Chapter 2
A New Beginning
Dartmouth College
The only downside to the location of Dartmouth was the lack of ease getting there from Doylestown.
One option was taking a six-hour train ride from Philly to Boston, then driving another two hours by car; flying took almost six hours with a stop in Boston, the same amount of time as if she simply drove.
Her father offered to be her transportation and accommodations, which was something she could not refuse.
It would save her several hundred dollars, plus give her an opportunity to spend a little more time with her dad.
This would be their first road trip together.
Todd extended the invitation to Jessica, who graciously declined.
The traffic was unusually light for a summer weekend.
By three o’clock they had arrived at the Mascoma Lake Campground, ten miles from the campus.
That’s when Ashley realized one of the cons of living in an RV: You couldn’t park wherever you wanted.
Her father remedied that by having an electric bike attached to his motorhome for such situations.
But Ashley wasn’t about to show up for her orientation wearing a helmet and biker’s gear.
She praised the Lord for Uber but soon discovered they weren’t as available as one might be accustomed to.
Todd pulled the RV up to the small cabin-like main office where they registered and asked for suggestions on local transportation.
The manager gave them a business card for a local taxi service.
“The most reliable way to get around if you don’t have your own vehicle.
” He chuckled. “Are you folks here to do some hiking or are you headed to the college?”
“My daughter will be getting her master’s from Dartmouth.” Todd beamed.
“You must be a smart girl,” the man addressed Ashley.
“You bet she is!” Todd responded. “Her mom and I couldn’t be prouder.”
“And I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for all the opportunities my parents gave me!” Ashley smiled at her father.
“Well, it sounds like you’re both very lucky to have each other. Enjoy your stay and good luck to you!” the man said and gave Todd directions to where he should park.
Todd drove past rows of tiny houses and cabins that faced a pristine lake, which was surrounded by greenery as far as the eye could see.
When they arrived at the designated area for RVs, Todd pulled into his spot.
He quickly began to connect the auxiliary power cables, then he hit the buttons for the slide-out wall that made the RV wider.
Ashley watched the ritual in amazement. In the summer, he would park the RV in the driveway for the few days he visited, but she really never explored the home on wheels.
It was apparently full of surprises. Still, she could appreciate her mother’s reluctance to live on the road.
She wondered what her father had planned for dinner. Would he cook?
He immediately answered her thoughts: “How about I grill a couple of steaks?” He grinned at the expression of surprise on Ashley’s face.
“What? You didn’t think I would have considered food?
” He chuckled. “Remember, I do this every day.” He winked.
“How do you feel about a couple of baked potatoes?”
Ashley’s stomach was making sounds in anticipation of a juicy sirloin. “Sounds great! I’m a bit peckish.”
“Listen to you sounding all fancy.” Todd enjoyed teasing his daughter. He often thought she was too serious and had to snap her into a more relaxed mode.
Ashley stuck out her tongue. “Do you have anything for a charcuterie?”
Todd burst out laughing. “Charcuterie? But of course, m’lady.” He hopped inside the RV. Ashley looked on with wonder. She really had no clue what to expect.
Todd pulled out a few plates then opened the small fridge.
Inside was a platter of cheese, salami, and fruit.
He placed it on the counter, then unhooked two folding chairs and brought them outside.
Next was a small folding table, which he situated at an angle so they had a 180-degree unobscured view of the lake.
Todd bounded back into the RV and returned with his appetizing platter.
“Impressive!” Ashley cooed sincerely. But she still wasn’t convinced this was the life she would sign up for.
The two sat and gazed at the view.
“It’s quite beautiful,” Ashley mused. “The entire area is beautiful.” The countryside was not dissimilar to Swarthmore, and she appreciated the continuity. When her nose wasn’t in a book, she was hiking. Nothing strenuous. Simply a walk through the woods.
While combing through her options for graduate work, the location and scenery were an important part of the equation.
The main campus of Dartmouth boasts some of the oldest and largest oak trees in the state.
In 1807, the state of New Hampshire granted a 27,000-acre forest near the Maine border to the university, one hundred miles from campus.
Seasonal walking tours are arranged by the campus arborist. Ashley believed she would have the best of both worlds: nature and academia.
