Chapter 4 4

As if reading my mind as I sat in the passenger seat, he asked, "Oh, sorry, did you happen to get the chain?"

"Yes."

An expression of mild surprise crossed his face as he did a double take, obviously having expected me to say no and probably prepared to run back out to do it himself.

"Good girl, Trudy. I hope you three do decide to stay." he commented, looking forward again to watch the twins hopping into his truck, both of them through the driver's side with Jenifer going first.

I sat there, somewhat flattered at the 'girl' comment and the approval of this man, of whom a teeny weeny part of me suspected of being an axe murderer despite the sign and the rest of it. Alternately, I wondered if he was married as the brake lights of his truck flashed. Jarid began to move forward and I suddenly began feeling guilty, thinking of Kevin and the fact that he'd bought the damned camper in order to save our marriage and now,... One hell of a time and way to try to get a life, wasn't it?

We set off, slowly following his truck down the track, listening to the branches scratching and screeching the sides.

Breaking the following silence that my melancholy mood produced, he asked, "Space shuttle, uh?"

I smiled ruefully. "Yes. The Columbia."

"Sounds like bad luck."

"Is that one of the ones that exploded?"

"Yup."

"I wasn't sure, I just picked the first one I remembered." I admitted. "Is it too late to change it? I haven't smashed a bottle of wine across her bow yet."

He grinned and answered, "We'll help you with that. We'll all vote on a name before you leave and whip a bottle of something expensive at the hood, how's that?"

"If you think it'll avoid an explosion."

This time he laughed aloud and I realized my sadness was gone. It was hard to be sad with such an easygoing, laid back personality around. I hoped he wasn't married, but how many single men bought a camping trailer and rented a lot? Possibly the type who runs around murdering people with an axe?

"So, Trudy, what would put you out on the highway with a new Winnebago and a couple of kids with no plan whatsoever?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"Kinda, yeah. Like I say, you look like you had one of those days." he repeated. "Plus, the fact you got sales tags on all your clothes."

"Oh God! I complained, looking down and seeing he was right. It hadn't even occurred to me.

He slowed in order to navigate a tight bend, grinding into the branches. "Sorry.", he said apologetically.

"About my bad day or the RV?"

"Both, I guess."

"It's okay. In both cases. Yes, it was kind of a bad day. A shocking revelation, you might say."

"The worst kind. Divorced?"

"Yes. Yourself?"

"Married. The wife's back here at the trailer, you'll meet her sooner or later, if you decide to stay."

My foolish hopes around Monsieur axe murderer sank, but I replied, "You seem to think we will."

"Yeah. I hope you will. Like I say, you and your kids seem solid and it's cool to have new people here every once in a while. We're just a bunch of people from town, not everyone from the same town, but everyone knows each other through business, or whatever. We come out here to relax and have a good time without being bothered and just forget about the world for a while."

"Sounds nice."

"It is. Mostly because it's private and we can keep the garbage out. Sort of a summer family, you know?"

"Yes.", I said with a smile as any fears of being axe murdered went right out the side window.

We rounded another tight bend, the passenger side corner of the front bumper laying down weeds and short trees on the outside of the curve as he took it as wide as possible before straightening out and coming to some partially cleared land. To our right, I could see moonlight reflecting from the surface of a lake. To the left, patio lanterns and RVs in lots stretching down a row. After signaling a left turn early for Jarid, we turned and trundled down a rear path that serviced another row of campers.

"Nothing available in front and I couldn't put you there if there was, but the back lots are pretty big. Good for if you got stuff. Bikes, ATVs, a car and/or a truck, you get the picture."

I nodded.

"I'm down the end of the back row here, lot fourteen. I'm putting you in number seven, so you're surrounded."

"Surrounded?"

"Locals."

"Oh. Herd mentality, right?"

He performed another double take and laughed. "Yeah. We look out for one another here. I'm glad you get it."

"I watch a lot of TV. Discovery channel."

"Okay.", he chuckled as he passed an empty lot with a reflective '7' on a post, flashing the lights and coming to a stop as the kids did the same in front of us.

"You want it backed into the trees?" The Master bed is at the very back, right?"

"Yes, please do."

"Okay, you guide me in and we'll have you and your kids all snug in your beds inside a half hour. Bring me right alongside those white service ports stickin' outta the ground there, see them?"

"Yes, one minute." I said, jumping up and heading for the side door as the kids exited the truck ahead of us, again, each from the driver's side.

It didn't take long for Junior to get it parked, after which he shut it down and hopped out to join the three of us.

"All set." he reported, adding, "Keys are in the ignition."

"Junior, I can't thank you enough. You're a lifesaver and this place looks really nice, at least in the dark. I wish I'd brought some patio lantern, but I never even thought."

"Don't worry about it. Now remember, Elmo will be around tomorrow morning, about nine or ten o'clock."

"His name is really 'Elmo'?", Jenifer asked with a smile.

"Yup. I wouldn't laugh at him, though. Well,... you could, but I wouldn't. Hey, nice meeting you three, but I gotta run. I actually told Pammie I was going out for a pack of cigarettes and, after all this time, I can only imagine what she's thinking."

"Say no more, Junior. Again, a million thanks." I called as he was leaving.

"S'nothin', Trudy." he called over his shoulder while walking to the truck. "You three get some sleep and we'll see yas tomorrow."

The kids called their own goodbyes while we watched him go. It didn't matter if he was married or not, I happily realized. He was very friendly, he got us in somewhere that seemed nice, and that was enough. Even the kids seemed happy. Hey, it was an adventure, right?