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Ryan’s expression softened. His muscles relaxed with each mile we drove away from Annapolis. There was a small backup in traffic at the Bay Bridge, but otherwise, it was a smooth trip.
Ryan took a right before we hit the small bridge that would take us over Chester River into Chestertown.
“Have you been here before?”
Ryan shook his head. “This is the first time. Easton said the fishing was great.”
“The pictures online looked amazing.” I was looking forward to relaxing in the hammock and enjoying the view of the river.
We turned onto a small dirt road, and Ryan pulled into the first house on the right. It looked like a quaint cottage with the foliage and stone. Getting out to stretch, I said, “This is so cute.”
Corey pulled out his earbuds. “Is there Wi-Fi in this place?”
“You’re not going to be on your device all weekend,” Ryan said, grabbing a few bags and unlocking the front door. He pushed the door open so we could precede him inside.
“The spare bedrooms are to the left,” Ryan told Corey, who took off down the hallway.
I set grocery bags on the small, round table. The kitchen was galley style, but when I moved into the living room and dining area, there was a wall of windows, a screened-in porch, and then all I could see was the river. “Wow. This view is amazing.”
I opened the door to the large screened-in porch. There was another long, wooden table on the right and comfortable chairs and a couch on the left. The water flowed by at a good clip. There was the land on the other side of the river, but it was far enough away that our view seemed private. Outside, trees lined the property to the right and left, so it was an oasis. I’d seen it online, but the pictures didn’t do it justice.
“You like it?” Ryan asked, standing next to me.
“I love it. I can’t believe it’s ours for the whole weekend.” Adirondack chairs circled a firepit, a hammock was strung between two trees, and there was a large expanse of grass that led to a long dock and a small beach.
He wrapped an arm around me and pulled me in close. “Believe it. You’re mine for the weekend.”
I swayed into his body and smiled at him. “Hmm. I like the sound of that.”
He dropped a kiss on my lips.
“So, that’s how it is?” Corey asked as he walked by, his tone filled with amusement.
I jumped away from Ryan, looking from Corey’s slightly amused expression to Ryan’s sheepish one.
“We were going to talk to you this weekend,” Ryan said.
Corey turned and held up his hands in a stop motion. Still walking backwards, he said, “It’s cool.”
I shot Ryan a disbelieving look while Corey turned and continued to the dock.
Ryan moved close to me again and hugged me to him.
“Is it really that easy?” I asked him.
He smiled down at me. “For this weekend.”
What was left unsaid was that we’d have this one perfect weekend where we could let go and be ourselves, but it would be different when we went home. The custody issues were still there, and the clock was ticking down to Corey’s juvenile hearing.
“We’d better enjoy it, then.” I kept my tone light, not wanting him to know that anxiety swirled in my gut.
With an arm slung over my shoulder, we walked side-by-side to the long dock. I sank into the warmth of Ryan’s chest. It was the first time we’d done anything together as a couple.
Corey stared down at the water lapping at the shore. “Is the fishing good here?”
“Only one way to find out,” Ryan said.
“I’ll get the fishing rods.” With a nod, Corey walked past us and into the house.
