TASTES LIKE LOVE

The Trip

Mark pulled away from the curb, having picked Lauren up a few moments ago. It was too early for the shops to be open yet, so he hadn't grabbed her anything to eat. She was also not dressed the part, in a sweater and leggings that would definitely not hold up against the cold in the mountains. Good thing I packed extra padded jackets. She was unusually quiet and was staring out the window, adding to his suspicion that she was cold and hungry and that he should have done better to make her more comfortable.

"You're hungry, right? I'm sorry, I should have made something this morning," he apologized.
She shook her head. "It's okay. You were busy all night at the restaurant," she said.
It was true, but he hated seeing her like that. "As soon as we get to the airport I'll grab you something to eat," he said. She nodded. She seemed preoccupied, like something was weighing on her mind.

"You sure you're okay? Your voice sounded weird the other day too on the phone. Is Dominick bothering you again?" he asked.
"No, did he call you or contact you?" she asked, finally turning to face him, face creased with worry.

"No, he didn't," he answered, but he could tell something HAD happened when he wasn't around. He wondered what. He would ask her later, as they were now almost at the airport.

He had expected them to fly privately as the princess would hardly accept flying commercial, but the luxurious jet that awaited them was a little too much. "Lauren, I don't think-" he began to protest, but the pilot was already coming to greet them, and he had to wait until they stopped speaking, by which time the super effective staff had already packed their stuff onto the jet, and before he knew it they were strapped in ready to fly.

Lauren turned to face him. "You were saying?" she asked, accepting a cup of piping hot coffee from the hostess. He was happy to see her finally eating, so he shook his head and watched to make sure she had enough food to make up for the breakfast she missed.

"So? Fishing and Camping? Where did you learn to do that?" she asked, when they were well under way to their destination, a lavish fishing and camping site in the South of Wales.
"Self-taught. I like my own company and fishing and camping is the perfect getaway for me when life gets frustrating," he explained. He'd always loved the freedom that came with spending a night under the stars, eating out in nature in front of a bonfire, so this was a perfect moment for him and he wanted to share that with her.

"Well, I probably have nothing to worry about then, seeing as I'm in the presence of an expert," she joked. He chuckled, joining her with a shake of his head. "I haven't met the wildlife in Wales, though. They might not like me as much," She laughed.

They arrived at the agreed point at exactly the right moment, with Mr. Farrell and Dr. Parker greeting them and directing them to the waiting cars.
They seemed a little wary, seemingly doing this merely out of cordiality, and that bothered Lauren a little.
When they were in the car, she pointed it out, and Mark had to reassure her that even letting them tag along was a huge improvement, and he would do all he could to impress them so she had nothing to worry about. She nodded, looking out at the impressive Welsh countryside, and he felt something shift in him.

She could have done it her way, and succeeded, but she'd trusted him with this. He would not let her down. He would make sure she went back home with a smile on her face.

The camping grounds were indeed perfect, with level ground for tenting, abundant firewood for a bonfire and the smells and sounds of nature were soothing to the ears. They could hear the crash of the waves on the beach along the lake not too far off. Their aids assisted with the unloading of various gears, then left, as they would be waiting at a nearby inn in case of anything.

Lauren looked around, already familiarizing herself with the environment. The older men were already selecting a good pitching site and he advised her they should do the same. Between the three men, they managed to set up two tents and organize their fishing gear in good order within an hour. Lauren kept a close eye on everything, and helped set up the rest of the gear.