Camping Tip Number Five: "Check the Batteries"

He'd thought of everything to make the tent homey. He inflated an air bed that took up at least half the floor space. Their doubled sleeping bag and pillows covered it. Then Luka had pulled out a smaller inflatable bed that was emblazoned with Thomas the Tank Engine...a nod to her grandfather's first profession. It had a warm sleeping bag cover with four inflatable sides that would keep Lauren from rolling out. Luka had tucked the sheets and blankets from her crib inside so it made a cozy, familiar smelling little nest for her. Abby was inwardly congratulating herself for making sure that Lauren had learned to sleep in lots of places with lots of different bedding. Hopefully the novelty of the tent wouldn't be too much of a diversion for her. They'd packed a few clothes in a large plastic storage box for the tent and kept the rest in duffle bags in the car. Chuny's tale of nonstop rain had freaked Abby a little.

They went for a walk through the campground before dinner and Luka paid for campfire wood to be delivered to their site. They took a path to the beach and Luka stood at the top of the huge sand dune and took a deep breath. It wasn't the Adriatic Sea by any means...but all the water and sand and the sound of waves were beautiful none the less. He couldn't wait to get Lauren there in the sun...to play in the lapping water and wet sand.

As they walked back to the campsite in the dusk, Luka watched Abby beside him as they each held one of their daughter's hands and patiently helped her walk back to their site.Abby hadn't said much but seemed to be enjoying herself.

It was relaxing as the campground began to settle for the night. He built a fire in their fire pit and unfolded a double love seat chair to relax in. Abby had changed Lauren into a warm summer sleeper and nursed her by the fire while Luka fixed dinner for the two of them. Surprisingly, Lauren drifted off to sleep after being fed. Luka carried her into the tent and settled her in her bed for the night. Abby investigated one of the foil packets that Luka had pulled from the fire before taking Lauren from her. Something smelled delicious. She looked up and smiled as he made his way out of the tent and zipped the door closed.

"What's in this?" she asked. Luka grinned and picked up the thick paper plates and forks from the picnic table. He sat next to her in the folding chair and pulled one of the packets onto a plate. He poked holes in the foil and Abby watched as steamy fragrant smoke curled out of the holes. Luka peeled back the foil and handed the plate to her.

"An old Boy Scout recipe," he said. Abby sniffed and then investigated the contents with her fork.

"Hamburger..." she said. "Potato...onions...carrot slices..."

"A little fresh garlic...parsley..." he added. Abby took a bite from a fork full.

"This is very good!" she said and settled back next to him as she ate. Luka grinned and opened his own dinner packet.

"We can do this with fish too," he said. Abby looked up at him and grimaced slightly.

"What?" Luka laughed. "I make a great salmon packet!" She shook her head a bit and went back to eating dinner. When they had finished they settled back in the cozy chair and just enjoyed the quiet sounds around them. Their fire was dying and Luka stirred the embers and then settled an arm around her.

"This is really nice, Luka," she said quietly. He looked down at her and smiled. He tipped his face nearer to her's and kissed her.

"I hope you feel the same way in the morning when you're drinking campfire coffee," he chuckled as he tipped her chin up with his fingers. Abby winked.

"There's a coffee shop in town," she said. "I saw it when we were driving through." He shook his head in mock disgust.

"You're going to make me run out of here in the morning just for a cup of coffee?" Abby frowned up at him thoughtfully.

"I am living in a tent with no electricity," she said. "...so, yes!" Luka shook his head and grinned.

"For you, Ms. Lockhart," he said as he kissed her nose. "Anything at all." Abby chuckled and then looked around.

"I think I need to make a run to the bathhouse before bed," she said. "Do you have the flashlight?"

"Uh...yeah..." he said cautiously. "But there's a problem." Abby turned to him.

"You forgot to check the batteries, didn't you?" she asked. Luka shrugged.

"Sorry..." he sighed. Abby shook her head and stood up.

"I'll go first," she said as she gingerly picked her way through the campsite toward the hard packed dirt road. She stopped at the car and rummaged through the back seat for the small bag she packed tooth brushes and other toiletries in. She headed down the road toward the well lighted bath house.

Luka was still sitting by the dying fire when she returned. He took the bag from her and stirred the coals in the fire pit so they would cool and die out. He hurried toward the bath house himself. Abby unzipped the tent door and slipped inside. It wasn't incredibly cold but she changed into an over sized pair of thermal pants and a soft flannel shirt that belonged to Luka. She settled on top of the sleeping bag and lay on her sideand tried tosee Lauren in the dark. She reached over and drew the blankets up around the baby's chin and laughed softly as she felt her little rump in the air. She'd taken to sleeping with her knees tucked up to her stomach. Abby had just started to drift off when she heard Luka at the door of the tent. He slipped inside and dropped the bathroom bag onto the clothes box. He dropped onto the mattress and Abby stifled a shriek as she went flying into the air and dropped onto the tent floor next to the mattress.

"You did that on purpose!" she whispered harshly.

"Yeah," Luka said. "I didn't want you to fall asleep on me so soon." Abby giggled and made her way back onto the mattress and it was Luka's turn to roll off. He snickered and then she heard a low hiss.

"I'm letting some of the air out," Luka said. "Oh...I forgot." He stood up and left the tent. Abby heard him cuss in Croatian as he made his way gingerly around the outside of the tent. He must be barefoot. She looked up as moonlight suddenly flooded around her. Luka came back inside and she could see him smiling. He stretched out carefully in the air mattress next to her and pulled her back against his shoulder. Abby sighed as she looked up. He'd taken the rain cover off and there was a section of the tent's roof that was nearly invisible. It was as if they were sleeping out under the open sky with stars all around them.

"Beautiful," she sighed.

"Yeah..." Luka whispered as he kissed her. He took her soft ear lobe gently between his teeth as his hand crept slowly up under the well worn flannel shirt she was wearing.

"Should we be doing this with our daughter so close?" she asked.

"Well, maybe not when she's thirteen," Luka murmured softly. "But she's sleeping pretty soundly right now." Abby chuckled and wrapped her arms around his neck drawing him even closer as the now unbuttoned shirt parted.

"Luka..." she whispered.

"Hmmm?" he sighed as he pressed a kiss to her neck and another to the rounding top of her breast.

"I think I could really get into this tent thing." Her breath caught as he laughed softly.