Page 2 of Daddy’s Little Camping Trip (Found by Daddy #14)

Gilbraith

It’s hard to work when the sun is shining down and everyone is going on vacation.

And extra hard when I had to give up my reservations at the resort in the Bahamas where I’d gone every summer for the past five years.

An upcoming merger with another company had moved from an expected date of the next January to much sooner, and all vacations were canceled until after the documents were signed and the new structure in place.

Meaning…after the first of the year.

While I was growing up, my family didn’t have a lot of money, and vacation trips were beyond our finances.

We took a few day trips to parks or the local lake or, once, a small water park, but forget a resort or even a nice motel.

My neighborhood friends all seemed to have the most fun plans.

A whole week at an amusement park. A weekend at that hotel/water park I saw in all the commercials, a flight across the country to do something with distant relatives.

One went to New York City, another Washington DC.

And, the very best, an all-inclusive island resort.

When he talked about that, I swore to myself that I would work as hard as possible so one day I could find out what it was like to swim in a blue lagoon and lie on a pink-sand beach, eat fine meals, and lounge away the afternoon in a hammock.

Oh…and although my friend at the time didn’t go to the nightclub, of course, his parents had, and listening to them tell my parents about it had me imagining what it would be like to stay up as late as I wanted, listening to music and having fruity drinks.

The resort I chose was a little more specialized, but it had all those features, and I looked forward to it all year. My boss’s news did more than take the wind out of my sails. It had me considering whether my job was worth giving up the highlight of twelve months of hard work.

“I can’t—I already paid for everything,” I began before subsiding.

“Did you buy travel insurance?” he asked. “Maybe they will let you change your dates?”

Of course I bought the insurance. But the date thing? It was all right at that time of year in the Bahamas, and many people did go. But I liked taking a summer vacation in the summer. Call it nostalgia…call it the session where those specialized events I was looking for were available.

“I have to see if the insurance will cover it, but I’d prefer not to change the dates.”

“If it doesn’t pay, we’ll figure something out, but we do appreciate your cooperation. You know how long this has been in the works, and we had something come up last night that made us hit the switch.”

I knew, of course, what that “something” was. The company we were merging with had gotten another offer, and we were still within a contractual agreement that ended next week. The plan had been to sign an extension, but why would they do that if they had other opportunities?

“Understood.” Not only that it had happened but that if I wanted to continue on my upward trajectory within this firm, I would smile and put my vacation off for another year. “When do things start exactly?”

“Next Tuesday. But this is very hush-hush.” He offered me a smile. “Why don’t you see if you can get into the resort for a long weekend. On us.”

He had implied that they would pay for the money I’d already laid out if I couldn’t manage to recover it or change the date—which would be a year away.

Now, they were offering to pay for a long weekend?

I felt valued. A little used but also valued.

I couldn’t tell him, however, that the resort would not be featuring the special event I always attended at any other time.

So, no, I wouldn’t be going to the Bahamas this weekend, even if I did want a rushed trip.

I’d just staycation for the few days I had and try not to resent the shit out of what life had just dealt me.

Retirement was a long way off, but it sure looked good from here.

I went back to my office and got my PA canceling meetings and appointments for the time I could manage to be away, unable to explain to anyone the reason for the changes.

Not even he could know at this point. It was a need-to-know, top-secret matter, as always when these things came up.

I trusted Scottie implicitly, but he did not have the clearance, so he would remain in the dark.

In theory. He was also very smart and likely to figure it out.

But he wouldn’t hear it from my lips.

Just the professional mind meld between he and I that made our working relationship so smooth.

“I’m on it,” he said. “I am assuming that all of these appointments should be pushed out for at least a couple of weeks?” He’d guessed.

“That would be perfect. And I’m giving you a couple of extra days off, too. We’ll be busy after the weekend, so you can rest up.”

It was so hard not being able to just speak clearly, but it was fine. While Scottie made the calls and sent the emails, I went over my calendar, trying to plan the first few days while the merger happened. Not my first rodeo. I’d need protein drinks in the office fridge to keep me going.

My cell chimed, and I glanced to see who was going to be complaining about their meeting being pushed off, but instead, it was a friend who would understand my chagrin for sure. “Bridger, how did you know?”

“Know what?” He chuckled. “Something you want to tell me?”

“No, not really. Well, yeah. My vacation just got canceled due to an emergency at work and I’m a little disgruntled. I know you’ll understand.”

“ The vacation you take every year to the islands for the special event I keep swearing Hudson and I are going to attend one year?”

“That one. Yes.”

“Oh no. That’s not cool. Can’t you find any way around this? You have reservations and all sorts of money already laid out.”

“If I can’t move it to another date, they will reimburse me.”

“And you can’t explain why another date won’t work for you.”

“Not really, no.” I tapped a pen on the desk, trying not to let my frustration boil over. “I will try to get everything applied toward next year, but…”

Bridger’s voice held more sympathy than I probably deserved, but I still welcomed it. “But it doesn’t make it better. I wish I could do something to help.”

“It’s good to speak to someone who understands at least. Maybe we can meet up at Chained one evening soon.”

“Oh, that reminds me of why I called.”

Scottie poked his head in, offering to get me coffee, but I waved him off. He didn’t normally perform personal services like that, was just being nice.

Bridger went on, “I just called to see if you’re planning to go on the camping trip? I had forgotten you would be away. And now you won’t.”

“I’ll pass.” My idea of roughing it was a hotel without twenty-four-hour room service. “I don’t like bears.”

“Come on, you’ll be the only bear there.”

“Let me think about it.”

We made plans to meet up at Chained and hung up. I could tell him I wasn’t going on the trip then. Chained was always a great time.