Chapter 12

Elliot was starting to worry about Calvin's 'mother sightings.' He wasn't as concerned when it happened the first time at school but chasing Calvin through Central Park worried him. He knew all too well how many predators were out there who would love to take a young boy who had run off chasing a ghost. He and Olivia couldn't be with Calvin all the time.

Elliot didn't really have an opportunity to talk to Olivia about it in front of Calvin but he decided to take Calvin to the cemetery on their way home. He stopped at a flower shop and left Olivia and Calvin in the car while he ran in and got two white roses. One for Olivia and one for Calvin to leave on his mother's grave.

They drove along the road in the cemetery and parked close to Vivian's grave. It was only one row over from the street. Olivia walked Calvin to her grave, kissed him on the head and left him to talk with his mother. She and Elliot leaned on the car and watched him. Calvin knelt on the ground in front of Vivian's gravestone and traced the engraved letters that spelled out his mother's name. Elliot and Olivia could hear him talking but they couldn't make out what he was saying.

"This was a good idea El," Olivia said quietly. Elliot draped his arm over Olivia's shoulder and pulled her close so he could kiss her forehead. Olivia wrapped her arm around Elliot's back.

"I was thinking," Elliot said. "The kids are on spring break in two weeks, and we always spend the week at Treman State Park."

"Mhmm," Olivia hummed.

"Why don't we invite Mark and Teresa and Tyler?" Elliot suggested.

"That'd be fun," Olivia said. "It's short notice, do you think they'd be able to?"

"Mark owns his own business and Teresa said she wasn't working right now. I think there's a good chance, but all we can do is ask," Elliot said.

"I'll call Teresa this evening," Olivia said. "Maybe we can at least take Tyler."

Calvin stood up and leaned the rose against his mother's gravestone. Elliot walked over and stood behind him and crossed his arms over Calvin's chest.

"You ok?" Elliot asked.

Calvin nodded him head and brushed a few tears off his cheek before turning to face Elliot. Elliot knelt down and ran his thumb under Calvin's eyes, sweeping away the remaining tears. He pulled Calvin in for a hug before walking him back to the car.

/

When they got home Olivia called Teresa while Elliot and Calvin cooked dinner.

"Hi Teresa, it's Olivia. How are you guys doing?"

"Hi Olivia!" Teresa sounded excited to hear from Olivia. "We're doing pretty good. How are you?"

"We're doing great. Elliot and I are enjoying a three day weekend. That doesn't happen very often. So listen, every year over the kid's spring break Elliot and I take them to Robert Treman State Park. Elliot is friends with one of the park rangers up there and he always opens a cabin up for us."

"That sounds like fun," Teresa said.

"Oh, we always have a blast. It's our own little tradition. This will be Calvin's first year so we're really excited. We were wondering if you guys wanted to come along."

"Really?" Teresa asked. Olivia had the impression Teresa didn't have many close friends to do things with. "Spring break is in two weeks? I'll have to check with Mark and see if he can take some time off work, but that sounds like fun. Where is this place?"

"It's over by Ithaca. It's about a four and a half hour drive but it's totally worth it. It is so beautiful there. The waterfalls are breathtaking!"

"I'll talk to Mark and let you know. Thank you for inviting us," Teresa said.

"Great!" Olivia said. "I really hope you guys can make it."

Elliot pulled the van up in front of the cabin in Treman State Park. He and Mark had made the journey with the older children in the van while Olivia and Teresa followed with Eli in the car. Olivia parked the car next to the van. Their cabin was right next to a heavily wooded area with hiking trails leading into it. Not too far from the front door was a breathtaking waterfall that emptied out into the swimming area. Since the cabins weren't yet open to other visitors Elliot was always given the best one. They were close to the swimming area, the best fishing spots, the playgrounds, and the hiking trails, not to mention the beautiful scenic views all around them and the sounds and smells of nature.

They spent their first day gathering the firewood for the fireplace, getting settled into their cabin, and exploring the area.

"Where's the TV?" Calvin asked when they were in for the evening. Elliot was getting the fire going so they wouldn't freeze while they were sleeping. Olivia was getting Eli settled into bed.

"There is no TV Buddy," Elliot told him.

"What!" Calvin asked, shocked.

"Come here," Elliot led him over to the front door. He opened the door and pointed outside. "That is going to be your TV this week." Calvin looked at him strange. "Instead of sitting in front of the TV were going to be out there, we're gonna go fishing, remember we talked about a fishing trip a couple weeks ago? We're going to go hiking, there's a playground you can play on, and you have your friend Tyler here with you..."

"Can we go swimming?" Calvin interrupted.

"We did pack your swimsuit but I'm warning you, the water is going to be really cold."

That's ok," Calvin said shrugging his shoulders. "I can take it."

Elliot laughed at his overconfidence. "Come on, you can help me build the fire."

/

Monday morning after breakfast the group hiked along one of the trails to look at some of the waterfalls. Elliot and Mark spent the afternoon fishing with Dickie, Calvin and Tyler while Olivia and Teresa played on the playground with Lizzie and Eli. Lizzie built an impressive small village out of pine needles, twigs, rocks and anything else she could find. When they were done fishing Tyler and Calvin helped her add onto it while Dickie helped his father clean the fish. The kids played outside together until it got dark while their parents sat at the picnic table and talked and kept an eye on them.

By Tuesday afternoon they couldn't hold the kids off any longer so they let them go swimming. Elliot played in the sand with Eli and Olivia sat on the beach with Mark and Teresa while the kids swam and played under the waterfall. By the time they got out their lips were turning blue. Elliot got a fire going so they could warm up while Mark grilled dinner. Olivia was thrilled to see Calvin opening up to Tyler. She was concerned he would shy away but the two of them were starting to become inseparable.

On Wednesday they hiked the Gorge Trail to see Lucifer Falls. It was a bit of a rough journey but the 115 foot waterfall was worth it. Thursday was their last day in the park before they went home. They spent the day fishing, and playing on the playground and the beach. They let the kids go swimming that afternoon. Thursday evening they drove to Ithaca and treated the kids to pizza for dinner.

They arrived back in Manhattan early Friday afternoon so Elliot could have his kids back to their mother's house in Queens by dinnertime. Elliot and Olivia were tired and sore and ready to take a long hot shower and sleep in their own comfortable bed. Calvin was asleep on the couch, propped up against Olivia by 8:30 that night. After Elliot put him to bed, he and Olivia decided to turn in early that night as well.