Owen was driving north on the highway that would take them from Nanaimo to Port Hardy with a few stops on the way. They were heading up to the McKellar family's fishing camp after a surprising invite from Marie and Doug and an even more surprising acceptance from Annie. Today they were driving up to Campbell River to spend a couple days camping and getting to know the BC coast before joining some of the McKellars for a week of fishing and outdoor fun.
"Do you know where we are," Owen asked.
"I have no idea," Teddy said looking out the window at the rain slicked highway.
"Where did Annie say the turn off was," Owen asked.
"Something River," Teddy said, "soup river?"
"Campbell River," Owen said , "that was an hour back at least."
"We have to turn around," Teddy said, "where are we?"
"The sign says Sayward," Owen pointed out.
"There's no reception," Teddy groaned.
"Mama are we lost," Leo asked.
"A little turned around," Owen said, "nothing mama and I can't figure out."
Through the driving rain Teddy saw a rest stop with a sign board, "Owen pull in there."
"Mama I have to pee," Allison cried.
"There's bathrooms," Teddy said peering through the gloom, "put your coat on and we'll go."
"I have to go two," Leo declared, "and I'm hungry."
"Hi hungry. I'm dad," Owen chuckled.
"My name is not hungry," Leo laughed.
"We have some snacks," Teddy offered, "fruit or muffins?"
As Teddy took the kids to the washroom Owen studied the map.
"Teddy," Owen said, when they returned, "every sign was in Kilometers."
"And," Teddy said.
"I was counting miles," Owen said.
"Owen," Teddy laughed, "Canada measures in Kilometers."
"Last time I drove in Canada was when Annie finished at UBC she navigated," Owen defended.
"That was the last time you were here," Teddy asked.
"No you always drive," Owen chuckled.
"Sand storm," Teddy teased.
"I get us turned around in one sandstorm 20 years ago and you never let me live it down," Owen laughed.
"Never will," Teddy teased, "you've just shown I should navigate."
"You fell asleep," Owen laughed.
"36 hours on call, pack then three hours of sleep," Teddy groaned, "three hours to the border, an hour to the ferry terminal, 2 hours on the ferry. So I took a nap after we got in the car after the beach."
"So it looks like it's about an hour back," Owen said, "that's not bad."
"I wish we could text Annie," Teddy replied.
"Leave them," Owen said.
"Just to let her know not to worry," Teddy replied.
"She should be fine," Owen said, "this is what she meant about trusting her and spreading her wings."
"We have the tents," Teddy said.
"No we don't," Owen said, "just our gear. Annie and Josh picked up all their camping gear while you were at work. They took Ellie for a swim as well."
"I missed Ellie's first swim in our pool," Teddy groaned.
"Sorry love," Owen said, "it was very cute."
"I saw the floaty toy in the pool," Teddy replied.
"I think Annie likes it more than Ellie," Owen said.
"I think so," Teddy agreed.
"Mama," Allison asked, "can I have a drink?"
"You have your water bottle," Teddy replied.
"It's empty," Allison whined.
"We have more in the cooler," Teddy said, "maybe we all need more water and a snack."
"Cookies," Leo asked.
"How about a muffin," Teddy offered, "I have berry or chocolate chip."
"Chocolate," Leo yelled.
"Berry," Allison answered.
"Owen," Teddy asked as she lowered the tailgate and pulled the cooler towards her.
"Surprise me," Owen answered, "do we have any c-a-n-d-y?"
"We do," Teddy said, she grabbed the bag of fuzzy peaches and shoved them in the pocket of her hoodie to hide them from the kids.
"Stretched, fed, washroom, navigation," Owen said, "let's move out."
"Want me to drive," Teddy offered.
"I'm good," Owen said.
They got back in the truck and Teddy passed everyone their snacks.
"Ali Leo hold out a hand," Teddy said.
"What is it," Leo asked.
"Hold your hand out," Teddy said, taking the bag of fuzzy peaches out of her pocket and opening them. She counted five into each of her hands and gave them to to the kids.
"Candy," Leo said.
"Peaches," Allison smiled.
"A little treat for the car," Teddy smiled, they didn't do this often, candy was a treat not a daily occurrence and eating in the car rarely happened.
