Page 301 of Mountain Grump
Eventually, the line of cars slows, and I can see we’ve reached a parking lot.
Someone in a uniform is directing the drivers.
As I get closer, I roll my window down. And not knowing if he’s told his coworkers about us, I force a smile onto my face.
Liza grins at me as I stop beside her. “Welcome to Opening Day.”
My nervousness mixes with curiosity. “Of what?”
“You’ll see.” She holds an arm out. “Follow the car ahead of you and park on the right.”
She’s still grinning as I pull away, and in my side mirror, I watch her lift a walkie-talkie to her mouth.
Opening day of what?
The lot is gravel, like the road, and it doesn’t have any lines painted on it, but I park as directed, then get out of my truck.
The October air is cool, but the sun is out, so I decide to leave my jean jacket on the seat.
I didn’t know what to wear today. I still don’t even know what this place is.
But I know I’ll see Ethan. So I took my time getting ready.
And I decided today was a fresh start.
A big deal.
Possibly a celebration.
So I wore my white dress.
The one I wore the first time I visited the park. The first time I got to wear his fancy hat.
Keeping my aviators on, I shut my truck door.
I follow the other people as they walk to the front of the lot. And I keep following them down another path that leads away from the parking lot, toward the forest.
The gravel walkway is wide, and the edges are manicured. The wood chips circling the flower beds look like they were just laid out.
It’s Opening Day, and whatever this place is, they clearly just finished building it.
My steps slow and my heartbeat jumps.
I turn my head, looking at the flowers on the other side of the path too.
There are different types.
Different sizes.
But all shades of purple.
It can’t be for me.
It’s a coincidence.
I bite my lip as I keep walking.
As I keep passing more purple blooms.
