| |
“Look what they are letting me drive,” Nina said, stopping right in front of Hadley, who sat on the porch watching another full day of activities all around. “There is a scavenger hunt that starts in five minutes,” she said, thumbing her hand toward her dad that sat in the back of the four-person all-terrain vehicle. It had much more robust tires for getting around in the snow. “You coming?”
“Um,” Hadley tapped a hand on the wheel of her chair. ‘Don’t think that will work,” she said as Nina’s dad got out of the back of the vehicle and started up toward her.
“She made sure that she went and found a vehicle that would safely transport you,” he said with earnest eyes her direction. “I’m pretty sure I can carry you to the seat if you are game, and it has both shoulder and seat harnesses.”
Hadley looked at him and then over his shoulder to Nina with expectant eyes her direction, “Can you bring the bag as well?” She looked toward her camera bag at her side on the table.
“Absolutely,” he said, bending to put a hand under her legs and behind her back. He quickly lifted her in the air, “You are lighter than I expected,” he said as he carefully navigated the steps.
“I appreciate that,” she said up into his face. “She seems to be really looking forward to this?”
“Scavenger hunts are her favorite,” he said. “I’m just glad she is coming out of her shell. I appreciate the loan of the camera; also, she has been driving me nuts with the picture taking–which I prefer over the morose mood of these last few months.”
“I’m so glad I could be of some assistance,” she said as he delicately loaded her into the front seat.
“They said if you use the harness,” Nina said, pointing, “And this one,” she said, snapping the safety lock on the lap belt that her dad handed her, “you would be safe.”
“I appreciate you going to all this trouble,” she said as Dan let them know he was going to grab her bag and be right back.
“I always figure out the clues,” Nina said in a quiet tone only she could hear. “I think we can win this,” she said with a tiny giggle. The happiness on her face was intoxicating to Hadley after seeing how introverted she had been when they first met.
“Well, I’m glad you are good at this, because I am horrible. I can’t do the trivia, scavenger hunt clues, and we tried one of those escape rooms out for a blog Fiona was doing,” she just shook her head with the most horrified expression.
“I have wanted to try one of those,” Nina said. “I just don’t have a lot of friends, though.”
“You need like four people at most, maybe for your next birthday invite people even if you don’t think they are friends. You might surprise yourself at who accepts,” Hadley said, shocking even herself with the upbeat advice. It was like all the angst and things she wished people would have said to her as a teenager came out when dealing with Nina. It was a refreshing change to be on the other side, of the table, and she found herself genuinely happy focused only on this latest activity.
“Maybe you can come,” Nina said, causing Hadley to feel her heart constrict. That would not be possible.
“I think you will be surprised how many friends your own age are out there if you just ask. Besides, what is the worst thing that could happen if someone says no,” she asked and waited as Nina obviously thought it over?
“I dunno,” she replied.
“You are going to be a Junior next year, right?”
“Yeah.”
“So, you have two years, and you move on and forget them. High School is really temporary in the grand scheme of things, and let me tell you–as a foster kid that moved around a lot, I wish I had done a lot more foolish things when I was your age. Maybe if I had taken more risks, I wouldn’t have been such an angry kid.”
Nina glanced at her, “really?”
“Yep, unfortunately, I do have some bad news,” she said, leaning over just slightly to Nina. “Your parents, they do know what they are talking about when they tell you it will get better and other advice.”
“NO!” Nina said with an exaggerated gasp.
“Yep, afraid so,” Hadley finished.
“I still would like your number when we leave, if you are okay with me calling you for advice?” Nina said after a long moment.
“We can talk about that later,” she said, catching Dan’s eyes and the question in them. She just gave a half-hearted smile. “Now, about that first clue, I see everyone headed out.”
“It’s the big tree over by the dunes,” Nina said excitedly, putting the vehicle in drive.
“Are you sure?” Dan said from the backseat, “Why is most everyone going a different direction?”
“Because it was a misdirect,” Nina said, driving against the line of vehicles to head toward her goal.
Hadley also was a bit confused but didn’t want to dissuade her enthusiasm. She held on to the roll bar around the vehicle to provide stability, and with the safety belts in place. Nina’s pace felt entirely comfortable with how the trip went. When the big tree in question came into view, she chuckled to herself as the next clue was prominently displayed nailed to the trunk.
“I told you,” Nina said with a confident waggle of her head in Hadley’s direction. Hadley couldn’t help but pull out the camera and snap the tree before turning to take a picture of Nina’s happy visage, windswept, and smiling.
“Can we get duplicates of pictures?” Dan said from the backseat drawing her eyes.
“I’m going to go check the clue,” Nina said, jumping from the vehicle a mere second after she put it in the park.
“Thank you,” Dan said as soon as his daughter was out of earshot. “Meeting you has brought back the old Nina, and I’m so grateful. I know taking time for a teenager probably wasn’t in your plans for this week.”
“No worries,” Hadley said, turning to him. “I had Fiona at her age to drag me from the doldrums, I’m happy to have Nina around. She’s a great kid, and I think someday will be an exceptional photographer.”
“What aren’t you telling her?” He said, watching to be sure Nina was still far enough away to not hear.
“It’s not important right now,” Hadley said, turning serious eyes his direction. “Let’s just focus on today.”
He exhaled sharply, before glancing up to a Nina skipping happily back to them. “I’m going to ask you again later,” he growled just as Nina jumped in.
“They are all catching on now,” she said, putting the vehicle into drive as other guests started to arrive. “But I know where the next clue is,” she said in a happy tone.
“Now whose being cocky,” her dad said as she took off with a start, and a happy laugh.
