After a couple hours in the outdoor sporting goods megastore picking up some supplies, Helena and I climb back into our SUV and drive into the woods of Maine. There's some drizzles of rain, but nothing that will ruin our plans for a few days out in the woods.
"Lobster stop?" she asks. Helena has consumed more lobster in the past week than anyone I know. "I need my fix."
"Sounds good." I say as we pull into a small town en route to the park where we'll be camping. "I understand how South Dakota deprives you."
"Don't worry, it'll be in roll form and not at all messy."
I ride up to this tiny shack on the side of the road and Helena goes up to the counter to order for us. I remain in the car looking out at the cove, watching the birds and occasional small wave. Helena's fumbling around in her pocket for cash; it's usually endearing watching her try to make sense of all the currency that looks exactly alike. The air is getting chilly here, the leaves changed a few weeks ago and the foliage season is over.
Helena happily returns to the car with a couple overstuffed lobster rolls. "We're in luck. They're closing for the season in a couple days." She sits down in the passenger seat and holds out a roll to me. I take a couple bites, but am not really hungry, so instead give Helena the rest of my food. As always, I think she had this planned all along and smiles at the half-eaten lobster roll making its way into her lap. "Thanks."
After wiping my hands on a napkin, I turn on the car and get ready for an hour drive or so into a more secluded, wooded area of the state. Helena originally thought I was insane for suggesting that we go camping. She said she had to do enough "roughing it" back in the 19th century. While it's easy to concur with her on that matter, I assure her with the advent of ripstop nylon, polar fleece, aluminum, Gore-Tex and duct tape, we'll be perfectly fine. That and we can sleep on the bed of the car.
By the time we reach the campground, it's dark. It gets dark just a little bit earlier up here this time of year. There are a few other cars here, but we manage to find a slip that is secluded and private.
Helena puts on her new outdoor coat (something that I had been telling her to get for about a year now) and wanders a bit away from where the car is. My hands are occupied with an electric lantern, but I know that I need to find a lighter so we can have a fire. I hunt through my bags and find one, along with a packet of gum, cords for every electronic device we own and fuzzy socks. As I return towards the designated fire pit, Helena returns from the woods with several pieces of wood and some brush.
There's nowhere to sit out here except the ground and I am fairly certain that Helena doesn't want to get her new coat all dirty. I open the trunk of the car, regally gesturing to the spot where she can sit. Helena walks over to the space, going right towards the sleeping bag we just purchased. At the sporting goods store, we picked up a two-person sleeping bag, figuring it would be best for staying warm when these nights get much colder. Of course, we always sleep best when we're cuddled together.
"It's fairly cold, Myka. You think it's too early to break this in?"
"Let's go for it." I move all of the luggage to the front and Helena adjusts the seats so they are flat and comfortable for sleeping. We take the sleeping bag out of the carrying case and spread it out over the back of the car. "I'm getting changed then." I add as I start taking off my coat. Helena immediately starts to do the same and digs around her bag for some clothes to wear. She passes me a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt that I quickly change into behind the cover of the car's door.
I unzip my side, she unzips hers and we both climb into our oversized sleeping bag. Helena has on these baggy flannel pants that barely stay on her hips (not that I mind) and a grey tank top. Each time she shifts in the sleeping bag, I feel her tug at her pants and try to pull them up. No more than a few seconds roll by when suddenly Helena is sliding her arm underneath my neck and the other arm is pulling me into her body. I'm happily contoured against her body; one of her hands pressing against my stomach, the other sliding under my shirt against my breast and her thigh pressed between mine. She rests her chin on my shoulder and simply holds my relaxed body to hers. I could easily sleep like this every night.
There are times when I can't decipher what is going through Helena's brain. Most of the time her behavior hinges from one extreme to the next. Not that it's a problem, I love her moods. It's what makes her unique. Sometimes, she is all high energy, inventing, scheming, hungry as hell, doing ten things at once - basically how she was en route to the campground eating those lobster rolls. Other times, she is calm, subdued, cuddly and sleepy. Right now, it's calm Helena who has nothing on her mind other than being protective and loving. Usually I am the big spoon and hold her since she's smaller than me, but this is perfect change of pace.
Being held by Helena is the best sensation in the world. My eyes shut and I drift off to sleep. Helena's not too far behind me.