"Why are we going to soup River," Leo asked.
"Is it chicken soup," Allison asked.
"It's Campbell River," Owen replied.
"But a chicken soup River would be yummy," Allison said.
"It would be," Teddy agreed, "what would go in a chicken soup River?"
"Chickens," Leo said.
"Gold fish," Allison said.
"Celery sharks," Owen added.
"Carrot whales," Teddy suggested.
"Pea boats," Leo giggled.
"Eww," Allison laughed.
"The vegetable ones right buddy," Owen asked.
"Yes," Leo laughed.
"What would be around your soup River," Teddy asked, she loved the silly conversations with the kids. She also realized that they wouldn't have these silly discussions if the kids had ipads in the back seat.
"Trees," Leo yelled.
"Made out of what," Owen asked.
"Broccoli and green beans," Leo said.
"Gummy bears," Allison added.
"What about hot dogs," Owen suggested.
"Licorice bushes," Teddy suggested.
"A pretzel house," Allison giggled.
"With a cereal path," Teddy suggested, "and a chocolate chip roof."
They were all laughing describing the world around Soup River and the people that lived there with their pet gummy bears.
"Daddy can you tell us a story," Leo asked.
"About what," Owen asked.
"When you were little," Leo said.
"Today reminded me of a road trip auntie Meghan and I took with nana and our dad," Owen said, "do you want to hear that one?"
"Please," Allison said.
Owen told them about the time he left the map in the rest stop bathroom and his dad refused to ask for directions so they drove all day and finally found a beach to play on.
"Can we play on the beach," Allison asked.
"Our camp site is right on the beach," Teddy said, "we will when the rain stops."
"Annie said there were boat rides," Leo said.
"Dan and Chris are bringing two fishing boats," Owen said, "if you're good we can take turns with them."
"Chris said he would teach me to catch crabs and salmon," Leo said.
"In a few days when we go to the fishing camp with them. Then we get lots of boat rides," Teddy said.
"It was really nice of Marie and Doug to include us," Owen said.
"They wanted Annie to feel comfortable ," Teddy said.
"She had good stories about being up there," Owen said.
"She's really excited but worried about Ellie up there," Teddy replied, "I said we'd all help."
"Where is fishing," Allison asked.
"Another boat ride or a plane ride away," Teddy said, "I don't know what we'll take yet but you and Leo will stay with me or daddy."
Leo asked, "have you been there before?"
"No," Teddy said, "it's an adventure for all of us. Annie hasn't been in 12 years and Chris went three years ago."
"Why did Annie and Chris go," Allison asked.
"It belongs to Grandmere and Papa," Owen explained, "Mr. Dan used to take them."
"He said we could call him Uncle Dan," Leo said.
"He did, didn't he," Teddy smiled. In the last year Dan had made huge strides with Annie, he was in Seattle most weekends now and when he retired at the end of the next school year would be moving at least part time to Seattle to be with his older kids and grandchildren. Dan was involved in all of their lives now, he had shown Allison and Leo how to find baby crabs under rocks and tell which gender they were by the shapes on their bellies, they had all had a few boat rides with Dan on the lake. Annie had been wake surfing again, they had taught Josh and Owen to surf, Teddy was still trying. Leo loved the tube and trying to kneeboard. Allison was still hesitant to be behind the boat but would go in the three man tube if either of her parents was there. Even Ellie liked boat rides and would giggle when the wind blew her hair around, she smiled and shrieked with joy as soon as she saw her life jacket.
"Can we," Allison asked.
"Since he asked you to," Teddy agreed.
"What does Annie call him," Leo asked.
"Dan or Dad," Owen said, "just like she uses dad or Uncle Owen for me. We go with whatever she says in the moment."
"Why does she get to pick," Allison asked, "it's not fair."
"Annie is thirty and you are five," Teddy replied, "she gets to pick because things haven't always been easy for her with Dan."
"If Dan is her dad, did you marry him before daddy," Allison asked.
"No," Teddy replied, "Dan adopted Annie like we adopted Leo."
"What about Chris," Allison asked.
"Dan is Chris's dad," Teddy replied, "we'll see Chris, Jenna and Tyler tomorrow."
