Page 13 of Mountain Target

She berated herself for her negative thoughts.

Of course, Ren’s going to be okay.

She recalled the mantra she’d learned from the school psychologist.

Kids are resilient.

But Ren didn’t seem resilient to her. She seemed vulnerable, and she seemed in pain. It was that last thought that propelled her out of the car.

The other side of the garage, which had always been empty since her previous neighbor didn’t own a car, was now occupied by her new neighbor’s huge motorcycle.

Val didn’t need to know much about bikes to know this was one expensive toy. She’d have to be careful not to hit it, since it was probably worth more than her car.

She’d heard its sound, somewhere between a roar and a purr, as her neighbor had come home the other night. She’d gotten close to the window, though she wouldn’t admit it to anyone, hoping to catch a glimpse of him on the bike.

Val barely had time to take off her coat before Ren arrived.

“Hi Ren,” Val said, surprised when Ren didn’t immediately disappear into her room, but rather sat down at the dining table.

“I’m hungry. What are we having for dinner, Aunt Val?”

Hungry was good. Hungry was great. Though she couldn’t exactly weigh the teenager every morning, Val couldn’t help but worry that Ren’s clothes were hanging looser and looser on the girl’s already slim frame.

Val felt a shred of hope grow inside her.

“What would you like for dinner?” She prayed that, whatever it was, they had it in the fridge. Most of the nearby grocery stores would be closed by now, and it was too late to make a trip to the giant Auchan outside town.

“Could we have breakfast?”

“Breakfast for dinner?” Val asked, smiling.

“That’s the same tone Mom used whenever I asked, but she always ended up making it for me.”

Val stuck her head in the fridge so Ren couldn’t see her eyes filling with tears. It was one of the first times Ren had mentioned her mother and been able to continue the conversation.

It’s good she’s talking about her.

“I’ll let you in on a secret, Ren. Breakfast was always your mother’s favorite meal.”

“So. Can we?”

“Of course we can,” Val said brightly. “Pancakes and eggs?”

Good to get some protein in there if we can.

The pancake recipe was one Val knew off by heart. If she closed her eyes, she could almost see her father in the kitchen, measuring out the ingredients, asking her and Camille to be quiet so their mom could sleep in.

“We need flour, butter, milk …” She called out the ingredients, letting Ren look for them. This was her home too, now. She needed to learn where everything was.

They worked together in silence, and for once, the lack of sound didn’t feel strained. It was … nice. Almost normal. It made Val think that maybe there was a future for them where grief might take a backseat, and they might end up feeling like this most of the time.

A bike roared, the sound loud even through the shut window. Ren ran to the window, pressing her nose against the glass. Val had to restrain herself from following.

“He’s off. I wonder where he’s going at this time of night,” Ren said.

“It’s none of our business, Ren,” Val replied.

“I know that, but aren’t you wondering the same thing?”