Page 7 of Daddy's Little Camping Trip
Winter’s heads were far more in the clouds than mine, even on the day I signed up for this trip, when I’d been soaring.
“You going to the campfire for the meet and greet?” I asked.
“Yeah. Probably leaving in about half an hour. Like, I’ll get some rest first. It will probably be a late night.” He undid his hiking boots. My sneakers weren’t even an athletic version.
“You are wise beyond your years.” I opened my suitcase, grabbed my pillow and teddy bear, and lay on top of the sleeping bag, thinking I could get a little bit of shut-eye.
That didn’t quite happen, but what did happen was me realizing that I needed to get out of here and get me one of those cots. Because sleeping on the ground was probably gonna look a whole lot less like sleeping and more like tossing, turning, and regret.
But if nothing else, this weekend, I made a new friend who I apparently needed to consult before going on trips, because he sure had his act together.
And tonight, at the meet and greet, if the daddy was here, I’d see him.
And if not…maybe there was another?
Who was I fooling? I didn’t want another. I couldn’t think of anybody else who could have convinced me to go here with such ease or even with a lot of difficulty. Just the thought that I might get to spend some time with him had been enough.
Maybe my tentmate was right. Maybe this could be one of thoseawwwmoments.
Only time would tell.
Chapter Six
Gilbraith
The glamping dome was fabulous, everything Sandy promised and more.
It was also, unfortunately, a longer walk than I was used to, making me recognize that it was time to join a gym or take up jogging in the mornings before work. But after I got checked in by Rocky and made my inexpert way down the narrow path through the tall trees, the dome came in sight and I nearly fell to my knees in gratitude.
I’d seen the rest of the camp after I parked in the lot and, while it was nicer than I’d expected from the photos, even the bathroom, my dome was a palace in comparison. It sat on a wooden deck elevated from the forest floor with a comfortable set of porch furniture, overlooking the landscape below. After I climbed the steps, I turned and took in the view. In the distance, looking very far away, in a break in the trees, the lake near the campground sparkled in the late-afternoon sunlight. Had the little, had Quill arrived yet?
I hadn’t seen him when I checked in and checked out the campgrounds, but there were quite a few people getting settled in, so I could have missed him. That night at Chained, I’d thought about asking him if he’d like a ride here but quickly brushed that aside. We hadn’t known one another very long, just a few hours, and taking a long ride with a stranger was not a safe choice.
Even if I did know what a safe person I was, I didn’t want to imply that he should make questionable choices. No daddy worth his warm embrace would.
This weekend would be a great opportunity to get to know one another a little better and see if we were interested inexploring a relationship of any kind. I already knew what an adorable little Quill could be, but spending some time becoming acquainted with his big side also held appeal.
With that in mind, I hurried inside to freshen up and change for the first activity of the weekend, the campfire meet and greet. In the end, I had packed anything casual I wore on the weekend at home and one nice outfit. My resort purchases would have to wait for next year to make their appearance.
Even in my rush, I had to take long enough to appreciate the aesthetic of the dome. Circling the interior, I came upon a big bed with plump fluffy pillows, a seating area with leather sofa and chair, a dining table with four chairs, and a compact kitchen. The middle held the bathroom, the one part not visible from the outside when I tapped the controls and made the whole dome clear. Such a clever design, everything blending together in elegant neutrals that allowed the beautiful woodland and the sky to provide color.
I would have said nothing could compare to the resort in the Bahamas I visited every year, but this location had a charm I could grow to appreciate as well. Glamping was better than camping for sure.
Changed into jeans and a T-shirt, I grabbed a hoodie for the cool evening temperatures and started back through the woods toward the campground. With the sun so low in the sky, shadows covered parts of the path, reminding me that the next time I traveled it, it would be dark. Rocky had told me to stop by the office before heading out because they had a lantern for me. So, I’d be fine.
Emerging from the trees, I arrived just in time to watch the sun disappear behind the hills on the other side of the lake. The western sky was ablaze with reds, oranges, and yellows, darkening around the edges. It was no pink-sand beach, but it was pretty.
I found the campfire where others were gathering. Beach chairs had been set out, and a number of friends from Chained were already there, settling in and passing around forks for toasting wieners. Although we’d been told our first official meal would be breakfast, in all the rush to get here, I had skipped lunch and never even considered dinner, so a hot dog cooked over an open fire sounded awfully good.
Bridger and Hudson were there, as well as several other couples, but sitting next to Hudson was the little I’d been watching out for. He was fitting a hot dog on his fork, but when I greeted Bridger, Quill looked up and smiled, the firelight illuminating his face in the growing darkness.
“Hi,” he said, standing up. “You came.”
“Of course.” I stepped to his other side, where an empty chair waited for me. “I’m glad you did, too.”
“Want a stick?” He held one out. “For hot dogs.” He lowered his voice. “I like them burned.”
“You do?” I tried not to make a face at the prospect but failed. “Burned?”
