The Happy Camper

by Melody Carlson

  “And what about that old pickup? Is it really able to tow on the highway?” Vivian asked.

  “I think Jack will do just fine.” Dillon instantly regretted telling her the name.

  “Jack?” Vivian’s brows arched with amusement.

  “I mean my pickup. I, uh, I named it Jack.”

  “And her trailer is Rose,” Jordan explained. “They’re a matched pair.”

  “Well, that’s cute, and the pickup probably goes well with your trailer. That’s nice for photos, but doesn’t mean it’s ready for the road,” Vivian said with a superior tone. “There are mechanical things to consider.”

  “That’s true.” Jordan turned to Dillon. “Your bearings, axle, tires, and a few other things should all be checked by a mechanic.”

  “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with them,” Dillon assured Jordan, but judging by his expression she knew he was doubtful. She wanted to say more in defense of her pickup and trailer, but the twins were so excited about the camping trip that she couldn’t get a word in edgewise. She hoped she hadn’t bitten off more than she could chew by agreeing to this little expedition. But she felt determined to prove herself—and Jack and Rose too. She wanted to show everyone, especially Vivian, that she and her trailer were worthy of membership in their exclusive trailer club.

  After dinner, the twins eagerly opened their gifts. By the time they came to Dillon’s present, she felt unsure. She’d thought her choice was perfect this afternoon, but now she was worried these snorkeling sets could be expecting too much of the girls—even worse, they might hate them. So she braced herself for the reaction. To her relief, the girls were delighted. With Jordan’s help, they tugged the pieces out from the packaging and put on everything, making them resemble a pair of miniature frogmen and causing all the grown-ups to laugh.

  “You’ll want to save the flippers until you get used to the masks,” Dillon explained as the goofy-looking girls marched around the yard. “And you’ll need some help learning to use the snorkels. But a lot of kids get really good at snorkeling.”

  “Can we try them now?” Chloe asked her mom.

  “You still have presents to unwrap.” Janelle pointed to the few remaining gifts. “But afterwards. Maybe Dillon can help you with it.”

  “Sure,” Dillon agreed.

  “Will you get in the pool with us?” Chloe asked.

  “Well, I don’t have my swimsuit.” Dillon felt relieved that her pool bag wasn’t still in her car. The idea of performing snorkeling lessons with everyone else looking on was a bit unsettling. She already felt like a fish out of water. Of course, she might feel more comfortable in the water.

  “We’re about the same size. I can loan you something,” Janelle offered. Before Dillon could decline, the twins were rejoicing that Dillon was going to give them snorkeling lessons. She knew she couldn’t tell them no—not at their own birthday celebration, with a gift she’d given them—and so she simply smiled and agreed.

  Dillon tried to repress her self-conscious feelings as she and the twins came back down in their swimsuits. Fortunately, she’d also borrowed an oversized T-shirt to use as a cover-up. Then, ignoring the onlookers and pretending she was at the community pool, she told the girls to get into the water and began helping them adjust their masks.

  “To start with, you’ll just hold your breath like when you’re doing the face-float,” she explained. “But after you get the hang of it, you’ll be ready for the snorkel.”

  To Dillon’s relief it sounded as if the other party guests had returned to visiting among themselves and were not paying much heed to the pool. Then, knowing Emma was the braver of the two girls, Dillon decided to start with her.

  “We’ll take turns,” she told Chloe. “You watch how Emma does this and then you can be next.” She was about to start Emma off when, to her surprise, Jordan came to the edge of the pool, removed his shirt and flip-flops, and, wearing only his cargo shorts, eased himself down into the water. “Looks like you could use some help.” He grinned at her. “How about we both take a girl?”

  “Do you know how to snorkel?” she asked.

  “You bet. I might be a little rusty, but I took scuba diving in college.”

  “So did I,” she told him.

  Jordan grasped Chloe’s hand. “Wanna work with me or Dillon?”

  Chloe opted for Dillon, so Jordan took Emma and, before long, both girls were successfully floating with their masks on. After several runs, they were both excited and exclaiming at how well they could see the bottom of the pool now.

