Friday.

Here was a conundrum: you had two vehicles, both being used to drive a caravan of vacationers two hours along Highway Seven to Harrison Hot Springs. One was a Toyota Highlander, which seated seven people maximum, but it wasn't a comfortable fit, plus there was all the luggage to stow. The other was a Nissan Versa, which seated five maximum, but it was definitely not a comfortable fit, and there was all the luggage to stow. You had eight vacationers with all their luggage. Neither car would hold all of them, but the Highlander might hold all their luggage. Joe understood the math, and he understood they would have to use both vehicles to hold them all comfortably (Al and Rachel had proposed a Modo vehicle for their own use, but that was costly, and they already had two vehicles they could use); what he couldn't figure was how to arrange all the vacationers between the two cars to make everybody happy, but mainly make him happy.

Emma and Naomi had to sit together. Everyone agreed on that. Naomi and Emma also wanted to sit with Rachel, because apparently she was the It adult in the group. Logan didn't care where he sat. Tosh preferred the Highlander. Joe had to drive the Highlander because it was the only vehicle of the two he was comfortable occupying for a two hour stretch. That meant Lauren had to drive the Versa, because only she or Joe could drive each other's vehicles and still be insured. 

Thus lay the main problem: where to put Rachel and Al. If they both sat in the same vehicle, which one? If the Versa, then one would get the front passenger seat while the other sat in the cramped back seat with two of the kids. One of them couldn't be Logan, because he was too tall and lanky. Emma and Naomi would be thrilled to have Auntie Rachel in the backseat with them, but it wouldn't be fair to Rachel to cramp her back there, because she was tall as well.  They could both sit in the Highlander, he supposed, and Rachel could sit in the middle row of seats with Emma and Naomi, leaving Tosh in the cramped back row. It would put Al in the front passenger seat, though, because the very back was too cramped for a man his size, and Joe had no appetite to have him in the front with him, because he could barely look at him right now. 

If Al were to just not come at all, it would make this so much easier.

The matter hadn't been settled yet by the time both vehicles pulled up in front of Rachel and Al's place, ready to set off, but to Joe's relief, Al seemed to intuit the discomfort between them, even if neither of them ever mentioned it to the other. He offered to ride in the Versa, with or without Rachel, but here lay the bigger problem: if he rode without Rachel, he would be in the car alone with Lauren, and that was the source of his problem with Al. One of the kids had to sit in the car with them, then, but who? Emma and Naomi would want to sit with Rachel in the Highlander. Tosh wanted the Highlander. Logan?

Nobody volunteered and, even more infuriating, Lauren didn't ask for volunteers. It appeared all the kids wanted to sit in the larger, more comfortable vehicle. So, he drove with Logan in the front passenger seat, Rachel, Naomi and Emma in the middle row, and Tosh in the back row, completely content to read or listen to music by himself.

Before they set off, but after Lauren and Al set off, completely unconcerned with his conundrum, apparently, he took Rachel aside after the kids got in the car and said, "What just happened here?"

She blinked at him and said, "I don't know what you mean."

"Lauren and Al in the car alone? Isn't this a little asymmetrical?"

She squinted at him and said, "Are there rules for seating on a family vacation?"

"Come on. Al and Lauren alone? Are you comfortable with this?"

"Why wouldn't I be comfortable with this, Joe? What do you think is going to happen on the two hour drive?"

He shrugged and squirmed under her gaze. "I don't know."

"Oooh, maybe they'll talk for the whole two hours," she said jokingly. "You know we'll probably be within sight of each other the whole time, right?"

He sighed. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Good. Now relax and enjoy the ride. It's supposed to be nice and scenic."

It was. Highway Seven, also called Lougheed Highway, became windy and meandering after they drove past Mission, and they seemed to enter an earlier century, when farming and steam trains drove the economy. It was so green here, and the sunset was bathing everything in golden light (they'd started on their journey after the end of the work day, and they were meeting Sunny, Tej and their kids at the resort), and the corn was shoulder height, reminding Joe of the movie Field of Dreams; he wouldn't have been surprised to see ghostly baseball players walk out between the stalks and play a game on the side of the road. 

