Page 222 of Ice Darling
Renthrow and I quicken our pace and arrive at the campsite. Or what wassupposedto be a campsite. It’s now been transformed and glamorized with four RVs fitted with string lights and funky, patterned comforters hanging from their open side windows. A state-of-the-art grill, still shiny from the store, sits next to a campfire. A table to our left is barely standing under the weight of hotdogs, chocolates, Graham crackers, and smores.
Gordie flings her arms around my mom and gives her a hearty hug. “This is so cool!”
“Glad you think so,” Brenda says, coming out of one of the RVs.
Rethrow’s eyes dart over the RVs. “This is incredible.”
I nudge him with my elbow.
He grunts. “I mean…this is outrageous. Why would a parent spoil their daughter and grandchild in such an over-the-top manner? They should be ashamed of themselves.”
“What was that?” Mom asks, coming nearer.
Renthrow clops his boots together and stands straighter. “Nothing, ma’am.”
I frown. “Mom, what are you doing here?”
“Gordie invited me to watch the meteor shower with her.” Mom hefts Gordie into her arms and grins. “And you were soadamantthat you didn’t want to watch it from my backyard, so I brought my backyard to the woods. Isn’t itfabulous? Damion and his team did asuperbjob. Cordelia, youmustcome and see the RV. There’s even a little foot spa. And I hired a wonderful nail tech to do our toes while we wait for the meteor shower.”
“A spa?” Gordie shrieks. “Where?”
“I’ll show you.” Mom carries Gordie into one of the luxury trailers.
I smack a hand against my forehead. “A foot spa? A pedicure in the woods? What am I going to do with her?”
“I think this is sweet.” Renthrow massages my shoulders.
“You shouldn’t encourage her.”
“Believe it or not, this is your mom’s way of getting close to you.”
“Then she doesn’t know me at all,” I grumble.
“To be fair, you don’t know her either,” he points out gently. “It takes time to learn a person’s true heart. At least, she’s trying.”
I sigh.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Rebel’s voice clangs through the woods, getting to our ears long before we see her.
Gunner holds Rebel’s elbow in a supportive gesture, and in his other hand, he’s carrying fishing poles. His stern eyes dart to the RVs and then to Renthrow.
“I guess we won’t be hunting for our own meals tonight,” the hockey player says in a deadpan tone.
April arrives right after them. She freezes in place when she sees the lavish decorations.
“Am…I at the right place?”
Rebel, who’s already gotten comfortable in one of the lawn chairs, tips her drink up to her best friend. “Ain’t no party like a Davenport party, am I right?”
“I couldn’t have said it better myself.” Mom preens in the doorway of an RV.
Gordie shoots past Mom’s legs and runs to me. She looks adorable in a fluffy and oversized Hello Kitty sweater with a hood and matching Hello Kitty pajama pants. Her face is red from excitement. If she grins any harder, her cheeks are going to explode.
“Delia, this is the bestest dayever.”
I melt at her exuberant declaration. If it makes her this happy, then I can’t exactly be mad at Mom for going overboard.
Rebel coaxes April to try the spa first while Gordie takes Mom and Brenda to collect sticks for the fire.
