Page 51 of Phillip

He shrugged. “I’ve kept my distance from Blackthorne Enterprises.” He snorted. “And they’re probably grateful.”

“That didn’t answer my question,” she said quietly.

The SUV stopped, and the driver stepped out. Again, they had a moment of privacy when she wanted time to pause.

“They wouldn’t understand.”

The door opened. Their seclusion disappeared, but her tingle of awareness stayed. She was special. He believed she would understand. What, she didn’t know. Ashley took his hand as she stepped from the vehicle, ready for him to explain.

Laughter and joy danced through the forest. She couldn’t see children playing, but they weren’t far away. Phillip led her up a gravel path to a cabin. A wood sign that readCamp Officehung over a screen door.

“After you,” he said, opening the door.

Ashley stepped into a quintessential camp office. From the painted floor with a glowing sunrise to the pine shiplap walls covered with children’s art, she couldn’t imagine a camp welcome better than this. Friendliness emanated from the exposed rafters. Joy hung in the form of children’s crafts. There was no place for grief. Phillip’s camp shined a child’s reprieve.

The screen door slapped shut, and an older man with a bright grin stepped from a back room.

“Isaiah.” Phillip greeted the man with a back-slapping hug.

“What are you doing here?” Isaiah shook his head, surprised, and turned to Ashley. “Hello.”

“Isaiah Scott,” Phillip offered. “Ashley Cartwright.”

Isaiah took her hand, shaking it with a smile large enough to make her beam. “It’s lovely to meet you.” He turned to Phillip. “Like I said, what are you doing here?”

They laughed. Isaiah’s delight was contagious. Phillip added, “I was in the neighborhood.”

“Is that so?” He turned to Ashley. “With company like this, I can see how a short drive might end up here.”

Ashley blushed. “We went for ice cream.”

Isaiah’s eyebrows lifted. “I’m sure Miranda will fill me in.”

“I’m sure,” Phillip said.

“What did you have in mind for your agenda?”

Phillip took her hand. “Nothing much. I’ll give her a quick tour.”

Isaiah winked. “Take your time.”

Embarrassed, Phillip chuckled. “First, we’ll swing by the chow hall. What was for lunch today?”

“Corn dogs, green beans, and slaw.”

“We showed up on a good day.”

“Phshh.” Isaiah shook his head. “Every day’s a good day, son.”

“Especially when it’s corn dog day.”

With that, they said goodbye and walked out the screen door. It smacked behind them.

Ashley wasn’t wearing anything close to hiking clothes, but she kept up with Phillip when he veered from the gravel path to one worn through the woods. The tree canopies shaded them, and nature’s tune mixed with the ever-present sound of kids.

“Here we go,” he said as they stepped over a small log that blocked their path then into a clearing.

The chow hall had the same wood sign over the front door. She hadn’t imagined what his camp would be like, but this seemed like a storybook ideal. They entered through another screen door, and it made that same slap when it shut. Rows of empty rustic picnic tables lined the large room. Overhead fans circulated the air.

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