Mari & Ilna: What can I say? I'm enjoying this adventure every bit as much as I was on day one. Maybe more.

REAL Worlders-thanks for all the enthusiastic support. You guys are the best.

A Whole Week (1/1)

"So, Catherine and I were talking to Grace last night when she came over to meet with DJ about planning his party," Steve said as he and Danny headed back from a trip across the island to interview a potential witness.

"No!" Danny crossed his arms over his chest and turned to stare out the passenger's side window.

Steve moved into the passing lane and pressed the accelerator. "What do you mean no?"

"You heard me," Danny replied stubbornly. "No. I'm busy that weekend."

"We haven't decided on a weekend yet."

"Whatever weekend it is, I'm busy." Danny turned his head and pinned Steve with a glare. "Besides, who was it that put the idea of a family camping trip as a graduation celebration into my daughter's head?"

"Actually," Steve pointed out, "Grace was the one who brought it up. Apparently Dylan mentioned something to Casey and she thought it was a great idea so she mentioned it to Grace and then they went to Cody and then the rest of the Allen kids and then she suggested it to Catherine and me."

"Whatever," Danny huffed. "I still blame you. You're the one who got my daughter excited about the idea of camping in the first place."

"She loves it." Steve turned into the parking lot at Iolani Palace. "Unlike her father she is completely at home outdoors. In fact, this time the kids want to go for a whole week."

"I heard." Danny grimaced at the thought. "I'm telling you right now you can count me out. There is no way I'm going to live in the woods for an entire week. I'll stay here and hold down the fort."

"Grace seemed pretty excited about the idea." Steve took off his seatbelt but didn't move to get out of the car. "DJ and Angie are both very excited too. It'd be a shame to disappoint them."

"They'll all be fine," Danny said though Steve could tell his best friend was starting to falter. "Somebody has to stay behind and be ready to treat all the bug bites and assorted rashes you all bring back from the forest. That will be me and Gabby."

"Grace told me Gabby was excited about the idea of going."

Danny scoffed. "I'll change her mind."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Steve replied with a sing-song tone.

Danny dropped his chin to his chest.

"Let me guess. Catherine has already talked to Gabby."

Steve grinned and nodded. "First thing this morning."

Danny flung his head back against the headrest. "I can't survive for a week in the forest."

"You'll be fine."

"We don't have enough coolers to carry a week's worth of food for that many people," Danny argued.

Steve seemed to ponder the idea. "You're right. We'll just have to live off what we can catch or trap."

Danny squeezed his eyes closed. "This is a nightmare."

Steve opened the door and climbed out of the car then leaned over and looked back in at his best friend. "You always say that but then you always end up having a good time."

"I wouldn't call it a good time." Danny exited the car and looked at Steve across the roof. "I'm just relieved to have made it through alive. Don't confuse relief with happiness."

"They both involve a smile on your face, and more importantly on Gracie's face, so I'll take it," Steve said.

"No fair using my daughter against me," Danny grumbled.

Steve rubbed his hands together. "All's fair in love and camping." He grinned. "This is gonna be a blast."

"There's just one little problem," Jenna said as she and Catherine chatted on the phone from their respective offices. "No matter what week everyone decides on I don't think I'll be able to get away for a full seven days. I can probably do four at the most."

"We understand," Catherine assured her. "I'm sure summers are especially busy at the resort. But you know that Steve and I will be happy to keep an eye on the kids if you have to leave."

"Thanks." Jenna chuckled. "I think Dylan would disown me if I told him he couldn't stay the whole week. You know how much that boy loves camping."

"I do." Catherine smiled at the memories of Dylan on previous camping trips. "Almost as much as Steve I think."

"This may be the last big family trip we get for a while. Cody will be heading into his last year of college, Casey is going to school at USC, Dylan will be driving before you know it." Jenna sighed. "My kids are growing up."

"So now you get to watch them find their passion and follow their dreams and take on the world," Catherine said excitedly. "Which they can do because they know they have your unconditional love and support and because you showed them that a person can face tough times, get knocked down, then get back up and make a success of themselves."

Jenna swallowed around a lump in her throat. "Thanks. I couldn't have done it without you and Steve and all the other amazing people you brought into our lives. Speaking of ... I can't thank your mom enough for all the help she's giving Casey."

"It's her pleasure."

"First she helped with her application essays," Jenna said. "Now she's helping her look for scholarships and grants so she can keep her student loans as low as possible. I know that's taking a lot of the stress of Casey and allowing her to just be happy about the acceptance."

"Mom's great at that kind of stuff." Catherine shifted the phone to her other ear. "She'll help find every penny available. And don't forget the college fund Steve and I and my folks set up for the kids. It's not a fortune but every little bit helps."

"You guys are absolutely amazing. And I'm really proud of how Casey has been banking a big part of every paycheck to help with college expenses too. I keep telling her not to worry, that we'll make it work somehow. I mean … the look on her face when she told me she'd been accepted to USC … her dream school … I decided right then and there I'll do whatever it takes to make it happen." Jenna exhaled deeply. "Even if it means she'll be all the way in Los Angeles."

"At least Mary and Aaron are close by," Catherine said. "Joan is already over the moon at the idea of having Casey nearby."

"I definitely feel better knowing she has someone there she can turn to if she needs something or if there's some sort of emergency," Jenna admitted.

"Let's not think about her being so far away right now," Catherine said in an upbeat tone. "Let's just make plans for a world class camping trip."

"Angie and DJ's first one," Jenna replied with a smile.

"They've very excited," Catherine chuckled. "Angie has already started to pack. So far just cookies and the tv remote."

"How about if we get together this weekend and set a date then start making lists. I wanted to come by and drop off some of Jacob's old toys and clothes for DJ anyway."

"He'll be thrilled," Catherine said. "Anything he gets from Jacob is especially treasured. We don't have much planned for this weekend so whenever you want to come by will be fine."

"Great." Jenna raised her head at the sound of a soft tap on her office door. "I have to run. I'll call you later with an exact time."

"Sounds good." Catherine beamed. "I can't wait to start planning."

THE END

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