Chapter Twenty-Six August 18
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Looks like we’re here.” Joshua pulled Micah’s truck into the covered parking space next to where Micah had already parked the car, and switched off the engine.
“Oh. Is that it?”
Joshua stared through the windshield at the single-story cabin before them.
A lawn lay between them and the cabin, bisected by a narrow stone path that led to the front door beneath the porch.
Three windows were set into the front of the structure.
Apart from a few trees to the right of the cabin, there was nothing to be seen.
He totally got Alex’s initial reaction. It wasn’t what he’d pictured either.
Micah tapped on Alex’s window. “Why don’t you both get out of there, so I can show you around?” His eyes sparkled. “Trust me. You’ll be surprised.”
Joshua unfastened his seat belt. “Unless it turns out this place is like that TARDIS from the Dr. Who series Micah watches, I doubt it,” he murmured. He got out of the truck and Alex joined him. All the kids were grinning.
Micah led the way along the path, up to the door where a key box hung next to the door frame. He entered the code, took out the key, and unlocked it. “Welcome to the Hot Springs Hideout.”
They traipsed inside, and Joshua was pleasantly surprised to see a wide area, with the kitchen to the front of the cabin, a table set in the middle of the room, and to the rear, double glass doors in front of which sat one large couch and three armchairs.
“Okay, this is bigger than it looks from the outside,” he conceded. There was plenty of space for cooking, and a huge refrigerator sat in the corner.
Alex nudged him. “Proper little TARDIS, isn’t it?” he muttered.
Joshua narrowed his gaze. “Hush you.” He walked toward the glass doors, and stopped when he caught sight of what lay beyond them. “Oh my. Come and look at this.” He unlocked one door and pulled it toward him, before turning to stare at Alex. “This place is amazing!”
He stepped out onto the wooden deck, where comfortable looking chairs sat against the rear wall.
About a third of the deck was covered by a wooden structure, but beyond that, there was a small bar area, a glass-topped table with six chairs around it, and at the edges of the deck were wooden railings.
He walked toward a gap in the railings, only to discover another lower deck.
To the left sat what looked like a tiled table surrounded by plump chairs, only, a firepit was set into the middle of it. To the right was a—
“Holy cow.” It was a hot tub, snug against the wooden railing, on the other side of which lay the river.
Joshua grinned. “Okay. I really like this place.”
“See?” Micah called out triumphantly from the doors. “I said you should trust me.”
Alex gazed along the river, his face almost serene. “This is beautiful.”
Joshua had to agree. He peered over the railing. “There’s a boat ramp further along the river. I wonder if we can hire boats somewhere local.” He smiled. “Sailing along the river sounds pretty cool.”
Alex pointed to the firepit. “I keep thinking about sitting around here in the evening, feet propped up, a cold bottle of beer in my hand, listening to the bugs.”
Joshua smiled. “Good thinking. I’ll put the beers in the refrigerator.”
“How about we unpack the vehicles, then Simon and I will get lunch ready?” Naomi stared at the table and chairs. “We can eat out here.”
“Sounds good.” Joshua headed back toward the glass door and stepped into the cool interior. Everywhere, there was wood, from the floorboards, to the walls and even the ceiling. The couch and chairs looked comfortable.
“It looks like nothing from the outside,” Alex said quietly, “but once you get inside, there’s this whole…
secluded mountain cabin feel to the place.
And there’s plenty of space, so I don’t think you’ll ever feel like you’re in someone else’s pockets all the time.
” He grinned. “All it needs to be perfect are great beds.”
Micah stood in the middle of the space. “Ah, about that. There are three bedrooms and two baths.”
Joshua frowned. “But… you said this place sleeps eight.”
“Technically, yes.” Micah pointed to the three doors off to the left.
“The middle door is the bathroom, with a bedroom on either side. One has a queen, and the other has a queen and two bunk beds. So that room can sleep four.” He pointed to the other side of the cabin. “I thought that would be your room.”
Joshua suddenly had a feeling he knew where the conversation was leading. He walked slowly to the bedroom door and peered inside. There was a king-sized bed, and a door leading to the bathroom. The bed was covered with a soft-looking comforter, on which were depicted mountains, deer and bears.
Alex stuck his head around the door. “Pretty.” Then he looked again. “Er… who exactly is sleeping in here?”
“You and Dad.” Micah gave a simple shrug.
“It made the most sense. I couldn’t put you in the room with the bunk beds, because one of you would have to sleep in one of them.
And this way, you’ve got the kids on one side, and the adults on the other.
” He gazed at them with wide eyes. “That makes sense, right?” Micah cleared his throat.
“Okay, well, I’m gonna get started with the unpacking.
See you guys at lunch.” And with that, he scooted off toward the front door.
Alex stared at the bedroom, and his lips started twitching.
“What’s so funny?” Joshua demanded.
