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The building looked in worse shape up close. And there was a funky smell to it; a bit like processed chicken that had gone off. But a light shone through the dirty window, so I knocked on the door.
A hoarse voice yelled at me to go away. Since the manager was obviously in, I opened the door.
A cloud of cigar smoke rolled out, both disgusting and tempting. I drew in a breath and coughed.
“What the hell do you want?” He tried to be threatening, but I had been held at gunpoint by a murderer, and his grumbling didn’t scare me.
“I booked the weekend here based on your website. This clearly isn’t the same place.”
“No refunds. Can’t you read?”
“I read exceptionally well. I can also spot fraud a mile away.” I smiled. After all, there was no need to sink to his level. “I’m sure we can come to an understanding.”
He just glowered at me, then returned to the mini-TV in front of him. “No refunds.”
I was effectively dismissed. Well, Jaqi could handle him. Jaqi might have looked like a supermodel, but she had the attitude of a bulldog whenever she wanted something. Her glares made men fear for their lives and run for the hills.
Mind you, I was a teensy bit embarrassed that he just ignored me. Imagine that, ignoring me.
I stood outside the shack door for a few more minutes, pretending I had nowhere else to go. Then the manager barrelled out and almost sent me flying. He stormed to Carl’s trailer, and I went back to our camp.
***
LUCIA WAS CHOPPING lettuce, peppers, onions and tomatoes for a Greek salad. I was pulling out my premade scalloped potatoes from the large cooler when there was a knock on the RV door and Jaqi bounded in, arms full of her work tools.
She carried a laptop case, a pile of notebooks, several pens clutched in one fist, a stack of books, and a pink highlighter behind one ear. She looked like a desk had exploded right on top of her.
She dumped everything onto the dining table and took the keys from her mouth, slipping them into her pants pocket.
“What the hell is this dump? It’s nothing like that website you sent me. Where’s the freaking beach?”
I shook my head. What was I thinking, insisting we stay? Jaqi was right—it was a dump, a pit of despair with none of the promised amenities.
“Already paid for.”
She stared a moment, then burst into laughter. “Vee, you have over a million dollars in the bank. You can afford a better campground.”
I nodded, turning back to the cooler. “I know but I just hate getting ripped off.”
“Sweetie, you already got ripped off. This place is awful.”
I pulled out the salad dressing and set it by Lucia’s elbow, keeping my face away from Jaqi. She was right, I was being a fool.
“We can leave after breakfast. I’d rather not pack up at night.”
“We could put the food away and leave right now.” Jaqi stared longingly at the plastic container full of marinating steaks.
“No, I’m tired and my hip hurts.” My go-to complaint when I didn’t want to do something. Although it was true, my hip was sore from me using a cane instead of my walker. But I could have put the food away easily enough. I just didn’t want to move again.
I’d gotten through setting up the vardo and moving it twice today and was worn out from it.
As I knew they would, the girls quickly agreed tomorrow morning was fine. They just wouldn’t unpack tonight.
“Except for the wine,” Lucia said with a giggle.
Soon the bonfire was going and the metal fire pit threw shadows of trees from its decorative cut-outs. We had dug out cushions to sit on as the steaks sizzled on the grill and the potatoes baked on the coals. The smell was heavenly, and once we brought out the salad and chilled wine, the night would be perfect. As perfect as this place had ever seen anyway.
I heard raised voices from across the pitted pavement.
Jaqi set the table outside, moving one of the flower baskets to the center. It reminded me of a Parisian cafe near some big tourist spot. So lovely.
We sat and chatted as we waited, the wine and the sunset mellowing our mood. Such a great evening.
As we drank our wine and cut into perfectly grilled steaks, the voices got louder. I could hear a woman accusing someone of breaking his deal, and a man replying that she was the one who cheated. Sad and impossible to ignore. Especially when Carl’s voice inserted itself into the mix.
I would be glad to leave tomorrow.
***
AS THE SUN SET IN BEAUTIFUL red and purple clouds, Jaqi decided it was time to go over to the office and tell the owner we were leaving. She would get our money back.
“I’ve written enough cop procedurals; I know how to talk to these losers. He’ll pay up, and tomorrow we find that beach.”
