Aiden took a pause to catch his breath, and then he looked up the long dirt drive to the old oak tree he had not stood under since his blind encounter with Meridian. His memory of that moment lingered in his mind, and he still was unsure if it truly was his mother who had been watching over him. His placid stream of thought was interrupted when his grandmother motioned for them to get inside to eat breakfast and do some long overdue catching up. They sat around the table and discussed plans for the holidays, and his grandparents wanted to know how school was going for Aiden.
“Things are good. I like school, and it’s nice rooming with Chris.” Aiden’s heart was full being at home with his grandparents and taking in the aroma of the house that was always filled with grandma’s cooking and bak
