins at me.

“With a dash of creamer. And when you’re feeling feisty, with a teaspoon of sugar.” I raise a brow. “Are you feeling feisty today?”

“Very.” She winks.

“All right, then. Be right back.”

Leaving the food truck area, I make my way to the original Watchful Wanderers store, the place I spent most of my time growing up. The wood porch creaks under my feet, and the familiar scents of pine and dirt fill me up as I pull the brass door handle.

Since it’s early, there aren’t many people milling about, which gives me time to take in the store from the entrance. Extremely outdated, the log walls have an orange tint to them, the maple floors have seen better days, and the clothing racks are one windstorm from being blow over. But it still feels like home despite how unpolished it looks.

“Hey, Ford,” Kevin says as he walks up to me. “Didn’t know you were in town.” Kevin is the original store’s manager and an avid outdoorsman. His knowledge of products and safety by far exceeds anything I know.

“Hey, Kevin.” I give his hand a shake. “Here to celebrate Mom and Dad for the anniversary party.”

“I didn’t think that was for a few weeks.”

“Yeah, decided to come early. We’re working on some business things.”

“Oh?” Kevin asks. “Hopefully good things.”

“Very good things,” I answer and then nod to the back. “Think I could grab some coffee?”

“As if you need to ask. Help yourself.”

I head toward the back while taking in all the gear we have for sale. I hate to admit it, but even though the store feels like home, I’ve never felt more out of place. I should know what that stick thing is over there, but I have no idea. And that round object with the pointy things . . . yeah, no clue. And what about that net? Is that for a bear? It’s huge!