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We both fall silent as we wind down the highway with the warm breeze swirling around us. Being out here among the trees and driving along the creek is so relaxing compared to anywhere you can go in the city. People who believe a walk through Central Park is relaxing have never been somewhere like this. The trees begin to open up as we come to a long bridge that crosses a river, so I know we are getting close to her favorite spot. After crossing the bridge she slows down and turns off onto a gravel road. With each turn I can see the anxiety building on her face with each passing mile. If she only knew what was waiting for her around the next corner.
Mandy
I had romantic aspirations earlier today. The thought of throwing a blanket down and making love in the warm sunshine was teasing my brain. That thought evaporated once Dad mentioned spreading Mom’s ashes. Those two things just don’t mesh in my mind. It’s too bad; it would’ve been the perfect day to do something a little crazy. Instead, I have a feeling of dread as I turn the final corner and head up the tree-lined driveway. This will probably be all developed by the next time I’m out here.
“I actually feel sick to my stomach,” I tell Trey as we drive toward the big oak tree in the center of the space. “Someone has already put up some kind of a marker,” I add, seeing triangle-shaped rock structure standing next to the tree.
“Does it say something on the base of it?” he asks, as we pull up next to it.
“Yeah,” I lean out the window to get a closer look. “It says, Maggie’s Acres.” I turn back to see a smile on Trey’s face. “What did you do?”
“Your Dad had that made,” he says with a smirk. “This way you can leave her in the urn and take her for a ride like you said.”
“But it says Maggie’s Acres and all those little flags are gone,” I reply as the fact that they are gone suddenly occurs to me.
“I thought it was such a beautiful little spot, that I hated to see it split up and developed,” he says with a glimmer in his eyes.
“So you bought it?”
“I did,” he replies with a shrug. “I was feeling so good after buying the Mustang from your sister, that I thought what the hell. They were happy as hell to sell the whole thing to one buyer. I told them I would take it as is, so they didn’t have to turn a wheel.”
“So it’s going to stay just like this?” I ask, feeling a weight suddenly lift off of me.
“Until we decide to build something out here.” He flutters his eyebrows and looks around. “It would be a nice spot to build a cabin someday.”
“Are you trying to melt my heart?” I ask in disbelief. “You would actually consider spending time out here in the boondocks?”
“I’ll be the first to admit that I wouldn’t want to live here,” he says with a chuckle. “But, yes, I would definitely like to spend some time out here. It’s so quiet and so beautiful; a perfect place to get away from everything.”
“Yeah, no one is ever going to bother you out here. Especially if you shut off your phone,” I tell him opening the car door and pulling the keys from the ignition. “I’m glad I don’t have to spread her ashes and then watch a bunch of strangers take over this place. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“Actually, I do know,” Trey replies, coming around the back of the car to meet me as I insert the key to pop the trunk. “Remember I told you not to worry that day we were out here.”
“Yes, you did, but I’m still struggling with my trust issues,” I admit, reaching into the trunk and pulling out a blanket. “Here, you hang onto this while I put Mom in her new home.” I pull a beautiful gold colored urn from a cardboard box and take it over to the sturdy rock structure. “Where does it go?”
“It should be one of these big square rocks in the center,” Trey replies, wedging his fingers between several of rocks trying to pry one loose. “Maybe it’s on the other side.”
We walk around to the other side of the monument and it becomes obvious which one to pull out. “Cool, she’ll be facing the creek,” I think out loud, as he wiggles the only red-colored rock from its resting place. “I could handle this view for all eternity.” Trey smiles warmly while holding the large rock and allowing me to give the urn a kiss before slipping it inside. “Go ahead and slide it back in,” I tell him, seeing how his biceps are straining under its weight. “We have already said our goodbyes.”