I went along, mostly because I couldn’t quite hear the arguing. It’s not that I’m nosy, and I’ll be the first to admit that their fight wasn’t my business, but there really wasn’t anything else to do. Plus, I’d had more than a third of a two-liter bottle of wine, so there was that.
We wove our way to the office, this time using my walker in case I needed to sit on the way back, and stared at the dark, unwelcoming shack. You would think it had started life as a steel construction shed and gone downhill from there. The faded signs reading No Free Power and No Waste Facilities, and No Refunds didn’t help.
“We are using their power, Vee. Should we pay him for it?” Luci whispered at me, but Jaqi answered.
“No, my love, Vee paid him three hundred dollars for a site with power, running water and sewage. We don’t owe him a damned thing.”
I smiled. Jaqi sounded like the bold-as-brass, kick-ass detective who was the main character in her books. She must’ve been totally immersed in her writing before coming up here.
Jaqi knocked, but the shack remained dark.
“Let’s try the argumentative trailer, maybe he’s over there breaking up the fight.” I’m sure I sounded too eager, but I had to know who the woman was.
I motioned at Jaqi to go knock on the trailer door because I wasn’t up to the steps. She knocked. I guess no-one could hear her over the yelling and screaming inside. There was an odd thump like someone must have thrown something at somebody, so Jaqi banged on the door like a cop. Silence descended so quickly I nearly fell over. The sound had been almost solid enough to lean on. We heard muttering and whispering, then a woman opened the door and nearly collided with Jaqi.
The woman pushed us out of her way, yelling over her shoulder, “I didn’t sign up for this!”
I wanted to go after her, but she moved too quickly and didn’t really look like she wanted company. Besides, a man I assumed was Keith had followed her out. He glared at us and crossed his arms.
“Who the hell are you, and what do you want?”
Jaqi scowled, and in very precise English, told him we had rented lots seventeen and eighteen and were looking for the manager. Jaqi had a slight British accent and the angrier she got the more she sounded like London, England—not London, Ontario. Or any other London.
I shifted, trying to ease my hip and totally by accident got a glimpse inside the trailer. It was filthy! Clothes, or what I assumed were dirty clothes lay on every surface including the floor. Something red had been spilled near the stove and dirty dishes were stacked high on the counter.
Keith followed my gaze and darted back inside, slamming the flimsy door shut. As it bounced back open, I thought I spotted a smear of red near the sofa, but Keith slammed it shut again.
He yelled through the door, “He’s not here, get lost!”
Jaqi came back down the steps, her spine rigid and her mouth grim. Lucia looked surprised by the sudden turn of events.
“I know I heard more than two voices. There were at least two men, and I recognized Carl’s voice on our way here.”
Jaqi looked back at me as she stomped across the uneven pavement. “Who’s Carl?”
“Vee has a boyfriend. He looks like an older Dean from that TV show. So dreamy for her.” I tried to smack Luci to hush her, but she skipped ahead to walk with Jaqi. “I think he’s a model because he’s so tall and straight. Very handsome.”
I sighed and wrestled my wheel out of a pothole. He was so not my boyfriend, just an acquaintance. Why, we’d barely even met. I ignored my heart pointing out his beautiful, crinkly-eyed smile and that clean smell of pure man.
***
WE QUIETLY TIDIED UP the campsite and prepared for bed. Everything food-like was put into the RV; who knew what wild animals there were this far out in countryside.
Lucia laughed and shook her head. “What do you expect to find us? Tigers, and lions, and bears?”
I harrumphed. I wasn’t being silly. I just didn’t want to wake up next to a wild animal.
And bears are definitely a thing in Ontario.
But soon enough all of the eatables and stealables were locked away, and I was cozy in my vardo.
I had the light on above my head and read a paperback of The Tattooed Witch, a fantasy book about magic and the Roma people. Well, a fantasy version of the Roma.
A hot cup of chamomile and peppermint tea steamed on the lamp table, and Victor was snuggled up beside me.
The perfect end to a trying day.
Victor’s paws dug into my back as he woofed in his sleep, and I edged him over. I know some people don’t hold with a dog sleeping in their bed, but as a bald Chihuahua, where else could he be comfy except under the covers?