  “How about trying snorkels?” Jordan asked Dillon. “Do you think they’re ready?”

  “Why not?” Dillon turned to the girls. “You think you can do this?” They both eagerly agreed. “First you need to understand how a snorkel works.” Dillon explained how they could use the tube to breathe. “But you breathe only through your mouth. Your nose is plugged with the mask. Do you understand?” She had them remove their masks, put the snorkel in their mouths, then use the other hand to plug their nose and practice breathing. “Now sink into the water and try it.”

  It wasn’t long until they were pretty comfortable with breathing through the snorkel. “Now we’ll get your masks on and Jordan and I will help you float while you breathe through your snorkels,” Dillon told them. “We’ll help make sure your snorkels stay above water.” She exchanged glances with Jordan and he nodded.

  “Yep, otherwise you might suck in a bunch of yucky pool water,” he teased. “No one wants to drink that.”

  With Dillon and Jordan assisting, both girls managed to go the width of the pool. They went back and forth a few times with assistance, then Emma insisted she wanted to do it all by herself. Dillon reminded her of what to do if she accidentally sucked in a little water. “Just blow it out real hard and stand up and you’ll be fine.”

  “And I’ll walk beside you,” Jordan told her. Then Dillon and Chloe watched as Emma made it the full width of the pool without his actual help. “That was fantastic!” Jordan patted her on the back as she stood up.

  “I wanna try—my turn!” Chloe declared. So Dillon reminded her of how to blow out the water, then staying nearby just like Jordan had done, she walked her across the pool. After a few more trips across, and a couple of water sucking incidents, both girls were getting surprisingly good at it. Chloe called out, inviting her mom to come watch. Then Janelle and the birthday party guests came over to observe, clapping after the twins made another perfect snorkeling float without help.

  “That was amazing!” Janelle told the girls.

  “Bravo!” Donna called out.

  “Your girls will be ready for Hawaii any day now,” Jordan teased his sister.

  “Yeah, I wish.” Janelle wrinkled her nose. “But it’s very cool they’re catching on so fast.”

  “Well, this is just the first step,” Dillon explained as she hoisted herself to the edge of the pool deck. “They’ve got a ways to go before they’re ready for open water.”

  “Well, you were a good sport to get in there with them and get wet.” Janelle smiled. “Thanks so much.” She handed Dillon a pool towel.

  “I think I’ll go get dressed.” Dillon stood, realizing the other guests were all gathered at the pool now. “I’ll leave Uncle Jordan to finish their lesson.”

  Dillon hurried back to Janelle’s room, and as she dressed, she considered returning to her earlier plan to make a quick getaway. She would thank Janelle for her hospitality, make an excuse, and vamoose. But as she ran her fingers through her splash-dampened hair, she remembered how Vivian had acted about the upcoming camping trip. The only way Dillon could describe it was territorial. Like she wanted to keep Dillon out of the trailer club. That, plus remembering the Fourth of July dance, made Dillon suspect Vivian might have her eye on Jordan. And that brought out Dillon’s competitive spirit. She wasn’t going to let Vivian scare her away.

  As she went downstairs, Dillon felt ready to hold her ground. And if Donna’s c
omments about Jordan’s interest were true, she not only had a right to remain here, she had a responsibility. She’d acted flaky around Jordan before—she didn’t want to do that tonight!

  CHAPTER

  26

  The grown-ups were still sitting around the now-empty pool, and Janelle was sticking candles into the pair of pink and purple birthday cakes. Dillon offered her help and Janelle sent her to the house to fetch a basket loaded with paper plates, napkins, and plastic forks.

  Dillon had just located the basket when Jordan appeared. “Looks like you got dried off okay,” she told him.

  “Except my shorts, but this fabric doesn’t really absorb water.” He smiled. “That was a great gift you gave the girls—the snorkel sets and the lesson. They loved it.”

  “It was fun.” She picked up the basket.

  “Yeah. It was.” He reached for the basket. “I can get that for you.”

