Page 27 of Damien
If I had to guess, I’d bet the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. From the tone in her voice, I’m fairly certain she could be listing traits of her own. “She sounds incredible.”
“I have no idea where she gets her daredevil ways because now she wants to learn how to long board. She saw a kid from her class do it at the park the other day, and now she’s begging for a board of her own.” Vanessa’s hands cover her face as she shakes her head. “I swear she’ll make me turn gray in no time at the rate she’s going.”
Laughing at a memory, I admit, “My mom said the same of me and my brothers. I was the one who rode skateboards. My brother Derek rode when we were kids, and I had to be just like him.”
“I can only imagine.” Vanessa’s light laugh makes me join her.
“Do you or Vince know how to ride?” I ask.
“Uh… that would be a Big. Fat. No.”
“Long boards are easier to ride, so it’s probably best if she starts on one of those should the time come. There’s guaranteed to be road rash at some point—even the best crash eventually does. But if she’s wearing a helmet and pads, the risk isn’t any greater than riding a bike.”
“If you say so.” Vanessa’s tone tells me she’s not quite buying what I have to sell, but she’s not dismissing it either.
“I’d never lie about safety. Trust me. Sure, I’ve been known to take risks in my youth, but I’d never willingly put anyone in jeopardy. I also used to snowboard when I got the chance, and in my day, I may have been a punk, but I’ve been told I’ve grown out of it,” I tease.
“You’re such an old crony now, Damien. I’m surprised you don’t need a walker.”
“Okay, brat. I get your point. All I’m saying is I wouldn’t be going off jumps anytime soon, but long boarding isn’t that dangerous. If you need some pointers, I’m sure I can help.”
Did I just volunteer to teach her daughter?
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” she says. “She also wants a kitten. We’ll see which of the two wins out.”
“Oh, you’re in for it,” I say, remembering how relentless Dani could be when she wanted something.
“One thing’s guaranteed. Life is never dull with Jules.”
“I can only imagine.”
The waitress comes with our check, but I’m nowhere ready for our evening to end. Glancing at my watch, I realize the night is still young and suggest, “It’s a beautiful evening. Wanna walk along the riverfront?”
Vanessa’s face lights up as she nods in agreement. “Sounds amazing. I haven’t been down there in forever.”
It doesn’t take long for us to find a place to park along the Columbia River and walk along the paved pathway. Mt. Hood and all its beauty is a prominent feature as a backdrop for our walk. There are a few others enjoying the evening along the boardwalk, but for the most part, I’m oblivious to anyone but Vanessa.
“This is so different from seeing Mt. Rainier in Seattle from the campus of U-Dub,” I admit as I stare at the beauty of the Columbia River Gorge. “In the U-District, sure you have the water from Lake Washington, but it’s surrounded by the bustling of the city. Here just feels more peaceful.”
“I’ll never tire of this view,” Vanessa sighs as she stares at the mountain before us. “Did you grow up near Seattle?”
I shake my head. “No. I grew up near Leavenworth. My parents own and run a store outside Cashmere. Well, Dad runs the store, and Mom does the books. I moved to the city for school.”
“I grew up just south of Seattle, but I’m familiar with the U-District. I can see the pull, but I wanted a school with a traditional college feel, not as urbanized. So, I chose CRU. I liked their nursing program, so that helps, too.” Vanessa’s adorable the way she shrugs her last comment. Though I’m quickly finding there’s not much I don’t like about her.
“After coming to work at CRU, I’ll admit, I totally see the draw.” I watch a large bird in the distance dip down and pick up something out of the water. “You don’t see things like that every day.”
“No kidding. That was freaking incredible.”
We stop for a moment and lean against the rail to watch the bird swoop down again. This time he glides along the water and pulls out a larger fish.
“Look at those talons,” Vanessa says in awe, and all I can do is shake my head in agreement.
When the bird disappears into the trees in front of us, I return my attention to Vanessa. I’m surprised to find her staring at me with a look of wonder in her dancing hazel eyes.
“What?” I ask, suddenly feeling as if I have something on my face to make her stare at me that way.
Shaking her head, she mutters, “It’s nothing.”