“What time do you plan on serving dinner?” she asked.
“What time do you want to eat?”
“This hit the spot.” She nodded at the empty platter. “How about in an hour? I’d like to take a quick walk near the lake.”
“That’s fine but stay out of the water,” he teased.
“Roger that!” Ashley said as she tied the sleeves of her sweater around her neck.
Todd watched as his grown-up daughter wandered toward the shoreline. She was as pretty as her mother, he thought to himself. It was uncanny.
When Ashley returned, the fire was ready for the beef. “Can I do anything?” she asked.
“There’s a bottle of cabernet in the bin. Why don’t you fetch it and grab a couple of glasses.”
Ashley hopped up the steps to the kitchenette area.
A photo of her and her mother was taped to the inside door of one of the cabinets.
She smiled. She knew her father loved her and her mother.
She wondered if he missed living in a two-story home with all the comforts and amenities.
Then she reminded herself that he had been doing this drive-about for almost three years.
She opened another cupboard looking for glasses and discovered a basket filled with maps of all the national parks.
She smiled and thought, He must be thoroughly enjoying himself.
Ashley made a salad while Todd supervised the meat.
A radio playing music by some punk band could be heard in the distance.
Ashley grimaced. The lead singer sounded like he was moaning and whining.
She stuck her head out the door. “Hey, Dad! Do you have anything that can drown out that annoyance?” she called.
“How about some Billy Joel?”
“Sure.” Ashley wasn’t one for punk rock and decided some oldies-but-goodies would be more appropriate.
Todd pulled his phone from his pocket and linked it to the Bose speakers. “Play ‘Uptown Girl,’” he commanded.
Within seconds Ashley was bopping to the music.
She tossed the cranberries into the greens.
She smiled again thinking how well prepared and well stocked her father’s compact kitchen was.
Reviewing the living quarters, she could understand how one person could live in an area of approximately five-hundred square feet.
But the most important thing was that her father was happy.
Relaxed. So much more at ease than when he was tied to his office job.
Ashley stepped outside with the salad and marveled at the beautiful colors of the sky. Sunset was progressing.
Todd removed the steaks from the grill, as well as the foil-wrapped potatoes and placed them on the cloth-covered table.
“Wow, Dad. Talk about fancy.”
“Nothing is too good for my girl.” He pulled one of the folding chairs out for her to sit. He poured the wine and made a toast. “To my precious, darling, brilliant daughter. May the days ahead be everything you wish for.”
Tears welled up in Ashley’s eyes. She knew it would be months before she saw him again. Maybe Thanksgiving, but surely Christmas.
After dinner they sat in comfortable silence and watched the orange colors of the sky turn pink and lavender. By nine, both were ready to turn in.
“Want to watch a movie?” her father offered.
Ashley let out a short laugh. “You really have thought of everything, haven’t you?”
“Home sweet home.” He smiled. “Come on. Let’s see what’s playing.
” They collected the remaining dishes and hauled themselves into the RV.
Ashley finished doing the dishes while her father made up the bed in the rear of the vehicle.
Several minutes later they were sitting in front of a 42-inch TV, and the opening titles from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off appeared on the screen.
“I was looking for something academically thematic. This was the best I could come up with.”
Ashley laughed out loud. “It’s not exactly academically oriented, but it is very funny.”
An hour and a half later they said their goodnights, but when Ashley climbed into bed she couldn’t turn off her brain.
She was excited and nervous. She decided to go outside for a bit.
Maybe the cool night air would lull her into sleep.
She was correct in her calculations as her head began to bob.
It was almost midnight. Time to give the sheets another go.
The following morning, she woke to the smell of bacon and eggs. There was something comforting in the aroma of a home-cooked breakfast.
“Rye or wheat toast?” Todd called out to her.
“What? No English muffins?” Ashley grunted.
“As you wish.” Todd opened the freezer compartment of the fridge and pulled out two Thomas’s. “They may take a little more time.”
“Oh, geeze. Never mind. I was kidding. Really. I’ll have rye.”
“Never underestimate your old man.” Todd tossed them back in the freezer. “I’ll thaw them for tomorrow.”