Chapter One
Mia
* * *
“Are you sure you’re okay coming with us?” my nine-year-old niece Violet asks.
“Definitely!” I say with a gulp. “I love camping!”
She’s looking at me skeptically as I try to force out a smile that doesn’t look deranged.
“It’s true!” I say when it’s clear she’s not buying it. “Trees and bugs and sleeping outside where bears live! What’s not to like, am I right?!”
The leader of the Young Adventurers Club calls everyone to gather and Violet darts over, brimming with excitement. I take one last glance at my car parked in the lot and head over with my stomach churning.
I was so honored when Violet asked me to come with her on the two-night camping trip that I immediately said yes without any hesitation. It was only after I hung up the phone and the elation wore down that I realized what I had agreed to.
I’m a city girl. I don’t do nature.
I prefer taxis to canoes and TV to campfires. I absolutely hate insects of all shapes, sizes, and degrees of biteyness. They all suck as far as I’m concerned.
But I can’t let Violet down. Look at her, so cute in that purple uniform and all proud of her badges. I just have to suck it up and do it for her.
With a breath lodged in my throat, I walk over to the group with a nervous smile plastered on my face.
“Hi,” I say to one of the dads.
He frowns as he looks down at my flats. “Are those the shoes you’re wearing?”
I give him a dirty look back. I know they’re from last season but they look cute with my sweater. And who the hell is he to judge my style? He’s wearing an old ripped-up shirt that’s tucked into his cargo shorts!
“They’re going to get dirty and there’s no ankle support for hiking.”
Oh. Right. That.
“It’s all I have,” I mutter.
I want to ask more questions about this hike, like how long is it, is it in the forest or through a town, and if it’s mandatory when the leader starts speaking.
“Welcome everybody to the Young Adventurers Club Annual Great Rapids Wilderness Excursion!”
Everyone starts cheering and clapping, but I’m too busy trying to kill a mosquito that’s got a hard on for my neck. Shit. I forgot all about mosquitos…
“I’m Carla, the club leader,” she says with a big smile on her face. She’s wearing a grown-up version of the purple uniform, looking like a Mountie patrolling Candy Land with that huge ridiculous hat. “I’m thrilled to see some new faces today! Violet, can you introduce us to your aunt?”
“Sure!” Violet says proudly as she comes bouncing over. “This is my Aunt Mia! She’s a lawyer in New York City and she does not have a boyfriend.”
I laugh nervously as everyone smiles awkwardly at me. “Thanks Violet, for that wonderful and very descriptive introduction,” I say.
“Welcome Mia,” the leader says before continuing on with the introductions. The rest of the kids who brought an adult along introduce them and I can’t help but notice that none of them bring up their adult’s relationship status.
“We’ll be canoeing down the river for about two hours until we get to our camping destination,” Carla says. “There will be no sign of civilization anywhere nearby.”
The kids are buzzing with excitement.
I feel my hand raise.
“Aunt Mia,” Carla says. “What’s your question?”
“No civilization means like no restaurants and bars, right?”
“Bars?” cargo shorts dad whispers as he turns to me with an unimpressed look.
“I mean, there will be bathrooms, right?” I go on. “And electricity.”
“No electricity!” Carla says excitedly like she’s actually enjoying the thought of living like a freaking caveman. “No restaurants! No Internet!”
No Internet?! Oh, fucking hell.
I was hoping to get some work done once the kids went to sleep. I hid my laptop in my bag.
“We’re living like true outdoors people!” she says with a salute. “Who’s ready to go?”
Everyone cheers around me so I give a half-hearted fist in the air with a sad little ‘whoomp.’
They all start moving around like bees, getting everything ready like they all pre-planned exactly what to do and didn’t invite me to the meeting. My head is whipping from side to side, watching people carry coolers and canoes and paddles and bags down to the riverbank.
I go to grab a tent, but there’s a weird green bug on it, so that’s out of the question. I quickly walk away like I just thought of something more important to do.
“Aunt Mia!” Violet says as she rushes over and grabs my hand. “Great news! I have my canoeing badge so we can go on a canoe just the two of us.”
“Amazing!” I say in an involuntarily screechy voice as I start to visibly sweat. I’m starting to panic here. I really didn’t think this through.
Why didn’t my damn sister warn me? She’s probably at home with her feet up, glass of wine in her hand, laughing her ass off thinking about me spending a weekend in the woods.