Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
SARAH
I have a new car. Well, new to me , anyway, courtesy of a couple grand and a good friend named Wolfe. I tried to pay him fair market value, but he wouldn’t have it.
I’ve just left his fancy garage, the one on his personal property near Luna’s lighthouse. He’s working out of there until the garage in town is rebuilt.
I’m driving through Huckleberry Bay with the windows down and the music turned up.
When I pull into Tanner’s driveway, I’m surprised to see a van sitting there. I didn’t think we were expecting company.
Tanner himself pokes his head out of the side of the big white van and grins at me as I park to the side.
“Hey, I like your new ride.”
“Thanks.” I bounce over to him and kiss him square on the mouth, then turn to admire the red Honda with him. “It runs great, of course, and, well, it’s the first car I’ve owned since I was nineteen, so it’s kind of the best vehicle with four tires.”
“Agreed.” He wraps his arms around me from behind and squeezes me tightly against him. “And when we get back, we’ll go for a long ride in it.”
I look over my shoulder and up at him with a frown. “Where are we going?”
“Well, I don’t know if you noticed this rather large van parked behind us.”
“I did. Who’s here? I didn’t expect company.”
“No one’s here.” He kisses my nose, and I turn to face him. “I rented it. It’s a luxury travel van, and we, my love, are going camping.”
“We’re going camping. ” I blink, and then I squeal and launch myself up at him. “I want to see the inside.”
“Your castle awaits.” He gestures for me to climb in ahead of him, and when I get on the first step, I gasp.
“Holy shit, Tanner. This isn’t camping. This is glamping. There’s a freaking chandelier in here. And a full bathroom.”
The inside is done in a farmhouse style and reminds me of Three Sisters Kitchen. There’s shiplap and subway tile, butcher block countertops in the tiny kitchen, and hardwood laminate on the floor.
It’s fancy.
“Just wait until you see where we’re going. You and Petunia will get a kick out of it.”
I spin around and stare at him, stunned. “We get to take my cat?”
He frowns, then opens a little compartment that has a cat-sized hole in the front and reveals a litter box.
“We’ll put her in her harness and leash,” he says reasonably.
“I love you.” I yank him to me and kiss the hell out of him. “Like, a lot. More than a lot.”
He laughs and tucks my hair behind my ear. “I love you, too. I even love the cat. Now, let’s get packed up so we can hit the road.”
“Are we going far? I have to work tomorrow.”
“No, you don’t.” His eyes are soft and sweet as he looks over at me. “I’ve arranged for the week off, paid. You need a break. We need a break. So, this will be home for the next five days, just you and me…and the cat.”
I would cry, but I have too much to do to give into the happy tears. I’ve never been camping, and I’ve always wanted to go.
I love being in the woods with the trees and the wildlife.
“Then let’s get a move on and get the hell out of here.”
I run ahead of him and into the house, where we pack up the groceries that Tanner already bought. Once those are put away and organized in the van, I run back into the house to pack some clothes and necessities and all of Petunia’s things. The last thing to go out is the feline herself, who doesn’t seem to be super excited about it, until we’re in the van, and she finds a little perch up by the window to watch the world go by as we drive.
The coastline is rugged, jagged even, and never ceases to take my breath away.
Tanner heads south, taking his time on the windy Highway 101.
“How far are we going?” I ask him.
“A few hours,” he replies. “Just southern Oregon. And that’s all I’m going to tell you.”
“Okay.” I settle back into the seat and feel my eyes get heavy.
“Go to sleep,” he urges.
And that’s the last thing I hear before drifting off.
“Hi there, we’re checking in. Last name is Hilleman.”
“Ah yes, here you are.” I open my eyes and see that we’ve pulled up to a one-man kiosk, and a young gentleman in a brown jacket is typing on a tablet. “You’re in slot seventy-one, and everything is set up for you. Do you need help connecting to the electric and water?”
“I don’t think so, but I’ll let you know if I screw anything up,” Tanner replies and signs a sheet of paper, then passes it back to the man.
“Just drive straight ahead and follow the signs. Have a great week, and welcome.”
He hands Tanner a few brochures and then nods, and we’re off.
“I love the trees.” I roll down the window and lean out so I can take a deep breath. “Smells so clean. I know we have the same thing in Huckleberry Bay, but this just hits different.”
Within minutes, we’ve reached our site.
“Close your eyes,” Tanner instructs me. “Just for a few minutes.”
I comply. It’s a good thing I don’t get carsick because he has to whip the van around, forward and backward, I assume, to get it just the way he wants it.
“Keep them closed.”
I hear him hop out of the van and move stuff about. And just when I think I might fall asleep again, he opens my door and brushes his knuckles over my cheek.
“Okay, open your eyes, pretty girl.”
I do, and in front of me is simply woods. No other RVs are parked in the slots; it’s just the two of us.
