Family Ties

“When’s Dad supposed to be here?”

“Tonight. He’s flying the new plane.”

“Oh? Maybe I’m not the only one who hasn’t shared news lately.”

“A new plane isn’t the same as a new girlfriend.”

“No, but still…”

“Besides, we haven’t actually bought it yet. This is just an extended test flight.”

“Oh, cool.” I was about to ask what kind of plane it was, but Susan turned and gestured.

“Are we ready to go? We need to get to camp if you want to freshen up before the receiving of friends.”

Susan told us about Gunny on the drive. He’d been working on the clubhouse and had suffered a massive heart attack. His wife had found him when he hadn’t come home for dinner. She was devastated, Susan said, and staying with family in town.

“How long had they been married?” Christy asked me quietly.

“Not long. Maybe a year. He was a lifelong bachelor until he met her.”

“Oh, that’s so sad.”

I nodded.

She was about to say something else, but then we passed through the camp gate. Susan must have left the chain down, since only friends and family would be coming and going for the next few days.

Christy looked around at the unbroken pine forest, although there wasn’t much to see. She perked up when we passed the road to the new Pines Retreat.

“The cabins are coming up.” I pointed. “That’s where we usually stay.”

She leaned forward and looked out the window as we passed. She seemed fascinated by things I took for granted. I found myself enjoying her sense of discovery, so I pointed out the RV area on the left and told her about how it filled up during the summer months.

Susan parked the car between the clubhouse and the nearest motel-style building.

“I’m sorry things are a bit unsettled,” she said as we climbed out of the station wagon. “The camp is mostly closed down for the winter. And…

Jeremiah usually took care of guests.”

“That’s Gunny’s real name,” I whispered to Christy.

“I figured that out.”

“Right. Sorry. Beauty and brains.”

She rolled her eyes but smiled.

“Doug and Olivia arrived this morning,” Susan continued, “so they helped get the rooms ready.”

“When do Kirk and Dawn get here?” Mom asked.

“Late tonight,” Susan said. “They’re flying into Charlotte and renting a car.” She gestured at the building. “We made up three rooms.”

“I can have my own?” Erin said. “Awesome!”

I carried Mom’s suitcase and dress bag into the middle room, while Erin headed for the one on the left. I came back and grabbed our bags, and Christy followed me to the room on the right.

They were just as I remembered, but Christy looked around with polite curiosity. The queen-sized bed was made and the sheets turned down. A neat pile of towels sat on the dresser, and a little space heater glowed in the corner. Susan had thought of everything. She’d even added a vase with fresh gerbera daisies on the nightstand.

Ours was one of the rooms with bunk beds, and I glanced at them absently. I did a double take when I realized they didn’t have sheets.

“What is it?” Christy said quietly.

“Um… only one bed’s made.” I glanced at her. “Lemme ask Susan for some extra sheets.”

“Don’t!” She blushed and then said more calmly, “No, it’s all right.”

“Are you sure? That’s more than a baby step.”

She nodded. “I’m sure. I’ve…”

I waited. I knew what I wanted, but I was determined to make Christy choose.

“I’ve been thinking about it,” she said after a moment. “And, I mean, we’ve already slept together. Besides, we aren’t going to do anything.”

“Um… maybe let’s think about this a bit more.”

“Why?”

“Well, there’s no way we’re gonna sleep together without fooling around.

I mean, you may not be ready to go all the way, but there’s plenty we can do short of that.”

“Like what?” She held her breath in anticipation.

“For one, I think you’re ready to meet Mr. Big.”

“Mr. Big or Mr. Good Thing?”

My brows drew together in confusion. “There’s a difference?”

“Of course,” she said, with a logic that made sense to her. “Good things come in small packages.”

My eyebrows shot up. Was she asking me to have sex with her? I almost told her she’d be meeting Mr. Good Thing, but then I thought about it. She was hinting at what she wanted, not asking for it.

“Well then,” I said neutrally, “I’ll let you decide who you’re ready to meet.”

“Mr… I mean… oh gosh… Mr. Big, of course.”

I hid my disappointment with a questioning smile. “Are you sure?”

“I’m… sure.”

“Sure of what?” Erin asked from the door.

“Sure you were eavesdropping,” I shot back.

“Paul, be nice,” Christy said. To Erin, “We’re sure the room’s fine.”

It was the most obvious lie in the world, but Erin took it at face value.

“Hold on,” Christy said as she looked around. “Where’s the bathroom?”

“Oh, they’re in the clubhouse,” Erin said cheerfully. “Only the cabins have bathrooms. I need to go too. C’mon, I’ll show you.”

“Erin,” I cautioned, “Christy’s—”

“Jeez, Paul. Chill out. I’m not going to embarrass you. We’re just going

to the bathroom.”

Christy met my eyes and silently told me she’d be fine.

They returned about five minutes later, laughing about something ( me, probably).