Page 16 of The Problem with Falling
I definitely took a cookie.
After relaxingon Theo’s dock for a while, watching the water wave back and forth, I headed back to Molly and Harry’s for dinner. Even though Harry wasn’t feeling his greatest physically, the illness couldn’t steal his joy. He still laughed and made jokes. Sometimes it took him longer to get his words out, but Molly simply stared at him, patiently waiting for his thoughts to complete. Something was so precious about witnessing their love. It had history built into every piece of it.
I’d seen many love stories throughout my travels. I’d seen couples who were meant to be and some who were not so much a perfect match. Yet the best love stories I’d been able to witness were those of my two older sisters and their partners. Avery, my eldest sister, recently married her first love, Nathan, which was one of my favorite love stories to observe. Avery was currently pregnant with twins, which wasn’t shocking. Nathan had two pairs of twin brothers, so the odds were in their favor. Needless to say, Avery was exhausted, but Nathan catered to her like no other. My other sister, Yara, was married to her own grump, Alex. They gave me the sweetest niece, whom I missed more and more as I traveled the world.
I had to admit it was getting harder and harder not being home because I felt like I was missing out on some of the happiest days of my family’s lives. Yet being home also reminded me of how far I was from living the married-with-children lifestyle. There used to be a point when I thought I’d have those things, but the more time passed, the more that felt like nothing more than a dream.
But still, those two couples were a young kind of love. Something new with so much future ahead of them. Molly and Harry were an old-school kind of love story. One that had been through more trials and triumphs than most could’ve imagined. I bet they had stories of hardships that never left the corners of their bedroom. I bet when Harry’s heart was heavy, Molly’s eyes teared up. Their love story had gray hairs to it, each hair telling a story.
With their upcoming wedding anniversary in a few weeks, the two will have been married for sixty years. Sixty years of waking every morning and still saying “I do.”
I’d never even had a relationship last beyond a few months. Let alone sixty years.
I couldn’t imagine how hard it was for Molly to accept that soon, her Harry would no longer be around.
But…he was still here.
Still laughing.
Still breathing.
And that was the gift of each morning.
When Molly asked me to plan her anniversary celebration, I knew I’d have to make it as remarkable as possible. It was even more exciting when they said they wanted it wacky and wild, based onAlice in Wonderland. I already had a million ideas running around in my head. She also wanted Theo to be involved with the party since the location was on his property. He andI would have to get along enough at some point to bring the celebration to life.
I’d tackle my approach with Theo as I tackled everything in life: I’d kill him with kindness.
After dinner with Molly and Harry, I headed back to Theo’s place and sat in the rocking chair on his back porch with my laptop, where I crafted an email.
Every single week, I’d write my father a love letter. It was the promise I’d made him when I turned eighteen and told him I wasn’t going to college, but I’d be a world traveler instead. After he almost had a heart attack over the idea, he agreed to let me go. He was the one who renovated Big Bird for me, too, when I had the silly idea of turning a school bus into a mobile home. That was the thing about my father, though. Even though he didn’t always understand my choices, he always, always supported my freedom of choice.
The only thing he’d ever requested was that I keep him updated with a weekly email so he knew where in the world I’d been. He always called me his Carmen Sandiego, and he’d leave the subject lines of his emails saying things like, “Where in the World is Willow Kingsley?”
We’d been exchanging those emails for almost eight years now, seeing how I was about to turn twenty-six. Whenever I’d send him an email, I’d get one back sooner than I’d think. It was as if Dad sat by his computer, waiting for my letter. And whenever his words would come through, I’d always feel as if I’d received a warm hug from home.
That was what my father’s love did for me—it made me feel less alone when I was driving around the world with no one else nearby. When I was at my lowest, I’d often reread Dad’s emails just to feel a little bit of his love.
He and my two sisters were back in the small town of Honey Creek, Illinois, where I’d grown up. The small-town life wassomething they all excelled at. Yara had her dog spa business, and Avery was the head coach of the baseball team at the local high school. Dad was the town’s construction man. He’d probably built half the town with his bare hands. They thrived in that environment. Me, on the other hand? The small-town life felt suffocating to me after I’d lost a close friend. I struggled to fit into that life, so the second I was given the chance to leave, I took flight.
My papa wasn’t a rolling stone, but I sure rolled around enough for us both.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Willow News Update
Hey Old Man,
I made it to Westin Lake to stay with Molly and her husband, Harry. I can’t believe I’m staying in the same place for more than two months, but I think it’s important. I’m excited to see the small town. On the drive over, I heard a song by Billie Eilish that reminded me of Yara and Avery. It’s called “Birds of a Feather.” Can you squeeze them the next time you see them? And give my niece a snuggle for me, too. How’s Avery handling the pregnancy? I can’t believe she and Nathan are having twins. Touch and kiss her belly if she’ll letyou, which I know she won’t, but you might as well try.
Also, tell Alex I’m not a vegan anymore, and I’ll eat a fish fry in his honor. I’m sure that will thrill him.
Anyway, I love you, Dad.
Tell me something good.
I’ll see you soon.
