Page 59 of Redeeming Melodies

"Yeah?"

"Make her pay for this."

The line went dead as Tommy reached me, proudly displaying his new friend. "Look Dad! He's got a shell just like the ones I collected!"

"That's awesome, buddy." I crouched down, forcing myself to focus on this moment, on my son's joy. "What are you going to name him?"

"Maybe Jake?" He grinned, completely unaware of how that name hit me.

My chest felt too tight, too full. "Yeah. Jake's a good name."

He had to get out of here. Had to move, had to do something before the weight of Cassidy's news crushed me completely. Jake's voice echoed in my head - something about waterfalls and peace and places worth finding.

"Hey sport?" I watched Tommy carefully return his hermit crab to the beach. "Want to go on an adventure?"

His whole face lit up, and fuck if that didn't make my heart stutter. One month. How many smiles would I miss in a month?

"What kind of adventure?" He bounced on his toes, already excited just from the possibility.

“How about we go to the falls in the woods." His eyes got even wider at Jake's name. Kid had latched onto him like a lifeline, like he somehow knew Jake was someone worth trusting. "Thought maybe we could check them out?"

"Yes!" Tommy practically vibrated with energy. "Can we go now? Right now?"

"Right now." The words felt like a promise. Every second counted now, every moment precious. "Race you to the car?"

Jake's directionswere simple enough - follow the coast road past the old mill, look for the trail marker with the blue arrow. Kind of like racing, really. Find your line, trust your instincts, don't overthink it.

Tommy pressed his face against the window as trees thickened around us, the road narrowing into something wilder. "Dad, look at those rocks! They're huge!"

"Bigger than your hermit crab Jake?"

His giggle filled the car. "Way bigger. Like, a million Jakes could live there."

The parking area wasn't much - just a cleared patch of dirt with a wooden sign marking the trail. But Tommy acted like we'd discovered buried treasure, practically bouncing out of the car.

"This way!" He pointed at the blue arrow, already moving. "Come on, Dad!"

The trail wound through old growth forest, dappled sunlight playing across our path like nature's own light show. Tommy stopped every few feet to examine something new - a weird mushroom, a twisted branch, a rock that sparkled just right.

The sound hit us first - water rushing over rocks, nature's own music. Tommy grabbed my hand, tugging me faster.

"I hear it! Dad, I hear it!"

We rounded one last bend and there it was. The falls cascaded down dark rocks worn smooth by centuries of water, creating a symphony of sound and motion. The pool at the bottom gleamed crystal clear, catching sunlight like scattered diamonds.

"Wow." Tommy's voice came out hushed, like he was in church. "It's magic."

"Yeah, buddy." My throat felt tight watching him take it all in. "Pretty magical."

He found a perfect climbing rock near the water's edge, settling in like he belonged there. Following his lead, I sat beside him, letting the steady rush of falling water wash over us.

"Dad?"

"Yeah, sport?"

"Can we come here every day?" His eyes stayed fixed on the falls, but something in his voice caught. "When I visit?"

Fuck. My heart cracked a little more. "Many times as you want, buddy. This can be our spot."

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