Going Home

Part 97

Grace, Josh, Margaret and Robert reached the lake mid afternoon and after getting everything on board, the boat driver took them to a beautiful inlet and tied the boat to the bank before leaving in a smaller boat he’d towed behind the house boat. Before leaving he let them know if they wanted to move at any stage just to give him a ring, otherwise he’d be back on Sunday afternoon to take the boat back to the marina.

The weather was warm and after unpacking they all sat out on the back deck with a drink watching the activity on the water. Conversation was easy and the silences were comfortable. Everyone was relaxed. Slowly the sun set over the lake and after dinner as they watch the night sky Grace asked Robert “so when you spent summers up here where did you stay?”

Remembering those summers as a family Robert smiled “we camped on the edge of the lake. Generally it was in the same spot, a couple of kilometers from where we are now but sometimes we’d try other locations.”

“It was great fun.” Margaret said “Not that I’d like to do it now, I like my home comforts now but back then it was wonderful and they were some of my favourite memories. It was great for the boys too, they loved that they didn’t have to shower while they were here. It’s funny though they were in the water all the time anyway so they were probably cleaner here than when they were at home. Do you remember that Josh? You and Gavin would be up at the crack of dawn fishing rods out ready to out do each other?”

Josh was silent for a minute and Grace looked over at him. She was hoping this wasn’t too hard for him. Margaret and Robert were also watching Josh and holding their breath as they waited for a response.

Looking out at the night, Josh nodded and said “yeah I remember. I loved spending time here.”

After he had spoken there was an almost audible collective sigh of relief as the other three relaxed.