Wife's Bitter Revenge Against Neglectful CEO Husband-Chapter 112: Weekend Vacation

Somehow, when Alec said he would pack for me, I wasn’t expecting this. I was thinking about a resort by the beach where we spent most of our time in bed and the rest in swimsuits.

Instead, I was staring at a tent with a mountain in the background. I rocked in my hiking boots as I zipped up my jacket and put on gloves.

"Tonight, we’ll scope out the trail and stay here. Tomorrow, we climb that."

I stared up and up the sheer face of the massive cliff. My mouth went dry. I couldn’t do this. I’d fall to my death. Worse. I wouldn’t die. I’d live with every bone in my body broken.

"Alec, I have absolutely no experience doing whatever that is called."

"Rock climbing. And you can do this. You’ve built a lot of muscle at The Red Dragon. And I’ll teach you how to climb."

"I’ll fall."

"It won’t happen. I’ve brought all the safety equipment you could possibly want."

"Including a defibrillator because if I see one snake, I’ll die of fright."

Alec hugged me close. "You? You’re not scared of anything."

"That’s what you think."

He kissed me on the forehead. "Come on. Let’s go for a walk, and after, I’ll grill you a nice steak."

"Is it laced with tranquilizers?"

"Forget the cliff tonight. Let’s have a good night, and if you really don’t want to climb tomorrow, I won’t make you."

"Are there snakes on the trail?"

"Teela, I’ve been hiking and climbing in this forest since I was a kid. I don’t think I’ve seen more than a dozen snakes in all these years. I give them space, and they do the same for me. It’s better than how some humans have treated me."

"Fair point."

"If you see a snake, do what you do around someone you don’t like. Stay calm. Remain aware of where they go and move in the opposite direction, slowly and quietly."

"And if I get bit anyway?"

"You worry a lot about snakes."

"Snakes are evil."

"I’m sure there are evil snakes out there just like people, but most are trying to survive, just like most people. So, relax. Forget the snakes. Listen to the tranquility. If anyone needs a little tranquility, it’s you."

"I’ll try."

Alec took my hand and led me along the wooded path. Along the way, he identified different specifics of trees and plants. He surprised me with how much he knew about each plant’s medicinal properties.

For a while, I spent more time looking for snakes than anything, but finally, I relaxed into listening to Alec’s voice and the fascination he found in such basic elements.

This was an Alec I didn’t know, but I wanted to. So, I let his enjoyment color my own opinion of the experience.

I saw the life around me untouched by human hands and unchanged from what our ancestors had experienced. For the most part, they had survived the snakes, the bugs, and the foreign fresh air that felt so different from the polluted city air I knew. Statistically speaking, I would likely survive as well.

By the time we returned to the tent, I was hungry for the steak and potato. I worked up a salad while Alec grilled, and after eating, Alec spread out a blanket so we could watch the stars.

Alec knew as much about astronomy as botany.

"How did you get into camping and stargazing?"

"I was a boy scout."

"Really?"

"No."

I elbowed him in the ribs. "I really want to know."

"My grandfather brought me at least two or three times every summer. Later, a buddy in college got me into rock climbing, at first indoors, but then we expanded into making our way up rocks in nature. One day, I hope to add cliff diving to my repertoire."

I shook my head. "I’m not jumping off cliffs with you."

Alec grinned. "We’ll see."

"Did I mention how impressive I find you?"

"I could show you something else impressive. Want to join me in the tent?"

Thank everything that was holy that he wanted to move into the tent. I was learning to tolerate nature, but I wasn’t ready to get freaky outdoors. I didn’t want to be thinking of snakes, bugs, and satellite surveillance when I should be thinking of the man beside me.

I followed Alec into the tent, where we languished in each other’s arms until we were both sated and slept soundly.

The next morning, I awoke to the smell of bacon and coffee and the sound of metal clinking on metal.

Alec squatted by the fire. He smiled as soon as he saw me. "Good morning, beautiful."

I grunted as I made a beeline to the bushes that blocked the area we used a bathroom from view. It was cool enough out that I dreaded pulling down my pants to do my business. I made short work of relieving myself and wondered about the cleaning up protocol of the great outdoorsmen. There was no way I was spending the day with Alec without cleaning up.

