Page 39 of Ginjuh

“Maybe they’ll be happy walking through without the scares if we let ‘em do it for free?” I suggested.

“Maybe.” Grandpa frowned.

When the car came into view, however, we both knew that we didn’t have to worry about letting anyone go through the corn maze—free or otherwise. It was my dad’s car that was driving down towards Grandpa’s house. I glanced over at Grandpa, but he was just staring out at the car as it approached. Together, we stood there as Dad came to a stop by the house, turned the car off and switched off the lights. The door opened and dad climbed out, shutting the door gently behind himself. Discreetly, I reached up and squeezed Grandpa’s shoulder as dad made his way over to the porch and climbed the stairs. Grandpa shrugged me off, but not in a mean way.

“Well,” Dad said as he climbed the stairs, “I came out to see the corn maze. Got an invitation, so I thought it would be rude to not attend.”

“Sorry to say that it’s done for the night,” Grandpa said simply. “You missed it by just a few minutes.”

“I shouldn’t have waited so long,” Dad said, looking up at Grandpa from the last step, not quite knowing how to take that last step.

I looked over at Grandpa. He was just staring across the porch at my dad.

“Well,” Grandpa said, his voice rheumy, “I’ve been late before myself.”

Dad nodded at him.

The three of us stood there, no one quite sure what should be said or what the next step was. Finally, Grandpa cleared his throat and spoke up, still staring at Dad.

“Zach,” he said, “you should probably go check on Austin, shouldn’t ya’? Make sure he’s not having any trouble.”

“Um, yeah,” I said, looking back and forth between my dad and my grandpa. “Okay. I’ll go…make sure he’s okay.”

I stepped away from Grandpa and headed down the steps. Dad gave my shoulder a squeeze as I went by and I reached up to touch his hand before descending the rest of the stairs. Walking across the yard towards the entrance to the corn maze, I didn’t turn to look back at the porch until I was entering the maze. Dad was up on the porch and he was settling into the chair next to Grandpa’s rocker as Grandpa eased himself into his rocker. I smiled to myself as I entered the maze, losing my view of two of the most important men in my life sitting down to talk things out.

Finding Austin wasn’t all that difficult. He was sitting off to the side of the path only halfway through the maze, looking expectant. When he heard my footsteps on the hard ground, he turned, looking concerned at first, then his face split into a smile when he saw me. I smiled back and picked up my pace. He rose to his feet as I approached, obviously glad to see me.

“It is kind of spooky out here alone in the dark.” He said softly as I came to a stop in front of him.

“Well,” I said, “now you’re not alone.”

He nodded and then reached out with both hands, settling them against my chest as he stepped closer.

“Did you worry that I got lost?” He whispered.

“I got worried that I lost you.” I gave a half grin.

“Never.”

“Ever?”

“Never ever.”

“Okay.”

“I want to kiss you.” He whispered again.

Immediately, I leaned down, never needing to be told twice to kiss my boyfriend, but he held his hands firmly against my chest, keeping me from kissing him. I frowned down at him as he stared up at me.

“But I wanted to tell you something first,” Austin said gently.

“Okay.” I cocked my head to the side. “What is it?”

“I started writing in my notebook when my mom died.” He said simply, staring into my eyes. “Probably not the big dramatic revelation you wanted…but there it is. That’s why I write in my notebook. It’s how I process things. How I get my feelings out.”

I looked into his eyes.

“Drunk driver hit her the summer after sophomore year.” He shrugged, though I could tell it was a gesture meant to ward off tears. “And…well, she was my favorite person.”