“Okay. I guess I’ll just double-check to make sure everything’s good and snug in there.” She made her final inspection, then locked the door. Next she checked the back of her pickup where she’d packed all her outdoor camp gear, reminding herself to stop for ice in town. Grandpa had loaned her his old metal ice chest, which went nicely with her trailer, but she had enough ice for only an hour or two and didn’t want the salads she’d prepared for the camp potlucks to go bad—and her little fridge in the trailer was already full. This was all so exciting. She was about to close her tailgate when she heard Margot’s car coming up the driveway.
“Not so fast,” Margot called as she pulled up beside the pickup. “I have a birthday surprise for you.”
Curious as to what Margot—someone who almost always forgot Dillon’s birthday—might have up her sleeve, Dillon watched as Margot opened the back of her SUV, hefting out a large verdigris pot overflowing with gorgeous red geraniums, trailing ivy, and several other pretty blooms.
“This is heavy,” Margot huffed as she set the planter on Dillon’s tailgate.
“It’s absolutely beautiful!” Dillon was both surprised and impressed.
“Special order from the nursery.”
“It’s perfect.”
“Happy birthday, Dilly-Dilly.”
“Thank you—I love it.” Dillon made room for the heavy planter in the pickup bed.
“And that’s not all.” Margot went back to her car. “I got a matched pair.”
Dillon hopped down and went to help.
“You see, I was looking at one of those trailer books you’d left in the kitchen and I noticed that some of the trailers had pretty flowerpots outside. I thought you could put these on either side of your door.”
“These are so great, Margot.” Dillon carried the second pot to the tailgate, then admired it. “So thoughtful of you. Thanks!”
Margot looked uncertain. “Is it silly to take them camping with you?”
“Oh, I think it’ll be fun.” Dillon pushed it back, then closed the tailgate. “I bet I’ll have the prettiest campsite up there.” She hugged her mother. “It means so much that you remembered my birthday.”
“Well, you know as well as anyone that I’m not usually good with dates. Dad jogged my memory.”
“Well, I really do love my flowerpots.” Dillon fished her keys out of her shorts pocket.
“And guess what?” Margot beamed at her.
“What?”
“Don is taking me out to dinner tomorrow night.”
“And you’re going?”
She nodded. “He said he wants to court me.”
“Court you?”
“Yes, I know it sounds old-fashioned, but I sort of like it.”
“I think it sounds perfect. I hope you guys have a wonderful time.”
“Well, I won’t keep you here. I know you’re eager to hit the road. Be sure and drive safe and have a super weekend, Dilly-Dilly,” Margot said, and then she broke out with the happy birthday song.
Dillon hugged her and, feeling like life could hardly get any better, she got behind the wheel of her pickup and took off. Of course, she felt a bit nervous when she pulled out onto the main road, but she’d been doing a lot of research about towing trailers, and really, there wasn’t that much to it. The main rule was to give yourself more time and don’t forget how much room your rig and trailer take on the road.
Dillon stopped at the grocery store, parking on the perimeter to ensure she wouldn’t get blocked in and need to back up. She bought ice and a few other things, then came out to see a young couple standing beside her trailer.
“Is this yours?” the man asked.
“Yes.” Dillon waited, wondering if this was a problem.
“It’s very cool,” the woman said. “Do you mind if we take some photos?”
“Not at all.” Dillon smiled as she opened her tailgate, putting her ice and other items in the cooler.
“It’s so cute,” the woman said as Dillon closed the tailgate.
Dillon thanked her, and the man inquired if she ever planned on selling it.
“No, I don’t think so.” She patted the side of the trailer. “This is like my baby and I’ve worked pretty hard on her.” She didn’t admit that it was also her living quarters.
“Is it as cute inside as outside?” the woman asked.
“Take a look.” Dillon unlocked the door, waiting as the woman poked her head inside. “It’s cuter when everything is in its place, but I have to put stuff away for traveling.”
