“Have you ever seen a black bear?” Laura asked, crossing her arms. Ethan shook his head.
“We saw two last fall,” Dallas replied. “We saw a baby a couple of years ago.”
“We saw three last year,” Ivy corrected. “There was the one in the park. And we saw a moose.”
“Have you ever seen a moose?” Dallas asked Ethan.
“No, but…” Ethan paused, thoughtfully. “I don’t think there are any moose in Colorado.”
/> Ivy’s jaw dropped. “There are too! We saw one!”
Laura could see an argument starting. She quickly whipped out her smart phone.
“Maybe it was a big dog,” Ethan said.
“It had antlers!”
“Maybe it was a big dog with antlers. Woof!”
“It wasn’t! Laura!”
“Okay, listen guys,” Laura said, using her mommy voice. “There weren’t any moose in Colorado for decades, but they were reintroduced to the state. There are now over two thousand.”
“See!” Ivy said.
“I stand corrected. Secretly, I just wanted to see a big dog with antlers,” Ethan said, holding his fingers up behind his head like he had antlers. That got a laugh out of Dallas.
“Well, we might not have oceans, but we have some cool wildlife. Like elk and bears.”
“And dogs with antlers!” Ethan added.
“No, I told you, it was a moose!” Ivy shrieked.
“Okay,” Ethan said. He let his laughter subside, and then a slow half-smile started to form on his face. “You guys need to see the ocean, then.”
“What are you planning?” Laura asked. She wasn't sure she liked the look on his face. He was plotting something.
“Me? Planning something?” he asked, opening his eyes wide like he was innocent or something.
“Yes, you,” Laura replied, narrowing her eyes. “What are you coming up with?”
“Wouldn't you like to know?” He grinned at her and held up the movie again. “So, Girl-With-Ocean-Movie? Let's watch it!”
Laura shook her head as he put the DVD in the player and got the kids situated on the couch.
“This time, I get to sit next to Laura,” Ethan told Dallas as he scooted him over. Laura smiled and took her spot. Dallas snuggled up to Ethan and Ivy to Laura. Ethan put his arm around Laura's shoulder, and again the feeling of family overtook her.
The movie started, and Laura was instantly transported to a world she could only imagine. The ocean came to life on the screen, and she watched, enjoying herself.
“I love that color,” she whispered as the ocean took over the screen. All the shades of aquamarine and blue filled the screen as the character sailed on the water toward her goal.
“Yeah?” he asked, cuddling her in closer to him.
She nodded. “You live in California. You get to see the ocean all the time. Which is better? Ocean or mountains?”
He thought for a moment. “That's hard, but I'm going to have to go with ocean.”
“Yeah?”