Chapter 7 - A New Tradition
Spring arrived with a rush of emerald green grass, blooming tulips, and warm weekend breezes that chased away the lingering chill of winter.
Without the emotional drain of mandatory holiday command performances at Lorraine’s estate, our family dynamic blossomed. We spent Easter Sunday hiking through the state park, packing a picnic basket filled with Zaya’s favorite strawberry sandwiches and deviled eggs.
To our surprise, we weren't entirely alone.
Two days before Easter, Susan called to ask if her family could join our hike.
"Mom is hosting her usual formal brunch," Susan confessed over the phone. "Maddie and Jonah are going, of course. But honestly? The last two family dinners have felt like funerals without you guys there. Mom sits at the head of the long table, staring at empty chairs, and nobody dares to speak above a whisper. It’s miserable."
"You’re more than welcome to join us in the woods, Susan," Travis replied warmly. "Bring hiking boots and mud-friendly clothes."
On Easter morning, our picnic blanket at the peak of the ridge was crowded with laughter. Susan, her husband, and their two kids hiked up the trail carrying a massive thermos of hot tea and homemade chocolate chip cookies.
Zaya and her cousins spent three hours hunting for wild rocks, building makeshift fairy houses out of pinecones and moss, and running across the meadow without a single adult reminding them to keep their clothes clean.
At one point, Jonah walked over to Zaya, holding a uniquely shaped smooth river stone he had found near the stream.
"Here," Jonah said, handing it to her. "This looks like a dinosaur tooth. You should keep it."
Zaya beamed, clutching the stone as if it were a rare diamond. "Thanks, Jonah! Look, Dad, look what Jonah found!"
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I watched Travis standing a few yards away, leaning against an old oak tree with a thermos of coffee in his hand. He caught my eye, smiled, and raised his cup in a silent toast.
We hadn't destroyed his extended family; we had simply pruned away the rot so the healthy branches could finally reach the sun.
