“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’reverypregnant.”
“I am,” she says with a laugh and rubs her belly. “Like, so,soknocked 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 thewoods?
“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 sooutdoorsy.
“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 vannaked, 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.