Page 6 of Now and Forever

“It’s no different than going to Florence over and over. If you enjoy something, you want to do it more than once.”

Seth barked out a laugh. “Yeah. I can think of a few things I like doing with you more than once.”

Malcolm laughed along with Seth. “The feeling’s mutual. Come on. Let’s check out the views and the center.”

Seth shaded his eyes as he dropped from the truck. The sky was a beautiful blue with scant clouds, the higher elevation keeping most of the haze at bay. Malcolm fished in the center console until he located the case with Seth’s sunglasses. He made his way around the front of the vehicle then tapped Seth’s shoulder. His boy was lost in the scenery of the Shasta Valley and the Klamath River.

“C’mere, let’s put these on.”

Seth tore his gaze from the surroundings. “Oh! Thanks.” He slipped them on then smiled at Malcolm. “Can we take a picture? A selfie?”

“Absolutely.” Malcolm grinned. “I was going to insist.”

They posed in the exact spot Seth requested, Malcolm pulling his boy to his side by his waist. Then, they took several pics to make sure they got the perfect one to add to their digital frame. After looking around outside a bit more and taking a restroom break, they wandered into the building that housed the information center with a variety of maps—as well as pamphlets describing local attractions.

Malcolm quietly observed which ones Seth seemed the most interested in. One of Seth’s ongoing struggles was trying to decide what he wanted to do after he completed his GED. His original idea of working with kids had fallen by the wayside. At a certain point, Seth had confessed that he didn’t want to teach and wasn’t ready to become a teacher’s aide either. Malcolm was fine with Seth staying at home, didn’t mind if he didn’t work. But if Seth found something he was on fire to pursue, Malcolm would support his decision. Seth wasn’t a lazy man, he liked keeping busy. If nothing else, Malcolm hoped he could help Seth discover an outlet he’d enjoy that went beyond cooking and cleaning.

Seth sidled over to him with a brochure. “Have you been here before? Not that we have time to do it today, but I was wondering.”

Malcolm took the pamphlet about the tourist attraction from him. “Actually, I haven’t. But I wouldn’t mind checking it out sometime. Do you like history museums?”

Seth peered over Malcolm’s shoulder. “I’ve only been to one and I barely remember it. We went to a history museum when I was in the second grade, on a field trip. It was right before my mom got so sick for the last time, and she’d signed the permission slip. My father was furious.” Seth pointed to a picture of a covered wagon. “I do remember there were some of these, and we were allowed to climb on them. It was exciting. Different. Made me curious about what those settlers went through, what it was like back then.”

Malcolm had the tendency to hesitate when it came to asking for too many details regarding Seth’s father. However, Seth had been the one to bring up the subject.

“Why would your father be upset about you going to a museum?”

Seth let out a sigh. “Like so many things when it came to him, I never understood. Looking back on it now, I’m guessing it had something to do with the place being called a ‘Natural’ museum. You know, like it would put those satanic ideas of evolution or something into my head.”

Malcolm resisted rolling his eyes. “I’m guessing he wasn’t much of a museum guy.” He handed the brochure back to Seth. “Why don’t you hang onto this. Then we can add it to the list of places we’d like to visit sometime.”

Seth’s features brightened and, after they’d gathered a few more pamphlets advertising adventures that might find of interest, they headed back to the truck. They climbed into the vehicle then headed to the diner that was only a few minutes away. After arriving and parking, they made their way inside the rustic, country diner. Malcolm mentally filed away another trip for them that summer. They could stay at the motel next to the restaurant, then visit the little museum Seth wanted to see. Yreka would also be a great area to get in some hiking.

Malcolm was looking forward to seeing his parents and excited they would finally be meeting Seth. But to have his boy all to himself on a getaway—those were some of his favorite moments.

They were seated quickly, and Seth seemed to be in awe of the menu. Malcolm wasn’t sure if it was due to the selections, or the way the menu mimicked an old newspaper from the late 1800s.

“This place is awesome, Da—” Seth pursed his lips. “Malcolm.”

Malcolm snort-laughed and Seth gave him a frown.

“I’m sorry, baby. It’s how you said my name, as if you had something nasty in your mouth.”

Seth chuckled. “Yeah, I guess it did kinda sound like that.”

“It’s okay. Like I said before, you don’t need to use my name at all, unless you need to get my attention from across the room or something.” They were seated facing each other in a wooden bench seat booth with tall panels that separated them from the other tables. Malcolm laid his hand down on the polished wood surface, palm up. He waited for Seth to accept his unspoken offer. “How does that sound?”

Seth placed his palm over Malcolm’s “I’ll do my best.”

Malcolm gave Seth’s fingers a squeeze. “I know you will. But no matter what happens, I won’t be mad. Right?”

Seth nodded. “Right.”

Malcolm grinned. “Okay, then what looks good to you? You said you love diners earlier, so I’m guessing you have a few favorites you typically get?”

Seth wouldn’t meet his gaze. Instead, he stared vacantly at the menu. “My mom would always order the chicken pot pie for me. I don’t think I’ve had one since then. I mean, other than the cheap frozen kind. Eating at the diner was something special for us to do as a family, to go there once a month. If we’d been good the week before we went, and done all our chores, we’d even get a piece of pie with ice cream.”

Malcolm rubbed his forehead. As always, when Seth would share a childhood memory that caused his boy pain, Malcolm’s rage meter would spike. But he kept himself under control most of the time. These days, Seth had reached the point where he could simply share a story from his past without falling apart. There might be a tinge of melancholy as he’d relay the experience, but Seth had learned that what happened then didn’t have to inform what his life was now.

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