"Where are they," Annie asked Josh.
"What time is it," Josh asked.
"5:30," Annie replied, checking her watch, "they were on a 10:30am boat so they should have got into Nanaimo around 12:30 say 15 minutes to unload the ferry. It took us an hour and a half from Nanaimo up to here for driving time. Even if they stopped to play on the beach and walk around they should be here or have called."
"We played on the beach," Josh said, "we've only been here an hour and a half."
"But we started in Victoria," Annie replied, "and stopped at Combs, Qualicum and Parksville to walk around."
"We said meet around 4," Josh said, "car trouble? "
"They would have called," Annie said, "I'm owrried they turned off some where most of the island high way has no reception."
"Babe relax," Josh said, "let's finish organzing the campsite."
"Ellie was cold and needed snuggles," Annie said.
"Tent," Josh said.
"She's happy here," Annie said, kissing the top of Ellie's head, where the girl was cuddling in her lap, "our tent is organized we've tarped up as much as we can. Our chairs and Ellie's are out, we just need fire wood to make the night."
"Where do we get it," Josh asked.
"The rangers used to come with it," Annie replied, "I think we wait for them to take our money and buy the wood from him."
"Mama birddy," Ellie pointed.
"It's a whiskey jack," Annie said.
"Jack," Ellie echoed.
"Yes a whiskey jack," Annie smiled, "Grandude used to feed them crumbs and they would sit on his hand."
"Memories," Josh asked sitting in the open camp chair.
"Yes," Annie smiled.
"He used to bring C and I to camp up island every summer," Annie smiled, "the good memories are all dad."
"Dad," Josh asked.
"I don't know," Annie sighed, "I kinda have two now."
"Dan and Owen," Josh said.
"Very different dads," Annie said, "but dads."
"Two and one mama," Josh said.
"Three parents who choose me," Annie said.
"I want Ellie to have these experiences," Annie said.
"So do I," Josh said, "these are the happy childhood stories."
"I love the BC coast," Annie beamed, "the forest and the waves. It made me happy."
"You relax out here," Josh observed.
"I've always loved it," Annie agreed, "I want her to know these waters and the ancient cedars, to have a whiskey jack eat out of her hand and see the deer bedding down at dusk. To dig clams and pull traps. I know it's not typical but I want her to be comfortable on the ocean, to read the sky and the waves. To hear the call of loons and waves on pilings."
"She will," Josh said, "you want her to have the best parts of your childhood."
"I do," Annie agreed, "the week at the fish camp was the one week a year I could just be me."
"Why," Josh asked.
"No Leslie," Annie replied, "Dan, Chris and I went. I was with Grandmere and my aunts for a week."
"You were free," Josh said.
"I was," Annie agreed, "grandmere, aunties, cousins. People who loved me as I was. I need to make sure Ellie has that. That we do that for her."
"We will," Josh said, "Nate and Meg were the best people in my world as a kid. They made me feel important."
"Daddy," Ellie babbled, reaching towards Josh.
"Ellie bug do you want to come sit with me," Josh asked.
"Yes," Ellie said.
"Come here baby," Josh said, reaching for her.
Annie passed Ellie to Josh.
Annie stood and walked towards the food bin. She grabbed a cracker and crushed it in her hand.
"Ellie watch this," Annie called walking towards the tree with the whiskey jack.
"What are you doing," Josh asked.
"Just watch," Annie smiled, she held out her hand with the cracker and whistled the way Dan had taught her.
The whiskey jack flew towards Annie and landed on her hand, it began to eat the cracker from her palm.
"Ellie what is mommy doing," Josh asked.
"Birdy," Ellie replied.
"What is the birdy doing," Josh asked.
"Eat," Ellie said.
"Is mommy feeding the birdy," Josh asked.
"Mama birdy," Ellie echoed.
"Yes," Josh replied, kissing the top of Ellie's head.
"Bring her here," Annie said.
"What," Josh asked.
"I have another cracker in my pocket," Annie said, "bring her here and let her see it up close."
Josh carried Ellie up beside Annie. Annie took the second cracker out of her hoodie pocket and crushed it in her palm before whistling again. As the bird was eating out of Annie's hand Josh helped Ellie gently touch the tail feathers making Ellie giggle.
