Chapter 18

“Early morning offers something else,” he said.

We turned around the first place it was legal to do so and headed for the exit. I knew he would tell me when the time was right.

“There.”

We’d just driven up a rather steep incline, so it almost felt as if we’d reached the sky. “Wow.”

“Brilliant, huh?”

I’d seen a sunrise before, but something made this one different. “Wow.” Repetition was warranted, as stunning golden light and gray streaks spread all across the top of the mountains, and wisps of pink and lavender mixed in right above the start of the sun’s brilliant, shimmering arch.

“Should I pull off?” Z asked.

We were bathed in its glow. “Yes,” I said, and we did.

Standing outside, the spectacle felt even more majestic. Moose rested in Z’s arms, and one time, as Z and I leaned back against the hood of his Saturn, our hands almost touched.

“Here. For you.” Z broke off the top half of another stalk of golden rod. “The fairies won’t mind.”