The trip improves by leaps and bounds the moment we stop at the campground for the night.

“Finally,” I sigh, taking a deep breath of the fresh air as I climb down the steps of the RV, my baby curled in my arm and looking around him with bright and interested eyes. “It’s good to be on steady ground again.”

“Remind me never to take you on a boat,” Sinclair murmurs, coming down the stairs behind me. “If you didn’t like this…you won’t respond well to that.”

“Yes sir,” I say passively, smiling down at the baby, who frees one of his arms and reaches out into the cool evening air, clasping his fingers at a firefly who passes close by. I don’t mention that I liked the sea voyage to the desert much more than I liked this, even though the accommodations weren’t as nice.

“What about this?” Sinclair murmurs as he steps down the final step and comes to stand behind me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. I smile as I lean

back against his chest. “Is the forest an improvement?”

I look around our isolated campsite, lit with grey and blue tones in the dying light

of the day. I smile at what I see, appreciating the cool air and the blinking light of

the fireflies that float lazily through the space.

“Yes,” I say with a decisive nod. “This will do quite well.”

“Good,” Sinclair replies, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek before releasing

me and moving to a luggage compartment low on the RV, I watch as he opens it

and begins pulling out camping gear chairs, a cooler, some bags with extra

snacks and bug spray.

“Oh!” I say, surprised by it all as my mate begins to set it all up around a burnedout ring where a fire goes. “Oh, we’re very prepared.”

“Of course we are,” Roger says, climbing out of the RV with Cora behind him.

When he reaches the ground, Roger flicks the switch that prepares Henry’s little

elevator. “We’re always ready to go glamping in this family.”

I laugh at the term, settling into a chair that Sinclair waves me towards, smiling

down at the baby. “What do you think, Rafe?” I whisper to him. “Do you like

glamping?” He gives a happy little coo in response and I laugh, grinning up at

his father. “I think that’s a yes.”

“Kid has taste,” Sinclair says, winking at me as he continues his work. We’re all

settled around a fire much faster than I thought was possible and I smile as I

watch Sinclair and Roger set a little grill across it, apparently preparing to make

us our dinner as well.

“They only cook,” Henry whispers, leaning over to Cora and I and giving us a

smile, “when it’s outdoors. Otherwise, they’re not interested.”

“Not true!” Sinclair protests, his eyes still on the fire.

“Absolutely true!” Roger chimes in, making us laugh. “If I’m making food, it’s

grilled. Otherwise I’m getting takeout.”

“Guess your baby is gonna eat a lot of hotdogs,” I murmur to Cora.

looks over at me from her

know I can’t cook

make them hire us chefs,” I

pleased at the idea,

the night the family

nothing and everything, chatting lightly about what

touching on any of

the conversation. We all know that they’re there, after all

to leave

just about laughter, and fun, and spending

moan a little as I bite into a smore that Sinclair hands me, the

to a crisp just the way I like it. “Oh

is so

laughs, you’re going to get marshmallow all

baby – ”

murmur, shaking my head and refusing

bite. “He won’t mind

and lifts Rafe from my arms.

alone with my s’more anyway. Cora,

as Sinclair walks Rafe away from me, apologizing in a loud murmur

and inconsiderate his mother is. I wave a hand at him,

knowing that he’s

I finish my s’more and look around at

watches Sinclair and his grandchild

each other, not talking but

wrapping her

camp. “I didn’t think I’d like sitting outside

as much as this.”

isn’t there?” Roger murmurs, raising a hand

as he smiles

up at the stars and then

Roger, beaming at him.

smile from crossing my face as I watch

I decide that that’s my

I stand up from

bond with Sinclair. He looks up at me, curious

then towards Roger and

and then nods his understanding.

hand on his back, leaning down to speak

by one, as stealthily as we can – which is not very

be lifted into the RV with

make our way back into

alone by the fire to have a moment to

about,” I

pulling the door shut behind him, the baby still

peering out the window at Roger and

through the tinted window.

little spy?” he says, coming to

to give us our own moment, rolls

bedroom, making some excuse about wanting to

know he

up at my mate

my arms. “But you

laughs. “Do you know,” he murmurs, slipping

against him, resting his chin on my

can look out at Cora and Roger, “I never

love life until you

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