She poured herself a glass of mineral water, wishing today for the first time since she’d arrived that it was wine, and took her plate of nibbles outside. The sun had slipped further, leaving an orange glow on the horizon merging to a deep purple sky as night descended. The helicopters that often thundered across the sky to and from the nearby airstrip had stopped and there was only the distant sound of other campers.

She nestled into her chair sipping her drink and glanced at the battered little paperback she’d been reading. She picked it up and studied the cover. The main character was resonating with her. A married woman with a family who’d been almost destroyed by a tragedy. To survive she was going to have to make some changes in her life that hadn’t sat well with some of her family. Could Natalie be like that?

“Can you read in the dark?”

Natalie jumped, splashing her drink down her shirt. “Gabe!”

“Sorry.” He stepped closer. “Didn’t mean to give you a fright. I thought you would have heard me. I kicked my toe on a rock back there.”

“I was miles away.” She put her book and glass on the table.

“Sorry I’ve been gone all day.”

“You don’t have to be worrying about me.”

“I went with Uncle Ron to check out a few ideas for tourist trips and we had car trouble. We’ve only just got back but I bring food and wine.” He lifted a plastic bag into the air with one hand and a bottle in the other. “I can’t vouch for the wine. It’s been in Uncle Ron’s fridge for a while, but the steaks are excellent. I bought them myself.” He stopped, his arms dropped to his sides. “I’m raving on and you’ve probably made other plans.”

“Oh yes.” Natalie chuckled and waved a hand at the plate on the table. “I have so many options.”

He glanced at her lump of cheese and scattered crackers. “Steak then?”

“Yes please. I might even have enough ingredients for a passable salad.”

He held out the wine, which she accepted gratefully, and while she tossed an assortment of vegetables with some lettuce, he started the barbecue and opened the bottle.

Natalie took a sip, winced at the sharp taste. “It’s a while since I had wine.”

“You don’t have to be polite.” Gabe took a second taste and ran his tongue over his lips. “It grows on you.”

They sat outside with just the light from the kitchen window to see by.

The steak melted in Natalie’s mouth. “Oh, that’s divine. I haven’t had steak in a long time.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying it.” He grinned and watched her take another bite before he started on his.