Page 7 of Take Me to the Valley

Every time I would talk to Mom on the phone, she’d swear up and down they are fine, and she is able to keep up. But then I’d get a different story from my brothers. So, I figure before I make too many plans I should see my parents with my own eyes. After my brother's go to the distillery for the day, I'm having brunch with them so there is no chance of the guys popping in. I don't want them trying to influence my opinion of how our parents are doing.

As a nurse, one thing I learned is to assess a patient one-on-one because the parents or the child will make things worse than they are or feed you a different narrative. After that, I talk to the caretakers and sometimes they have more info, but most of the time they are worried over something small.

When I pull into my childhood home, I find my dad sitting on the front porch swing with his dog, Wolfgang, lying with his head in my dad's lap. Wolfgang is a scary looking German Shepard with a heart of gold. But don't let it fool you, he's protective too. A person working on the power line found out the hard way when they walked into the yard where they weren't supposed to be.

When I pull in, Wolfgang jumps up and barks until I step out of the car. He knows me from all the times my parents brought him to visit, so soon as he realizes who it is, he runs down the porch to greet me, covering me in slobber.

“Hey, sweet pea. Looks like he's as happy for you to be here as I am.” Dad stands to greet me as I walk up on the porch.

Though he's a little slow to get up, he’s steady on his feet once he's up. Dad wraps me in a tight hug as Wolfgang pushes between us to get in on the action.

“Missed you. So glad you're home,” Dad says as he holds me tight.

“Missed you too,” I whisper, fighting back tears at the sound of the emotion in my dad's voice.

“Well, let's head inside and let your mom fawn all over you,” Dad says as we pull away. Before going inside, we both pet Wolfgang and give him the attention he thinks he deserves.

“She's here!” Dad calls out and the noise in the kitchen stops. My mom comes running down the hallway in her 1950s style dress with her apron swooshing around her. She was the original pin-up girl before it was really a thing.

“Oh, you're here!” She pulls me into a hug. “Your brothers said you looked good, but you know how they are,” she waves her hand and goes back to the kitchen.

The other day, my brothers came and helped me unpack and move into the apartment. They insisted that Mom and Dad stay home. We all agreed we didn't want them going up and down the stairs since they’re steep. I like that my place is directly above one of the shops.

My brothers are already trying to convince me to move in with the parents instead of staying in town. Hence my visit today before I make my choice.

“Come, keep me company. The food will be done shortly,” Mom calls to me.

Dad and I follow her to the back of the house where the kitchen opens to a large dining room. Beyond that, we have a spacious great room that easily fits all of us. The fireplace is going, and the dining room table is already set for three. Dad and I sit at thekitchen island because Mom doesn't want us in her way. But she wants us near so she can talk.

“Now, I'm not happy you snuck into town in the dead of night, but I'm glad you were there to help that poor woman!” Mom says as she stirs the gravy on the stove.

“Evan called and told me she is doing fine. She was very lucky,” I say.

My parents exchange a look that I can't read before my mom continues.

“Why did Evan call you?” she asks casually.

“Because I asked him to update me when he knew. I was worried and she was really out of it when they loaded her into the ambulance. How did you find out about all this?”

“Small town, sweetheart. Evan called Cody, but I also heard it from Judy, who also called to make sure you were okay too,” Mom says.

“Even Jack heard about it and called to check in,” Dad says.

Jack owns the outdoor store, which also serves as the hub where everyone goes for information, as well as to order items they can't get in town. The families that live in the mountains rely heavily on him. In addition, he also sells many handmade items there that town’s people make.

He gets a lot of his business from tourists on their way from Yellowstone National Park to Glacier National Park or vice versa, since we are a good stop between the two.

Once my mom serves breakfast at the table, we talk and catch up before my dad and I take over cleaning. Dad always said if my mom cooks, she isn't cleaning the kitchen too. Once the kitchen is clean, we join Mom on the couch by the fire.

“You know, your sons made it seem like you two were on death’s door and wouldn't survive without me moving in to help,” I say sarcastically.

They both start laughing.

“I had a feeling they would go that route. We were all talking about how much we missed you. Once we found out you were between jobs they started their scheming to get you home,” Dad says.

“We won't be running in the Boston marathon anytime soon, but we are doing fine. You room is ready for you whenever you want it,” Mom says.

“I think I want to get my own place in town. I have the apartment until spring, so I have time to look for my own space.”

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