Read Online The Milestone Tapes by Ashley Mackler-Paternostro - Free Book Online

friendship bracelets and stuff with clay, and they go swimming at the YMCA and learn about animals. She went last year and her sister is a counselor.”
    “That sounds like lots of fun. I’ll call Sarah’s Mom on Monday and find out where she’s going. If they still have room, I’ll sign you up.” Jenna nodded, smiling back at Mia from across the table.
    Camp would be good, Jenna decided. Mornings of play, crafts, secret handshakes and easy laughter, it would be perfect. Jenna could run errands and make her plans without feeling guilty for dragging Mia along. Afternoons could be spent snuggled together on the couch, dozing away the tiresome morning routine.
    “Alright, Mia, time for bed.” Gabe stood up, pushing his chair back noisily against the floor. He gathered bowls and dishes in his hand and dropped them loudly into the sink.
    “Can Mama read me my story tonight?” Mia turned to Jenna who was gathering the place mats.
    “Sure I can,” Jenna smiled.
    “The Giving Tree?” Mia suggested, carrying her plate to sink carefully.
    “Sure. Go get into your pajamas, brush your teeth, and climb into bed, I’ll be right behind you.”
    Mia ran towards her room, and Jenna stood by the sink watching her go.
    “Camp?” Gabe asked, breaking her thoughts.
    “Yeah, you know, it would be good for her. A change of pace. She’s a kid, kids go to summer camp.” Jenna brushed his shoulder with her hand lightly and walked off towards the laundry room.
     
    ~ * * * ~
     
    “There once was a tree, and she loved a little boy ... ” Jenna began. Mia was tucked in tight, curled beneath the layers of bedding as her sleepy eyes fought to stay awake.
    The house was clean and calm. Gabe had retired back to work, making up for the hours he’d miss tomorrow. The washing machine thrummed in the distance, turning around the dirty wears of the day. Mia’s camping clothes were folded neatly on her desk chair, ready to be tucked into the suitcase.
    Mia yawned loudly and rolled over. Jenna ran her fingers over the length of her back softly, through her silky curls and her bare arms, lulling her to sleep with ease as she read the familiar words from the pages.
    “Well, I’m an old stump, good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down and rest. And the boy did. And the tree was happy.”
    Jenna closed the book and snapped the light beside Mia’s bed off. A stifled sigh slipped past her lips, which were slack and parted with sleep.
    “I love you my Mia,” Jenna whispered, leaning over to kiss Mia’s plump cheek.
     
    ~ * * * ~
     
    The following morning crested beautiful and warm. The sun shone down on their little bit of land and Gabe mumbled about hoping the weather windfall would last all the way to the coast.
    “Goodbye House!” Mia squealed, launching herself into the back of Jenna’s Range Rover and settling into her seat.
    They drove along the swooping road towards Rialto, taking the 101 until it dropped them on Mora Road. They followed the winding avenues of the reservation towards the wild coastline.
    “Momma?” Mia chirped from the back, pushing her finger against the glass of the sidewindow, “what’s that?”
    “That’s a buoy totem pole,” Jenna explained, launching into the magical traditions of the Quileute people and how the people here lived off the land. They were fishermen, out in the wilds of the Pacific Ocean, and sometimes they would collect treasures as testimony to their time carving their stories into massive pillars of wood.
    The gravel lot hadn’t changed, that much gave Jenna a sense of comfort, time doesn’t change everything. The towers trees gave way to a stretch of water wash rocks, pebbles and black granite sand, littered with blanched driftwood.
    “Wow.” Mia scaled a log and stood close to Gabe, taking it all in.
    “Now, Mia,” Gabe cautioned, “this is a dangerous beach. You stay with Momma and me at all times. You can collect shells if you find any, but you are not to run