“It already has enormous heart,” Joshua murmured, slipping his hand into Colin’s.
“It does, my baby,” Colin replied, his voice soft with love. “It hasyourheart. And that makes it perfect.” He pressed Joshua’s hand to his lips, then turned to David and Nate. “OK. We’re due to meet with camp staff at the main lodge. They’ll fill us in on what we’ll have to work with.”
“And how much it’ll cost,” David added.
“Well, thereisa fee for kids to participate,” Joshua told him. “Hopefully, that’ll cover some of the expenses.”
“And if they can’t afford it?”
“In that case, the centers will cover the cost. No kids will be refused because they can’t pay.”
Their meetingwith campground staff confirmed their deepest fears. The campground’s base price covered only twenty campers, with additional participants doubling the cost. Activities were expensive, and even self-run programs came with fees for space and equipment. Joshua punched numbers into his calculator, shaking his head in frustration. “Goddammit,” he groaned, showing Colin the rising costs.
“And that’s without food,” Colin added. “Or anything else we might need.”
“Without the UVA grant,” Joshua said. “We’ll be lucky to afford ten campers.”
David nudged his shoulder. “Send me the name of your contact at the university—I can help with that.”
“Thank you, David,” Joshua said, his voice flooded with relief.
“I don’t know if you guys noticed,” Nate added, nodding toward the lodge where they had met with camp personnel. “But a couple of them were noticeably squicked at the thought of being inundated by a mob of queer campers and counselors.”
“Are youserious?” Joshua asked. “I didn’t notice that.”
“I could be wrong,” Nate told him. “But it’s something to bear in mind.”
“I doubt we’ll have much interaction with them, but I’m glad you spoke up,” Colin told him, his face twisted in a scowl. “Believe me, I’ll be watching, and if I see any kind of homophobia, I’ll be all over it.” He frowned at the papers he held in his hand, which listed the various prices and provided a map of the entire campground. “All-inclusive,” he scoffed. “All it includes is a chance to empty your wallet.” He took Joshua’sarm and moved toward a nearby path. “Let’s walk around a bit. Check out the campsites.”
“Should we check out other campgrounds?” David asked.
“We’ve scoured the area, Davy,” Joshua said. “Unless you’re offering your backyard, this is it!”
Colin grinned. “Let’s keep exploring. This is still doable.”
They wandered down the path to the lake, where all rowing, swimming, and other water activities were to take place. Nate pointed to a rickety canoe, its hull riddled with holes. “Is this what Colin’s using for rowing lessons?”
“Only if we’re eager to experience lawsuits,” Colin quipped, giving it a push. “This relic’s just for show. The real boats are in the boathouse.”
“Thank goodness,” Nate muttered while Joshua eyed the water, clearly nervous.
“How deep is this thing?” he asked Colin.
“I’d bet I could walk across it without getting my hair wet.”
“You sure?”
“No, babe. But I’llmakesure before I take any of those kids out on that water.”
Joshua nodded and turned to start back down the path. “Please do. Child survival is my number one priority.”
Colin took his arm and walked beside him. “No one—child or staff—will get into any watercraft without a life jacket.”
“Good safety tip,” David agreed with a chuckle.
They strolled through various campsites, then wandered down a forested path, eventually finding their way to a large, open clearing adorned with vibrant wildflowers and framed by towering trees. To the east, they could see the shimmering waters of the lake. At this hour, the water reflected a clear blue sky and the majestic mountains that rose steeply in the distance, their peaks dusted with snow. The nearby stream contributed itsvoice to the idyllic atmosphere, creating the perfect spot for the fire pit.
The four men took seats on the long, wide logs resting around the campfire area.
