The cut of the escarpment lifts through here for miles and from the border on up to this point then not much further. On one side of that ridge, a river falls off loudly there, routes out through the cedars, ash, and maples, and becomes a shallow stream that has smoothed rocks for millions of years. It now carries brown trout and steelhead all the way out to the bay, but first, tumbles under the bridge and through Anna’s favorite park.

Then it was here she walked with Bill, down the oiled dirt road, through the trees to stand there over the water.

And Anna said to Bill:

—Ok now, see over there. Yes, look up, to where the bend starts.

And they stepped around the railing, down off the bridge, broke through the saplings and tall grasses on the edge of the hill, and walked down on a footpath to follow the river around the corner and through the trees.

Bill heard that there were cardinals there chip! chip! and chickadees also calling out and chick-a-dee-dee-dee and chick-a-dee-dee-dee, up in the branches and next to them.

—That’s where I want you to place my ashes, when it’s my turn, down there where it wells, after the falls and right there.

— Yes I see the spot. This place makes sense Mom. You picked a good one.

And he saw that the sun was trying to come out and the wind was still.

—When will we get to meet Isla?

—She’s flying up next week, on Monday morning. I’m driving down to pick her up. Oh, I don’t think I told you, but they all call me Nickel.

—That’s ridiculous Bill. How did that get started?

—I’m not even sure, maybe a Northern joke? I probably played them a Stompin’ Tom song and then one thing led to another. I really don’t remember but I suppose it could’ve been worse.

—Like Moose or Beaver?

—Yes, just like those.

Bill could see the rock outcropping drop down and could hear the falls, and this was a family reserve in place, a conservation for everything that was held to pass until now and six generations on both sides knew this river.

And the branches above them reached up into a canopy, framed by two rows of trees, and into an accidental nave there.

Then let the maple keys drop through the air and spin onto the forest floor. And let the blue water turn clear in the sun, and then brown where it goes shallow, then blue again as it falls out into the bay.

— Let’s get back to your Dad. He’s probably waking up now.

—Ok Mom let’s go.