An Ounce of Prevention

Once again they hauled family and luggage into the hotel room at Safford and went out for supper. Alex looked tired and he didn't have much to say. When they got back to the hotel room, Carmen bathed the twins and got them into bed. She turned on the television for them. Alex was sitting in a chair with the lamp on, reading a newspaper when Carmen returned from getting Destiny in the bathtub. She sat down beside him.

"Tired?" She asked.

He glanced up at her and nodded. "Is this what they call relaxing?"

"This is why we need a camper. We could pull over and eat, and at night we wouldn't have to drag everything into a hotel room. We wouldn't have to go out to eat."

"Or we could stay at home and relax." He returned his attention to the newspaper.

She couldn't blame him for being grumpy. He didn't want to go and he was tired. Still, it crossed her mind that they should have left him at home. It wasn't a nice thought and she felt instantly ashamed.

"I got a van with a towing package so we could get a pop-up camper when we got here."

He lowered the paper. "What's the matter with a hotel room? We have a comfortable bed and plumbing."

She shrugged. "We want to camp."

He sighed and shook his head. "I don't understand."

"A campfire, stars overhead, coyotes howling…" She winked at him. "What's not to like?"

His brows shot up. "No air conditioning, scorpions, snakes, everyone in one tent …" His gaze shifted to the twins and he lowered his voice. "We won't be able to make love until we get back home."

She leaned toward him and whispered. "Are you complaining about our sex life? We've been married nine years. Surely you didn't expect it to continue forever."

He gave her a wry smile. "The quantity, not the quality."

"We talk in circles, don't we?" She stood and sighed. "I have to get Destiny out of the bathtub."

They didn't have to get a pop-up. It could be a camper. Some of them she looked at had separate compartments for sleeping. Why hadn't she anticipated this problem? Maybe if they got a camper, Alex would enjoy the trip more. She would ask at the office in the morning and see where they could get one.

That night when she snuggled next to him, Alex pulled her into his arms and gave her an ardent kiss. His warm hand stroked her back in the way he always did in preparation to making love. She gently pushed his hand away.