“I’m not really a morning person,” Lily declares. “I think I’ll let you men catch tomorrow’s supper.” I can’t help the smile that crosses my face. I’m used to spending time with little boys, but a little girl adds a whole new element to the mix. And it’s really nice.
After we finish eating, we work together to get the tent ready for the boys. Once that’s done, I show the kids how we wash dishes up here, which is essentially heating a tub of water and throwing the dishes in to sterilize them. They’ll be cool in the morning so all we’ll need to do is rinse them off and they’ll be ready to use again.
Once the kids take a quick sponge bath and are in their jammies, we roast marshmallows to make s’mores until it’s time for bed. Of course, we’re all sticky again but hey, that’s part of the fun of camping out.
By the time the rugrats are all tucked into their sleeping bags, they’re so exhausted from the fresh air and sunshine, it doesn’t take long for them to drift off.
I watch Harper take Lily into the cabin to put her to bed. I’m torn between wanting her to come out so we can sit by the fire and talk, and wanting her to stay inside, so I can get back to doing what now seems impossible—keeping my distance.
Adding a log to the fire, I open another beer and listen to the sounds of the frogs croaking. An owl hoots in the distance while I remind myself that Harper is not for me. Not that I want anyone. But if I did, it couldn’t be her.
I’m not meant for some Hollywood star, especially one who’s in the middle of a nasty public divorce. It doesn’t matter how badly I want to brush her hair off her cheek and kiss her—how much I want to hold her in my arms. None of that is an option for us.
She’s a mom trying to hold it all together for her two kiddos. She’s not a tourist looking for some fun. And I am not a man who is about to take advantage of someone so vulnerable.
Chapter17
Harper
Dear Readers,
I am not a religious man, but I stopped by a Catholic church today and lit a candle for Harper Kennedy.
I just found out from my waiter’s dry cleaner’s librarian that Harper hopped on a private float plane that took her deeper into the Alaskan outback. These are harrowing times, indeed.
Girl, I have one word for you: bears! Here’s another: mosquitos! And while we’re on the subject of things that can kill you in the wild … intestinal worms. Please be careful.
In other news, I’ve lost five pounds while Brett and “Nanny” continue to flaunt their grossness. Even the double chunk espresso cookies at Marmalade can’t entice my taste buds.
I’m contacting my attorney today to see if I have a case for suing Mr. Helio-trash for a new/smaller wardrobe.
Stay tuned …
Dish,
Ferris Biltmore
* * *
My friends and I occasionally slept outside in a tent when we were young, but we always wound up inside before the sun came up. This history of mine with the wilderness—yes, I’m including my backyard as the wilderness—makes it particularly surprising that I slept so well out here in the middle of nowhere.
I hurry to the outhouse, carrying a broom to swat any bugs who get in my way. When I come out, I see Digger putting a kettle of water on the fire for coffee. “Are the boys still sleeping?” I ask.
“They get so worn out up here, they always sleep in.” He adds, “Unless I wake them up at the butt crack of dawn to go fishing. Which I will probably do tomorrow.”
I sit a respectable distance from him. “I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for us,” I tell him. “I hate being in people’s debt, so honestly, if there’s anything I can ever do to repay you, just let me know.”
“It’s no hardship coming up here,” he says gently. “I’d live up here if I could, but unfortunately, I’m needed nearly around the clock at the lodge.”
“Can I send a text from up here?” We left in such a hurry that I forgot to let Prisha know that I would be out of reach for a few days.
“One of things I love about being up here is no cell service.”
“I can see how that might be a plus. The outhouse, not so much.”
He chuckles. “EvenIdon’t love the outhouse.”
“Have you been coming up here since you were little?”