Page 16

Lark

Sunlight filters through the tall trees, casting playful shadows on emerald grasses in the private park we’re roaming. Our son dashes ahead, his small feet leaving impressions in the soft grass, his laughter floating back to us on the sometimes-swift breeze.

At my side, Lara peeks up at me. There’s a new heat in her eyes, a look that gives me hope for more. To hell with the agreement that we will leave the past there. I’m going to do everything in my power to make her mine. And I’m going to do so by showing her that not only am I an amazing father, but that I’ll be amazing to her, too.

“Look over there, Dad!” Win turns to look at us, pointing toward a patch of wildflowers scattered amongst the well-maintained grasses. The bright joy in his voice warms my insides, and I glance the direction he’s pointing.

“Wow, amazing, buddy!” I say, bending down to his level even though he’s far ahead.

Around us, the park blooms with life; vibrant flowers nod in the breeze, the sweet scent of them mingling with the piney and cut-grasses smells. A wall of trees and bushes edge the park, offering privacy and a feeling of being miles away from the real world.

“Mommy, catch me!” He runs toward her, and she kneels down, opening her arms as the wind toys with her loose hair. She’s never been more beautiful, but I swear I have those words on repeat in my mind most of the time. Her pants fit her thighs perfectly, her slightly loose blouse flowing into her dipped-in waist in a way that’s flattering and makes my mouth water.

“Gotcha!” she says as he leaps into her arms. She laughs, and I just take a moment to study them. Together, they are a picture of carefree joy in a setting of pure nature and beauty.

But I have a surprise for them, and I can’t wait any longer to get started.

“Let's explore over there,” I say, pointing toward an area where the shrubbery creates an alcove.

“Race you!” He's off before I finish my sentence, and I jog after him, Lara by my side. There’s something too perfect in this moment, I almost wonder if this is all a dream. If it is, I’d rather not wake up.

He peeks into the alcove, finding the “treasure map” I’d left behind with his name on it. With a confused look at me, then at his mom, he asks for help. Lara plays along, but I can feel her looking sideways at me.

“It’s time to go on a hunt. The first thing I need you to find is a feather.” Lara’s eyes are sparkling.

I watch as my son, Win, lights up with curiosity and clutches the scavenger hunt list so tightly the paper crinkles. He’s quick to scan the park, and I close my eyes, remembering the list. In my neat handwriting, I’d included items to get him thinking and engaged, but also to lead him to a very specific spot, without being overly obvious.

“Alright, let’s do this!” Win says, his voice filled with determination as Lara stays by his side.

He’s quick to search the edges of the trees, looking for a lose feather that may have drifted down, but no luck. So he moves toward the flowing water that runs through the park, and there he spots a small, white feather. It’s probably from a pigeon, but I don’t care about that. I want to get his little mind working and show him how good he is at problem solving. He picks up the feather carefully and hands it to Lara, who smiles and tucks it into her bag as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“Now, you need a perfectly smooth stone. Hint; check around the water.” Lara’s voice is as curious as our son’s expression, and I wonder if she’s caught on that there’s more to this than there seems.

We all move closer to the water, and I can see little fish darting about, only flashes of white and silver betraying their existence. Win kneels near the edge of the water, his little hands searching through the rocks for a perfectly smooth stone. When he finds one, he adds it to his collection, and I wait to hear the next instructions.

When he’s worked his way through five items, the sixth is read, and I feel my pulse pounding painfully hard. This is where I learn if my gamble paid off… or if I miscalculated. All I know is that I’m ready to see what happens next.

He moves toward the last spot mentioned on the list, though this one is a go to this spot and see if you find anything interesting instruction. He does so, and I catch Lara’s sideways glance. She’s aware something is about to happen, but I can tell she’s not sure what exactly.

She speaks softly to me before chasing after our son. “What did you do?” The words are low, playful, and bring a smile to my lips. There’s no way I’m going to tell her, she’s going to have to find out when Win does. And hopefully she’s not mad.

I watch them, loving every second of their joy. She holds our son's hand as they make their way to the spot indicated in the clue. The scavenger hunt has been a win, I think, and there are so many more ideas I have like this to keep things fun and interesting for our son while helping us make the kind of memories he’ll never forget.

Speaking of memories… I pull out my phone and take pictures of them. I wish I could actually freeze this moment in time to revisit whenever I wish, but this will have to do.

“Look, Dad, look!” He’s moving around, looking around as if he can’t find anything, and I take the cue to rejoin their world.

“You're doing great!” I offer gentle encouragement, wanting to help him build up his sense of self like my mom did for me throughout my childhood.

“It’s a rock,” he says, looking at me like he’s confused, his words as much a question as they are a statement.

“Is it now?” I feign ignorance, scanning our surroundings. “Maybe you need to walk around it, see if you can find another clue.”

