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Nan returned rolling a wheeled suitcase behind her.“All packed and ready to go. I just need another five minutes to finish packing the picnic.” She left the luggage with us and hurried back to the kitchen.

“Where are we going?” I asked, starting to get a little excited.

Charles pressed his lips into a firm line and shook his head.“It’s a surprise.”

“But there will be a picnic?” I prompted, tilting my head as I studied his face for hints. “Does that mean we’re going somewhere outside?”

He drew his thumb and forefinger across his mouth.“Not telling. You’ll see when we get there.”

I raised an eyebrow.“What about work?”

“The firm can keep things together for one day without me. I don’t think I’ve ever used a full vacation day. It was time. And besides, I may have snuck into the office early to get a few things taken care of before coming here.”

“Ah-ha. I knew it!”

Charles laughed.“Yeah, we both need this break.”

Nan returned with a cute woven basket in hand and gave it to Charles.

“Thanks,” he said with a big grin. “And you’re sure you’re okay to look after Jacques and Jillianne while we’re away?”

Last year, Charles had taken in my former neighbor’s two Sphynx cats after her untimely demise. They had never much warmed up to me, and I doubted they liked Nan, either. Still, Charles had grown quite fond of his two hairless babies.

Nan nodded vigorously and pushed us toward the door.“I’ve got it all under control. Paisley and I will go pay them a visit later this afternoon. Now get out of here. Go have some fun. Goodness knows you two both need it!”

Well, she was right about that, I supposed.

I just hoped whatever Charles had planned for us would be every bit as relaxing as he’d promised.

And that Octo-Cat wouldn’t be too mad at me for abandoning him this weekend.

Chapter Four

Outside, a massive white vehicle sat waiting partway down our driveway.

“Surprise!” Charles shouted as he strode ahead of me with both the suitcase and picnic basket in tow.

I gasped and stopped in my tracks, blinking twice to make sure my eyes weren’t misleading me. “You bought an RV?”

He turned back to smile at me before continuing on his way.“I didn’t buy it. There’s this new app that’s kind of like Airbnb meets Uber. So I rented this baby from someone over in Cooper’s Cove. It’s ours through Monday. Your Nan’s already agreed to return it for me, too.”

I jogged to catch up.“There’s no way you’re letting Nan drive this. That woman is a terror on wheels, and you know it.”

Charles just laughed and opened the passenger door for me.“Climb on up. We’ve got about three hours to get to our destination, so not too bad.”

“Climb on up?” I repeated. “I’m in my ratty bathrobe. I’m not going anywhere until I get changed.”

“No, that’s why I had Nan pack you a bag. You can get changed on the way.”

“That’s ridiculous. We’re right here. I’m going to go inside and change and then we can get going.”

Before he could drag me into the RV, I turned and climbed the porch and pulled on the door. Locked.

“Really, Nan?” I shouted at the locked door. “You’re sending me off in just a bathrobe?”

“Don’t worry, I packed you something nice,” she shouted back through the door.

It was obvious that these plans were in motion and there was nothing I could do to stop this runaway camper. With a sigh, I wrapped my robe tighter around myself and walked back over to the RV.

I hoisted myself inside while Charles went around back to the living area where he stashed my suitcase and the picnic basket. Rather than buckling up, I spun in my seat to check out our hotel on wheels. It had a small kitchen area complete with linoleum floor and a sink, cute little stovetop, and a half-sized fridge. Across from that sat a comfy-looking booth and table flanked by a built-in couch. Further back, I could just glimpse a bedroom with dark drapes and what appeared to be a queen-sized bed—whatever the size, it definitely took up a good deal of space.

Charles swung himself up onto the driver’s seat. “There’s a bathroom back there if you need it, and I’ve stocked up on food for the weekend, too.”

“Seems like you’ve thought of everything,” I said as I settled into my seat and drew the safety belt across my lap.

“Nan and I planned the whole thing together last night while you dozed on the couch,” he admitted with a sheepish grin.

“If you would have told me, I could have—”

“If I would have told you, you’d have found a reason not to go,” Charles interrupted, which was fine. I hadn’t really known where I was going with that statement, anyway.

“Fair, but you realize Nan could have packed my suitcase with nothing but evening gowns or pajama bottoms with silk blouses, or only old Halloween costumes.”

A look of mock horror flashed across Charles’s face, but then he shook his head and turned on the mega-watt smile again. “Nah, she knew where we were headed.”