Genre: Romance
Rating: NC 17
Disclaimer : Standard disclaimers apply. The characters belong to Shalz R.
Chapter 13: Part Three: Let's Go Camping!
Ian patiently waited for Sonya’s call. He knew she was busy and had to complete her work in these two days. Moreover, it was important that she finished her work in these two days so that it won’t hamper her coming along. He was sitting in his attic looking over the camping stuff. Evan came along with his many queries about the camping trip.
“Uncle, what are you doing? What is all this stuff?”
Ian smiled and put his arm around the little enrollee on his first camping trip, “This is all the camping gear, Evan. Your sleeping bags, camping shoes, the tools, tents and all. You’ll see how we use them. Then next time we go, you will know all about camping. But this time you have to learn. You have to be careful and listen to what is told. I want you to enjoy the trip but you can only do that if you are safe. Okay?”
“Okay. Uncle, why did you ask the girls to come on camping? What will the girls do?” asked the confused one.
Ian laughed, “Evan they are also going to camp with us. Besides it’s a good idea to have some girls along, you know they are better cooks!”
“Oh! So they are going to cook for us!”
Ian found himself in the difficult situation; Evan was getting the wrong idea, “Well, not exactly. I mean girls also camp, Evan.”
“But it is a boy’s thing. Camping and hiking is hard work and girls can’t do that. Can they?” Evan could not understand.
“No, Evan. It’s not a boy’s thing. Girls also camp okay.”
“Okay, if you say so. Uncle, is Sera also going to come with us?” he asked suddenly. He loved his sister but couldn’t possibly have her around while camping.
“No, no. She’s too little. We cannot take her this time. Maybe when we go next, we’ll take her along.”
Just then Dianne walked in. She had set her mind on talking to Ian about Samantha, and was looking for a chance; this looked like it. Ian was alone and more importantly Kevin was not around.
“What’s going on? Preparing for camping?”
“Yeah. Come in, Dee.”
“So Evan all set to go with your uncle?”
“Yes. Mom uncle says girls also camp. Did you ever go camping?”
“No, dear. I never camped. But you go and enjoy. Your uncle knows a whole lot about it and you will learn a lot of things. Now off you go and see where your sister is. “
Ian understood that Dee wanted to speak about something and looked up at her.
“Yes, Dee. Something’s the matter?”
“Just wanted to talk a bit.”
“Sit down, what is it? I’ve been seeing that you’ve wanted to talk of something but you aren’t saying. Any problem?”
“Well, all I wanted to say was, you are all going camping and taking the girls too. Why don’t you ask Samantha to come along too? She would love it. I know she is not the camping sort of person, but for you, I’m sure she would be willing to learn.”
Ian, too, was sure that for him Samantha would be willing to learn. At the mention of her name, his face had lost its happy glow. He became silent.
“Ian? Are you listening to me?”
“We can’t do that Dee.”
“Why not?”
“Well, we are already seven people going. That’s all the car can hold, besides there’s going to be loads of camping stuff too. You can see there’s so much stuff to carry along.” He gave his lame explanation.
“Oh c’mon, Ian! You can fit one more person. It would give you and Sammy the much needed time together. What is wrong? I didn’t like the way you ignored her at the party, and spent all the time with that Stephens girl. I know you were being nice to the poor girl buying her all the clothes n all, but you should take care of Sammy’s feeling too. She was so heart-broken.”
“Dee. I told you it cannot be done. We cannot take another person.”
“Well then why don’t you take someone off the list? How about Ms. Stephens. You can take her next time. Take Sammy along this time.”
This was all Ian could take. He stood up and started collecting the stuff. “That’s enough Dee. I’ve said it cannot be done. Either it’s all of us going, or I’ll just plain cancel the trip. No one will go camping.” He hollered.
“What’s happening?” Kevin had just entered the room. He was with Sera when Evan came and told him about his talk with Ian and how Dee had never been camping. On asking about where he got to know that, Evan told his dad about Dee being in the attic with Ian. “So, Dee has got the chance she wanted.” He thought and rushed upstairs, before she could ruin Ian’s mood.
