A heaviness had settled over the dejected troop as we all made the slow trek up the mountain. Most of the parents were carrying enough rations on there back to survive an apocalypse. Note to self, never volunteer to chaperone again, ever. The Sun had yet to come up and I wished that my watch was lying to me, but it was only four am. Willow was leading our little ragtag group as if she did 5k in her sleep. Most of the parents were flanking the kids making sure none got distracted and ran off. I was dead last even behind Valentine. New note to self, go to gym more.
"How you doing back here?" Willow said, jogging back to me.
"Just peachy," I said, forcing a strangled smile. My frame permanently hunched over with the gear that I was pretty sure was just junk food and toys for Rocco.
She jogged in place beside me and it took everything in me not to tell her to stop it. I felt like a zombie next to her. "By the way, last night."
"I heard wolf sounds," I shouted. Apparently loud enough for even Valentine to hear as he turned to me and frowned.
"Right, that was just a prank that the employees like to pull on the parents and kids. It was in the brochure. Didn't anyone read the brochure?" She sounded annoyed, and as a planner myself who could blame her.
"I'm sorry," I said, to her gingerly. The straps of the bags digging into my shoulders. "At least we didn't spread panic."
Willow looked at the back of Valentine's head in deep thought. "Yes totally grateful. You wouldn't happen to be sleeping with him, would you? Maybe fright drove you into his arms in a last man on Earth kind of way."
My mouth dropped open. I expected her to beat around the bush, not come right out and ask. "I don't think its appropriate for you to be asking me that question as my sons teacher."
She shook her head. "No, you're right and I'm sorry Lulu."
"Let's just no mention it at all. It didn't happen," I said sternly as if I were talking to one of my children.
She jogged back to the front of our little troop, and I exhaled in relief.
"What do you want?"
"Oh my God," I jumped. I completely missed him sneaking up on me, while I adjusted my bag for the fifteenth time that day. "Throw off my equilibrium why don't you!"
"A strong wind could topple you right about now," he said, taking the bag off my shoulder without so much as a word. I would have said thank you, but his inner demon would probably throw the bag over the cliff. His eyes trained on his newest target. "So what did Ms. Tate want?"
"Nothing, being friendly," I hedged. That girl didn't need another strike against her where he was concerned. I could handle Willow all on my own. Not that there was anything too handle. She just wasn't a snack charmer. Apparently, its an acquired skill. I gave Valentine a weary smile.
"Just what is up with this Sunrise Hiking agenda. Who planned this camping trip? Some hack hippie. What's next? Kumbaya by the fire. Oh wait, we did that already," he ranted, clearly in a foul mood.
"What's the matter my Valentine, are your scrawny little legs getting too much of a workout? Or maybe you're scared you'll fry in the Sun like the blood-sucking vampire you and most of your family are?" It was just too hard to resist another jab at the man. My thumbs hanging from the belt loops on my khaki hiking shorts. My too cool for school short sleeved t-shirt, a perfect hit with the kids.
"Watch your mouth, smurfette. Your brother was once a part of that family."
It was like a cut to my eyeball. It stung worse than death. I shared a child with the man that killed my brother. Now I was making cheap jabs at him, while we walked up a beautiful mountain with a view that most people would die to see. I was such an idiot.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that."
Diamonds must be falling from the trees because Valentine just said he was sorry. I didn't even want to acknowledge it. Like it was some sort of rare bird that might fly away. Instead, we both stayed silent until we reached the top. Most of the kids drank orange juice cups and ate slices of apples as the Sun came up. The only ones who could really appreciate it the view were the parents. Willow was too busy making sure that everyone was happy with there breakfast snack.
"So beautiful."
"It is," I said turning to Valentine to find him watching me. Surely, he couldn't have meant me. Those types of statements were reserved for the Goddess that was Nina or buying a new suit from Bloomingdales. Was he even capable of seeing the beauty in simple things. I looked away from him, finding it all too overwhelming to think about.
"Rocco, no, that's poison oak!" Willow screamed out.
Poison Oak! Rocco had never had poison oak before, neither had I for that matter. Did I get him vaccinated against that? I didn't have time to even consider any of that before I made a mad dash for him. The silly kid had earphones in. I caught him just before he reached for a ball that had rolled under one of the nearby bushes. But I lost my balance and in the midst of pulling him away, I fell into it. The branches snagged at my hands and arms. I could feel it tugging at my hair as if it wanted to consume me. Something in me told me to stay calm and just stand up. I did, but from the way everyone looked at me, taking a physical step back. It was too late.
Our stay on the mountain was cut short. Not that I felt any guilt about it. If you seen one yellow-orange sun, you done seen them all. But I was miserable and I could already feel my skin crawling with bacteria. It didn't help that everyone was treating me like I had just contracted a deadly disease. I wasn't even allowed to comfort Rocco, who was in such a state now. By the time I got back, they had even requested an ambulance take me to the nearest hospital. I already knew what that doctor would say.
"Papa, do something! I don't want Rocco to have to leave yet," Charlotte said, sorrowfully. The poor guy was blaming himself over all this. I could read in his face, how much this was killing him. He took being the strong man of the house, seriously. In all the fuss, I hadn't been given a chance to comfort him. Everything and everyone was at arm's length.
He made soothing noises with his mouth. "He has to go with your mother. But everything will be fine."
I looked at my daughter, kindly, as EMT's handled me with care. A thick layer of gloves on and a mask over there face. "It's fine Charlotte. I'll be fine and so will Rocco. I'm sorry about all this."
Charlotte pulled on her father's arm as Willow and the other parents ushered the kids away from the scene. "I had chicken pox too and dad nursed me back to health. He's really good with things like that. That's why I know you can let Rocco stay with us and play. It will make him feel better. He can be a silly goose sometimes. But I'll watch him."
She could be so grown up sometimes that it made me smile. But there was no way in hell that I was going to allow Valentine to watch my son. Especially by himself.
"For the safety of the children, ma'am, we can't recommend that you return. Not until you are 100% recovered." The EMT chimed in, helping me up onto a gurney. Rocco must have cried even louder.
"Papa, we can't leave them both alone," Charlotte whined.
He sighed. "I guess we're all taking a road trip."
