Chapter Return
“How are you!” James smiled as Julia ran up to him with a smile.
He got on a knee and hugged her as the two brothers, Adrian and Kyle, badgered each other.
“I had so much fun! I can’t wait to come back next week!” she said excitedly, practically bouncing.
“Make any new friends?” he asked them all.
“I made tons! There was Lucy, Beckie, Sally! We all went to play with arts and crafts and I made something for you, Dad!” She quickly pulled out a crudely made dream catcher.
“It looks amazing. Do you know what dream catchers are for?” James asked.
The boys were starting to get more physical as they complained at each other.
“Come on, you two. Calm it down. I’ll even put the windows down and we can go fishing later if you behave,” James said.
“Okay, Uncle James,” Kyle said, smiling happily with a gap in his teeth where his adult teeth were coming in.
Adrian even brightened up a bit but kept his pouting face on.
Julia frowned at the two, which seemed to be better than any threat or treat James could come up with as he opened up the truck.
“A dream catcher is meant to take away your bad dreams and give you good ones,” Julia said, as if nothing had happened.
“Oh?” James said.
“That’s what Miss Leoulle said!”
“Well, I’ve never had a dream catcher before,” James said, praising her as everyone got up into the truck. James checked their seat belts as Julia told him all about her week.
He listened in and asked her questions, smiling at how eager and excited she was by it all.
He hooked up a video for the boys on the screens in the back. They quickly settled in. He had long ago learned how to keep them controlled for a few hours.
He got into the truck and drove away, heading away from the camp and talking to Julia the entire time.
James smiled at her, wondering what Daphne would think of the little tyke. His smile only widened, thinking of how Julia would undoubtedly get Daphne to do what she wanted.
He was also apprehensive, not knowing how the two of them would be together, but he hoped for the best.
***
Daphne finished pulling out the connections and checked on the fifth wheel, seeing that it was attached to her truck.
She looked out over the bay. Hesitation appeared but she quickly pushed it down. She pulled on her sunglasses. Checking the last of the blocks were away and everything was set, she got up into the truck and started it up.
Slowly, she drove down the rough gravel road, away from the bay. She felt as if she were leaving behind something important.
It was just a summer romance. It would fade with time. It was just a summer fling. He has a daughter and probably an ex-wife. You just lost your job. If you want to build this idea you have, it’s going to take work. If you were to try to go out with him, it wouldn’t be fair.
That was what she convinced of herself as she looked over the bay one more time, feeling as if it was the right thing, even if she wanted to stretch it out for a few more days. He had left a deep impression on her that would be hard to resist.
“Call Reggie,” she said to the voice-activated system.
The call started ringing, until a man’s voice answered on the other end.
“Enjoying your summer vacation? It’s strange, you being up this early,” Reggie teased.
There was another man’s voice in the background.
“You know, you didn’t have to quit when I quit,” Daphne said.
“Are you dumb? The only reason I was there was for you, girl. I ain’t letting none of those greasy old men get my talents after the way they treated you,” Reggie said, making his stance firm.
“Well, how would you like to start something new?” Daphne said.
“You know I don’t swing that way, hun.” Daphne could hear the smile in his voice.
“A job, Reggie—a job. And not the kind that you gave the man in the background last night.”
“Oh, someone’s got their fire back,” Reggie said, clearly looking for rumors and gossip.
“I want to start up my own firm—target the start-ups, the things that are growing. I want to focus on environment regulations and law, take us out of the whole corporate law shit,” Daphne said.
“I do like me some trees, and lumberjacks,” Reggie said.
“I’m on my way back. I’m not sure how it will go, but you’re the first person I called.”
“Daphne, you’re a dear.” Reggie sounded genuinely touched. “Hell, I’m in! I know that there’ll be people lining up at your door the day we start. What do you need from me?”
“First, let’s get a contract sorted out between us. I want you to use your contacts. We’re going to need enough staff to get us up and running. An office to work out of, maybe one of those co-working spaces, offer our services to reduce the cost possibly?”
“All right. When will you be back?”
“I’m on the road right now. I’m dropping off the camper—shouldn’t be longer than four days,” Daphne said.
“Okay, I’ll start looking into things here. I won’t put the word out until everything is up and running.”
“Thanks, Reg,” Daphne said, feeling a lot better after talking to her secretary. “Thanks for everything.”
“We’re a team and you’re the captain. I’ll follow you anywhere, girl. Just remember to help a brother out when you’re going to the club next. I need to find me something new.”
“Talk to you later, Reggie.” Daphne laughed him off, closing the call.
Her mind turned to James once again before she turned on her playlist and focused on driving.
***
James drove down the gravel road. All of the kids were getting excited now that they were getting close to the cottage.
James smiled as they came out from under the trees, seeing the bay and the cabin. James’s smile froze and his stomach dropped as he looked where Daphne’s camper was.
He took a second and third glance, as if his eyes were playing tricks on him.
It was like a stone in his gut as he looked at where the camper had been.
He forced his eyes on the cabin as he beeped his horn.
Paul, who had been around back, came out. Cathy opened the door as he parked the truck.
The kids were released, charging out of the truck, and raced off. Julia ran up to Cathy, while the two boys shot off toward the water.
Paul shook his head, yelling after them. “Nice to see you, too, Adrian, Kyle!”
James walked over to Paul, whose smile faded as he took a deep breath. He didn’t say anything, just clapped James on the shoulder, confirming his thoughts and what he was seeing.
Just like that, she had gathered her camper and run off.
He looked at Julia and smiled, letting out a sigh. Out of everything he had accomplished, his greatest achievement was Julia. She might be a pain at times, but he saw himself as a lucky man to have a daughter as amazing as her.
He was hurt at Daphne running away, he knew he would be for some time, but he could use other things to dull it.
Cathy sent Julia off into the house as she walked over to Paul and James.
“I’m going to check the boys don’t drown each other,” Paul said, heading off.
“Good luck.” James headed over to Cathy.
“James…” Her sympathy was clear.
“It’s okay, Cath. It was fun while it lasted. At least she went now, instead of meeting Julia and then disappearing.”
Cathy held back her words and hugged him before letting him go.
James’s eyes moved to where the camper had been again before he headed up to the cabin with Cathy beside him.