Matt's POV
We follow Uncle Andrew into the study. I'm sure dad and Uncle Joe have questions. Uncle Andrew looks my way and I take it that it's my turn to tell them what I know.
"Do they know where she was?" I ask looking at Uncle Andrew. He shakes his head no. I sigh. "Tris lied. She didn't go trekking through Europe. She went to Nepal."
"Please, don't tell me she tried to climb the big one" my dad says and I nod.
"Has she lost her mind?" Uncle Joe asks.
"Guys, please" Uncle Andrew says.
"Anyway. Tris went to Nepal and forged her parents' signature."
"Didn't anyone check?" Uncle Joe asks.
"Seriously, Joe?" Uncle Andrew asks. "When did this ever matter? Whenever Tris wanted something she got it. Don't worry she'll get punished for this."
"What happened?" dad asks.
"They went through with it" I say.
"Who did?" dad asks.
"Rob, Mikey, Scott, Jeff and Tris and a few tourists Rob picked up. They climbed the mountain on the 10th of May."
"That's when we first found out where she was. Remember?" Aunt Natalie asks. "She called for my birthday and then she told us."
"Anyway. On their way back down they were hit by a violent storm. Six died, including Rob and Mickey" I tell them. At that both dad and Uncle Joe gasp in surprise. They all knew each other and that's why Uncle Andrew didn't freak out when Tris went climbing. She always went with someone she knew, but more importantly someone he trusted would keep her safe. But we all know that the mountain will claim you, if you aren't strong enough.
"I can't believe their gone" dad says. He and Mickey were friends since middle school.
"Poor, Bee. That must have hit her hard. Mickey was like an uncle to her and Rob like a big brother" Uncle Joe says.
"It's hard for her. She cried a lot, but the worst part is she is shutting us out" I say.
"She needs time to heal. Maybe if she stays home as we planned she will find a new routine and help her get passed it" Aunt Natalie says.
"I hope you guys haven't forbid her to climb" Uncle Joe says and both Aunt Natalie and Uncle Andrew look shocked at him.
"Joe, she lied. I won't allow that" Uncle Andrew says.
"I know. But she loves climbing. You can't just take it away from her. I understand she needs to learn to be more responsible, but don't take away what she loves most."
"And what do you suggest?" Uncle Andrew asks.
"Go camping with her. Allow her to go back to the mountains, don't take that away from her" Uncle Joe says.
"I think you are exaggerating, Joe" Aunt Natalie says.
"No, he isn't" dad says. "Imagine someone would take your designs away from you. How would that make you feel?" he asks and Aunt Natalie shoots him a glare.
"That's not the same thing" she says.
"Maybe not for you, but it is. Whether you admit it or not, Bee is a pro. She climbed four summits in four years" dad says.
"I thought she had to climb more mountains to be a pro" Aunt Natalie says.
"That's not what he meant" I say and look at Uncle Andrew who shakes his head. Oh, she doesn't know.
"What are you not telling me?" Aunt Natalie asks.
"Sweetheart, please sit down. There's something you don't know" Uncle Andrew says. She sits down reluctantly and he tells her how their baby girl not only climbed a few dozen mountains, no she climbed four of the highest in the world. He was there when she climbed Mount Kosciuszko in Australia. I was there when she climbed Mount Vinson in Antarctica and a year later Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. If she would have told me she planned on climbing the hardest of them all I would have gone with her. But as it is she didn't. I guess I understand why. While she is her own person when she is with the other climbers she always felt like the baby because either Uncle Andrew or I or dad or even Uncle Joe was there with her. She wanted to prove that she can do this on her own. And she did, which makes me very proud. But the cost was too high.
I watch Aunt Natalie gasp and cry as she learns of her daughter's accomplishments. She is torn between being proud and angry at her daughter.
"She needs to change her lifestyle" she finally says. "I want her to go to high school like any other sixteen year old. I want her to do normal things. She can still go mountain climbing, but only if one of you goes with her. And nothing extreme." At least she understands now how important climbing is for Bee. Uncle Andrew nods and we all leave the study and return to the living room, where most people are still here.
"What's going on?" Caleb asks when we get back, especially after he sees Aunt Natalie's red eyes.
"It's okay, Caleb. Please, let us just enjoy the evening" she says.
"Is Bee alright?" Shauna asks.
"She will be" Uncle Andrew says. "Before we celebrate I want to say something" he says. He goes to his bar and pulls out a bottle of scotch and pours dad, Uncle Joe, me and himself a glass each. Then he gives the bottle to Natalie to pour to others as well, but we know what this is. "It's always further than it looks" he starts saying and the three of us join in, knowing the words. It's the same chant we all say. "It's always taller than it looks. It's always harder than it looks."
"It's not the mountain we conquer, it's ourselves" dad says.
"Getting to the top is optional, getting down is mandatory" I say.
"Mountains are the beginning and the end of all natural scenery" Uncle Joe says.
"Mountains are cathedrals were I practice my religion" Bee says and we all turn around to look at her.
Her eyes are red from all the crying but she stands tall, honoring both mountain and mountaineers. I walk to Aunt Natalie and grab the bottle from her. Uncle Andrew hands me a glass and I pour some scotch in it and hand it to her. Aunt Natalie almost says something, but Uncle Andrew just shakes his head. Bee steps forward and closes the small circle we created. We raise our glasses and in unison say "To legends on the mountains" and dip down our drinks.