“Come on.”
Tanner takes my hand and leads me around to the back of the van, and that’s when my breath catches. All I can do is stare.
We’re parked near the edge of a cliff, maybe a hundred feet back, and through the trees on either side of the camping space is a view unlike any other I’ve ever seen.
Big, brown rocks jut up out of the sand, almost as tall as this cliff, and the waves crash around them, sending sprays of water into the air. Birds fly around them. They obviously have nests high up, out of reach of the tide waters.
The trees are so vividly green against that blue water with frothy white waves and the bluest sky in the world.
“Wow,” is all I can say. “This could be the best view on the planet.”
“I’m inclined to agree.” His hand’s still in mine, and he squeezes. “Come see this.”
The doors on the back of the van are open. The bed looks out to this view, and there are lights strung over to the trees, above a fire pit where we can cook.
Well, he can cook, and I’ll roast marshmallows.
Petunia’s already in her harness, and her leash is tied to the inside of the van, where she’s lying on the bed, enjoying the view of the water, as always.
“Can we just live here all the time?”
He laughs and pulls something out from under the bed.
“Hold that thought,” he says, and before my very eyes hangs a hammock between two trees.
“I call that spot,” I inform him. “I’m going to read and sleep there all the livelong day, while I listen to the ocean.”
“It’s all yours.” He pulls me to him and kisses me softly in that way he does that turns my knees to jelly and my heart to mush. “Are you happy?”
“So happy. I already feel lighter.”
“Excellent. Now, let’s get cozy. Do you need a snack?”
“Uh, this is vacation. Of course, I need a snack.”
“That’s the third marshmallow I’ve lost to the fire.” I stick my bottom lip out in a pout.
“You leave it in the flame too long,” Tanner says. “Just get a little sizzle going, then pull it out.”
“That’s what she said.” I snort out a laugh when he narrows his eyes at me. “Come on, that was funny. I like mine burnt. Like, black. Give me all the charcoal on this sucker.”
“It’s going to fall off,” he warns me as I impale another marshmallow. He’s eaten three s’mores already, and I haven’t had even one.
Because I’m trying to get the marshmallow just perfect. This time, when it starts to sizzle, I count to three, then pull it out and let it burn outside of the fire. And when it just starts to turn black, I blow it out.
“Success,” I announce with glee. “Finally. I’m starving.”
“You just ate a burger and a hobo packet.”
“I’m starving for sugar,” I clarify, and build my little s’more sandwich, then take a bite. “Oh, my gah, so good.”
Tanner reaches over and rubs some chocolate off my lip, then sucks it off his own thumb.
We can’t see the water anymore in the dark, but the sky is scattered with millions of stars, and I can even see the Milky Way.
“It’s incredible out here.” Tanner and I huddle up with a blanket wrapped around us and settle back in the double camping chair that he brought along to look up at the sky.
“I should have thought to bring a telescope,” he says softly. “With no light noise out here, I bet you can see some awesome things.”
“We could probably even do that at home.” I lean my head on his shoulder. “Do you see the Milky Way?”
“No, where?”
“There.” I point due west. “You have to really hunt without a time-lapse camera, but you can make it out.”
“Holy shit, I see it.”
We sit in silence for a while, just listening to the sounds of the forest around us, the waves below, and the fire crackling as it dies down.
“I’ve always wanted to camp,” I whisper. “To just be in the quiet. In the stillness.”
“Why didn’t you go?” he asks.
“Life gets busy.” I shrug and bite my lip. “Anthony said a hotel without room service was camping, and he’d be damned if he’d do it. So, we didn’t. But it’s okay, because even if he had done it just to humor me, it would have sucked. This is so much better. I’m glad I got to go with you.”
“I think we should make this a yearly thing.” He kisses my temple. “Once a year, we take a week to unplug like this.”
“Hey, I’m always down. Where did you rent the van? I haven’t seen anything like it anywhere near Huckleberry Bay.”
“Portland has a few places that rent them out,” he replies. “I called around until I found the one I wanted, and they delivered it to the house.”
“Wow, they delivered it? Fancy.”
He smirks and pokes at the fire, sending sparks in the air and the logs to glowing.
“I didn’t want to waste time driving up to Portland to get it. We only have a week.”
“I mean, a week is plenty of time, even if we had to go fetch the van.”
He turns his eyes to mine. “I have a feeling that by the time the week is up, it won’t feel like enough time at all.”
“You’re probably right.” The night air cools quickly, and I feel a chill run through me, making me shiver. “I haven’t thought about the diner even once all day. I think that’s a record for me.”
“There’s no need to,” he says. “I see you brought some paint supplies with you.”
“Oh, yeah. And I’m especially glad that I did, now that I know what our view is. I already have a couple of projects in mind. What will you do for a whole week with nothing on your agenda? Won’t you be bored?”
