Page 397 of Small Town Firsts
She already had the overhang set up—which pretty much was just four posts and a piece of canvas strung between them. I was almost sure it was the same one we’d always used for cover during the rainy seasons.
I’d been the one to waterproof it with three layers of poly because I’d been tired of either getting wet outside or living in a steam bath inside our various vehicles during the summer months.
From vans to RVs, we’d had just about all of them in my life. We’d even lived out of a car for a while when I was really young. I only remembered because it was a hideous green that looked like pea soup. It even had the ham chunks, only they were rust spots.
“What do you need help with?”
“I got it. Why don’t you take a walk? There’s a stream over that way. Stretch those long legs of yours.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded as she hauled a Coleman cooler out of the back storage panel. “By the time you get back, I’ll have burgers ready.”
“Real burgers or are you a vegetarian again?”
“I’m back to eating meat. I was always hungry.”
I grinned. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Wait.” She held up a finger and disappeared into the Airstream. She came back out with my crossbody bag, which held all my on-the-go art supplies and my notebook. “Take these. Maybe you’ll be inspired.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
“Come on. You used to love to sketch on the rocks all the time. I’d find you sunning on any available boulder with any scrap of paper you could find.”
I took the bag from my mother and gave her an impulsive hug. “I could use a little of that.”
She quickly gripped my shoulders and held on tighter. “I really missed you, baby.”
My eyes stung, but I pulled back. “Yeah. Me too.” Today was just a little too much from every angle. “I’ll be back in a while.”
“Just come back before dark.” I couldn’t count how many times she’d said the same thing when I went off to explore as a kid.
I wasn’t exactly dressed for exploring, but I’d been smart enough to drag out my hiking boots before Rainbow had gotten back to my apartment with supplies.
I followed the signs for the creek as the sun streamed through the trees. I heard the rush of water before I saw it. The scent of it lured me into quickening my stride.
The incline had me skipping down the path, grabbing onto a few of the trees to slow my descent. Finally, the dirt path turned into large slabs of shale and smooth water-worn rocks. The stream was running fast thanks to the storms my mother had mentioned.
But there was enough of a path for me to climb up away from the water to get a good view of the endless trees and the mountains in the distance. Of all the places we’d lived, New York had always been my favorite.
Probably why I’d finally landed in the middle of the state. I’d never quite been a city girl, but I definitely wasn’t made for rural life. Kensington Square was the best of both worlds. Close enough to a major city, but far enough away that I didn’t have to worry about crime.
This was a helluva view though. I pulled out my phone and snapped a picture, then immediately opened my texts to send it to…
I stared at the contact name I’d instinctively gone for.
Not Luna.
PMS.
Luckily, I didn’t have enough bars to send to anyone because I wasn’t sure which one would win.
I took a few more photos because it was gorgeous and my phone was out anyway, and then I shoved it back in my pocket and found a flat rock to settle on.
Maybe Sylvia and Roz would enjoy some outdoor activity. Would Roz get Sylvia a cat pouch like Preston had for Smoky? Assuming he ever used it.
Hmm, could I bribe him through sensual means to wear the Pussy Papa pouch?