His face lights up with the thrill of the hunt, like a miniature explorer ready to conquer new lands. He’s quick to circle the rock, then pulls a folded bit of paper from a crack in the car-sized boulder. As he unfolds the paper, I see him look up into his mother’s face for answers.

“X marks the spot, little man,” she says.

“Like a pirate map?” He sounds excited and she nods.

He darts off and I follow at a much slower pace, inhaling the breeze, committing every detail of this day to memory. I think about the look on his face when she’d told him I’m his dad. I don’t know what I expected, but he just stood up, walked over to me, and wrapped me in a hug. And from there on out, he’s called me dad and we get along like a house on fire.

“Find it yet?” I call out, still walking at my own pace as she hangs back with me.

“Still looking!” he shouts without slowing down, his small legs racing across the soft grass.

With the final clue before him, I take Lara’s hand. I want him to have this achievement all on his own, and she seems to understand. We keep a close eye on him as he searches for where the X on the map leads. The trees overhead bend and sway, their branches shivering in the wind.

Beyond the park, some sounds of the city reach us. An occasional honk of a passing car. A dog barking. A chopper somewhere overhead.

Uncertainty gnaws at me as he comes very close to the final surprise—will he appreciate what’s waiting for him at the end? Lara pulls away, closing the gap between herself and our son, no doubt not liking how far away he’s getting.

“I think I got it,” he says, his tone mingling triumph and uncertainty.

I freeze, anticipation winding up tight within me. Lara pivots on her heel, her gaze meeting mine across the distance. It's a silent conversation, and I can’t quite read the look in her eyes.

Did I overstep? Would she tell me if I did? Does he like the gift?

Then, the world explodes into sound. His delighted squeal shatters my fears about him enjoying the present. I walk over, my heart leaping with each step. He's there, perched in the driver’s seat of a miniature luxury car—a pint-sized Bentley crafted just for him.

“Vroom, vroom!” he exclaims, steering wheel gripped in eager hands.

“Push the button,” I say, and he does so. The engine comes alive, and he instinctively presses the gas. As he moves forward, his giggle is a sound I’ll never forget. A sound of pure excitement, joy, and happiness.

“Do you like it?” I ask, already pretty sure I know the answer.

“I love it!” he shouts the words, his grin so wide it nearly cracks his face in half as he turns the wheel, the tires flattening the grass here and there. The blades are quick to spring back up, and I turn to look at Lara.

But she’s focused on our son. “Can I ride with you?” she asks in a teasing tone, bending down beside him.

“You’re too big, Mom.” He sounds so adult and serious I can’t help but chuckle.

“Guess it's just for super cool drivers then,” she says, throwing me a glance that's both thankful and amused.

“Only the coolest,” I say, relief washing over me. The gift is a hit. And just maybe, so am I.

I close the distance between us, my steps light. “I hope that was okay,” I say softly to Lara as we watch Win driving around, making crazy turns back and forth while making loud engine noises with his mouth.

Her eyes meet mine, a softness there surprising me.

“It can always be a toy that stays at my place...” My voice trails off as I try to read her.

She watches our son, his laughter ringing out across the grass. “He loves it, so I love it,” she says, turning back to me with a smile. “Thank you.”

I reach out, my fingers brushing hers. A shiver passes through her and she inhales, making a tiny sound that instantly has my body hyper-aware of her. She laces her fingers with mine and I squeeze gently.

“There's one more thing,” I say, the words catching slightly in my throat. My other hand slips into my pocket, pulling out the little box that has been on my mind nearly the whole time we’ve been here. I was hoping for a perfect moment, and this feels like the perfect moment.

It's now or never.

She tilts her head, curiosity crossing her features. I press the box into her hand, then plant a quick kiss on her forehead. “This is for you.”

I hold my breath as her hand leaves mine and her slender fingers work at the ribbon, untying the bow with a gentle tug. Thankfully, the velvet box is narrow and rectangular, so it doesn’t give the wrong impression.

She lifts the lid, and I watch her eyes widen—a clear blue with that stormy gray ring.

“Wow,” she whispers, tracing the heart-shaped pendant with a fingertip.

“Turn it over,” I say.

Her hands obey, revealing the initials—our son's initials—etched into the silver. She gasps softly her gaze warm and stunned as she looks at me.

“It's beautiful, Lark,” she says, her voice wavering.

I’d made sure this was a custom piece made just for her. And the reason is simple. “I wanted you to have something special... something to remind you of today.”

She leans in, her head finding the crook of my shoulder, fitting there like it's meant to be. Win’s giggles reach us from where he drives his mini luxury car across the open grass, and everything feels right in the world.

“Thank you,” she says. “This means the world to me.”

Everything I've ever wanted is right here, with her, our son, and this moment. I place a kiss to the top of her head.