"Dinner," Josh asked.
"Wait for mama and dad," Annie replied.
"Ellie," Josh asked.
"She should eat on time," Annie said, "or she'll be cranky."
"Do you want food Ellie," Josh asked.
"No," Ellie said, "milk."
"Milk in a cup," Annie asked.
"No," Ellie yelled.
"In a cup now," Annie said.
"No," Ellie said.
"This isn't working," Annie said, "trying again when we go home."
"Just give her the sippy cup and try," Josh said, "sippy cup now what she wants at bed time."
"We can try," Annie said.
"It's like when we got her to use the bottle," Josh said, "we had to stay strong and you not to give in."
"She cries and I feel bad," Annie said, "she's so little."
"She's 14 months," Josh said, "we said a year."
"I know," Annie said, "but I feel like not letting her. It's down to naps, bedtime and wake up."
"Her nap today," Josh said.
"She was in a new place," Annie argued.
"After this trip your sticking to the plan," Josh said.
"I'll do it when her and I are ready," Annie argued, "it's not a big deal it's before sleeping and when she wakes up in the morning."
"You like the time with her," Josh said.
"I do," Annie admitted, "she's my baby."
"She's always our baby," Josh said.
"She's so big," Annie said.
"Milk," Ellie said again.
"Let's get your cup," Annie said.
She filled a sippy cup with milk and offered it to Ellie who threw it in the dirt.
Josh wiped it off and gave it back to Ellie, "here's your milk Ellie."
"No," Ellie yelled throwing the cup again.
"Come sit with me and we'll have your milk," Annie said, putting the sippy cup against Ellie's lips.
"No," Ellie said again.
"Put her cup in the cooler," Annie sighed, "she's out of sorts being away from home."
"You'll be cold," Josh pointed out.
"It's not cold just wet," Annie replied, "but we'll be in the tent."
Owen and Teddy finally found the campsite around 6:30 as Annie emerged from their tent with Ellie.
"Thanks for doing all the set up," Owen said.
"We did it during nap time," Josh said.
"She's off schedule and clingy," Annie said as Teddy reached for Ellie.
Ellie buried her face in Annie's shoulder.
"Are you playing shy Ellie," Teddy asked.
"She is," Annie laughed.
"Annie can we go to the beach," Leo asked.
"Maybe a walk down after dinner," Teddy said.
"What's for dinner," Allison asked.
"First night camping," Owen said, "steaks."
"Campfire potatoes," Teddy added.
"We picked up fresh corn today," Annie said, "and some treats from one of our stops."
"I have salad stuff," Teddy replied.
"Sounds good," Annie replied, "hot dogs in the fire tomorrow?"
"Yes," Allison yelled.
"I have fresh apples, brown sugar and cinnamon for apple bombs," Annie said.
"What," Teddy asked.
"Grandmere used to make them," Annie replied, "core an apple and fill the hole with brown sugar and cinnamon and a tiny bit of butter. Wrap in foil and cook in the fire."
"Sounds good," Teddy smiled.
"I want s'mores," Allison said.
"We have three nights of camping," Owen said, "we will have them one night."
"And we will make them in the fireplace on a rainy stormy night at the fishing camp," Annie promised.
"What else will we do there," Leo asked.
"Fishing, boating, playing on the beach, lots of good story tellers," Annie said, "hiking, cooking, the fish fry. Maybe you can try the canoe and kayak. Swimming and the old cable car to the waterfall."
"I remember the pictures," Teddy said.
"It's magical," Annie said.
"Tonight what's the plan," Josh asked.
"Dinner first," Owen said, "I'm starving."
"Beach walk and stargazing," Annie said, "you've never seen anything like this."
"Camp fire," Josh suggested.
"For sure," Annie said, "maybe mama and dad can tell some of their war stories?"
"War stories," Teddy asked.
"You've never told the sand storm one fully," Annie pointed out.
"Maybe tonight," Teddy said, "Owen?"
"Fine," Owen chuckled, "then can you put it to rest?"
"Nope," Teddy teased, "not after you got us lost today?"
"It's the island highway," Annie teased, "it's one road, no turns."