As Rachel had predicted, they caught up with Al and Lauren in short time, and kept them within a few car lengths until they made the final ascent and descent on the mountainous slope before Agassiz, and then raced each other on the straightaway from there to the small municipality of Harrison Hot Springs.

What made the trip bearable was Rachel, of course. Dressed the way he remembered her dressing when they were kids, her jean shorts seemed almost too short, her pink t-shirt too tight, her long legs drawing his eye in the rear view mirror. She was also a hit with Naomi and Emma, so the atmosphere in the Highlander was pleasant; to his surprise, the girls and Tosh didn't go on their devices, but instead followed Rachel's lead and played car games like I Spy and Punch Buggy, and Rachel let them punch her every time. He marvelled at how Rachel knew instinctively how to parent even though she'd started with older children. 

Logan, of course, was too old for that, but sat contentedly in the front seat, listening to whatever music was on the radio. He'd grown on Joe since he'd come back to work with him over the summer, and kept at it. Day by day he'd gotten more confident at the work, his body had recovered quicker, and now the young man was tanned and more toned than when he'd started. 

Logan wanted to work to save for his future independent life, or so he'd claimed; he still wouldn't agree to being adopted by Al and Rachel but accepted fostering with them until he came of age, and until then the extra money would come in handy. Joe never voiced his concern that Logan might want to go to post-secondary school with that money, and thus might want to stick around with Al and Rachel until he finished, because he knew not everyone continued on after high school. Just in case he didn't, though, Logan would have a place with him as long as he needed.

He'd grown on Tilly too, as much as the older boy (Joe wouldn't consider him a man until he moved out of his mother's house) had disabused Joe of the notion of becoming friends with him. The two had worked together more often than not over the summer, and not only had they exchanged digits, they'd also texted each other regularly and hung out at Johnny's house in the same man cave that Joe used with Johnny whenever he went over. Logan's detention by the police and his subsequent release had made him a curiosity at the worksite, and more than one of the crew had found themselves asking him what it had been like. Logan had been careful not to give away too many details of his harrowing night, but that had only made him more intriguing.

That was the other purpose of Logan working for DiTomaso Construction: keeping him in sight during the day. Ever since Al, Sunny and he had taken Logan, Tosh and Ajit to Playland and run into a woman Logan knew who had a reputation as a bad influence, an encounter that had seemed entirely too coincidental for Joe's taste, the whole LSDC had agreed it was imperative to keep the two kids within sight whenever the police weren't around to watch them. The whole crew kept an eye on Logan now.

He didn't know if it was their vigilance or the police presence that had succeeded in deterring the crooks, but nobody had come around, and Joe was almost disappointed. Not having actual physical danger to avoid left him free to consider his other problem, which was driving just ahead of him as they pulled into the parking lot of the Harrison Hot Springs Resort.

Nothing had happened over the course of the summer after that one questionable incident Tej had reported on right at the beginning, so Joe had no reason to believe anything was happening between Al and Lauren. It didn't stop him from wondering, though. Ever since that incident at the party, intoxicated though they'd been, he couldn't stop picturing Lauren in Al's lap, kissing him as if she'd been ravenous for him for years. He'd softened his view of Al when Al had helped Lauren nab one of the culprits who'd beaten him up in Aldergrove, but the fact that Al had been at home, presumably sick when Tej had found him there, and the fact that Naomi might have seen Lauren's car parked there at the time, had hardened his view again, and the more he thought about Rachel's alibi, the less he believed it. What made him unable to act on his suspicions, though, was his fondness for Rachel and his inability to see why Rachel would lie for Al and Lauren. What would she have to gain from it? It didn't make sense. She'd been just as furious at the two of them that night as he'd been. 

It was driving him crazy, but he hoped his little plan with Joanie might help clarify things one way or another.

