The Swift-Styles Family (Book II)

9 - What Else

Tessa's POV

As soon as Taylor and I get back to the house, it's already half past 12. The Sun is scorching hot on our heads.

We head to the kitchen and start arranging the groceries.

" What are we cooking for lunch?" I ask to break the silence. Taylor steps back and looks over the whole stuffs we bought. She puts her hands on her hips, thinking deep.

" I don't know. Maybe a burger. Is that fine?" she starts grabbing the meat and bread from the cupboard.

" Sure. Extra cheese please," I place my head on the counter, trying to fan off the heat. This house is truly hot.

Taylor's POV

" Mooom. You seriously got to stop giving me these sort of surprise trips. I have the right to know where we're going. Where are we going? " Tessa can't seem to sit down and relax.

" Fine. Stop bugging me with your high pitched voice. We're going to do a white water rafting. Satisfied? " I roll my eyes up high. If eye rolls have no limits mine would've gone way further.

" WHITE WATER RAFTING? Isn't that dangerous?"

" Okay hold on. Since when are you not an extreme activity seeker? " I ask.

" It's not about that! It's you. I'm worried about you, " she hugs herself. Ah, she just clearly doesn't like my idea.

" Then what?" I eye her through the side mirror. I'm not fully facing her since I'm currently driving.

" Choose something else. Something safer. Please, " her eyes are begging as she says that. She just cares too much about the baby's safety. I can feel that, even though I'm not exactly looking at her.

" Kayaking?" I suggest.

" That sounds a whole lot better," she finally agrees.

The only problem is, is there even any kayaking activity here in Harpers Ferry?

___

I drive along the whole river to check whether there is a kayaking activity. There is a few bunch of huts with kayaking canoes around it but all of them are closed. After a few more minutes searching, I find a house a little bit hidden inside a small forest which sits right next to the river. There are a few kayaking boats around the house. I decide to stop by and maybe ask the owner to rent one of the canoes.

I park the car on the roadside and head out. I ask Tessa to stay inside.

" Hello, is anybody home? " I knock on the door a few times. I can hear footsteps approaching. A man with a long white beard appears in front of me. He seems grouchy to me but I just shake it off. We must never judge a book by its cover.

The man doesn't answer my greeting, instead he eyes me from top to bottom. He absolutely looks uneasy to have me on his doorstep. I swear, if he knows who I really am, he would regret this snobbish act.

" Um, just wondering if those canoes are yours? " I ask as polite as I could.

He looks at me as if I just said something stupid.

" Even if they're mine why the heck are you asking? "

Oh God, this man is so full of himself.

" Um my daughter and I want to go kayaking. We'd like to borrow one of those if that's okay."

He opens his mouth to say something but I cut him off.

" We'll pay. "

" You guys know nothing about kayaking, do you? Those who kayak here are all experts. Are you blind or what? The current is strong ," he spits out the words meanly. I swear I want to slap him hard across his face.