Page 70 of New River Gorge(ous)
Brooke’s eyes are fixed on my face when I look up from my phone.
“I’ve got an afternoon planned, if you’re up for it.” I smile at Brooke while June nods approvingly.
“What is it?” Brooke asks.
“Would you like it to be a surprise?”
Brooke shudders. “No. I do not like unplanned activities. I need toknowwhat I’m getting into.”
“Would you like to go rafting?”
“Rafting, like floating? Or rafting, like rapids?”
“Logan and Ben will be with us, too, so white water rapids.”
Brooke frowns. “But is it safe?”
“Can you swim?”
“Yes.”
“Then it’s safe enough.”
Brooke fidgets with her ice cream cone before she draws in a huge breath. “Ok.”
“Excellent,” June says, having finally swallowed her bite of dessert. “Now that I know I am experiencing only memory loss related to age, I’m going to call every person who’s ever offended me and tell them so. It seems like a good way to keep the old brain sharp.”
“Meemaw…” Brooke groans. “He saidcrosswordpuzzlesandsudoku, that sort of thing. Not … please don’t really do that. Please let some things go.”
“Starting with…” June cackles. “My granddaughter who didn’t even invite her friends over for lemonade and let me give them unsolicited parenting advice.”
“Paige and Connor?” Brooke asks. “You wanted to meet them? They were only here for two nights, and she wasn’t feeling very well…”
“I promise I’ll make up for it and give you as much parenting advice as you don’t want when your time comes. Now, you have a hot date to get to.”
The way June’s sassy streak is back in full force causes a laugh to bubble up from my chest. A trip to the specialist resulting ingoodnews was apparently just what she needed to amplify the more ridiculous parts of her personality. Now that I know more about June, about her kindness, her refusal to bow to social norms she thinks are silly, and her determination to live her life fully, I understand that this woman is admirable. She’s not just my annoying neighbor. The doctor assured June that her memory lapses were simply typical for her age. He alsosuggested that while she has all her faculties, she tours assisted living facilities in case she does need help in the future.
June didn’t even bat an eye at that. “I think I’d like a place next to a restaurant so if the food’s bad one day, I can get out and eat something real.”
Dr. Arkin quirked an eyebrow at me while I sat in the hard plastic chair and held Brooke’s hand. Brooke hid her giggle behind her other hand, but after holding space for the stress and worry of the two women it turns out I care most about in the world, the moment went from heavy to lighthearted, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
After June gave Dr. Arkin several more comments, including that he should consider putting his office as far away from the unconstitutional jailers at the post-surgery rehab center next door as possible, we left.
I’m not a sentimental man—it’s not in my DNA—but my dad always believed in celebrating good news with ice cream, and I couldn’t let this moment pass. When I turned into Angie’s Angel Ice Cream and Frozen Treats, June clapped her hands like a little girl, and I knew I’d made the right choice.
Now, watching June and Brooke banter back and forth, and feeling the sun beat down on my neck, something in my heart clicks into place. I’m part of a family. Not one with a vindictive and controlling mother and a father who never had the energy to stand up to her after working demanding hours at his construction company, and then died when I was young. I’m part of a family Iwantto be a part of.
“So,” Brooke says, addressing me. “What does one wear while rafting with locals? I’ve seen what the tourists wear, but I have a feeling rafting with Logan when he’snotworking might be different.”
Brooke’s question makes me think of the flotation devices my not-medically-minded friends would rathernotwear. “Uh … Iguess I should have asked. Are you agoodswimmer? Have you ever swam in rough water?”
“Yes. I grew up on Lake Superior.”
That means nothing to me, but June nods like it’s impressive. “She’s more than a good swimmer, she used to compete and beat everyone.”
“Meemaw…” Brooke gives her a scathing look. “Sorry, I’m pretty strong at swimming, but Meemaw thinks my eighth-grade gold championship medal in the 200-meter freestyle is impressive.”
I snort. “First place is always impressive.”