“It’s adorable!” They both thanked her, and Dillon locked it up. Feeling happy and excited, she started out again. This time on the highway. Going fast felt a bit challenging at first, but reminding herself that everything was road worthy, she managed to maintain the speed limit.
Her side mirrors revealed a trail of impatient drivers behind her. Naturally, they wanted to go above the speed limit. So when she got a chance to use a pull-out, she let them pass by. Then, curious as to how Rose was traveling behind her, she got out to check everything. But it all looked perfectly sound and secure, so feeling more confident, she took off again and managed to push herself a bit faster without getting overly nervous. With her window open and the pine-scented air wafting in, Dillon felt completely content. She was like a gypsy on the road, about to embrace a new adventure. What a way to live!
CHAPTER
30
By the time she reached Silver Lake Campground, she felt like an old pro at trailer hauling. Why had she been so worried? Of course, there was still that whole backing-up thing . . . but Jordan would help her. She even paused by the entrance to the campground and used her phone to take some pics of her truck and trailer in front of the camp sign and trees. Maybe she would make a Rose scrapbook.
She followed the directions that she’d gleaned from the newsletter Jordan had forwarded her and eventually found the section of spaces reserved for the Silverdale Vintage Camp Club. It felt good to think she was a member.
Jordan had texted her to meet him at camp space #34. As she slowly drove down the narrow, tree-lined road, she spotted two trailers already parked in place. One was obviously Jordan’s, with his pickup right next to it, and a few spaces away a silver Airstream trailer gleamed in the sunshine. Next to it was a cotton-candy-pink station wagon with woody sides. Dillon slowed down, hoping that Jordan would pop out from his space, but not seeing him, she continued along to space #34, which happened to be lakeside and right next to Jordan’s. Judging by the size and layout of the small campground, there was definitely no other option but to back into it.
Trying to suppress her anxiety, she pulled past the space far enough that she hoped she would be able to back into it—if she knew how to back. But worried she might smack straight into a tree on her own devices, she turned off the pickup, pulled on the emergency brake and got out to look around. Hoping that Jordan would show up to help her, she was surprised to see Vivian emerging from the shiny silver trailer. Of course, that was The Silver Slipper Vivian had told her about.
“What are you doing?” Vivian asked.
“Oh, hi.” Dillon attempted a smile. “I just got here.”
Vivian gave her a halfhearted greeting then pointed to her pickup and trailer. “You can’t just park in the middle of the road. Other campers are on their way.”
“I don’t plan to leave it there,” Dillon explained. “But Jordan was going to help me back into—”
“You don’t need him. I’ll help you. Just keep your eye on me.”
“But I—”
“Come on,” Vivian urged. “The Jacksons will be here any minute. I just got a text from Stephanie that they’re—”
“But where’s Jordan? He was going—”
“He’s busy, Dillon. Now are you going to back up your trailer or not?” She frowned. “To be part of this club, you have to be able to manage your own trailer. Is that too much for you?”
“No, no . . . I just don’t have much ba
cking-up experience.”
“Then it’s time you got some. Hurry up before the Jacksons arrive. Now it looks like you should be parked in space #47 and that’s over there.” She pointed down the road.
“Jordan said space #34.” Dillon pointed to the camping spot next to Jordan.
“No, that’s wrong.” Vivian pulled out a paper and showed it to her.
Now Dillon pulled out her phone and showed her Jordan’s text. “Maybe I should call him to make sure.”
“No, that’s okay. We’ll just put you there for now and you can move it later. Hurry up before we get a traffic jam.”
So Dillon got into her pickup and silently prayed for heavenly help as she started the engine. It wasn’t just her pride at stake here—she didn’t want to be a roadblock or aggravate Vivian more. But she sure wished it was Jordan directing her. For all she knew, Vivian might back her straight into the lake.
Taking in a deep breath, Dillon stuck her head out the open window and called out to Vivian. “Okay. I’m ready.”
“Can you see me in your rearview mirror?” Vivian called back.
Dillon checked, then nodded.
