Page 42 of The Journey of a Lifetime (Tiny Homes and Happy Tails #2)

T he next morning, Maggie stepped out of the van into a quiet campground. After the disturbance last night, the campers had slept in.A gentle mist hung between the trees, and birdsong filled the empty space between the leaves of the trees.

She took Walker on a short walk for him to do his business before heading back to the campsite.

She wiped down the dew on the seat of the picnic table before she sat down.

Walker made two circles before sitting under the picnic table. He rested his head on her sneaker. Pulling out her notebook, she flipped through the pages, rereading lines she’d written the day before.

“Magaret Elise Sullivan, what in God’s name are you thinking?”

Maggie’s head jerked up at her mother’s voice. Julia Sullivan stood at the edge of the campsite, arms crossed, usually perfect hair slightly windblown, and anger in her eyes.

Maggie stood slowly. “Mom?—”

Julia marched toward her.“You disappear. You cut off contact. You won’t tell me where you are.

I finally got it out of Daniel that you were on a road trip in his van.

” Julia narrowed her eyes. “Do you know how worried I’ve been, thinking you have been kidnapped or crashed.

What if the van broke down? You have no idea how to fix a vehicle.

We live in a dangerous world, Maggie.” Her voice trembled.

“Mom …” Maggie held up her hand, but her mother wasn’t finished.

“Then I get a call from some girl I’ve never met—telling me my daughter, who is traveling alone, is in Colorado, that she’s been harboring a runaway, and there was a man with a knife involved? Maggie, are you trying to put me in an early grave?”

Maggie exhaled. “Let’s back up. First, I wasn’t kidnapped and didn’t have a wreck in the van, Mom. Second, Cindy’s not exactly a runaway. She’s with her parents now. And, third, the man with a knife has been arrested.”

Her mother gave her a horrified look. “That’s supposed to make me feel better?”

She took a deep breath and folded her arms over her chest. “I left because I needed some space to think. I was never alone. Walker was with me every step of the way.” She glanced under the picnic table.

Walker lifted his head at the sound of his name.

When he realized he wasn’t being called, he went to sleep.

“You left because you needed to think? You blew off an important internship at a very prestigious law firm. This will affect your future, Maggie!” Her mom’s voice cracked when speaking her daughter’s name, her composure unraveling. “Do you even hear yourself?”

Maggie stood straighter. “I hear myself. For the first time in a long time.”

Julia stared at her. “So that’s it? You’re just going to throw away your future as an attorney?”

“No, I’m not throwing away my future.” Maggie said. “I’m choosing a different future.”

The words landed in the space between them like stones. Her mom looked stunned. She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out.

Maggie cleared her throat. She felt stronger now. All the fear of disappointing her mom disappeared like mist. “I came out here to find out who I am without the pressure. Without law school. Without Dad’s expectations. Without yours.”

Her mom’s face slightly softened. Maggie noticed the chink in her armor.

“I’m not doing this to hurt you,” Maggie said more gently. “I just … I want to write. Really write. I know that sounds foolish to you, but it’s the first thing I’ve been sure of in years.”

There was solid silence between them.

Her mom looked away, blinking hard. “I always wanted you to do well in life, Maggie. A solid career where you can be independent and not rely on a man. I just didn’t want you to be in a situation where you are trapped in a relationship. I don’t want you to end up like me.”

Maggie’s eyes widened. “End up like you? You aren’t trapped.”

Her mother gave a sad, knowing smile. “You just didn’t see it.”

They stood there, mother and daughter, neither sure what came next.

Finally, Julia sighed and walked over to the bench. She sat, her movements slower now, as if the fight had left her.

Walker lifted his head and nudged her knee. Julia rubbed his head. “Walker looks good.”

Maggie smiled, the tension beginning to ease. “I think the fresh air has made him more energetic. He seems like a puppy again.”

Julia winced. “Maggie, I didn’t want to take Walker to the vet to have him put down. Your father was the one who insisted.”

Maggie froze. “What?”

Julia lifted her chin. “It seems we have a lot to talk about, and you’ve had quite the night already. Why don’t I go get us a hotel room?”

Maggie shook her head. “I want to stay here. You go ahead and get a room.”

Julia bit her lip. “Can I bring you some coffee?”

Maggie smiled. “I can make coffee here.”

Julia frowned. “Here? How?”

Maggie walked to the van and gathered the coffeepot and everything she needed to make coffee. She plugged it in and prepped the coffee pot and waited for the coffee to finish.

“You have electricity in the van?” Julia cocked her head.

“Yeah. Daniel remodeled the van himself. He’s even boondocked in it.” Maggie knelt down and rubbed Walker between the ears.

“What’s boondock?” Julia clutched her designer bag to her chest and eased onto the seat of the picnic table.

“When you camp without being hooked up to water or electricity.”

Julia winced. “Have you done that?”

Maggie laughed. “I haven’t. Not yet. But I would love to while I’m here. Camping out by a mountain sounds lovely.”

Julia glanced around. “Wouldn’t you be afraid of bears?”

Maggie shrugged. “Not if I’m careful. Besides, Walker will sense a bear before I even see one. From what I’ve read, bear attacks are rare here.”

She didn’t look convinced.

Maggie finished pouring two cups of coffee. “I hope you like it.”

Julia took the outstretched mug and took a sip. Her eyebrows lifted slightly at the taste. “Pretty good.”

Maggie grinned to herself.

They sat in silence, sipping their coffee.

Maggie cleared her throat. “What did you mean by you being trapped?”

Julia stiffened. The atmosphere between them changed, became sharp and jagged.

She stood and set her coffee mug down. “I should go get that hotel room. I’m worn out from the flight and all the excitement.” Julia looked like she wanted to say more, but changed her mind. “Thank you for the coffee.”

Maggie stood and nodded. “Of course.”

Julia frowned. “What are your plans for today?” Her lips pressed into a thin line and Maggie saw the brief flicker of panic play across her eyes. “You’re not leaving, are you?”

Maggie shook her head. “No. I’ve reserved this spot for a few more days.”

Relief spread across Julia’s face. “Good.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I should be going.”

Maggie felt the tension between them grow. It was like trying to talk to a stranger. She couldn’t help herself. She still needed to talk to her mom. She couldn’t leave things this unsettled between them.

Maggie cleared her throat. “If you don’t have plans for dinner, you can join me and Walker.”

Julia’s eyebrows shot up at the gesture. “You don’t mind?”

Maggie smiled. “Of course not. I’ve actually wanted to have dinner at the Stanley Hotel, but they don’t allow dogs.”

Her mother cocked her head. “Maybe we could do pickup. That way we could see the outside of the grounds with Walker and you could go in and get the food.”

Maggie was taken aback. She didn’t think her mother liked Walker all that much.

“That would be great.” Maggie said softly.

Julia hesitantly approached her and gave her a hug. “After you look at the menu, let me know what you want so I can order it. I’ll pick you up around six to go get everything.”

Maggie glanced at her dog. “With Walker? You don’t usually let Walker ride in your car.”

Julia shrugged. “It’s a rental. See you tonight.”

Maggie spent the rest of the day writing at her campsite. She took breaks to stretch her and Walker’s legs. Time seemed to have gotten away from her. Before she realized, it was time for her to get ready for dinner.

She hoped tonight would go a lot smoother than the last few days of this trip.