"Tell our daughter what you did," Teddy teased.
"I forgot to use kilometers and counted miles," Owen said sheepishly.
"Dad, it's Canada we use KM or hours," Annie teased.
"Mama drives in Canada," Owen replied.
"We heard of a place with goats on the roof," Teddy said, "tomorrow?"
"Coobs is about an hour back," Annie replied, do it as a rest stop on our way home."
"We did it today," Josh said.
"I'm hungry," Allison said.
"We'll get going on dinner," Teddy agreed.
"Let me put Ellie in the carrier," Annie said, "then I can help."
"I can do dinner," Teddy said, "can you watch all three?"
"I would prefer it," Annie admitted.
"I'm on dinner, you have kids," Teddy smiled.
"Okay," Annie said, "Ali, Leo with me."
"What are we doing," Allison asked.
"We are looking for firewood," Annie said, "we have to go to the ranger station."
"How are we going to get it," Leo asked.
"We're going to walk for it and put it in the wagon," Annie said, "you two can help me get it."
"Ellie can't help," Allison said.
"She's going to come for the walk," Annie said, "in the carrier."
"Josh can you help me with the tent and our tarps," Owen asked.
"I was planning to," Josh replied.
Annie put Ellie in her carrier and grabbed the wagon handle, " Allison and Leo you can ride to the ranger station."
The two kids jumped into the wagon and Annie walked out of the campsite with them. Teddy smiled, Annie was a natural with the kids, strangers would assume all three were hers but the four looked so happy going off on their search for firewood.
"How did you get yours up," Owen said.
"Annie and I," Josh said.
"With Ellie," Owen asked.
"Nap time for the tent then when she woke up halfway through doing the tarps we zipped her into the tent with a couple toys," Josh said.
"Imprison the baby in the tent," Owen chuckled.
"Playpen with a roof," Josh argued.
"Bigger than the play pen," Owen agreed.
"We had to get a bigger tent to fit the playpen," Josh said, "we need it for this trip. We grabbed the one Ellie sleeps in at the cabin. Last time we were there."
"Allison's," Owen said.
"I guess," Josh said, "Nana told us to use it."
"Ellie has the one we bought for Allison at the cabin and Meg bought one for Catrina," Owen said.
"We would have bought one," Josh said.
"There was no need when you had Ellie," Owen said, "we needed a new one fast so Meg just grabbed it."
They laid the tent out on the ground and started putting the poles in. Once the tent was standing, they threw the ropes through the trees for the tarps and hoisted the tarps up.
Annie and the kids returned with a wagon full of firewood that they stacked near the firepit.
Annie helped Teddy with dinner while the little two helped Owen make beds in the tent. They ate dinner together at the picnic table before working as a team to clean up. The family took a stroll down to the beach once the campsite was tidy and watched the stars come out over the water.
Annie sat on a log with Josh and Ellie listening to the waves lap at the rocky shore. Annie sighed contentedly and leaned into Josh.
"Happy," Josh asked.
"I am," Annie agreed, "I've missed this."
"I know you have," Josh said kissing the top of her head.
"Thank you for doing this with me," Annie smiled before giving Josh a gentle kiss, "I've missed this."
"I know," Josh said, "we used to sit by the water in Boston and you would tell me all about your favourite spots on the coast. I want to see them with you."
"Ten years," Annie said.
"I know," Josh said, "married three next week."
"Together ten, married three, Ellie is one," Annie said, "we did it."
"We did," Josh said, "should we go back?"
"A few more minutes," Annie said.
"Memories," Josh asked.
"Good ones being here," Annie replied.
"Good," Josh said.
"Lets just enjoy it, the stars and the moon on the water," Annie replied, "listen that poof sound is a pod of whales."
They sat for a few more minutes listening to the whales blow off shore and the waves lap against the rocks.
"Let's get this baby bug to bed," Annie said breaking the silence.
They walked back and got Ellie ready for bed laying her down in the playpen in their tent, the baby was cozy in clean jammies, with a full tummy and a song.
They joined Owen at the campfire while Teddy tucked the kids in. The four adults talked softly around the fire, eventually falling into comfortable silence. Each couple curled up together. Eventually extinguishing the fire and crawling into their tents.
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