A Further Invitation Accepted
Shane's response was a long, slow blink. This was not her intention. Seeing nothing but interest and support in their gazes, she put her thoughts into words.
'No!' she exclaimed. 'I was not trying to guilt you into an invitation! Camping is for you two to enjoy some time together. You don't need me ruining your fun.'
Oliver looked about to speak, but he was beaten to the punch by Joe. 'Shane, you won't be ruining anything. You couldn't.'
At that, Shane glanced at Oliver, wondering if he too was reminded of a time when he made a similar remark. The warmth of his smile indicated that he did.
'No!' Shane exclaimed. 'I was not trying to insert myself into your trip. I just,' Shane took a deep breath. 'I just need both of you to come home safe.'
Oliver stretched a hand across the table. Shane took his hand almost convulsively, as if gripping a lifeline.
'How much time would you spend panicking?' Oliver asked quietly.
Shane blushed, but murmured, 'No, I will be fine.'
Neither of her audience believed her.
'Shane, come with us,' Joe exclaimed cheerfully. 'It will be fun!'
She looked from one to the other. It had not been her intention to finagle an invitation. She was worried that she had pushed too far. She was also worried that her nerves couldn't stand all the apprehension that her imaginings could craft.
Attempting to help address Shane's anxiety – anxiety that she would feel if she stayed, and anxiety she now felt for gate-crashing the trip – Oliver smirked, then remarked, 'As hilarious as it will be for you to see me surviving in the great outdoors, I admit to a desire to see you survive for a whole weekend without a hair straightener.'
Joe and Oliver both laughed as Shane remarked sweetly, 'Thank you, honey.'
Joe laughed even harder when she added, 'You know I have a rechargeable curling iron right?'
The Proposed Itinerary
Shane suddenly stood up from the table and gathered up the small squares of paper before her. Oliver and Joe watched with twin confused expressions as she made her way to the kitchen counter, hastily tore more squares of paper, and then began to write. She began to chatter as she wrote. 'Okay, I have some suggested activities to choose from, but if I am going to, there are a couple of other ideas I can suggest. Basically, there is nature for you Joe, history for you Oliver, and now, art for me.'
Returning to the table, Shane spread her squares of paper over the table. 'Okay, we each get to turn up four squares. We can also each veto one activity, no questions asked. After that, I will produce an itinerary that includes those activities, considering travel time or how long each selection might take. Any questions?'
Joe couldn't help himself. Laughing, he commented, 'Oliver I thought that you would be the one who organises everything in triplicate. I seem to remember whenever you were staying with your grandparents when you were little, I stopped needing to pack for you after about the age of eight. You always had a comprehensive list of books to read, clothes to wear and games to play written weeks in advance. I see know that you may have some serious competition.'
Shane laughed. 'Oh, some work trips have been meticulously planned. My itinerary is always documented in yellow, in case you were wondering.'
Oliver smiled, then remarked, 'Ask Shane to show you the app she used to plan out our honeymoon excursions. She had even calculated walk times, pre-purchased tickets and listed suggested food stops.'
Shane giggled. I like planning trips I admit. This is trip planning with a little whimsy, you know, so you don't think I am micro-managing you both.'
Not able to meet her gaze, both O'Toole men assured her that the thought hadn't crossed their minds.
Joe was the first to select his cards. He turned over fishing on Snowshoe Hare Trail, the Colorado Railway Museum, the Buffalo Bill Museum, and the Mule Deer Trail.
Next was Oliver's turn. His selections included the Golden Public Art Walk, the Golden City Brewery, the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, and a visit to the Old Barrel Tea Company.
Shane selected the Golden Historical Park, the Itty-Bitty Art Walk, kayaking on Clear Creek, and the Mystery Puzzle Food Tour.
'Now for the fun part. Joe, what are you vetoing?'
Joe looked serious for a moment. 'I really think the Quilt Museum should be out. I mean, I am sure it is great, but maybe save it for another time.' Oliver turned to his father, hid his mouth, and whispered, 'Thank you!'
'Oliver,' Shane said, 'What else is out?'
Oliver looked at the selection. There were a few he could live without, but he was certain that some of those were the ones his father most wanted to do. 'How about Kayaking? It really will be cold.'
That left Shane. 'How about Buffalo Bill. I'm sure you have both been there? So, before I produce a plan, Joe, you need to be honest. Have I sabotaged this trip and added too many un-outdoorsy things?'
Oliver was curious about this too. This trip was shaping up to be something he was more interested in, but he was wondering if Joe would be disappointed.
Joe was quick to reassure Shane that he was absolutely looking forward to it. 'I get to spend time with my two favourite people in the world, hanging out in nature every day of our trip. Why wouldn't I be thrilled?'
Both Oliver and Shane silently gave thanks for Joe, the most amazing of fathers.
Choosing a Departure Point.
The itinerary was set. Safety checklists were printed. Provisions had been gathered. The only decision that remained was where the happy adventurers would dress for their expedition. Extra hours over the past few weeks meant that Oliver and Shane could take off a little early on Friday afternoon, avoiding traffic and making their way to the campsite in daylight.
This did bring up a little dilemma. A delicious, sartorial dilemma. Ever the supportive wife, Shane fully embraced those things that Oliver loved, and accepted his uniqueness without question. It did not mean, however, that she did not find some of his idiosyncrasies delightfully amusing (just as he found her devotion to designer shoes, penchant for binge-watching what he considered mindless television shows and proclivity for consuming chocolate but then hiding the evidence, amusing). Joe was collecting Oliver and Shane from the DLO. He would arrive at the Post Office with his new SUV fully loaded, ready to go (The younger O'Toole's equipment would be collected the evening before). The dilemma was this. Should Shane and Oliver change into camping attire before they departed (thus necessitating Oliver being seen in the Post Office in casual clothing (shocking!), or should they (well, really Shane didn't care, so really Oliver) arrive at a campground in a three-piece suit? Either vision was too exquisite to contemplate, and Shane, that supportive wife, may have been guilty of not only ensuring that there was not discussion of returning home to change before the trip began, but also laughing herself to the point of tears when she considered either possibility.
