Page 104 of Family Bonds- Kelsey & Van

Van went over to the phone and found the sheet to call the front desk and was told that he could order from the restaurant as takeout and eat by the fire pits and there were menus in the binder.

“That seems easy enough,” she said. “Let me see the menu.”

They placed their orders and were told it’d be twenty-five minutes. Not bad for a Friday night.

The place wasn’t packed by any means, but it was active with people that she’d seen when they checked in.

Once Frankie had cleaned his bowl, she got his leash and hooked him up.

“Are you going to walk him alone?”

“Not unless you want to do it and scoop up his poop? I know there are areas only for this, but I don’t trust him to make it that far.”

“We can go together,” he said. “Then we’ll find some seats and wait for the food outside.”

If she found it sweet he didn’t want her alone, she held it in.

At least she hoped it was sweet and not that he was worried about her safety.

When her father found out about Bill, she got the worst lecture of her life. No amount of explaining herself helped and she realized she’d made a mistake doing what she had.

But she assured them her days of dating apps were done.

She had a man she loved.

Her father only rolled his eyes at her, but he finally stopped pacing.

She’d even pointed out that Van had taken care of it.

Which her father had appreciated. If her father and Van talked about it, no one shared that news with her.

She didn’t want to know either.

Frankie walked around on the grass and did his business. She plugged her nose as she bent down to get it with the baggie. At least at home she was far enough away to scoop with a shovel.

“Now I know what a dirty diaper might be like,” she said.

“You’ll find out soon enough when you’re babysitting for your niece or nephew.”

“Good point,” she said. “Let’s go get a seat and our food should be done soon.”

There were three different fire pits. One had another couple at it that were talking as if more people were joining them. She didn’t want Frankie to get worked up, so they moved to the one furthest away.

When it was time to pick their food up, she stayed there while Van went to get their dinner. It wasn’t as if she could bring Frankie in.

Slowly more people were joining that first couple and there was a lot of laughter and noise. Seemed as if they were having a good time.

“Looks like there might be a party over there,” Van said when he returned with two containers.

She’d gotten a chicken sandwich and fries. Van a burger. Things easy to eat and carry.

“Could be,” she said. “I thought I overheard them mention a birthday and beer coming.”

“I hadn’t planned on doing much other than seeing the services here, but maybe I’ll see firsthand how it could be handled.”

“I for one just want to people watch and eat my dinner,” she said. She grabbed her sandwich and took a bite, then made a few faces as she chewed.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

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