55. Kayla

Chapter 55

Kayla

Twenty Winters Ago / Age Eight

“That’s not it,” I tell him, turning him towards the chalet. “You're looking in the wrong direction.”

“Am not. My grandma said you find the Big Dipper, draw a line with your finger and that’s how you find it.” He tips his head as far back as it will go.

“Well, my grandma said it’s the brightest star in the sky.”

“Then let’s ask them and we’ll see who’s right.”

We race down the hill to where they're drinking hot chocolate on the patio chairs behind Ryan’s family’s house. We always drink ours super fast so we have more time to build another snowman before they send us to bed. I’m getting really good at them now.

“Can you show us how to find the North Star again?” They make space for us to climb into their laps.

“Do you remember how to find the Big Dipper?” his grandma says, setting her mug down and pointing at the sky.

“See!” he yells. “I told you so.” I poke my tongue out at him, and twist to follow the line of her finger.

“That’s the North Star. And no matter where you are, if you look for it, you’ll always be able to find your way home.”

“ If we’re in the Northern hemisphere,” Ryan says.

“Yes, Ryan,” my grandma says, setting me down in her chair. “But let’s hope you two friends are never half a world apart. ”

“Let me show you something very special our papas showed us when we were girls together.” She crouches in front of us, lifting our warm mittens and pressing them against our chests.

Ryan and I look at each other, then back at her, trying not to laugh.

“No matter where your life takes you, if you’re ever feeling lost or lonely, you can press your hand right here, and remember you sweet angels will always be two hearts, under one sky.”