They parked next to each other and emerged, stretching, from their vehicles. The kids excitedly sprinted toward the resort before the adults called them back to take their share of the luggage. Joe still seemed to carry more than his share even after all that, a bag in each hand plus another slung around his shoulder. At least Lauren was walking beside him, carrying her own bag, dressed for summer weather in sunglasses, cut-off jean shorts, black tank top and sandals. Her shoulders were an appealing bronze under the straps of her tank top. Al fell back beside Rachel, pleading with Emma to watch out for cars in the parking lot. He was in a red polo and walking shorts, wearing unfashionable gray socks with his running shoes and a floppy sage green mesh hat to ward off the sun. Joe still couldn't believe Rachel was married to him, she was so out of his league.

"So, how was your drive?" he asked Lauren.

She turned to him, and he couldn't tell her expression because he couldn't see her eyes behind the sunglasses. "Fine. How was yours?"

"Surprisingly cheerful. Rachel had the kids playing car games."

"Good for her."

Something in Lauren's tone conveyed irritation. Were Lauren and Rachel angry at each other? "How was Al?" he asked.

"Al?" she asked. "He was fine. Why?"

"Was he a good travelling companion?"

Her brow furrowed. "Yes, we had a scintillating conversation the entire time," she said sardonically.

"It wasn't awkward, there in the car with just him?"

"Why would it? We're good friends, and we've driven together alone in a car before, remember when we were looking for you and Rachel?"

"And the two of you have since gotten over your awkwardness over that episode at the party?"

She stopped, forcing him to stop, and looked up at him. "Joe, how long ago was that? Why are you bringing this up? Do you think we planned to be alone together in my car?"

Her question made him go cold; at first he thought it was only an annoying coincidence that had put them in the same car together. Now he had to consider another alternative, all the while conveying bland indifference. "Jesus, I'm just making sure you're okay."

She started off again. "I'm a grown woman, I don't need you to make sure I'm okay."

This was the tone of their conversations lately, ever since the night he'd moved to the couch. He'd never repeated that action, but it was as if something had been irrevocably damaged between them, and neither of them would admit it was happening, nor speculate on its cause. This little vacation could either heal the rift between them or sunder it completely.

They checked in, got their key cards and made their way to the East Tower, where they'd all booked their rooms. The East Tower was better for families because it didn't overlook the pool, and thus the noises of drunk and rowdy young adults wouldn't carry up to their window and keep them up at night. It also had larger rooms and, more importantly, adjoining rooms. Joe and Lauren had managed to get two adjoining rooms, so that Naomi and Tosh could feel like grown-ups in their own room, hosting get-togethers with the other kids, while they could have a little privacy in theirs. 

Joe didn't know if sex with Lauren would be on the table this weekend; not only had their conversations become tenser over the past couple of months, but the sex had dried up as well. The separate room had been booked when they'd been feeling more tender about each other, but he could always hope and, worst case scenario, if it wasn't on the table, there was always Joanie.

They put their luggage on their beds, opened the connecting door between the two rooms, and handed Naomi and Tosh one of the key cards. "We'll keep the other one in case one of you forgets it in the room," Joe said. "I'll put it in my wallet, and I always take my wallet with me wherever I go."

"Even down to the pool?" Naomi asked.

He thought about it for a second. "Okay, maybe not. My trunks have velcro pockets on them, though, so I'll put the cards in there. They're magnetic, so getting them wet won't be a problem."

"Let's go find Emma and Auntie Rachel," Naomi said to Tosh.

"No you don't," Lauren said. "They're on a different floor, and I don't want you guys wandering the whole place looking for each other. We'll meet at the pool in half an hour. Why don't you unpack your swimsuits and get changed?"

"What about Harpreet and Ajit, when are they coming?" Tosh asked.

