The Work Retreat

Tove had been looking forward to the work retreat all month. Three days and two nights in the North Carolina mountains was just what she needed. Nothing but the sounds of birds and forest creatures cradling her to sleep. No bustling city life, no screeching sirens or teed-off neighbors. Nothing but warm smores over a campfire and fresh green grass between her toes. The mountains were her favorite place on Earth.

“Ready to go, Tove?” Randy, her co-editor for Yellow News Magazine and current best friend, pulled her out of her day dream and back down into the work parking lot where she was standing. Randy was your run of the mill wide-chested country man, raised in the backwoods of Georgia somewhere. His thick accent and easy going way of life had driven many women crazy over him. Including Tove herself, but that was ancient history now. Randy was her friend/coworker, and that’s all they would ever be.

The bus idled in the distance as her coworkers piled on in single file to head off into the mountains. Tove followed Randy onto the bus and settled in for the long drive.

Randy fished around in his backpack and pulled out wire headphones and a candy bar. He offered her half of both the candy bar and the ear buds, and the sweet melodies of George Strait and Kenny Chesney filled her ears.

As they left the city and headed north, the traffic became lighter and the trees became denser. The lights of the city faded away behind them and Tove swore she could smell the fresh mountain air already. Randy told her she was being delusional.

Finally, just as the sun was setting over the Blue Ridge Mountains, the bus pulled into the campground. Tove was practically jumping out of her seat with anticipation, excited to be outside and to just breathe for a minute. City life could be so stifling. She knew Randy agreed with her. They had often talked about the farm he grew up on, with its acres of cow pastures and the little clear creek that ran through the property. Tove thought to herself that she would like to see it one day.

Everyone piled off the bus and gathered their belongings. They would be staying in tents scattered about the campground. They would be hiking during the day, resting in the afternoon, and team building at night around the campfire. Tove couldn’t wait.

She pitched her tent on the outer ring of the campsite, not thinking about where Randy would be setting up, when she heard the clunk of his cowboy boots coming up behind her.

“Want some company?” He said nonchalantly, holding his half-pitched tent in his hands. “You seem like you know what you’re doing, and I could use some help.”

Tove laughed. “There’s a spot right there, set your tent down and I’ll come help you figure it out.”

From across the campground Tove felt eyes burning into the back of her head. She turned her head slightly to see Laya Ming, the secretary who everyone knew had a long time crush on Randy, glaring at her. Laya stared at Tove with a fierce expression, as if she had personally wronged her somehow. Tove made a mental note to stay out of Laya’s way all weekend. She wasn’t going to let anything disturb her peace, especially since there was absolutely nothing romantic going on between herself and Randy. Strictly platonic, not that Laya believed any of that as she watched Tove help Randy pitch his tent right next to hers.

That night all the employees from Yellow News Magazine were gathered around the campfire, roasting smores and hot dogs and telling stories.

Suddenly Terrence Goldie, the new and usually pretty quiet college intern, piped up. “Does anyone know any good ghost stories?” He asked.

“Really, Terrence?” Laya said, mouth full of marshmallow. “Aren’t we all a little old for ghost stories?”

“Actually, I have a good ghost story,” Randy said, which made Laya blush and quickly swallow the rest of her marshmallow.

“Really?” Tove teased. “You’ve seen a ghost?”

Somewhere an owl hooted, which made everyone jump a little.

“As a matter of fact, I have,” Randy said. “It happened like this. I was staying at my cousin’s place in Massachusetts when I was about eleven or so. It was a really old house, with creaky floors and drafty windows. My bedroom was in the attic. I woke up in the middle of the night to a scratching sound coming from the window, I assumed it was the cat, or a tree branch hitting the glass outside, so I tried to go back to sleep. It got louder and louder until I couldn’t ignore it anymore. So I got out of bed to see a face in the window staring back at me! There was no shelf or roof for anyone to stand on out there, so how could someone be staring at me through the window? I screamed and ran down into my aunt and uncle’s room, waking them up out of bed. When we went back into the attic, the face was gone and there was no one there. But I swore up and down that I saw something! I still do. They made me go back to bed, but of course I couldn’t sleep.” Randy finished his story and Terrence laughed.

“You call that a ghost story?” Terrence teased. “I’ve heard bedtime stories that were more compelling then that! You’re an editor, for goodness’ sake!”

“Co-editor,” Laya corrected him, staring daggers into Tove again.

Everyone decided to pack it in for the night after that, and Randy followed Tove back to their tents. He paused for a moment before going into his tent, as if he was waiting for her to say something. When she didn’t, he said goodnight and climbed inside.

The next morning Tove got up early, burning with excitement for the day ahead. She laced her boots tight and waited for everyone else to get up. They were hiking up King’s Ridge today, which had a beautiful overlook at the end of it. They got a slow start (Terrence’s alarm hadn’t gone off), but finally everyone was ready to go and Tove led the way up the steep trail. Randy, who had switched his cowboy boots for a sensible pair of sneakers, followed close behind her.

It was a beautiful day in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the sun was shining and birds were chirping overhead. There was a chilly breeze that lifted Tove’s hair as she climbed the mountain. It smelled like fresh flowers and cool air, and she loved every bit of it. Terrence wanted to sing a walking song, but Laya shut that down immediately, saying she ‘preferred silence, or anything else, to Terrence’s singing.’

After a little while of climbing they reached the top of King’s Ridge. The view was breathtaking. They could see far over the vast hills and valleys of the mountains. The mountain tops were covered with green trees that looked like a thick, leafy carpet. The sun shined brightly overhead and the breeze rattled the leaves in the trees. Tove took a minute to take it all in. She took a deep breath and just enjoyed it for a moment or two.

Randy came up next to her. Tove had her eyes closed, soaking in the sunshine for a moment, but he was looking at her. She was more beautiful than any scenery. Randy decided right then and there that he was going to tell her how he was feeling. Whether she felt the same or not, he didn’t care. He had given her so many signs and so many hints over the years. But he knew Tove. Unless you were very direct with her, she’d miss the point.

“Tove?” Randy said, his hands shaking with anticipation.

“Yeah?” She opened her eyes and turned, and he kissed her. He kissed her deeply and passionately, as if he had been waiting for this for his whole life. Which, he guessed that he had. He had been waiting for her.

“Randy I…” Tove started to say, “I think I love you.”

He grinned. “I think I love you too.” And he kissed her again.