Page 34 of Patio Lanterns

“I think it sounds like a great idea,” Robin proclaimed before he could answer.

Really? It did? Well, he figured, if Robin was game then… “Uh, sure. I mean, why not?”

“That’s terrific,” Lark said, and she and Aidan immediately made plans for him to drop by the next day to take measurements. Guess they were really going to do this.

Dove returned with a degreased Nova, looking refreshed and ready for bed in her fuzzy ducky pajamas with feet. She carried a book under her arm.

“Oh, Auntie Bobbin,” Dove said with a sing-song tone as she placed Nova in Robin’s arms. “We picked out a bedtime story for you to read us tonight.”

“You did?” Robin cooed. “What did you bring me? Goodnight Moon?”

“It’s her favourite before bed,” Lark said.

“That was my favourite too,” Aidan joked. Rick wondered if that was true. He was sad that he was unable to recall a single story, nursery rhyme, or lullaby that his son had loved as a small child.

Nova nestled in for the story, sucking on her thumb as Robin read to her in a soft, gentle voice. The melodic prose and the manner in which it was recited seemed to soothe everyone at the table. Rick was enchanted. It warmed his heart to see Robin be so nurturing, and how taken Nova was with her aunt in return. Who could blame her? He’d only known Robin for twenty-four hours and already was quite taken with her himself.

He’d never regret what happened between them. He would always be grateful for the way Robin burst into his life like a meteor—sudden and unexpected, a bright but fleeting celestial phenomenon. Even now, it lit him up inside simply being in her presence.

Yet it scared him how fast he was losing grip on reality. Robin was younger than his own son, for godssake. What would Aidan say if he found out? It would be humiliating. Potentially devastating. It was time for Rick to wake up and smell the bacon. He had no business being with such a young woman, especially one his son had known decades before Rick laid eyes on her.

No, it was best for everyone concerned if he did everything in his power to stay away from Robin. From now on, he told himself, she had to be off limits.

After the final page of the storybook had been turned, Lark took sleepy Nova upstairs to bed. Not long after she returned, Rick suggested it was time for him and Aidan to hit the road too. “Thank you all for dinner. This really has been lovely.”

As they ambled to the front door, Dove thanked them for coming. “It was nice to meet you, Rick. We’re so glad you felt up to joining us tonight.”

“Felt up to it?” he questioned, leaning down to give Mutt one last vigorous scratch under his chin. “What do you mean?”

“We heard you haven’t been quite up to company lately,” she said, with a nervous smile. “Oh, I’m sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.”

Rick straightened up and turned to Aidan. What the hell had he been saying behind his back?

“Well, Dad, you do live like a hermit in that cottage.” He shrugged.

“I do not.” Rick shut him down. “Where’d you get that idea?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s because you’ve been moping around depressed since you moved here. You barely have any friends, you don’t date…”

“That’s not true,” Rick sputtered, utterly mortified to be called out that way. Besides, what did Aidan know? They’d barely seen one another in months.

Aidan raised his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay, my bad.”

“Let’s not let this spoil our nice evening,” Lark said. “It was certainly nicer than some of the last times we were here together,” She turned to Aidan. “Remember? After that letter Robin wrote you…?”

“Lark, for godssake!” Robin shushed.

Letter? Rick wondered what that was about. By the look on Robin’s face, it was obviously something she did not want dredged up at that moment, or any other.

“Geez, Robbie, guess I’d forgotten all about that.” Aidan slid Robin a sideways glance. “All I remember is the fun times we used to have here. Hanging out with you guys at the beach, watching movies, playing board games. And so much great food. Your mom was always making something for us,” he said, his voice tinged with sadness. “It’s impossible to be back in the Blue Canoe and not imagine her here, feel her hugs, hear her laugh, smell her cooking.”

“She adored you, Aidan, and she loved this cottage,” Lark said. “That’s why she wanted this to be her final resting place.”

“I imagine it would’ve meant the world to her knowing she brought you all to the Blue Canoe one more time,” Rick said.

Robin inched in closer to his side. They were not touching, yet she was so near to him that he could feel the heat of her body. It caused the hairs on his arm to bristle.

“You know what? You both should come,” Robin suddenly blurted. “You should be here when we spread Mom’s ashes.”

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