Alec was waiting for me with a cup of water and a toothbrush with paste on the bristles. "I’ve left some disposable wipes in the tent. Use as many as you need. We may be roughing it, but I don’t expect you to turn into a full-nature woman on me overnight. The brush should also be laid out. Avoid makeup and any scented sprays, like deodorant. The better you smell, the more bugs will want to check you out. I put a bug repellent in your jacket just in case."

"Thanks."

I finished up quickly and returned to a breakfast of bacon and eggs served with a multi-grain bread. I eyed the equipment Alec had laid out while I ate.

"Are you sure you are going climbing?"

"If you are up to it."

"If this were skiing, you’d start me off on the bunny slope. Can’t we do the same here?"

Alec chuckled. "This is the bunny rock, Teela. See that mountain top over there? If you were more experienced, we would be hitting that rock instead."

I compared the rock face he had planned for me to the rocky mountainside where Alec pointed. I hated to admit it, but in comparison, this would be the bunny rock."

"And you promise you won’t let me fall?"

"Cross my heart."

"Excellent. Then how about you clean up here, and I’ll go set up."

"Set up?"

"Yes. I’ll climb to the top and anchor a couple of ropes. It will help make the climb safer."

"Wait. I want to watch. If I watch how you climb, it will help me know how to make the climb."

If I’d known we were going to an area without cell service, I could have at least done some online research, but silly me, I never questioned our destination. Not knowing was part of the excitement.

"Alright. Then, let’s clean together."

It was then that I noticed the pot of boiling water on the fire. Alec divided the hot water between two small basins. He then added enough cold water to cool the water enough to use. Together, we washed and dried the dishes before stowing them. I wiped down the table and made sure all the trash was picked up and disposed of in a container that was latched shut against uninvited guests. While I was doing that, Alec put out the fire.

It felt good to work together to keep our living space clean. In fact, a lot of things felt good with Alec. I stopped what I was doing and crossed the campsite to kiss him.

"What was that for?"

"Do I need a reason?"

"Yeah, because if you think that one of us will plummet to our death, then I want a whole lot more than a sweet kiss on the lips. Should we go back into the tent?"

I playfully pushed him away. "Can’t I just kiss you because you are kissable?"

"I love you, Teela. You can do whatever you want to me whenever you want as long as you don’t leave me."

"I’m kind of fond of you too."

"Is that the best you’ve got for me?"

I tilted my head. "Dunno. Maybe I’m holding off on any big confessions until after I survive this climb."

"So, is what you’re saying is if I get you to the top of the cliff, you’ll reward me with a love confession."

"Hm, we’ll see."

Alec helped me into a lightly packed backpack. The one he shouldered looked significantly heavier. He expertly wrapped the ropes that he’d laid out and added them to my pack. The harnesses, he threw over a shoulder before leading me to what I tried hard not to think of as my impending death.

The hike to the foot of the cliff was longer than I expected. By the time we arrived, I needed water and a break, but Alec was barely winded. He immediately went to work pulling out gear including a pair of shoes that were a lot lighter than hiking boots.

As he put on the harness and gathered gear, he explained what he was doing as he did it.

"I’m going to climb to the top first. Once there, I’ll secure safety lines, so you’ll be safe while you climb. I also brought a blue chalk. You and I aren’t the same size, so our paths will differ, but I’ll mark some likely hand and foot holds to help you find a way up the cliff. You don’t have to use them. As long as you feel stable and can see the next place to hold on, you’ll be fine."

"I have to climb on my own?"

"No, hun. Once everything is secure, I’ll rappel back down and climb with you."

"And if something happens to you?"

"There’s a satellite radio in your pack. Call for help and stay put. But, Tee, I’ve done this climb before. I’ll be fine. You’ll be fine."

"Sure. You can tell me I told you so on the other side, but right now, this feels a whole lot like jumping out of a perfectly good airplane for no reason."

Alec grinned. "Think of the ropes as the parachute."

"Oh, hush."