Page 60 of Catch My Fall

“How old was he here?” Sierra asks, pointing to one of the photos.

“About four years old. He was always getting into mischief, and unfortunately for her, that day he chose to experiment with his mom’s beloved paints.”

“Oh my God! That’s classic!” Sierra howls, tears streaming down her face as she clutches her stomach.

I know exactly which photo they’re looking at. It’s one of me covered head to toe in a rainbow of colours. Apparently I’d snuck into my mom’s office which doubled as her art room and subsequently taken a liking to the dozens of coloured paints.

“You were so cute when you were little,” she says, her eyes lifting to mine, so much sincerity and warmth in her gaze.

“Are you saying I’m not cute now?” I tease, taking a swig of my beer.

“I have a dozen words for you, but cute’s not one of them.”

“Oh yeah?”

She nods. “I’ll tell you later,” she mouths silently before turning back to the albums.

“Oh! Now this was Alec and Daniel’s first lobster festival.”

“A lobster festival? What’s that?” Si asks.

“Takes place over a few days here in Maine. There’s food, games and contests, a parade. It’s coming up in a couple weeks. We go every year but this year’s set to be the biggest yet!”

“You still go to that?” I ask.

“Every year. Daniel and his wife, Steph, you remember her, Al? They bring their son, Sam and we all head up together. If you’re staying a while, the two of you are welcome to join us. I’m sure Daniel and Steph would love to see you again.”

Steph was our childhood friend. Whenever me and my parents came here to visit, Daniel and I were inseparable, more like brothers than cousins, and no matter where we went, there was Steph. It was always the three of us against the world. It doesn’t surprise me in the slightest that he made her his wife.

“That sounds amazing. Can we go?” Si asks me.

“I’ll think about it.”

I glance out the window to see the sun beginning to set. Have we really been here all day?

“We should probably think about heading off. Get out of your hair,” I say.

“Maybe you’re right.”

As we step out onto the front porch, Sierra turns to Ray and throws her arms around his neck. “Thanks again for today, I’ve had a great time.”

“Me too, sweetheart.”

Sierra heads for the car as I turn back to my uncle. “I know this is long overdue, and I should have come to see you sooner, but… thank you. For everything you did for me back then. I know I didn’t show it and I made your life hell, but I want you to know how much I appreciate you. And joining the Marines was one of the best things I’ve ever done.”

There are tears welling in his eyes. “You never have to thank me, son. You’re family. You’re my brother’s boy and I love you like you’re my own. Always have. What I did back then, giving you that choice like that was the hardest thing I ever did, but sometimes it’s the hardest choices that have the best outcomes, and I’m so happy it worked out for you.”

He brings me in for a hug, and neither one of us speaks as we embrace, everything we need to say is in this hug. I love you.

“Don’t be a stranger, you hear? And promise me you won’t let that girl go, it’d be a damn shame if you let her slip through your fingers. She looks at you like you’re her hero and you look at her like she’s your everything.”

“Are we that transparent?”

“No, but I know the look of love when I see it.”

24

My heart pounds in my chest as I check my reflection in the full length mirror in my bedroom, my hands shaking with a mix of nerves and excitement as they brush over the lacy material that covers the most intimate parts of myself.

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