Page 17 of Fall With Me
“Thanks. Glad I could help.”
Chloe points to a stack of wood baskets. “Grab one off the top. Whoever fills the most within an hour wins. Kate and Carter, you too. This contest is for everyone.”
Finn grabs a basket. “I’ll climb the branches, Dad.”
“I like your thinking. I’ll stand under you. Toss the apples down.”
Chloe eyes the tree. “Are you sure he’ll be okay climbing up there?”
Why wouldn’t he be? I scan the tree, checking out the branches. They’re thick and seem sturdy enough. As long as Finn doesn’t climb too high, I’m not worried. “Yeah. He’s got this.”
“Don’t go too high, okay?” Chloe says to Finn.
He nods his agreement.
Kate and Carter get new containers.
“What are the stakes?” Kate asks.
“Loser buys lunch,” I say.
Chloe pulls her phone out of her back pocket. “Ready, set, go!” She taps a button on her phone, shoves her cell in her back pocket, then grabs a basket.
I take the crate from Finn, giving him a boost onto the lowest branch. “Stay right where you are,” I say, getting the container ready.
Finn yanks an apple and tosses it down to me. It lands perfectly in the center of the basket. “Good job, bud. Keep going.”
Chloe shoots us daggers. “You’re going down, boys.” She moves a ladder from the tree Kate and Carter are working on and plants it under branches opposite of where I’m standing. She climbs to the highest rung and pulls apples like she’s got a robotic arm.
“We’ll see about that,” I whisper. Finn won’t be the only person picking for our team. I reach up, snatching the fruit I can easily reach. We might not be moving as fast as Chloe, but we’re not far behind.
A soft breeze rustles through the leaves. The scent of sweet apples surrounds us. The sun shines brightly on this beautiful September morning. It’s a perfect moment. One I want to remember, as it’s the first time in a while where Finn and I are grinning and so is the female in our presence.
Being here for ten minutes, I’m already enjoying myself more than I have in years. I forgot it was possible for this sense of lightness to live in my chest rather than stone.
The tension my ex caused is gone. I’m relieved we’re divorced. I fought hard for our marriage, but it doesn’t matter if only one person is trying to make it work. It takes twopeople, both committing and fighting for the same thing every day.
“I’m done with my first one,” Chloe calls, climbing down from the ladder. “Better hurry or you’ll lose.”
I glance over at her basket, and sure enough, it’s filled to the top. We’re close. Maybe ten or fifteen more apples to go. Picking up my pace, I work hard to finish until we have as many pieces of fruit as Chloe.
“Yes, Finn!” I cheer. “We’re done too. You’re doing great, bud.”
“My arms are tired,” Finn whines. “How many more do I need to do?”
I check my watch. We’ve only been going for twenty minutes. “Can you help fill one more basket, and then if Chloe says it’s all right, you can play with Champ or jump on the trampoline?”
Finn peers down at Chloe through the branch he’s sitting on. “Can I, Chloe?”
Chloe nods. “Uh. Sure. Champ would like that. He’s old though. Be gentle with him, okay?”
Finn nods vigorously. “I can do that!”
I purposely move closer to Chloe, speaking low. “Thank you. I wasn’t sure how things would go with him. I want to stay as long as possible to help, but his attention span doesn’t last long.”
“I’m happy to distract him if it keeps you here.”
“Are you trying to kidnap me?”