“No.” He leans back again and draws me close. “I won’t be bored. I plan to do some hiking, reading, cooking… And I’m going to make love to you pretty much all the time.”
“Wow, that’s quite a list of fun activities.”
He laughs, and then his hand drifts down my arm and over to cover my breast.
“I think you’re going to enjoy them.”
“Do I have to hike with you?”
“Absolutely not.” He shakes his head. “We can do some things alone. I think that’s part of the fun of camping.”
“Me, too.” I sigh happily. “Yeah, this is definitely a new tradition.”
A bird squawks overhead, startling me, and I accidentally push my brush over the canvas, ruining the work I just spent an hour doing.
“Well, shit,” I mutter, staring at the long green streak. “Hmm, maybe I could turn it into a fallen tree. Or a meadow, instead of the water view.”
I narrow my eyes, giving it thought, and decide to go with the meadow. I didn’t bring a lot of materials with me, so to waste this canvas isn’t really an option for me.
“Maybe Luna could use it in the inn,” I mutter as I switch gears and reach for different paint colors. “It’ll find a home.”
“Hello, neighbor!”
I frown and look around. There haven’t been any other campers near us in two days, and it’s been so nice to be alone.
Hell, we had sex with the doors open on the van last night. Now, that was hot.
I walk around the van and see a very pregnant woman making her way to me. She’s in jeans and an oversized blue top that covers her belly. She looks to be in her early twenties, barely out of college.
“Uh, hi,” I reply and force a smile on my face. “Can I help you?”
“Oh, no, I’m fine. I just wanted to come say hello. I’m just up the road, in my little pull trailer. It sure is pretty out here, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it is. Is your husband setting up your site?”
“What’s that?” Her eyebrows climb, and then she shakes her head. “No. No husband. Just me and this little one.”
“I know it’s none of my business, but…you’re very pregnant.”
“I am,” she says with a laugh and rubs her belly. “Like, so, so knocked up.”
“Should you be camping by yourself when you’re that far along?”
“Eh, it’s okay. I mean, yeah, the doctor told me that it’s probably not a great idea, but I’ll be fine. I just really wanted to get out of the city, you know?”
“Where are you from?” Panic is starting to settle into my stomach. What if she goes into labor? What if she has the baby in the woods ?
“California,” she replies. “Not too far away.”
“So, northern California, then.”
“Sure.” Her smile is bright, and I can’t help but wonder if something is just…off.
“Are you all right?” My words are careful. “Do you need help with anything?”
“Nope. I’m great. I just wanted to pop over and say hi so I don’t startle you if I start a fire and stuff. We’re pretty isolated up here.”
“Exactly,” I mutter to myself as she waddles away, back the way she came. “At least I know if we hear screams in the night, it’s likely to be her delivering a baby.”
I watch her disappear around a corner, and then I return to my easel. I’ve just put the finishing touches on the new painting when Tanner returns from a hike, looking all sweaty and sexy in his dark blue T-shirt and cargo shorts. His backpack hangs on his shoulders, and he’s even wearing a hat.
He looks so outdoorsy.
“Hi, adventurer.” I smile at him as he approaches and kisses me without touching me. “How was your hike?”
“Dirty,” he says, a little out of breath. “I wasn’t expecting so much mud. So it was a slick hike, and I need a damn shower.”
“Well, luckily for you, we have one. You do that, and I’ll make us some sandwiches for lunch.”
“Deal.”
He disappears into the van, and I can hear him moving around as I wash my hands and get to work making lunch.
It’s been like this since we arrived. We each spend a portion of the day doing whatever we want to. He hikes, and I paint. Or he reads, and I nap. We don’t have to be in each other’s back pocket to enjoy each other, and I really love that. I especially love that we’re safe here, and that we can spend some time apart without me needing someone else to babysit me.
We can just relax. That hasn’t happened in several weeks, and I didn’t realize how much I needed it until we got here.
Then, we eat something and spend the afternoon together. Today, I’m hoping we can find the beach access and do some exploring at low tide. I’ve heard there are a ton of agates and geodes to find down this way, and I want to go hunting for them.
When Tanner steps out of the van naked , I feel my eyes go wide, and I hurry over to him.
“You can’t be naked.”
“I’m going to get dressed. I just thought I’d air dry first. Besides, you said you like it when I’m naked.”
“I do.” I laugh and push him back toward the van. “But we have a neighbor, and I’m quite sure you don’t want to flash her.”
I fill him in on my visitor as he dresses in clean clothes.
“Wait. There’s a possibility that she could have a baby here?”
“Well, I don’t know exactly how far along she is,” I admit. “But she’s very pregnant, Tanner. Like, big. So I assume she’s getting close to her due date.”
“Great. I have no idea how to deliver a baby.”
