Jack and Isla

NINE

The week seemed to go by quickly as the boys excitedly waited for their camping trip. With them all working now the summer seemed to be upon them in no time at all and Isla could almost forget the life they left behind. Jack had agreed that he would take care of all the camping gear and whilst at work, she would often see him busying himself around town, filling the bed of his truck with bits and pieces. She would often see him transporting some sort of equipment, like a small fryer and a sink, but she just assumed that he was helping Sarah out.

Isla really liked Sarah and the kids. The boys were all getting on and Izzy had taken a liking to Freddie and seemed to follow him whenever she could. On a couple of occasions after work, Isla would go and sit in the diner after work and have a coffee with Sarah and just savour having another friend, one without facial hair, she could talk to about life and the kids.

Stu had made sure she had no contact with anyone that she even thought about considering as a friend and although she had to keep a large portion of her life hidden from Sarah, it was nice to have someone to talk to. To laugh with, like they had known each other for years.

Jack turned up early on the Saturday morning and the boys ran out to start helping with the rucksacks before he could even say morning properly. Isla had made some breakfast flapjack bars so they could eat breakfast on the trail and they all headed off straight away.

The boys took the lead at first as the trail around the lake was quite an easy one, leaving Jack and Isla bringing up the rear. It was a beautiful hike, with Isla feeling like she was at home in this serene landscape, with the water's edge glistening in the sun to the right of her and dense, green thick tree line to the left. She could hear the boys chatting away, still picking up sticks and stones like they were little still and every now and then Jack would stop and turn to check she was ok.

-x-

They arrived at a small clearing in the trees by the side of the lake just after midday. The day got gloriously warm and the sun was high in the sky. They all chipped together to get camp set up and within no time the boys were knee deep in the water with their fishing rods. 

"No Freddie, it's how you're casting it." Jack reached over and guided Freddie, to demonstrate better. They were stood in the lake, up to hip height as Jack was trying to teach Freddie. "That's it, that's better."

Jack found himself filling with pride, as with each attempt Freddie got better and better, listening to Jack's advice each time. To say he thoroughly enjoyed having this moment with Freddie was an understatement.

He truly was a great lad. He was kind and always thinking of other people and how he always checked on his mum was a credit to him. Jack never expected to have kids, especially when he was serving, knowing that the military style family life was not something he was interested in. But spending time with Freddie, having someone who wanted to learn from you and to spend time with, only made him wish he had tried to find it sooner.

Jack knew if he had met someone like Isla, before signing up, he probably would not have, seeing that this is something he could have had.

Bradley was so different, but just as much as a great lad as his brother. Freddie looked up to him so much and to Bradley's credit, he indulged him. It had not gone unnoticed all the little things that Bradley did for Freddie, although Jack suspected that he didn't want to admit to it all.

Like when he caught Bradley, unrolling Freddie's bedding in the tent and made sure he had a nice comfy bed to get into. Or they way he always brought him a drink without asking, like he knew he probably wasn't getting enough to drink.

Freddie cheer, brought him back from his thoughts as he pulled his first fish from the water.

"Well done mate!" There was that pride again surging through him as he watched Freddie run with his fish back towards the lake beach.