Page 71 of Riverside Reverie

“How was work?” I asked him. He was still covered in grime from his shift. Usually, when Desmond got home after working a night shift, he stayed up long enough to eat something before showering and crashing.

“Same old,” he replied, shrugging. “Wish I’d had the foresight to book extra days off. I’m still beat from camping.”

“Yeah,” I chuckled. I hadn’t had a vacation in so long. Sure, I’d travelled for work, but those trips weren’t exactly restful, so I’d decided to take the full two weeks off. I certainly wasn’t regretting it now, since it gave me the opportunity to spend more time with Lux.

“Got any exciting plans for today?” Desmond asked us both as Lux handed me a plate.

“No,” Lux replied at the same time I said “Maybe,” and looked at her. Her curious gaze shot to me. “I figured I’d see how you felt about going on a day date.”

“Where?”

“To Science North. I feel the pressing urge to take you to a few of Sudbury’s finest attractions.” I grinned.

“You don’t have to woo me on the idea of Sudbury, I’ve already decided that I’m moving here,” she reminded me with a smile.

“I know, but if you’re going to be a resident of Sudbury, you’re going to have to check out the attractions.”

“Hmm, well. I suppose you’re right,” Lux smiled.

“Well, I’ll leave you guys to it then. I’m beat,” Desmond said, yawning. “Thanks again for breakfast, Lux.”

“My pleasure,” she smiled. Desmond headed down the hall to his room, leaving us alone with our breakfast. We ate, then took turns showering and getting ready for the day.

It was all very domestic, and I loved it. It’d been a while since I’d last had a serious relationship, but I couldn’t remember ever feeling this…ease. Although I’d only known Lux for a short while, being with her felt right.

After we were both dressed and ready, we headed out to my car to go to Science North.

“This is one of my favourite places,” I admitted to her on the drive over. “My grandpa used to take my sister and me all the time.”

“Does your sister still live nearby?”

“No, actually. She moved to Alberta a couple of years ago,” I replied. “She still comes home for Christmas, but she’s the manager of parks and recreation in Bonnyville.”

“Oh, so she has a diploma in nature too,” Lux teased.

I let out a chuckle, shaking my head. “I guess you could say that.”

“Do your parents still live in Sudbury?” she asked, twisting in her seat so she was facing me. The wind from the open car windows lifted her long locks, blowing her hair around her face. She tried to tuck it behind her ears.

“Yeah, they do. They still live in the house I grew up in. Both are too stubborn to retire, but they take more vacations now. Usually to see Olivia.”

“Olivia…that’s your sister’s name?” I nodded. “It’s pretty. Are you guys close?”

“We’re not super close, she’s four years younger than me. We don’t really confide in one another, but we get along well. She’s great. Adventurous, and fiercely independent.”

Lux let out a wistful sigh, the sound of it pulling my eyes from the road to her for a moment. “I’m always so envious of other peoples’ easy-going sibling relationships, I’ve yet to meet anyone who has as many issues with their siblings as I do.”

I didn’t know what to say. Keeping my left hand on the steering wheel, I reached over to place my hand on Lux’s thigh and gave her a gentle squeeze. “Maybe Brinley will grow up one day, and you two could repair your relationship.”

“Maybe,” Lux hedged, her expression uncertain, like she didn’t believe it.

Before I could say anything else, the Science North facility came into view. I put on my turn signal and waited for a break in traffic to pull into the parking lot. We found a spot and headed in.

“Have you ever been to the Science Centre in Toronto?” I asked as we waited in line to pay for our entrance, my hand resting on the small of her back.

“Yeah, a few times for school field trips. Haven’t been since I was in public school, though,” Lux replied, glancing at me. “Have you been?”

“Once, back when I was a kid. My grandpa used to watch us during the summers, and he’d take us on all kinds of adventures. Usually local, but a few times, he took us to Toronto. We also went to Ontario Place once.”

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