  “Thanks.” She placed a hand on his forearm to stop him. “Uh, can I ask you something before we go back out there?”

  His brows arched. “Sure. What’s up?”

  “Well, I’m not quite sure how to say this, but I really don’t want to be a camp crasher and—”

  “Huh?” He looked confused. “Camp crasher?”

  “You know, like a party crasher. I hate pushing my way into your special camping club, and Vivian didn’t think I’d—”

  “To be honest, I don’t know why she was so resistant tonight. But our motto’s always been the more the merrier. Well, unless we grow too big. But that hasn’t happened yet. The real requirement is only that you own a restored vintage trailer.” He grinned. “And it helps to be approved by the president.”

  “And you really do approve?”

  He nodded. “Sure.”

  “So it’s okay?”

  “Of course. But, as the president and your friend, I’d like to come by and check out a few things first.”

  “Such as?”

  “Like I mentioned, the Oasis could need new bearings or at the least to be repacked. And the axle needs checking, and I’m sure the tires are worn out. There’s a few other things to look into as well. So if it’s alright with you, I can come by sometime this week. Sooner is better just in case there’s a problem. Give you time to fix it before our campout.”

  “How about tomorrow?” she suggested.

  “I probably can’t get over there until after five. Does that work?”

  “Sure. I could even fix you dinner as a thank-you—I mean, if you’d like.”

  “I’d like.” His eyes twinkled.

  “And don’t forget my offer to help with your trailer’s interior,” she reminded him. “That was supposed to be my thank-you for how you helped Rose with painting and everything.”

  “Do you have time this week?”

  “Sure. My afternoons are free.”

  “Now that Janelle and the girls are staying with me, might be nice to spiff things up a little.”

  “And you mentioned your trailer’s smaller than mine . . . so if you’re too crowded, the girls or Janelle could stay with me. You know I’ve got those extra bunks.”

  “Might take you up on that.” He chuckled. “When you see the size of my trailer, you’ll understand.”

  “So how soon can I get a look at it?” she asked.

  “How about tomorrow afternoon?”

  “Great. That way I can do a quick inventory and have the rest of the week to pull it together.”

  “Sounds like a plan. It’s parked at my mom’s place.” As he gave her the address and handed over the key, the twins rushed into the kitchen—in their dry clothes and drippy hair—announcing it was birthday cake time. They all went outside, the birthday song was sung, candles were blown out, and Dillon helped Janelle dish up cake and ice cream until the last guest was served.

  “Come on,” Jordan told Dillon as he picked up a plate, “I see a couple of empty chairs over there.”

  Dillon followed him to the far side of the pool, which Jordan explained his mother had decorated with floating candles and colored balloons. And now strings of colorful paper lanterns were glowing cheerfully in the twilight. “It looks absolutely magical out here,” Dillon said as he led her to a pair of lone chairs.

  “My mom and Janelle . . . they love celebrations.”

  Grateful for the distance from the other guests, Dillon sat down. “This has been such a fun evening,” she said. “You have a lovely family.”

  “We’re not a big family, but we’re close.” He gazed out over the yard with guests sprinkled about. “We got closer after losing Dad.”

  “I like your mom,” she said. Although she still had uncertainties about Donna’s opinions about her, Dillon knew it was only because Donna loved her son. And really, Dillon’s first impression of Donna had been positive.

  “Mom’s a good egg.” He chuckled. “Maybe a little nosy at times, but it’s only because she cares.”

  Did he know what Donna had told her? Probably not. “My mom can be intrusive,” she admitted. “And it’s hard to take sometimes. But that’s probably because she was so checked out and distant while I was growing up. I sometimes don’t think she’s earned the right.”

  “But she loves you.” He smiled. “I could see that when I was there.”

  “Yes, in her way, she does love me.” Dillon sighed. “I think I’m starting to realize that now.”

  “You know, I brought you over here for a specific reason,” he said. “I set these chairs here so I could speak privately with you.”

  “Oh?” She glanced at his profile in the dim light.

  “I feel like I should apologize for the Fourth of July.”

