Chapter 6

The next week felt like two to Kyle. He was really looking forward to getting away with his friends, and even more excited for the hour car ride with Beth. He wanted to get to know her better, and soon. He packed his car the night before since he wouldn’t have time to do it when he got home from work on Friday. He didn’t have much for camping gear. It had been so long since he had done any camping, and he missed all the great times he had.

Kyle left room in the trunk for Beth’s things. The next day after work, he went home to change clothes and get Copper before heading over to Beth’s house. He hadn’t realized how close her house was to his apartment. He got there as she was bringing her bags outside. Kyle let Copper out of the car, and popped the trunk.

“Need a hand with your bags?” he asked her.

She put them down, almost dropping the top bag. “Sure. I still have to check the garage for my tent. I don’t know where it went the last time I used it.”

Kyle laughed. “Did you forget where you put it?”

Beth frowned. “No, I wasn’t the one who put it away.”

Major foot in mouth moment, Kyle thought. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude.”

Her features lightened. “It’s okay. Care to help me look for it?”

Kyle loaded her things in his car, then followed Beth into the garage. The single-stall garage was full but organized. They checked the shelves with no luck. The tent was not there.

Beth looked worried. “Maybe it’s in the basement. I didn’t see it by the sleeping bags. I just don’t know where else he would have put it.”

Kyle reached over and gave her shoulders a squeeze. “It’s okay. We can always share my tent if you want. Unless you would rather we stop and get a new one.”

Beth tensed a little. She looked over at Kyle and asked, “Do you think that’s really a good idea?”

Kyle replied, “Sure. No funny business. We each have our own sleeping bag, and, besides, Copper will sleep in between us. The dog takes half the bed at my place as it is.”

Beth laughed, something Kyle hadn’t heard her do. “Hey, really, Beth. It will be fine.”

“Okay, but if I wake up in doggie drool tomorrow morning, I’m taking your car and getting a new tent.”

“I can live with that.” They walked back to the car where Copper was waiting next to the passenger door. “Not this time man, you get the backseat.” Kyle opened the back door for the dog, and Copper jumped in and sat down.

“Am I taking his usual spot?” Beth asked.

“Naw, he doesn’t get many car rides, so he really doesn’t have a usual spot.”

They got into the car and headed for Boone’s house. Petey and Claire were already there and waiting. “We thought we were going to have to send a search party,” Petey teased.

“Let’s go,” Boone said, getting into their truck.

Kyle didn’t like the awkward silence as the drive began and tried to think of things he could ask Beth. She was petting Copper’s head, which was between their two seats, resting on the center console.

“So how long have you guys been making this camping trip?” he asked her, thinking it would be a neutral question.

Beth looked over at him. “I think this’ll be my fifth trip with them. Petey and Boone did this way back in college. I didn’t move here until five summers ago when we got married.” She looked down at the ring still on her finger, rubbing it. “A lot has changed since then.”

Kyle looked over to see her looking down at her hand. Of course she still wore her wedding band. It’s not like the guy had left her. “I’m sorry about your husband. It sounds like he was a great guy.”

Beth looked up and smiled. “Thanks. He really was. It’s been almost two years now since the accident, but in some ways it feels longer. There are times I still think he’s going to come home.” Her eyes got misty. “I should stop. I’d hate to wreck your weekend.”

“No worries. I know it’s hard to lose someone you love.” A chill crept over Kyle, and he hopped she hadn’t noticed.

“How about you? What brought you to Hutch?”

Kyle kept his gaze out the front window. “Well, I moved here for a job. There was nothing tying me to Alex any more, so I thought why not go somewhere new and start fresh?” He looked over at Beth, who had more questions in her eyes. “I grew up in Alex. It’s a great town, don’t get me wrong. It just wasn’t the place I wanted to be any more.”

Kyle thought back to all his party years. He didn’t miss that life. He had gotten phone calls and messages from his buddies back home for the first month after he moved, wanting to know when he would be back to visit. As time went on, he received fewer calls, and returned even fewer of them. There were some things that just couldn’t change with the group he had hung out with.

“Where do you work?” she asked him.

“At the window factory. I’m a production manager.”

“Ooh, a big fancy title too?” she joked with him. Kyle just smiled.

“It sure is. What about you? What do you do for a living?”

“I’m a nurse at the clinic.”

Nice, Kyle thought. It was a turn-on to him when women were in the medical field. They seemed to understand when he got pulled away on calls. He nodded, and tried to keep the images of her in a naughty nurse outfit out of his head.

“How long have you been a fire fighter?” she asked.

Kyle looked over at her. “It’s been ten years. I don’t think I could not be a fire fighter. It’s too much a part of me now.”

“I know what you mean. They become so much like a second family. I’ve missed seeing everyone as often as I used to. The picnic was the first time I have been back at the hall. A lot changed.” Beth looked out the window, and he knew exactly what she meant.

They talked more the rest of the way. Soon they were at the campground. Boone and Petey were ahead of them, so Kyle followed them to their site. Kyle got out of the car, and walked to Boone’s truck.

“How was that for you?” Boone asked with a toothy grin.

“Great. Is this the spot?”

“Yep. We’ll get the tents set up, and then I can show you around,” Boone said, as he began to unload the truck. Petey walked over.

“The girls decided to take a walk. You guys ready to get the site set up?” Petey asked.

“Yeah, just let me dig my tent out of the car,” Kyle said.

“Get Beth’s too while you’re at it. I’m sure she’s appreciate us putting it up for her,” Boone added.

“No can do, guys. She couldn’t find it, so I offered to share mine with her.”

Petey and Boone looked at each other, then at Kyle.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea? Beth’s a great gal, and you’d better keep your hands to yourself,” Petey warned Kyle.

“I understand. I already offered that if tonight it doesn’t work, she can take my car and get a tent tomorrow. I’ve got this under control.”