think I’d feel safer with a life jacket,” Caro objects, when the dude starts to pull the life jackets off the pile and return them to the wall.
I place a big palm on top of the yellow safety devices. “Rule in this shop is you can’t rent the fishing equipment without life jackets.”
“That’s fucking bullshit,” Bill sneers. “It’s a way for you to ratchet up the bill. I don’t need any fucking life jackets.”
“Bill.” Caro tugs on his arm. “Let’s just get the jackets. You don’t have to wear one.”
“Goddammit, Caro! It’s the principle of the thing. I’m not going to be taken for a ride by this jack wagon.” He stomps out.
Caro winces as the front door slams shut. “I’m so sorry about this.” She pulls out a wallet. “What’s the total?”
“You sure you want this?” I tip my head toward the door. Hopefully she understands that I’m talking about more than the life jackets. “There’s a spa across the street.”
She gives me a rueful smile. “I’m pretty sure I don’t, but I don’t think it would be fair to bail now. I’m the one who convinced him to come up here in the first place. We’ve been having problems for a long time, but I have a friend whose marriage was in trouble, and she came up here and said that the time away from the city made them realize how much they loved each other. So I booked this trip thinking we’d reconnect, but all it’s done is show me that I’ve been hanging on to something that was broken far too long.” She sighs. “I don’t know why I’m telling you this. I suppose because I don’t want you to think badly of me for going on a vacation with him.” Caro jerks a thumb over her shoulder.
I don’t feel so bad about winking at her now. “One good thing about the North woods is that it clears your head. Come back after you’ve dumped him, and I’ll show you some good fishing spots.”
Caro presses her very kissable lips together. “I’d like that.”
“Do you need another tent?” I point to the rolled-up sacks of nylon behind the counter. The idea of her sleeping even one night in the same enclosed space as Bill raises all the hairs on the back of my neck. I don’t like that idea one bit.
She glances out the front windows where Bill is talking with great animation on the phone. “Yeah, that sounds like a great idea.”
“If you need anything, holler. There are plenty of folks in the woods who will help you out.”
“Really? I thought the campsites were fairly isolated.”
“Nah. There are always hikers, fishers, stuff like that.” I shoulder the poles and tent, and gesture for her to take the tackle and other gear. “You’ll be safe no matter what.”
She nods. “I appreciate that.”
I’ll be nearby if you need me, is what I’d like to say, but she doesn’t need to know that.
----
C aro and her asshole boyfriend , Bill, drive off, and I help suit up several other campers before closing the doors at around eight. My stomach growls, telling me I haven’t fed myself in at least three hours. The mac and cheese I nuked in the storeroom microwave for a mid-afternoon snack hadn’t been enough to satisfy a bird. I want to fill my belly before I go out into the woods and look for Caro.
The tavern serves decent mashed potatoes, gravy, and roast beef, and if I ask nicely, I bet there’ll be a piece of blackberry pie for me too. There aren’t too many people when I pull open the heavy wooden door to the restaurant/bar. I spot Sheriff Gant sitting in a booth by himself, and a couple of other locals. We exchange nods, and I order the special.
As I’m waiting, the door opens and in walks Bill, the asshole. I turn completely in my seat, and watch him stomp up to the bar.
“Vodka. Top shelf.” He slaps his hand on the bar top like he’s been waiting ten hours to be served.
Everyone in the establishment swivels to watch the show because although Sandy looks like a fragile girl, she’s tough as they come. She’ll
I place a big palm on top of the yellow safety devices. “Rule in this shop is you can’t rent the fishing equipment without life jackets.”
“That’s fucking bullshit,” Bill sneers. “It’s a way for you to ratchet up the bill. I don’t need any fucking life jackets.”
“Bill.” Caro tugs on his arm. “Let’s just get the jackets. You don’t have to wear one.”
“Goddammit, Caro! It’s the principle of the thing. I’m not going to be taken for a ride by this jack wagon.” He stomps out.
Caro winces as the front door slams shut. “I’m so sorry about this.” She pulls out a wallet. “What’s the total?”
“You sure you want this?” I tip my head toward the door. Hopefully she understands that I’m talking about more than the life jackets. “There’s a spa across the street.”
She gives me a rueful smile. “I’m pretty sure I don’t, but I don’t think it would be fair to bail now. I’m the one who convinced him to come up here in the first place. We’ve been having problems for a long time, but I have a friend whose marriage was in trouble, and she came up here and said that the time away from the city made them realize how much they loved each other. So I booked this trip thinking we’d reconnect, but all it’s done is show me that I’ve been hanging on to something that was broken far too long.” She sighs. “I don’t know why I’m telling you this. I suppose because I don’t want you to think badly of me for going on a vacation with him.” Caro jerks a thumb over her shoulder.
I don’t feel so bad about winking at her now. “One good thing about the North woods is that it clears your head. Come back after you’ve dumped him, and I’ll show you some good fishing spots.”
Caro presses her very kissable lips together. “I’d like that.”
“Do you need another tent?” I point to the rolled-up sacks of nylon behind the counter. The idea of her sleeping even one night in the same enclosed space as Bill raises all the hairs on the back of my neck. I don’t like that idea one bit.
She glances out the front windows where Bill is talking with great animation on the phone. “Yeah, that sounds like a great idea.”
“If you need anything, holler. There are plenty of folks in the woods who will help you out.”
“Really? I thought the campsites were fairly isolated.”
“Nah. There are always hikers, fishers, stuff like that.” I shoulder the poles and tent, and gesture for her to take the tackle and other gear. “You’ll be safe no matter what.”
She nods. “I appreciate that.”
I’ll be nearby if you need me, is what I’d like to say, but she doesn’t need to know that.
----
C aro and her asshole boyfriend , Bill, drive off, and I help suit up several other campers before closing the doors at around eight. My stomach growls, telling me I haven’t fed myself in at least three hours. The mac and cheese I nuked in the storeroom microwave for a mid-afternoon snack hadn’t been enough to satisfy a bird. I want to fill my belly before I go out into the woods and look for Caro.
The tavern serves decent mashed potatoes, gravy, and roast beef, and if I ask nicely, I bet there’ll be a piece of blackberry pie for me too. There aren’t too many people when I pull open the heavy wooden door to the restaurant/bar. I spot Sheriff Gant sitting in a booth by himself, and a couple of other locals. We exchange nods, and I order the special.
As I’m waiting, the door opens and in walks Bill, the asshole. I turn completely in my seat, and watch him stomp up to the bar.
“Vodka. Top shelf.” He slaps his hand on the bar top like he’s been waiting ten hours to be served.
Everyone in the establishment swivels to watch the show because although Sandy looks like a fragile girl, she’s tough as they come. She’ll
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