First Valentine's Day

Carl sipped his coffee. It was decaf, so if had little “kick” to it, but he hadn’t had any in nearly six months and didn’t plan to have any more after about two weeks. And it was good and hot on a cold day.

Carl’s dad walked through, grabbing a doughnut from a box on the counter. “You gonna look for work today?”

The comment prompted a chuckle from Carl. “Dad, I told you, I’m just here for a visit. It’s half over today, actually. I’ll have to leave at the end of the month.”

“What are you doing wherever you’re staying?”

“I’m working with Rue’s family, growing food for all of our needs on their plot of land.”

Carl’s dad frowned. “Right, on the commune.”

Carl shook his head. “It’s not a commune, Dad. We just live self-sufficiently.”

“And where is this place?”

“I found it on the Appalachian Trail last summer.”

“The one you couldn’t write from.”

“It’s really remote, Dad. There’s no cell phone service, no mail delivery. The inn isn’t even wired for electricity.”

Carl’s dad placed his hands on the table and leaned forward. “And you’re happy there, with this girl, this Rue?”

Carl looked his father in the eye. “The happiest I’ve ever been, Dad.”

Nodding, Carl’s dad stood up. “Well, I guess that’s the main thing. I’ll see you when I get home from work.”

“Okay, Dad. Have a good day.”

As Carl’s dad exited the kitchen, his mom entered. The transition reminded Carl of a tag-team wrestling match, except his parents kissed during the transition.

“Morning, Mom.”

Carl’s mom put some water in a teacup. “Good morning, dear. So, are you and Rue getting together for Valentine’s Day today?”

Carl smiled. His mom always cut to the chase. “As much as we can. It’s tough for her right now.”

Carl’s mom put the cup in the microwave. “So tough she can’t spend Valentine’s Day with the man she claims to love?”

“Yes.” Carl took a sip of his coffee.

“So when are we going to get to meet her?”

“That’s tricky, Mom.”

The microwave finished. Carl’s mom got out her tea. “It’s all tricky, or tough, or something. Carl, you disappeared for six months.”

“Five months, actually.”

“Fine, five months. You go hiking on the Appalachian Trail to find yourself, whatever that means, you disappear for five months, and then you turn up on our doorstep with this story of this mysterious girl you love who’s out here with you but who we can’t meet.”

Carl smiled, remembering what he found when he went down what he thought were the inn’s basement stairs. “Mom, have you ever heard of a walkabout?”

She sat down at the table with her tea. “Not really.”

“It’s from Australia. The idea is that you go out on a walkabout, out in the wilderness, to meet yourself. Remember how I was before I left?”

She nodded. “You were working a steady job in the inventory business, but it was a dead end, and you were miserable.”

Carl patted his mother’s free hand. “I knew I needed something, but I didn’t know what. I thought I would find myself in the challenge of hiking the trail. But what I found was someone who is my other half, the missing part of myself.”

“And I’m glad for you, Carl. I just wish I understood all this oddness.”

Carl finished his coffee. “I love Rue, Mom. I hope that’s enough.” He walked to the sink, rinsed his cup and left it there. “Well, I’m heading out.”

“Not without your jacket again!”

“I’ll be fine, Mom.”

“But it’s so cold out there, and it’s been snowing overnight! You’ll freeze!”

Carl leaned over and kissed his mother’s cheek. “Mom. I’ll be fine, really.”

He slipped out the door quickly. As soon as he was on the porch, he felt warmth surround him, despite the snow and wind. As soon as he felt it, his day was complete.

“Carl! Good morning, love!”

Carl smiled. “Good morning, Rue. Happy Valentine’s Day.”