Dark Realms(21)

“You should,” said Nathan. He raised his voice a few octaves and put a hand on his hip. “And give him a big sloppy one from me, too.”

“Oh, so you’re finally warming up to us being here?” she asked.

He grinned. “Mom, seriously, if you’re happy, then I’m happy.”

She walked over to Nathan and threw her arms around him. “I swear, I have the two best kids in the world.”

“Love you, too, mom,” he answered, patting her gently on the back. “And don’t worry, everything will work out. Even… even with Deanna. Seriously.”

“Good, I’m glad you feel that way,” she replied, releasing him. “I just want everything to work out for you and your sister.”

“Don’t worry. I’m sure it will,” he replied.

“Guys, I’m going to check out the upstairs,” I said, climbing the staircase, two steps at a time. I could barely contain my excitement now that I knew we were actually staying at such a glamorous place.

“Pick out a bedroom!” she called as I made it to the top of the stairs. “I don’t care which; I hear they’re all pretty nice.”

“Will do!” I hollered back.

There were several bedrooms on the upper level, all spacious and each having their own bathroom. I chose one with a queen-sized pillow-top bed and a small balcony with an awesome view of the lake.

“So, what do you think?” asked my mom from the doorway, a few minutes later.

“Oh, my God, I love it!” I squealed. “I feel like we’re on vacation somewhere. I wish we could stay here forever.”

“I know, it’s pretty breathtaking. I don’t know about this one, but my bedroom has its own Jacuzzi and a closet so big, I could park the car in it. I’m going to check out yours.”

While she did that, I walked over to the balcony door and opened it, enjoying the cool air on my cheek. It was dark outside, but the reflection of the moon on the water made the lake seem so peaceful. I imagined myself lying on some kind of canoe or boat, staring up at the moon with the waves rocking me to sleep. “I just can’t believe this place. If we’re dreaming, I never want to wake up.”

She stepped next to me and linked her arm through mine. “Don’t worry, it’s real.”

My stomach began to growl and I patted it. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”

“Yeah, I’m getting there myself. Let’s go see if Nathan did what I asked and brought the groceries inside. I’ll make us something to eat.”

“Okay.”

We went back downstairs and I helped mom put the rest of the groceries away in the fridge, which actually looked like the wooden cupboards surrounding it.

She took out a frying pan from one of the boxes in the kitchen and smiled. “Who wants homemade sliders? It might be ghetto here, but I’m not about to give those up.”

“Yeah, I’ll take as many as you can make,” replied Nathan as he entered the kitchen. “I’m going to pass out if I don’t get something to eat soon.”

“I’m surprised you’re still walking,” I said.

“Me too,” he said, opening up the refrigerator. He grabbed a jar of pickles and untwisted the cap. Before he could get his fingers inside of the jar, mom stopped him.

“Here,” she said, handing him a fork. “Don’t use your fingers.”

He grinned sheepishly. “Oh, thanks.”

“So,” she said as she began preparing dinner, “is this place incredible or what?”

“Not too shabby,” said Nathan between bites of his pickle. “And it’s so quiet, I feel like we’re in the middle of nowhere.”

Mom nodded. “The next cabin is just a hop, skip, and a jump from here, but you’d never know it’s so peaceful.”

“Yeah, you did good, mom,” I said, cutting the onions for our burgers. “I just can’t wait until tomorrow when we get to see it all in the daylight.”

Nathan nodded. “Yeah, I’d really like to take the boat out on the lake tomorrow, if that’s okay?”

“Sure,” she answered

He wiped his hands on his jeans. “Sweet.”

She opened the fridge and grabbed the cheese. “I think that would be good for all of us to get out on that lake. I haven’t been able to work on my tan all summer.”

I snorted; my mom was as white as a ghost and typically burned and peeled, but never really tanned. My brother and I were the opposite, fortunately, even though you’d never know it this year. I just hadn’t had the time to get any sun, especially after the “incident.”