Genre: Romance
Rating: NC 17
Disclaimer : Standard disclaimers apply. The characters belong to Shalz R.
Chapter 13: Part Five: Let's Go Camping!
Ian drove back happier than when he had started from home. Sonya had finally decided to come along with him and somehow he was sure that this time Mr. McKenzie would allow her. He found everybody in the family room; the children were playing, the ladies were talking and the gentlemen were enjoying a game of billiards. Carlton was preparing for dinner in the dining hall.
“Ok, guys! I hope all is set. Tyler, Adrian! What is the status of the camping gear we have? Will we have enough for everybody?”
“Now we do. Today we went out and bought the necessary stuff for girls and Evan. The only person for whom we require stuff is Sonya.”
“That’s’ ok. I’ll buy the stuff for Sonya tomorrow. Tell the girls to stay over here tomorrow night. Ok!”
Just then Carlton announced dinnertime and they all left, Mrs. And Mr. Maxwell leaving in the end.
“What’s the matter dear? You look like something is bothering you.”
“I am just a bit worried for Ian.”
“Why? He looks happy enough to me. Don’t tell me you are still scared to let him go camping!” he teased her.
“Of course not.” She snapped, “I’m worried about something much more important. Haven’t you noticed him? I used to think that Ian was an emotionally stable person, but these days he’s so different.”
“How do you mean?”
“Aren’t you seeing? This morning he was happy and excited. Then later he was restless and quite anxious for something, leaping at all phone calls. He didn’t take his lunch and in the afternoon he was rather depressed and alone. That was till he left home this evening. And now when he is back he is again happy and excited. Yesterday also, he was happy in the morning. Then as the day wore on he became restless and rather detached. By evening he was again very quiet. Then late night he went for a walk and came back happy. Quiet, but happy! And then fixing of the camping trip had him excited again. What do you think is happening to him?”
“Well, there can be two explanations for this kind of behavior,” replied her husband in a doctorly fashion, “either he is going crazy … or he is going crazy!”
“What?”
“Well, you know, one is going crazy as in crazy, and the other is going crazy as in I was crazy for you when I met you first.” He said, fondly putting an arm around his wife.
“Be serious! I am really worried. What do you mean?”
“What I mean is,” he resumed his doctor impersonation, “he is probably going through the initial stages of falling in love. I say initial stages because most people usually take a day or two to fall prey to this malady, but since our son is sturdy he is taking longer.”
“You really feel so? Is he really in love? Do you think Sonya is the reason for these extreme and sudden mood swings?” she asked excitedly, happy with the explanation.
“Quite possible. If we examine further we may find that before and after each mood swing is a meeting or maybe a no-meeting with Sonya dearest.”
“Maybe. But maybe its nothing. Maybe he is just taking time to get out of his depression.”
“Let’s just wait and see. Don’t ask him anything and make him conscious. Just let things go at their pace and observe. We are there to take care of him either way. Let him go through this on his own.” He said looking at the concerned mother of his son. “Now don’t worry and let’s go eat. They must be all waiting for us.”
* * *
It was nearly ten and Sonya was sleepy. She closed her files and was about to sleep when she thought that she would try calling up one more time. This time she got through to him.
“Mr. McKenzie? Sorry to disturb you at this hour. Actually I was thinking that I would want to go on the camping trip. If you don’t mind, please could you assign those projects to someone else?”
“Oh, yes. Absolutely. You go and enjoy yourself. Don’t worry about the projects. I wanted you to go.”
“Thank you, Sir. And the appointment with you for tomorrow will be cancelled, and I need official permission for leaves.”
“All granted. Don’t worry about a thing. Happy? You just enjoy!”
“Thank you, sir.”
Sonya was so excited that she forgot all about sleeping. She wanted to call Ian right away but was concerned that he might be asleep. “No, I said I’d tell him when I’d call, and he said he’d be waiting.” She dialed his number and Ian answered even before the first ring of the bell was out. He was waiting.
“Hello, Sonya.”
“Hello, Ian! I just got the call through and Mr. McKenzie say it’s ok and I can go.” She blurted out, all charged up.
“Really? That’s great. Now listen, we need to buy gear for you. When can you come along? We have only tomorrow.”
“OK. That’s all right. I will be free after twelve tomorrow.”
“Fine then. I’ll pick you up you up at twelve tomorrow. Listen, would you mind if I drop you in the morning as well?”
Sonya felt guilty for giving him so much trouble, “Ian you really don’t need to. I can go on my own.”, Ian was silent for a while, “Ok, then, but be here by eight-thirty.”
‘Great. I’ll be there. See you, tomorrow. Goodnight Sonya.”
“Goodnight, Ian.”
* * *
As he had said, Ian appeared at Sonya’s door at sharp eight-thirty and dropped her at the shopping mall. Sonya completed her work and made sure that she was free by twelve. Ian picked her up at the decided time and off they went to shop for her camping gear. They lunched out and reached her house totally worn out at four.
“Ok then, here’s the plan,” said Ian over his coffee, “I’ll be here at four-thirty tomorrow morning to get the stuff ready with you. At five, the others will arrive here to pick us up and we will leave as soon as possible. Ok?”
“OK.” said Sonya and Ian noticed she was a bit nervous.
“Don’t be scared. You will be ok!” he reassured her.
Soon he left to take care of things at his end. Sonya started to pack her stuff, get her clothes out as instructed by Ian and bake the cake Ian loved so much.
It felt strange. Yesterday she had spent the entire day plotting to get out of this trip and today she was doing all she could to go on it.
* * *