“You know, if we made a Northern Star baby, we could have a three-month-old.” He gave up on trying to figure out where the sleeve for Johnny’s little camp chair disappeared to and pulled his wife close. “That would be an adventure.”
“Remember when Kevin and Beth did that with Lily? I’m not Beth.Ifwe should have an infant this time next year, Gram and I will stay home with the baby, and you and Russell can bring Johnny with you.”
He kissed the side of her neck. “There’s no way I’m leaving you for two weeks. A long weekend, maybe. We might have to consider changing the weeks we vacation, though. Us being here for a holiday cost the family money.”
“It would probably be easier for us all to just pay, like we did at the campground in New Hampshire. And you should talk to your brothers and Liz and see if they enjoyed this. I mean,theydidn’t actually get to go on vacation for two weeks, if you know what I mean.”
“I’ll bring it up next time we have a meeting. I don’t want today to be about business.”
She looped her arm around his waist and leaned her head against his chest. “I found your sticky note, by the way.”
He chuckled, sliding his hand down her back. “Did you?”
“Terry found it, actually, when she ran into the RV to grab Johnny a banana.”
“Oops. But you did read it, right?”
Tonight. Our bed. Being quiet optional.
“I did. And the sooner you get your hand off my ass and start packing up, the sooner we can leave.”
Sean slapped her on the butt before going back to trying to find the sleeves for the camp chairs. He was ready to go home. It was always tough saying goodbye, especially to Rosie, but it would be good to be back in their routine. Dinner and dishes after work. Some quick evening chores. And then reading to Johnny before he went to bed. Snuggling on the couch with his wife in front of the television. Maybe it didn’t sound like much, but there was nothing like being away from home for two weeks to remind him it was actually everything.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Emma asked, tucking loose wisps of hair behind her ear.
“Saying yes to your crazy plan was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck to kiss him. “I think the words you used at the time werebatshit crazy.”
“If you two don’t stop fondling each other and get a move on, Josh will have to start charging you rent,” Kevin said as he walked by with a basket of pool toys.
“Let’s get a move on,” Sean said, though he kissed her again before he let her go. “I want to take you home.”
A few hours later, they were ready to go, and he saw Ben pull his SUV into the grass so he wouldn’t be blocking the line of campers parked in the drive. His friend couldn’t have timed it any better if he’d tried. He’d get to say goodbye to everybody, but packing up the campsites and loading the four-wheelers was done.
The family was gathered on the porch and the front lawn, and Ben veered to where Sean was talking with the other guys.
“Good timing,” he said, arching an eyebrow at Ben.
“I know, right? So sorry I missed trying to fit all that stuff back in the campers.” He looked at the long line of vehicles. “And strapping down all those machines.”
Joe shook his head. “If the women don’t stop talking and start actually saying goodbye pretty soon, you can help put everything back for another night.”
“Hell, no,” Sean said. “Emma and I have a date with our own damn bed tonight.”
“So we heard,” Kevin said.
“Your sister has a big mouth. But I’m serious. I’ll get the tractor and some chains and drag you guys out from in front of us if I have to.”
They all laughed, but he wasn’t kidding. He’d miss his brothers and Liz and the others. And he’d enjoyed the hell out of spending time with Ben again. But he was ready to take his wife and son home.
“Thirty seconds,” he yelled, like his uncle often did on the ATV trail to make everybody scramble to get ready.
It took another half hour for the hugging and tears to subside, plus get everybody in the RV or truck they were supposed to be in. After another round of shaking hands, he climbed up into the cab and closed the door.
Johnny was strapped into his car seat, riding shotgun, and he smiled. “Home, Daddy!”