“We’ve been had, that’s what.” Alex’s eyes gleamed. “Micah planned it like this. Why else do you think we weren’t allowed to see the photos?” He grinned. “Face it. Your kids want us sleeping together.”
“They want—what the hell?” Joshua’s face flushed, and his eyes widened. “Those sneaky little…”
Alex laid a gentle hand on his arm. “Look, it’s no big deal. Hell, if I can share a bed with Manda, I can share one with you.”
Joshua blinked. “Manda?”
Alex nodded. “And unless you turn out to be yet another person who hogs all the bedding, we’ll get along just fine.” He smirked.
Joshua snorted. “I usually start out covered up, but I never wake up that way. I get awfully warm in the night.” He peered at the wall. “Hey, great, there’s A/C.”
“And from now on, we don’t mention the sleeping arrangements, all right?
” Alex snickered. “Don’t give them the satisfaction.
” He patted Joshua’s arm again. “I’ll get started on bringing our stuff inside.
” He paused. “Which side of the bed do you sleep on?” When Joshua bit his lip, Alex raised his eyes heavenward.
“Don’t tell me—you’re a ‘sleep in the middle of the bed’ kinda guy, aren’t you? ”
“Well, not exactly…”
“Oh God. Don’t tell me you starfish!” Alex stared at him.
“If you pick one side, I’ll try to keep to the other, I swear.”
Alex chuckled. “Well, it’s going to be an interesting two weeks.” He walked out of the bedroom.
Joshua stared at the bed. Interesting wasn’t quite the word he had in mind.
Torturous was closer to the mark.
~ 0 ~
“It says here there’s a grocery store in the town, plus restaurants and a bar,” Simon said, glancing through the folder of information left by the cabin owners. “Hey, we’ve got cable too.” Lunch was over, and they were all sitting around the table on the deck, soaking up the sun.
“We have not come here to watch TV.” Micah collected the dishes. “Why do you think we brought games with us?”
“Hey, Naomi!” Alex flashed her a grin. “Did you bring Cards Against Humanity?” When she flipped him the bird, Alex fist-pumped the air. “That’s it. Now I really feel like I’m part of the family.”
That got everyone laughing, Naomi included.
Joshua cleared his throat. “Can I be practical for a moment?” Not that he wanted to be. What he really wanted was to sit down, relax, and put on a T-shirt like Naomi’s, the one that said I don’t want to adult today.
Alex regarded him with an innocent expression. “I don’t know. Can you?” Joshua narrowed his gaze, and Alex bit back his smile. “Sure. What’s on your mind?”
“We brought food with us, staples like rice, pasta, stuff like that, but I think we need to go into town and buy more. Besides, I can’t see us getting through a week with no ice cream. So why don’t we put a shopping list together?”
“Great idea.” Alex held up a finger. “But I’m paying for it.” Joshua opened his mouth to remonstrate, but Alex shook his head. “I insist. Paying for groceries isn’t much, but it’ll make me feel like I’m contributing something to this vacation. So no arguments—Joshua.” The kids snickered at that.
Joshua knew when he was beaten. “Fine.”
Alex smirked and got out his phone. “Okay, sing out, people. What do we need?” His thumbs flew over the screen as he wrote a list, noting every item. After ten minutes, he smiled. “Okay. Who’s coming with me?”
“Me.” Joshua made as if to get up out of his chair, but Alex pushed him firmly back into it.
“You are going to find a comfortable chair, grab one of those ten million paperbacks you brought with you that you’ve been meaning to read, grab a beer, and sit wherever you want.
And when I get back, you can fetch me a beer, get yourself a fresh one, and we will drink them in the hot tub. ” He peered intently at Joshua. “Deal?”
Joshua chuckled. “Deal.”
“I’ll go with you,” Naomi said. “Just give me five minutes to go to the bathroom, then I’ll meet you outside at the car.” She disappeared into the cabin.
Micah nudged Greg. “In that case, you and I will grab the hot tub first.” He grinned. “Simon, wanna join us?” Simon nodded eagerly. The boys went indoors to change.
Joshua liked the way things were going.
“You look happy,” Alex remarked.
He nodded. “That’s because I am. The kids were right. We needed this.” He reached into the pocket of his shorts and handed Alex the car keys. “And you’ll need these.”
Alex shoved them into his jeans pocket. “Now relax. Choose one of your favorite Agatha Christies, and try to remember you’re on vacation.
” He smiled. “It’s been so long since you did this that it will probably take you a while to get into the right mindset.
And in case you were wondering? I’m in the same boat.
So I’ll be doing my best to not think about work for two whole, wonderful weeks.
” He grinned. “Sounds like heaven. I’ll see you later.
” And with that, he leaned over and kissed Joshua lightly on the lips, before walking into the house.
Joshua stared after him, his pulse racing.
What the hell?