“Okay then. Just follow my hand signals and turn the steering wheel when I tell you.” And now Vivian motioned her to back up then pointed sharply to the right.
“No, no!” Vivian shouted, holding her hands up to tell her to stop. “The other way.”
Dillon remembered how Grandpa had said it was all backward and so she attempted to turn the other way, but apparently that wasn’t working either.
“Pull forward again,” Vivian shouted. “We’ll start over.”
So Dillon pulled forward and tried again, but for the second time, it just wasn’t right. And Vivian’s expressions and comments were not helping a bit.
“What’s wrong with you?” Vivian finally demanded. She leaned into Dillon’s window with an exasperated look. “Can’t you follow simple directions?”
“It’s just that you keep yelling at me,” Dillon told her. “You say one way and then the other. I can’t figure you out.” She spotted Jordan jogging down the road toward her, waving eagerly. “Oh, there he is.” Dillon sighed. “Thanks, Vivian, I’ll let Jordan take it from here.”
Vivian rolled her eyes and stepped back. With hands folded in front of her, she watched as Jordan talked to Dillon. “I get the dyslexia thing. It’s not that unusual. But just keep your eyes on me,” he instructed. “I’ll point in the direction you should turn the steering wheel. Okay?”
“So I shouldn’t do the opposite?”
“Not this time.” As he stood there, locking eyes with her, pointing this way and that, she pretended she was a robot and he had the commands, trying to do exactly as he indicated. And to her utter surprise, he held up his hands for her to stop and announced she was parked. “Good job.”
“You’re kidding.” She got out to see, then grinned. “It looks perfect. Thanks.”
“And we’re neighbors.” He nodded to his trailer as Vivian approached. “So we can—”
“Speaking of campsite locations—” Vivian had a suspicious expression—“this camp spot is assigned to the Millers. The Mortenson spot is over—”
“I asked the Millers to switch spaces, and they agreed. They’re still lakeside and actually closer to the dock, which they wanted anyway.”
“Why, may I ask, does Dillon’s trailer need to be right here?” Vivian’s eyes narrowed.
“Because Janelle and the girls will be staying partly with her and partly with me. This seemed more convenient.”
“Oh.” Vivian shrugged. “Well, I guess that makes sense.”
Jordan turned back to Dillon. “Did that awning come in time?”
“It’s back there.” She nodded to her still-loaded pickup bed.
“Well, I’ll help you unhitch, then you can park the pickup right there.” He pointed to a space on the backside of her trailer.
“Doesn’t she know how to unhitch by herself?” Vivian asked.
“I’m sure she does.” Jordan, already cranking down the hitch, nodded to where a yellow pickup and trailer were approaching. “But that’s the Jacksons there, and we need to get out of their way pronto.”
Dillon unhooked the chains and did what she could to help, then hurried to park Jack right next to Rose just in time for the Jacksons to get past her. The couple smiled and waved and didn’t act the least bit impatient. Nothing like Vivian.
While Dillon went inside her trailer to pull it together, Jordan went to work on her awning, which went up surprisingly easily and looked adorable. “I love it,” Dillon exclaimed when she finally came out. “It’s perfect. Thanks so much for putting it up.” She glanced over to where Vivian was busy with her own campsite. “I hope this isn’t breaking any rules. I don’t want Vivian to get upset over you helping me.”
He laughed. “Don’t worry about her. She’ll settle down after a while. I’m going to finish setting up my trailer. The formal trailer tour runs until dinnertime. And prizes are awarded at tonight’s campfire, so you want to get Rose looking as good as possible.” He winked. “Thanks to you, I plan to be your biggest competition.”
“Yes, you and Vivian—and everyone else,” she said. “But it sounds like fun. And I can’t wait to see the inside of other people’s trailers.”
“I’ll warn you that some campers put treats in their trailers—I’m not sure it wins any votes, but I won’t say that it doesn’t.”
Dillon nodded. “Thanks for the heads-up. I got a bag of chocolate kisses with the twins in mind. I’ll set those out. Anything else I should know?”
