Page 10 of Take Me to the Valley

Every summer, we go on a small trip. Just her and me. Last year it was down to Bozeman, Montana because she was obsessed with dinosaurs, and we did the museum there and part of the dinosaur trail. Though I don't start planning anything until a few months ahead of time because she changes her mind at the drop of a hat.

We go inside the store and grab a cart. She likes to push the cart, and I steer to make sure she doesn't crash into anyone. I pull up the list on my phone that I had made over the last few days with dinners to get us through the weekend. When we get to the baking aisle, we look for items to make her mini version of a unicorn sundae.

“Look daddy! Glitter sprinkles! They have them!” Skye jumps and points to them on the shelf.

“You know, I think I'd have reacted the same way if they had glitter sprinkles when I was a kid,” a familiar voice says behind me.

I turn to find Calista with a big smile lighting up her face. What I didn’t expect was for my heart to skip a beat. She’s in a long flowy shirt and a skirt that hugs all her curves. Her long, dark glossy hair is in a fancy braid, not a normal one. She doesn't look like she has a stitch of makeup on, other than lip gloss.

“You always were glitter obsessed,” I joke and reach for the glitter sprinkles.

“Daddy, who is that?” Skye says, pressing herself into my side.

“This is Calista, Cody's sister. And this is my daughter, Skye,” I say introducing the two.

“You look different than the photo on Nana's mantle.” Skye carefully examines the woman in front of us.

She does look different. The photo was taken the year she graduated from high school. Calista has since filled out, and grown curves I'd kill to get my hands on. In the pictures she’s got on a boho style dress over her jeans. Usually she had on a t-shirt with her favorite pair of holey jeans.

“That photo was over ten years ago. You should have seen your dad back then,” Calista laughs.

“I really like your hair. I have picture day tomorrow and I wish my daddy could do my hair like that, but he can't even braid,” Skye says sadly.

“I'm learning!” I say, trying to defend myself.

“Dad, half my hair fell out when you put the hair tie in. It was a good try though,” Skye says patting my arm.

“Picture day is important. If it's okay with your dad, I can meet you before school and do your hair,” Calista says. Then she freezes and gives me an apologetic look.

I can tell she feels like she overstepped, but the smile on my little girl’s face is totally worth it.

“Can she? Please, Daddy?” Skye asks with all her exuberance and enthusiasm back.

“Are you sure it's not too much trouble? It would be around seven a.m.,” I tell Calista.

“I mean, I live in the apartment over the shops the next block over, so that’s not a big deal. You'd be surprised because I've switched to be more of a morning person over the years.”

Calisa used to be such a night owl. She would stay up well past midnight and hate getting up early for school or any other reason. As soon as she could drive and get coffee herself, she became a coffee addict. Her parents wouldn't let her make any athome because they tried to prevent her from getting dependent on it like her dad, but it didn't work.

“Can she please, Daddy?”

Skye so excited I can't say no. “If you are willing, that would be amazing,” I say.

We make arrangements for her to meet us in the parking lot of the elementary school the next morning. I can feel the excitement radiating off of Skye. It will be good for her to have another woman in her life, I keep telling myself.

“I'm so excited. Daddy does try, but well, he’s a boy and boys don't do hair very good,” Skye says to Calista like I’m not there and they are best buddies wrapped up in a conversation.

“Come on, princess. Let's go find the rest of the stuff for your unicorn sundae.” I say, pulling her attention from Calista, who shoots me a puzzling look.

“I didn't know what a unicorn sundae was until your mom showed me. So, blame her when we are both in sugar comas tomorrow,” I wink at her.

Then, taking Skye's hand, I lead her down the aisle saying our goodbyes to Calista.

“I like her Daddy. She is really pretty,” Skye says when we are in the next aisle. “Did you grow up with her like you did with Uncle Cody?”

“Yeah, but she was older than us, so we didn't hang out with her much. Then she left for college before I was in high school,” I tell her.

We find enough items to make a baby unicorn sundae as Skye is now calling it. Finally, we’ve found everything on our list and we go home with the rest of our groceries.

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