Forever Love at Wildflower Lock (The Wildflower Lock #4)

Chapter 28

28

When Theo had said ‘camping,’ Daisy had envisioned rough pathways and a trek into the middle of nowhere, perhaps to a near-empty field with a dodgy-looking toilet and shower block, or a place to put a disposable barbeque, but what she was seeing was a long way from the rustic image she had imagined. As they drove down the newly tarmacked road, they were led by various signposts, pointing out everything from the children’s playground to the boat hire and the park shop. There were also several signs pointing to glamping tepees and shepherds’ huts.

‘Wow, it’s changed. They’ve done this up a lot since I was last here,’ Theo said, almost as if he were speaking to himself. ‘When we used to come, there were two toilet blocks and a couple of tire swings. I knew Liam had spent a fair bit doing it up, but I had no idea he’d put so much work into it. This looks good. Really good.’

The speed they were driving at reminded Daisy of the September Rose . On the canal, a top speed of four miles an hour was considered entirely reasonable, and it didn’t feel like they were going any faster than that. Countless signs were posted around, declaring the slow speed limit, while also displaying warnings such as ‘Ducks Crossing’ and ‘Beware Children’. Not that Daisy needed to see a sign for that one – it was pretty obvious. On every side of the road, children were running around and playing. Some were dressed in wetsuits and life jackets as if they had just come back from a trip out on the water, while others were riding their bikes or skipping.

‘It’s busy,’ Daisy said, stating the obvious.

‘Right?’ Theo replied. ‘Liam said it was pretty packed, but he assured me there was a free camping spot. I wrote the number on my phone. It’s forty-something, I think.’

Daisy continued to stare out of the window, trying to take it all in.

‘There’s a sign up here for the car park,’ she said. ‘I think we probably have to park up there and walk the rest of the way to the campsite.’

‘Sounds good,’ Theo said. ‘Although I hope it’s not too far. I’m starting to regret buying all that shopping.’

There were both positives and negatives to the plot Liam had designated for them. The main positive was that it looked directly out over the lake, with an unobstructed view of the water. When they finally arrived at their designated patch of land, Daisy stopped in her tracks, her breath stolen by the view.

‘This is stunning,’ she said.

The sun was on its downward descent and had coloured the clouds deep shades of fuchsia and magenta, which were reflected in the perfectly still water. Her fingers itched as she stared out at the vista. It was idyllic. Incredible. Exactly the type of place that she would love to paint.

‘Why don’t you stay here, and I’ll go back and get the rest of the stuff,’ Theo said. His voice drew Daisy away from her daydream, and at the same time reminded her of the one negative part of their plot: it was about as far from the car park as they could get, and they simply hadn’t managed to carry all of their gear in one go.

‘No,’ Daisy said, shaking her head in response. ‘That doesn’t make any sense. I don’t know how to set up this tent of yours, and you want to do the cooking. It makes far more sense for you to stay here and set everything up, and I’ll go back to the car and fetch anything we’ve left.’

‘Are you sure?’ Theo said.

‘Of course I am.’

‘I don’t mind walking with you.’

Daisy reached up on her tiptoes and kissed him softly on his lips.

‘I might be an engaged woman, but I can still manage to walk to a car and carry a few groceries by myself.’

‘Okay, but if you need help, you only have to call me.’

With a playful sigh, she gave him one more quick peck before turning around and walking back to the car.