Page 23 of Project: FU (Longwood U #3)

“Always think about the future, but don’t get so hung up on it that you’re missing what’s happening right now.

Every day, look around you and imagine yourself in the fields that you pass.

For instance, someone keeps up the trails here.

Someone keeps the grass mowed. Someone maintains the gardens.

Is one of those positions interesting? You can take a step back from that and realize that someone designed this park—does that job sound interesting?

Then there are the people who brought that design to life.

Is that interesting? There are people who take pictures of the park for the website—does spending your days taking stunning photos of nature make you happy?

Does building the website where you see those photos and read up on the park’s history, events, and so forth sound like something you’re interested in? ”

“Huh. I guess I never thought about any of those jobs,” Hannah says. “I look around and only see a park.”

“Most people do. But I promise you, everywhere you go, everything you’re doing, someone has come before you to make that possible. Probably a whole host of people at different levels and at different stages. There’s a lot to think about.”

I can feel the lightness in Hannah once I open her eyes to a world of workers she doesn’t see. Her shoulders relax, and there’s a slight skip in her step, as if she’s gotten lighter, and if she’s not careful, she’ll float away.

Rachel’s in the kitchen when we get home. Hannah kisses her mother’s cheek, grabs an apple, and heads upstairs.

“Have a good breakfast?” Rachel asks.

I nod, my attention snagged on my sons in the backyard. Skye is sitting on one of the double-seaters, and Orion practically falls on him. He wraps an arm around Skye’s shoulders, his usual big smile on his face.

Skye very obviously rolls his eyes, even though I can’t see it from here. He shoves at Orion, but not in a way to make him get off. It’s playful, more than insistent. They don’t separate as they talk. Seeing them always makes me smile.

“You do something with the boys?” I ask.

“We went to the nursery and shopped for the garden.”

I turn my attention to her, and she laughs. “I offered to do literally anything else, but they insisted that this is the time of year I do my garden shopping, so here we are.”

“They’re a few months off,” I point out.

Rachel grins. “I know.”

“Does this mean we need a greenhouse to keep the plants alive?”

“I ordered one when we got home.”

“Good to know.”

I wash my hands as I watch my boys. They’ve always been close, something I loved to see growing up. I love it even more that their relationship continues to be strong into adulthood.

“This feels better,” Rachel says.

My attention turns to her. “What does?”

“This. You and me. We finally unloaded all that baggage. I feel like I’ve lost eighty pounds.”

“Don’t do that. You’ll fade away.”

“Mm. Always the smooth talker.”

I grin and kiss her cheek. “This does feel better. Just a couple weeks ago, we’d not have said a word to each other. I’m glad we’re talking about it.”

“It was the longest silent standoff in history. Sad, isn’t it?”

“Very. I hate that we let it go on so long.”

“I think I feel even better knowing this is the right decision.”

“It was the right decision a decade ago. We’re just late to the punch.”

“Late. Story of my life.”

I laugh, shoving her playfully. Her smile is big. Real. One I’ve missed. Maybe there’s a chance we can repair the friendship we lost.

Orion’s loud laughter has us both turning to the open window. He has Skye’s head in his arms as if he’s going to give him a noogie, though Skye isn’t struggling as he had when he was younger.

“You better go split them up. Tell them they’re too old for roughhousing and someone will break a hip.”

Chuckling, I do as I’m told and head outside. Orion looks up as I approach, his smile getting wider. “Hey, Dad.”

Skye pushes against Orion’s hold to meet my eyes, too. He looks harassed, but not entirely bothered.

“Mom says you’re too old for this. With old age comes brittle bones, and you’re going to break a hip.”

Skye snorts, but Orion laughs again. He lets his brother go but remains right tight to his side. I join them in the chair perpendicular to where they’re sitting.

“I hear you went shopping with Mom.”

“I think we misunderstood our timeframe for planting season,” Skye says. “I realized on our way home that there aren’t many gardens right now.”

“We’re going to be surrounded by plant carcasses,” Orion adds.

“No. You just made yourself a new project. When Mom’s new greenhouse arrives, you’ll need to put it together.”

The boys smile.

“Deal,” Orion says.

“What’s up for the rest of the day?” I ask.

“How about we get dirty?”

Skye gives him a wary look, which I try not to laugh at. Orion beams, waggling his eyebrows. “My motorcycle. Don’t be so mind-in-gutter, Skye.”

Skye rolls his eyes.

“If you don’t want to get dirty, though, you can still hang out with us,” Orion says. “I want you to.”

That makes his brother smile softly. “Thanks. I have a paper to write, but I can bring it to the garage.”

“Cool.”

“Cool,” I repeat. No better way to spend the afternoon than with my sons. Although I think it would be really great if Nolan were here, too. I can see him standing over the motorcycle, telling us what to do.

Maybe someday.