  “Apologize?”

  “You know, for kidnapping you away like that. Taking you from your friend . . . and Brandon.”

  She laughed. “Believe me, I was glad to escape Brandon. And Chelsea barely noticed I was missing.”

  “But then you danced with Brandon,” Jordan pointed out. “For the rest of the evening.”

  “That’s true.” Dillon pursed her lips, trying to determine how much to say. “And you danced with Vivian.”

  “Well, that’s because she asked me.”

  “And Brandon asked me.”

  “So he’s gone back to Colorado?”

  She nodded. “Yep. Just like he said.”

  “And you and he . . . you’re really finished with that?”

  “Absolutely.” She smiled. “I couldn’t have been happier after he left.”

  “Well, I just—”

  “Hey, you guys!” Vivian walked past the pool. “What’re you doing way over here? The party’s over there.”

  “There weren’t enough chairs—”

  “Then pick up your chairs and bring ’em,” Vivian told Jordan.

  Jordan handed Dillon his plate, and picking up both their chairs, they went over to join the group. Although Dillon was disappointed to lose her one-on-one time with Jordan, she consoled herself with the idea of having him over for dinner tomorrow. Already she was imagining her campsite . . . light strings and outdoor candles . . . cooking on her little stove and small barbecue. It had the potential to be a very romantic evening.

  After her last swim lesson, Dillon went to Jordan’s mom’s house to check out his trailer. She was barely out of her car when Donna came out. “Jordan told me you’d be coming by,” she said. “It’s parked over there.”

  “Your yard is beautiful,” Dillon said as they walked across the driveway. “I love your lavender.”

  Donna smiled. “Thank you. As you can tell, I adore lavender. And fortunately, the deer leave it alone.”

  Dillon explained a bit about their lavender project. “My mom started it, but Grandpa and I helped. It’s fun watching the plants growing.”

  “I’d love to see it sometime.” Donna stopped in front of a cute red-and-white trailer. “Well, there’s Jordan’s baby.”

  “Wow, that paint job looks impeccable.” Dillon ran her hand over it.


  “He had it professionally done.”

  “And those tires and hubcaps look new.”

  “Yes. Jordan made sure the trailer is in tip-top condition.”

  Dillon pulled out the key he’d given her, inserting it into the shiny aluminum door. “I can’t wait to see the interior.”

  “Jordan gave you a key?”

  “Yes. Didn’t he tell you that he’s allowing me to be his interior designer?”

  Donna’s pale brows arched. “Really? That’s surprising.”

  “Well, he liked what I’d done with my trailer.”

  “Interesting.” Donna waited as Dillon opened the door. “Well, as you’ll see, he’s restored everything in there, but it’s a bit sparse.”

  Dillon went inside, looking around. “Wow, he did a fabulous job. Everything looks perfect.” She ran a hand over the stainless steel countertop. Everything inside was color coordinated—red, white, and black mixed with the stainless. But there were very few personal touches.

  “He’s put a lot of money into these finishes.”

  Dillon opened the sleek Lucite cupboard above the sink, only to see paper plates and cups and a few utilitarian things. She continued to poke around. Jordan hadn’t exaggerated when he said his trailer needed some attention. “It definitely looks like a bachelor pad,” she told Donna as she opened a closet to see a sleeping bag and pillow.

  “Well, a lot of people consider Jordan to be a confirmed bachelor.” Donna chuckled. “Although I’m still hoping that will change. I’d like a few more grandkids.”

  Dillon felt her cheeks warming as she pulled out her phone to make some notes. “Well, I guess I’ve seen enough in here . . . for now. It gives me some ideas of what he might need.” She turned to Donna. “But the truth is, I don’t really know Jordan that well. I don’t know what his likes and dislikes might be. I’d love to find some personal touches, you know, not just kitchen things or linens, but maybe something to put on the wall. Just to warm it up some. Does he have any hobbies or interests?”

  “Well, he’s always been a car guy. As a kid he used to collect those fancy car models—I can’t remember their names. But they were usually sporty and red.”