“Kevin!” Dee was startled at Kevin’s sudden intervention.
“What’s up?” he repeated his question, now directed at Dee.
“Nothing really. I was just asking Ian about the camping trip.” said quite a nervous Dee.
“Really Dee! Since when did you become interested in camping?” Kevin asked.
“Just asking.”
Ian could sense the tension between them. He knew what Dee was trying and what Kevin had anticipated and was now trying to obviate. Kevin knew what Ian had gone through and was doing his bit to avert any more trouble that could be caused.
“Ian you have to go for a week and Sera will be missing you. Why don’t you go play with her and I’ll ask Tyler or Adrian to take care of the gear for the time being?”
He didn’t exactly like Dee being treated the way Kevin was treating her right now but Ian knew that Kevin was doing this only for him. Moreover, Dee was not just his sister now. She was Kevin's wife too. He did not want to come in anything between the two of them, even though he may have been the cause of it. “Yeah! I think I’ll go!” he said and left the room.
After he left, Kevin turned to Dee, “I think I’ve told you numerous times to stop doing a patch up for your best friend!”
“Kevin I’ve also told you that I’m going to do this for my brother. I don’t understand why don’t you want him to be with the woman who loves him so much.”
“That’s enough. I’m tired of explaining to you. Just understand this, don’t let me ever find you again doing this.” saying so Kevin walked out, leaving an incensed Dee behind.
* * *
Around one Sonya called up Mr. McKenzie’s office. “Hello, Mr. McKenzie, this is Stephens. How are you doing?”
“Hello, Stephens. Where are you?”
“I’m at the Mall site. Mr. McKenzie, I called up to ask you if you had any projects lined up for me.”
“Oh yes! There were already enough assignments for you earlier, now after the news of the party most of our clients want to get their houses, offices, and all redone by you. We’ve been getting calls since morning.” exclaimed an extremely exhilarated Mr. McKenzie. The news had done wonders for his business. He knew Stephens to be a hard worker but now he felt that getting her to do the Maxwell Manor was one of the wisest decisions he had taken.
“That’s very nice. So what all have you lined up for me?” Sonya was now certain that her request for leaves would be turned down. With so much work coming in for her, obviously she could not be missing.
“Well, there are a few projects that have been pending. You can do these first. Until we finalize anything new for you.”
“Actually Mr. McKenzie there was this camping trip which I had been thinking of going on, but I understand that the pending work needs to be completed. So I’ll cancel the trip.” She tried to sound as disappointed as she could in spite of being thankful that her trip was now bound to be cancelled.
“You had to go on a trip?”
“Yes. But it’s ok. I don’t want to leave the work pending. I’ll come to office tomorrow and get the details.”
“No, no, my dear. You go on the trip. You never take any leaves, never do anything besides work. Many times I have told you myself to go out and enjoy yourself. But you never listen to me. Now you are getting the chance and you are missing it for work! You must go. I’ll assign this work to someone else.”
“No, no Mr. McKenzie.” Said Sonya, panicking, “please I really want to do these projects.”
“They are small and besides you’ve already done so many like these. I want to give you new and challenging opportunities. Those will take sometime to finalize. Till then you take a break. You need it and more than that deserve it.”
“Mr. McKenzie, let me do these projects please. They are my projects and they are pending. I want to complete all the work assigned to me. Please, I promise I’ll take a break the next time I get a chance. Please let me finish these.”
“Well alright. You never do listen to me. But then this is the hard working spirit I like in you. But, my girl, you need to lighten up.”
“I promise I will. Then tomorrow I can come to get the details?” she hurried up to get her trip cancelled.
“Ok. I’ll fix your appointment.”
“Thank you, Sir. I’ll be there tomorrow.”
“Bye, dear. Now I must rush for an important meeting. Will see you tomorrow.”
“Bye Sir.”
She placed the phone, “Now is the time to call Ian. Mr. McKenzie has gone and Ian won’t be able to make his call.” She thought and dialed the number.
* * *