You Bet Your Heart by Danielle Parker

Author:Danielle Parker [Parker, Danielle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2023-05-30T00:00:00+00:00

We drive in total silence as I stare at the outside world, everything a little hazy from the rain. They are the same streets I have known my whole life, but now nothing is familiar. We travel through the Monterey tunnel, and I close my eyes and hold my breath. It’s a ritual. Except…I don’t know what to wish for. I’ve always wished for the same two things—my mom’s health and me being able to make my family proud. At this point though, I want to ask for something different, a little something for me. What does my heart want? The car buzzes, everything goes dark, and when we emerge on the other side, I open my eyes and exhale.

The car slows down, and Ezra scans the streets for parking. We’re in tourist heaven: restaurants with clam chowder, the aquarium, and shops overfilled with marine life trinkets. Despite the weather, the area is busy. Tourist season is alive and well.

I’ve seen this viewpoint before, but I don’t think I’ve ever been here.

Ezra’s long torso twists, and his back is near my face. His body glides in between the small space of passenger and driver seat, front and back of the car. I can smell him—that woodsy- jasmine mix.

Then he pops back into his seat, beaming.

“Found ’em!” He hands me black binoculars. “Come on. You’re going to love this.”

He’s right. As soon as I step outside, I love it. We stand near the water, the air crisp from all the rain. The ocean is a deep, dark gray blue; the waves swirly and powerful as they crash against the rocks. The sky is a silky gray; clouds linger as if to say there will be more storms.

I peer through Ezra’s binoculars as he stands near me, his arm touching mine. I can tell he’s watching me view the world. I try to focus on what’s in front of me. It takes my eyes a moment to adjust to the small holes. I think about the ocean, the fact that it is 90 percent unknown. We think we understand a thing. But in reality, we have no idea. Because, like Ezra, most things have layers. And a lot of us are just scratching the surface, just beginning to comprehend the vastness of it all.

“You see anything? Dolphins? Whales?” Ezra steps back, I notice when our touch drops, like losing an important connection. With his camera in his hand, he aims off into the distance and takes a picture.

“No, nothing yet.” I squint my eyes, which only makes things worse. I refocus. “I see a seal, or an otter. Definitely an otter. Here,” I say, handing him the binoculars.

The air is cool and clean on my face. I rub my arms and try not to stare at Ezra as he marvels at the world.

Ezra peers through the black plastic, his head hunched over, the only time I’ve ever seen him sort of slouch.

“I love to come out here and just get lost admiring the ocean, especially after big storms.

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