“Well, some of them really stage their trailers. Some will set tables and everything. It’s like a show. And people like to take photos too. We’ve talked about doing our own calendar. So you want Rose to put her best foot forward.”
“Great. I’ll do that.”
With golden oldies music playing on her fully charged phone, Dillon set to work. If you could call it work. It felt more like play. It didn’t take long to get the interior set up. Everything inside was in its place—even the table was set with the flower arrangement she’d gathered from Grandma’s garden and placed in a mason jar on the table.
Next she set up her outside area, which looked better than ever with her new awning and cheerful birthday planters flanking the door. She even put up her strings of camping lights, and since she’d brought extra batteries for them, she decided to turn them on during the trailer tour. She would light her lanterns too. She had no hopes of winning any prizes, but as the newcomer, she planned to pull out all the stops. When she was completely done with everything, she got out a small plaque she’d painted just the night before—WELCOME TO DESERT ROSE with a couple of coral-colored roses on each end—and hung it above the door. Perfect.
Dillon got a soda from her ice chest, then sat down in one of her outdoor chairs, put her feet on the matching footstool, and looked out over the calm blue lake. Life was good. Definitely good. And she intended to enjoy it to the fullest.
A couple of other trailers had been parked while she’d been setting up. A lime-green one and an aqua blue. It looked like their owners were busily setting up now. From where she sat, Dillon could see Vivian’s campsite. It looked like she and Jordan were discussing something. And Vivian, instead of acting like Ms. Bossy Pants, like she’d done with Dillon, was all sunshine and smiles now. Well, whatever. Dillon wasn’t going to let Vivian get to her. This was too nice to spoil.
She’d just finished her soda when Jordan came over. “Hey, this is looking good,” he told her as he checked out her outside area. “You’re turning into serious competition.”
She laughed. “I did this for myself. I don’t care if I get any votes, I just want to enjoy it.”
“Come check out my domain.” He reached for her hand. “Maybe you can give me some pointers for my exterior area. And I’m not sure I put everything back together on the inside—not like you had it yesterday.”
“I d
oubt you need my help, but I’d like to see it.”
With his trailer awning out and his camp furnishings set up, Jordan’s campsite looked very inviting. “Hey, you’ve even hung up the lights I got you.”
“You bet. Now come inside.”
She went into his trailer and immediately noticed that it wasn’t quite like she’d had it. “This looks good, but want me to tweak a little?” she asked.
“Of course!”
She made a few little changes and Jordan approved. “Thanks. I’m hoping to give Vivian real competition this year.”
“How does her place look?” Dillon asked.
“I’ve only seen the outside, which is pretty slick in a girly sort of way, but she won’t let me peek inside. I suspect she’s made some changes.”
“Well, I’m sure she feels there’s a lot at stake since she’s sort of the trailer décor expert in town.” Dillon suspected that money was no object for Vivian’s trailer.
“Yeah, like a walking—or rolling—advertisement for her shop.”
Dillon checked her watch. “So when do you expect Janelle and the girls to arrive?”
“Not until dinnertime. Janelle had some loose ends to tie up on a real estate listing.”
“They’ll miss the trailer tour.”
“Well, they don’t get votes anyway. And I’m sure they can snoop around as much as they like later. Our club members love showing their trailers.”
“I’m really looking forward to the tour.”
“Well, that’s not until later. Wanna do something fun in the meantime?”
“Sure.”
“Ever been kayaking?”
She shook her head.
“Well, I reserved a couple of kayaks at the lodge. I need someone to hike over and get them with me. Then we’ll have to paddle back across the lake. You up for it?”
“Absolutely!”
Before long, after putting on life vests and getting a quick lesson from Jordan, Dillon was paddling with him across the lake. “This is great,” she called out to him. “I love it.”
“Pretty cool.” He pointed to the sky. “Bald eagle at twelve o’clock high.”
Shielding her eyes, she peered upward. “Beautiful,” she said.
The Happy Camper Page 24