I glance over when he gets quiet and shake my head. “Don’t look at me. I don’t know how either.”
“But you’re a woman. You have natural instincts.”
“That’s not the same as medical training.” My voice is dry as I pass him his plate. “I’ve never seen a baby being born.”
“I wonder why she came up here by herself.” He takes a bite and then sighs. “God, that’s good. I’m starving.”
“How far did you hike?”
“About six miles. Felt like it was uphill both ways.”
“I love you, but I don’t ever want to do that with you.”
He takes another bite. “That’s okay. I don’t do it often. Your painting is beautiful, by the way.”
“It was a mistake. Bird scared the hell out of me, and I smeared green paint, so it evolved from a seascape to a meadow. It’s not bad.”
“It’s excellent. I work in art. I know these things.”
“Thanks. I guess, if you wanted to ask that customer you told me about, I could sell it to her if she’s interested.”
He stops chewing, and his eyes fly to mine in surprise. “Really?”
“Sure.” I shrug, looking over at the painting. “I don’t think it’ll fit at the inn, and I don’t have a place for it. If she wants it, she can buy it. And if not, I’ll gift it to someone.”
“I’ll take a photo of it and send it to her, see what she thinks. If you’re sure.”
I nod and bite my sandwich. “I’m sure. The past couple of weeks have taught me that although I love Gordy and Sunny and the diner—I don’t even hate the actual job all that much, although waiting tables is damn hard work—I just don’t want to do it forever. It’s fine for now. In fact, it’s great for now. But it’s not my forever job.”
We’re quiet as we eat, and then I can’t help but keep talking.
“Remember that day I met with Scott at Three Sisters?”
“Sure.”
“Cordelia said that she’d like to speak with me about doing some work for them. Between commissioned work and anything that I might sell through you, or maybe even online, I think I can make at least what I’m making at the diner.”
“It’s likely that you’ll end up making more, Sarah.”
“I don’t need more, although that would be nice.” I shrug and finish my sandwich. “I have everything that I need with what I have. If I can make my living from the art, I’d be stupid to pass that up.”
“I’m happy that you made this decision. And there really is no pressure.”
“As long as I can keep painting, there’s no pressure.” I grin at him and reach for a bag of marshmallows, popping one into my mouth. “Wanna find a way down to the beach and search for some shiny things?”
“Doesn’t everyone?” His lips twitch and then open wide when I toss him a marshmallow, and he actually catches it. “Thanks.”
“Let’s lock everything up and go down for a while.”
“Lock up?” He raises an eyebrow. “That means Petunia doesn’t get any fresh air.”
“We’re in the shade, and it’s not hot. Besides, I don’t have a great feeling about the girl down the road. There’s just something…off about her.”
“Okay, we’ll lock up when we leave, then.”
He stands and offers me a hand to help me to my feet.
“Maybe she won’t be here long.” I slide on my hiking shoes and grab my gathering bag for my treasures.
We don’t have to go far to find a path that gets us down to the sand below. It’s going to be a bitch to climb back up, but we’ll deal with that when we get there.
“This is the perfect inlet for geodes and stones,” I inform Tanner. “There’s some sand, but it’s also very rocky. Obviously, the tide brings in all kinds of stuff.”
We make our way over rocks and tide pools, stopping here and there to examine the sea life on the rocks.
“I’ve never seen a purple starfish.” I point to the little guy clinging to a boulder. “Not that purple. Wow.”
“And look at this crab,” Tanner says. “His shell is insane.”
We keep moving. I just know that I’m going to find something amazing down here.
And then I spot it.
“Right here,” I say in excitement as I pick my way over slick rocks to the oddly shaped one, right in the middle. “This is a crystal geode.”
“How can you tell?”
“The shape. It’s heavy, too. Oh, and listen.”
I shake it next to his ear and watch as he blinks in confusion.
“There’s water in this one. Water that’s probably been trapped in there for thousands of years.”
“And you’re going to set it free?”
“Hell yes, I am. I can’t wait to see what’s inside.”
I stash it in my bag.
“You should have been a geologist,” Tanner says as we pick our way over the rocks, careful not to slip and fall.
It’s slick down here.
“This is a big agate,” I announce as I lift the gorgeous orange rock in my hand. “So pretty.”
“I think this could be something.” He holds a rock out to me, and I squeal with excitement.
“Another geode! This one is smaller, but that’s what it is. Good job, babe.”
“I’m a quick study.”
We discover a couple of small things here and there, and then I stretch my back, a little sore from bending over for so long.
“I think this is plenty. I don’t want to take too much.”
“I can’t wait for you to crack those open,” he says as he takes my hand to make sure I make it back to the sand safely. “How do you do it?”
“With a chisel and hammer.”
“We don’t have those things here.” He purses his lips in thought. “Looks like we’re making a trip into town.”