"Hopefully soon. Sunny said he just ran a little late at the office." Lauren and Joe had both mercifully gotten home on time and, having packed everything the night before, only had to throw everything into the Highlander to get going. They'd even packed snacks for the trip so they didn't have to stop for dinner on the way. "They'll call when they're here, but they told us not to wait to go to the pool, they can just find us there."

The kids closed the door to their room, leaving Lauren and Joe alone together.

Joe turned the lock on the door and raised his eyebrows at his wife. "For privacy when we change," he said.

She raised her own eyebrows at him and said, "I can change in the bathroom, you know, behind another locked door."

"Suit yourself," he said, stripping down.

She didn't pull her eyes away, which was a good sign. She crossed her arms, though, and said, "You know we can't get it on in the time it takes to change into our swimsuits."

At least she still thought about getting it on with him. That was a good sign, wasn't it?

She saw his hopeful erection, and her mouth twisted. "You're so predictable. Better cool those jets before you put your trunks on, or you'll frighten the children."

He sighed and did a little shake-it-off dance, completely nude in front of her, and she burst out laughing. "You look like the dancing bear at the circus," she cried, and that made him feel better. At least he could still make her laugh.

She wiped tears of mirth from her eyes and began stripping down herself. Joe knew it was dangerous to stand naked before her while she got naked, because then he'd want to do things, and they didn't have time to do things, and no amount of shaking it off was going to make him deflate when he saw his wife's small, strong body.

She seemed to intuit his dilemma and bent to sort through her bag to pull out her swimsuit right away, but now her lovely back, with its cherry blossom tattoo, and her tight little bum filled his vision and he couldn't stop himself, he strode forward and placed his hands on her hips.

"Joe," she warned. "If I promise you maybe later tonight, will you take your hands off me?"

"I'm sorry," he said, backing away. "We just haven't..."

She whipped around and crossed her arms over her little breasts. "Oh, so now you know how I felt when I was almost begging for your attention, and all the while you were texting Joanie."

"Found an outlet for yourself, though, didn't you?" he said, and immediately regretted it.

She gasped and punched his arm right where it always hurt the most. "Fuck you. Are you back on that fucking party?"

The only time she'd ever told him to fuck off was when she'd been under the influence at that party, and hearing her say it now, when she was sober, scared him. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought that up. Look, let's not argue where the kids can hear us."

She sighed in frustration and pulled out her swimsuit, putting it on quickly. Luckily, he was also able to put on his trunks without frightening the children.

"Is that a new suit?" he asked, looking her over. It was a form fitting black two piece that didn't reveal a whole lot but was still flattering.

"Yeah, a tankini, they call it. I thought I'd pick one up for the trip. I can't remember the last time I went swimming."

"I like it."

"Thanks." 

He found the robes the resort provided in the coat closet. He handed her one and put on the other. It barely fit his enormous trunk, leaving much of his hairy chest exposed.

Lauren smirked and said, "Jesus, it's almost not worth wearing, is it."

"It'll dry me off after, at least."

Her face softened and she said, "Look, I know things have been a little tense between us. Maybe we can try to start over while we're here, work things out."

To his surprise, he felt his eyes fill with tears. "Yeah," he said. "Yeah, I'd like that."

"Okay. Let's see how the kids are doing."

They wrangled Naomi and Tosh, went downstairs in their flip-flops and trekked to the outdoor pools, whose water was warmed by the hot spring not far way. Rachel, Al, Emma and Logan found them not long after, and they deposited their robes and sandals at the outdoor tables and chairs like the other guests were doing. They played in the pool with the kids and had a great time, and Sunny's family found them half an hour later, and everyone was about as happy as could be. Lauren even tackled him playfully and snuck up on him underwater to grab at his trunks, and he thought maybe they might be able to have a little fun tonight after all. Maybe this vacation was just what they needed to rejuvenate their marriage, to knock over everything that had come between them in the last month.

His optimism lasted only another half hour.

Thanks for reading this far! If you liked what you read, hit "Vote" and leave a comment. To read about how Joe felt when Al proposed to Rachel, click on "Continue reading."