Dylan put down the phone and folded the scribbled notes he had just jotted down from his conversation with Dr. Lorento. The scientist had confirmed the dates for their expedition into the Hawthorne National Reserves and it left little time for him to prepare. He quickly grabbed his keys and wallet before he headed downstairs to his car. Once in the driveway, he noticed that Tara and her fiance's car in the driveway so he opened the side gate and entered the pool area. He tapped on the glass door that led into the study and slid the door open.
"Hello?" he asked and dipped his head inside.
"We're in the kitchen," said Cindy from inside the house.
He entered, walked around the corner, and into the kitchen where Cindy, Tara, and Samantha sat around the kitchen table, sipping coffee.
"Good morning," he said and took a seat at the table.
"Can I get you some coffee?" Cindy asked.
"That would be great," he said and she got up. He turned to Tara. "I just got off the line with Dr. Lorento and he was very adamant about leaving this Friday."
"This Friday?" the attractive college student said. "I'm free this weekend. I'll just have to see if Richard wants to go."
"A camping trip sounds like fun," Samantha chimed in. "What do you think mom?"
"Now don't intrude, Sam," Cindy said and placed a steaming cup of coffee in front of him. "This is work for Dylan and Tara."
"It will be fun," Tara said. "Besides I want to spend some quality time with you guys before I head back to school."
"Will it inconvenience you?" Cindy asked.
"Not at all," he lied.
"I'll ask Carl," Cindy said. "We haven't been camping since you were seven."
Cindy began texting on her phone and it beeped back.
"He's got a big meeting this Saturday but said that we could go if we wanted to," she said.
Samantha smiled and locked eyes with Dylan.
"I can't wait," she said and turned to her mom. "Do we still have all that camping gear?"
"I'm sure we do somewhere. Let me check," she said.
Dylan excused himself. How was he to explain to Dr. Lorento that his scientific study had turned into a family vacation? Pulling his Honda out of the garage, Dylan went to the local sporting goods store to get the gear he needed. With little money to his name, he opted for the cheapest gear there which consisted of a small tent and sleeping bag. It would have to do until after his check cleared from the good doctor. When he pulled into the garage under the guest house, his headlights shined on Cindy's ass as she bent over a pile of boxes deep in the garage. He got out of the car and went over to her.
"Hi," she said and wiped some sweat off her forehead. "All this camping gear is in the far back."
"Let me help," he said, not passing up an opportunity to be close to her.
"It's under the encyclopedias," she said as she bent over a blue tarp and pointed behind it.
As she leaned further, she slipped. He reached out and grabbed waist. Their hips touched. He held onto her until she steadied herself and then he moved around the tarp. Lifting up the heavy books, she slipped around him and grabbed a canvas bag that held the tent. She then pulled out two sleeping bags. He carried the tent and followed her back into the house.
"Come on Richard," Tara said, hands on her hips. "You knew that I needed to go camping to take notes for my project."
"But what if my work needs me?" he asked. "I can't give them a day's notice that I will be unavailable."
She stomped off with Cindy following her. Dylan put the tent down.
"Women," Richard said, looking at Dylan. "They expect the world to rotate around them."
Not wanting to take sides, he shrugged as Richard shook his head. He slipped out of the den and back to his apartment. After explaining to Dr. Lorento about the added members to the expedition and apologizing, he heated up some macaroni and cheese in the microwave and began eating. Someone knocked on his door and before he could put the bowl down, Samantha entered.
"Make yourself at home," he said and poured some water into the empty bowl in the sink.
"Well technically this is part of my home," she said and sat on the edge of the bed, smiling at him.
She wore tight jean shorts and a buttoned up short sleeved plaid shirt. Enough buttons were undone to reveal some cleavage. Her blonde hair was held back in a pony tail and her dark mascara eyes flickered mischievously at him.
"Aren't you going to help your mom pack?" he asked.