2
TATE
I had looked at the campsite’s website before coming here, and in real life, it was even more impressive as on the pictures and videos that I saw. The campground was tucked away between big trees, and the cabins were positioned thoughtfully to offer privacy while embracing the nature that was all around.
Our cabin had the number four on it. Coincidentally, four was my lucky number because we were a family of four, and I often caught glimpses of that number in random places. Strangely enough, I always looked at my phone at exactly four oh four almost every day.
It had to mean something.
After getting everything out of the car, we headed inside the cabin to look around and get a feel of the space we were about to spend three weeks in.
“Which room will Tate and I sleep in?”
I looked over to where Ronan was standing. He was pointing into one of the bedrooms, and I wondered if there was a difference between the two.
“I don’t mind which one you kids sleep in. They should be the same,” Dad announced from the kitchen.
“This one doesn’t have an en-suite bathroom. I figured you’d want that one,” Ronan said, looking over at Mom.
“Ooo, I’ll take it. I won’t say no to an en-suite bathroom,” she admitted with a grin. “Does it also have a bathtub?”
“Uh, no. But the shower is big,” Ronan told her.
I walked over to the room that I would be sleeping in with Ronan, and I sighed as I caught a glimpse of the bed. “I don’t mind sharing a bed with you, Ro, but please don’t kick me in your sleep.”
“Why would I do that?”
“You always did that when we were younger.”
“When we were younger, you always wanted to sleep in bed with me because you were scared to sleep alone. I didn’t have much space with you next to me in that small bed.”
He had a point. Still, as safe and protected as I felt with him next to me, I always had issues staying asleep when I felt his feet kick my legs every time he moved. And he moved a lot.
“If you can’t sleep because of me, you can sleep on the couch,” he told me, and I already considered it.
I brought my bag into the bedroom and started to unpack. I didn’t bring too many things because Dad said there was a cabin with several washing machines on this campground. That was practical.
“Did Dad say anything about dinner?” Ronan asked as he came into the room.
“Yes. We’ll eat at the camp’s restaurant.”
“Perfect. I read there’s a tennis court around here too. Wanna go check it out after dinner?”
I looked at him and shrugged. “Why not?”
“And if you want, we can play tomorrow. I’m sure they have rackets and balls we can borrow.”
“Sounds fun. Just prepare to get your ass kicked,” I said jokingly.
“You wish.”
Ronan and I were competitive, like all siblings were. But at the end of the day, we were proud of each other.
After spending some time in the cabin and settling in, Dad made us all gather in the living room before heading over to the restaurant. It was located closer to the entrance of the campground, and while there were tables outside with a couple of lampposts and lanterns hanging over them, we decided to go sit inside.
None of us wanted to get bit by mosquitos while enjoying our food.
“Any booth you’d like,” the waitress said, greeting us with a friendly smile.
“How about that one?” Mom asked, pointing to one of the booths by a window.
We followed her there and sat down. Ronan moved quick, sliding over to get the window seat, and Mom sat down next to him. I looked at Dad, wondering if he wanted to sit by the window, but he placed a hand on my back, gently nudging me to go in first.
I moved over and looked outside. There was a couple sitting at one table, and a family of five at another, and while it looked like they were having a great time out there, they kept waving their hands to get rid of the insects flying around.
“See, that’s another thing we won’t have to deal with here. We can eat in peace in the cabin,” Dad stated.
“Sounds like you’re done with camping in tents for good,” Mom said with a raised brow.
Dad shrugged. “I just think we’ve done enough camping in tents. We’re not getting younger either, Ainsley. We need a good bed for our backs.”
Mom and Dad weren’t old. They were forty-seven and forty-eight, and for that age, they were both very active and fit.
Mom liked to do Pilates and she occasionally went jogging. Dad and Ronan often joined her, but they were more interested in the gym, so that’s where they spent most their weekends at.
I wasn’t lazy either. I loved to swim, and when I was in high school, I was on the soccer team. Now, though, whenever I had the choice to work out with them or stay home, I usually did the latter. I read a lot, and I loved to write, so that’s what I did in my free time.
“Can I get you something to drink?” The waitress stood next to our table with a pen and notepad in her hands. I wondered why they were still so old-fashioned here, when all the restaurants back home used iPads or phones for take orders. Then I figured that there was barely any internet connection up here, and that a pen and a small piece of paper was definitely enough to take an order.
We told her our drinks, and Dad added two appetizers to the order. The jalape ? o poppers and mozzarella sticks were for us to share.
“What do you guys think of this place so far? Do you like it? Think you can spend three weeks here?” Dad asked, looking at Ronan and me.
“For sure. It’s nice and quiet up here,” Ro said, smiling at Dad.
“And you?”
I shrugged. “It’s pretty. Can we go hiking around here?”
“Most definitely. There are a few trails I checked out online before coming here. There’s a lake near here too.”
There’d be enough activities for us to do, and even if we’d get bored, we had brought our books and board and card games to play. We’d have plenty to do on this trip.
When the waitress came back, I watched as the others began eating the appetizers. I was the only one not to eat what Dad had ordered for us all. I didn’t want to spoil my appetite and not eat what I wanted to order.
“Eat,” Dad told me, nudging my side with his elbow.
“I’m fine.”
“You love jalape ? o poppers.”
“I do, but I really want a burger, and I want that to be the first thing to hit my tongue.”
“You’re weird,” Ronan said before putting a whole mozzarella stick dipped in salsa in his mouth.
“Right…”
“Kids, stop that.” Mom gave us a warning glance, but she knew we never pushed it too far.
I watched them eat, and I occasionally took a sip of my iced tea. When the waitress was back again, we finally ordered our food. I went for the pulled pork burger with sweet potato fries and roasted bell peppers on the side. It sounded like a lot, but I ate a lot. Especially when all I had on the drive here were a small bag of chips and a sandwich.
Turning my head to Dad, I watched him finish chewing before he answered a question Mom had asked him. I didn’t listen to what they were talking about. All I focused on was the way his jaw muscles flexed under his skin.
He had shaved his short beard this morning before our drive, and there was already a shadow appearing. I loved his beard, and I hoped that he’d let it grow while we were here. He didn’t really have a reason to shave anyway.
I chewed on my bottom lip as he laughed at something Mom said, and I found myself smiling, loving how deeply in love they were. Even after all those years, they were inseparable. And, sometimes, I wished I was Mom.
My thoughts were interrupted when our food finally arrived, and my mouth immediately watered. “This looks delicious.”
“It is. We might just be a small restaurant on a random campground, but we have the best cook in all of Alberta,” the waitress said proudly.
“We’ll be the judge of that,” Ronan said with a flirtatious wink.
“This is your first time in Alberta, son. Can’t judge this food if you’ve not had any other,” Dad said with a raised brow and smug grin.
“I had a turkey sandwich from a gas station, and that was pretty damn good for a gas station sandwich,” Ronan admitted, grinning at the waitress.
She laughed and waved a hand. “That’s not real food. This is. Enjoy, everyone.”
When she left, Dad glared at Ronan. “Don’t flirt with the waitress.”
“Why not?”
“She’s too old for you.”
Ro laughed and waved a hand. “Whatever.”
Dad wasn’t too old for me.
He was only twenty-six years older than me. And, well, he was my Dad. There was a different rule there.
One not many would agree with, but then, not many would understand the love I had for him.