Campbell - The Cabin: Finding Love When You Werent Looking

The Cabin

Sasha Kargaltsev [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Chapter 1

"Hey dad, she said. "There's my girl, come and give your dad a hug he needs one. Bill says. Allie walks around the desk as Bill turns his chair to face her. She throws her arms around his neck and squeezes tight. Bill embraces her back, "I really needed that today." He says.

" Dad, you say that every time you ask for a hug." Allie confronts him with. "Well then it must be true," he says.

" Okay, so I packed the car before I left this morning, and no I didn't forget the playstation, did you thank Grandma Marion for driving you over here?"

" Yes, she did" Marion says as she walks in and puts her hands on Allie's shoulders. "My you're getting tall, Marion says.

Grandma, I didn't know you were coming up." Bill says as he stands up to give her a hug. Marion responds "I wanted to stop in to see John while I was here, and I thought I would stop by and tell you two to have a good time at the cabin."

"Thanks we will... only this time I am going to catch the biggest trout." Bill says as he looks at Allie.

"In your dreams old man." Allie says. Marion eyes open wide as she looks at Bill's face.

"See what I have to live with, she's all cute and nice with you guys and I get old man."

I'll have you know that I am still in my 20's so you can save the old man stuff for a few more years."

Allie looks at him, "Yeah, barely in your 20's." Bill now making the shocked face, "that's it, I am feeding you to the bears when we get to the cabin, say goodbye to your great granddaughter grandma, she will be bear food in a few hours." "Oh no Allie get behind me I won't let him do it." Marion says as she shuffles Allie behind her.

" Well, I will let you be on your way, I just wanted to say have a good time and be safe." Marion says as she kisses them both.

"We will, " Allie says.

" Well, you heard it from the horses mouth" Bill says, "we will have a good time."

" Allie, grab a seat, Bill tells her, I am just going to walk, grandma to the elevator, and don't touch the computer I am just finishing up on a report and then we can go."

Bill and Marion leave the office. "So grandma how does she seem to you?" Bill asks with concern.

"What do you mean sweetie, she seems fine to me, I didn't notice anything upsetting her other than she is bothered by you being alone."

"Oh can we not get into that." Bill says as if exhausted by the conversation.

"Well Bill I have to side with Allie on this, I don't get it either, why aren't you dating? Marion asks.

"I have gone on a few dates, " he says in his defense.

"Well , if two means a few to you then I suppose you're right, but Bill you need to put yourself out there."

"Grandma we have talked about this, I need to focus on Allie now."Bill says.

" Bill good heavens, she is 8 years old, almost 9 I think the need to focus on her at the exclusion of your own interest is over, I think you can do both at this point." Marion says to make a point.

Bill wants very badly to get off this subject, "So anyway, here we are, thank you for dropping Allie off and saving me the trip back to the house." Bill says as he kisses her on the cheek.

"Oh subtle honey, shove your grandma on the elevator so you can get away from her." He looks at her, "Why whatever do you mean grandma?" He says as the door closes with Marion smiling at him.

" Okay, so let me finish this and we will hit the road" Bill says as he walks back into the office.

He sees Allie playing with her Playstation, "I wish I had never bought you that thing, your thumbs are going to be like the Incredible Hulk's."

She looks up at him as he walks to his chair, "you always say I need more exercise."

"Oh cute, well remember our deal once in the cabin no playstation only the one connected to the TV and only when I am playing against you."

"Yes dad, I remember, you've only told me like 50 bazillion times."

" Well, now it is 50 bazillion and one" he says as he sticks his tongue out at her.

Randy sticks his head into the office.

" Bill we are going to need that report and projection figures before you leave." "Well hello Allie, how are you doing?" Randy asked.

"I am fine, " she responds without taking her eyes off the game she is playing.

Bill answers Randy, "Randy, I know I already emailed you the projections and I just have to finish this report, which I am doing.. right now, there, okay, just sent you the email. I will have my laptop should you...

Allie interrupts. Remember our deal, no playstation no laptop, your rules." Bill looks up at Randy, "She's right, I promised her I wouldn't work while we were up there, so you guys are on your own while I am gone."

Bill looks at Randy and mouths the words,call me.

"I saw that" Allie says. Randy laughs, 'Busted, no I am sure we will be fine." Randy adds.

" Well, okay then I guess I am done here, I will see you guys in a month, have fun without me." Bill says as he puts his suit jacket on.

Well, you guys have a great time up there, I am jealous, I love it up there and I will see you when you get back, Bye Allie,"

"Bye Randy, and no calling us." she says.

"Bossy isn't she." Randy says.

"You have no idea" Bill replies as Randy leaves the office. "Hey hun, could you shut down my computer and activate my out of office email, I want to get out of these glad rags, and put on something more comfortable to drive up there in."

"Yup" Allie says. Bill looks at her, "Hey, could you try yes, just once in a while yup sounds awful."

"Yup, I'll try" She says. "Oh for Pete's sake" Bill says as he leaves the office to go change his clothes.

Allie gets up and goes through the process because she has done this so many times now she had committed it to memory.

"There, that's better, I can breathe now." Bill says as he comes back into the office. "Wow dad, couldn't find a sweatshirt that fit you at that yard sale." Allie says as she starts to walk out of the office.

"What? Whats wrong with this?" Bill asks as he follows behind her down the hall to the elevators.

"What isn't wrong with should be the question and the answer would be nothing."

Chapter 2

"Okay, there is one for you, its a Rhode Island plate, try that one." Bill says. "Oh that's easy" Allie says. "Let's see KS 489, okay 1 for the number between 8 and 9, 2 for the number of times 4 goes into 8, 3 by taking the 1 you already have from the 4, 5 by adding that 1 to 4, 6 by adding the number 2 you got from the 2 4's, that go into 8, 7 by adding the 1 you already have to the 6 you got from the 2 and the 4. 8 for 8, 9 for 9, 10 by adding the 1 you already have to the 9, told you easy." Allie says.

" Wow, I am impressed, but I was thinking 3 by taking the 1 away from the 4 and 9 divided by 3 is 3." Bill says.

" Oh, that's a good one dad, add in an additional calculation when you didn't need to, and you gave Randy the projected figures, good luck with that." she says laughing. Bill laughs along.