Outside Forces
Page 19
CHAPTER 14
Saturday 17:55 Bow Valley Provincial Park, near Canmore, Alberta, Canada
Michelle poked at the foil-wrapped potatoes baking in the fire pit with a long stick. “You see? That’s why I decided to stay back down here at the campsite today. You’re both lucky you didn’t fall off the mountain yourselves.”
Richard laughed. He chugged back a gulp from his can of beer. “It wasn’t like that. The trail is very safe.”
Michelle waved the stick in the air. The tip smouldered and left a smoky trail. “Safe? How can it be safe if someone just fell today? I’ve heard that there are dozens of people every year that fall from these trails. And that’s just on the mountains I can see from my chair.” She made a wide sweeping motion with her arm across the mountain backdrop.
Tawnie was seated next to Richard. He could see she was trying desperately not to jump into the conversation.
“Mountain climbers,” Richard said. “That’s who fall off mountains. These guys think they are invincible and can climb up without ropes or tethers, and wham! Suddenly they find themselves falling hundreds of feet down onto an outcropping of rock. Even with ropes and tethers, it’s one big splat when they hit the rocks. Very dead and very messy.”
“Jesus, Dad,” Tawnie responded. “Graphic much?”
Richard smiled at her. “I certainly wouldn’t want to be the one cleaning up after someone fell.”
“Stop it, Dad.”
“Imagine a watermelon falling all that way and.…”
“Dad!”
Michelle shook the stick about until the ember died away and sat down in her chair next to the fire. She buried the tip of the stick into the gravel to kill the remaining heat. “I would just prefer to stick to the trails in the valleys from now on.”
Richard nodded. “Sure. If that’s what you want.”
She picked up her gin and tonic and leaned back in her chair. “It is what I want. I was really worried about you two all day. And then you were late.…”
Tawnie’s gaze shot up towards Michelle.
“I heard sirens travelling up and down the highway in the direction you two went hiking. And then you didn’t show up at three like you said you would. I had a bad feeling something went very wrong. An hour later it just—it just really got to me.”
“We had to file a report with the police about what we heard.”
“I understand all that. It’s just that while I was sitting back here all alone at the campsite waiting, I couldn’t bear the thought of either of you being hurt up there.”
“Why didn’t you just call us?” Tawnie asked. “We both took our phones and the signal is strong most everywhere in the valley.”
Michelle sipped on her drink. “I’m not sure.” She hesitated for a moment. “I guess it’s because I didn’t want to know. Not knowing somehow seemed better at the time. And to be honest…” she focused her attention at Tawnie, “…I was so out of order with you this morning.”
Richard raised his eyebrows.
“I mean it. I had a lot of time to think down here on my own after you left this morning.”
The corner of her mouth lifted up as if she was holding back from saying too much and she bit down on the corner of her lip.
“I did go up to Middle Lake like I said I was going to. I managed to get some really good photos. I think a few will touch up nicely once they are edited.” She gave Tawnie a limp smile and reached for her camera.
“Come. Have a look,” she said to her husband. She scrolled through some of the photos, stopped on one, and handed the camera over to Richard. “See?”
He chuckled. “You walked up to the lake?” He passed the camera over to Tawnie to see the photo Michelle had taken on the trail atop the medial moraine ridge half way up to the lake.
“Very nice,” Tawnie said.
Michelle gleamed with pride. “Yes, Richard. I walked. After the grilling you both gave me, I felt I should at least give it a go.” She smiled at Tawnie. “I am so sorry for being such…” her voice dropped to a whisper, “…a little bitch this morning.” She winked at Richard.
Richard was taken aback at the sudden change in Michelle’s demeanour towards Tawnie. It was obvious that Tawnie was just as surprised; her mouth dropped open for a second before she closed it. She shuffled and sat upright in her chair. It was clear she didn’t know how to respond. She looked over at Richard, but he just raised his eyebrows and shrugged.
“Oh, come, Tawnie. I said things I never should have said.” She sipped at her drink. “I was out of order…and I am very sorry for that.”
Tawnie nodded back and accepted her apology. “It’s okay. I was a little rough on you, too.”
Michelle shook her head. “Don’t you go apologizing. Richard and I had words over this just the other day. I have been unfair to you and I really should be more understanding.”
Richard’s heart reeled at her choice of words. He wasn’t sure if this was just another setup.
“Understanding?” Tawnie asked. “Understanding of what?”
Michelle set her drink down and began poking at the embers in the fire again. “Richard’s always been your father and well…I’m just the new wife.”
“Just the new wife? What does that even mean?” Tawnie asked.
She stopped stirring the embers. “It means I didn’t stand a chance with you. Right from the start.”
Tawnie rolled her eyes and whispered one word, “Fuck.” It was all she could muster. She ran her hand through her hair, looked away and dropped her head.
“...and I can accept that now. Really. I did a lot of thinking while you two were on the mountain.”
Richard could see Tawnie was struggling to keep her cool.
“Well, thanks,” Tawnie replied. She forced a weak smile at Michelle and stood up. “I’m going for a walk along the river. I’ll see you both in a bit,” she said and disappeared through the shrubs along the river path.
“You keep pushing her buttons,” Richard said once he was sure Tawnie was out of earshot.
Michelle seemed surprised. “What? Me? I’m not pushing anything.”
“I’ve a mind to go for a walk along the river, too.”
“Oh, c’mon, Richard. What did I say?”
He shook his head, chugged back the rest of his beer, and crushed the can in his hand.