One Way Bridge

Chapter 69

"You were right," Ally said to me as we got into bed that night. "Your family is crazy. You guys deserve a reality show."

I laughed. "You should have met my dad. We always said that if there was a show about softball dads he would have been the star."

"Really?"

"He got kicked out of one of my games...when I was twelve." Ally burst out laughing. "He was right though, if that counts for anything."

If there's one thing about me that's certain, I am a terrible person to share a bed with, so I don't think Ally or I really got a lot of sleep. We also didn't have to set an alarm, because I was up before eight. I went to the kitchen still half asleep and was surprised to see Justin sitting with my grandparents at the table.

"Good morning!" Grandma got up from the table. "Do you want a bowl of cereal? Some juice? Maybe a banana?"

"No thanks," I yawned. "I'll get it myself." Grandma sat back down and I took the free spot across from her.

"Morning," Justin said patting my hand quickly then grabbing a bite of his cereal.

"So Justin here was telling us you're going to start playing the piano again?" Grandma asked.

"Hm? Oh yeah, the priest kind of roped me into that." I said stifling another yawn.

"Well I think it's great! Learning how to play the piano is a dying trend and I think it's great that you are taking the ambition to continue it!" I'm pretty sure Grandma didn't listen to my response. Luckily Ally chose that time to come join us. "Good morning!"

"Good morning," if I didn't share a room with Ally I'd be convinced her hair always looked flawless when she woke up. Grandma hurried to get her a bowl of cereal.

"So you guys are going to South Dakota today?" Grandpa asked putting down the newspaper.

"Yep," I said looking around at the cereal on the table.

"Are you going straight there or back to Lilydale first?"

"Lilydale, we have to pick up a couple more before we go." Breakfast was quite boring. The conversation was slow, but I think we were all just tired. Eventually we woke Alex up and Grandma tried to get some breakfast in him, but as Nana found out weeks ago, it wasn't worth the effort.

Justin loaded up the car while we waited for Alex to get dressed and then we said our goodbyes and were on our way. We'd see my grandparents again in a few days. Everyone was coming for New Years. The only other time everyone had been at our house was the funeral, so it was kind of odd to think that both sides of my family plus all my old and new friends were going to be there.

I let Alex drive and took the backseat with Ally. We both fell asleep before we had even left the small town. "Thanks again for the gift," I heard Justin say somewhere between dreaming and reality.

"No problem," Alex said back, "anything to make her happy."

"That's all I want." I smiled at my boys and nuzzled deeper into my pillow.

The next time I woke up we were pulling into Nana's driveway. I got out and stretched. Alex reloaded the car with everything we needed, but he and Riley left before us in Riley's car. The rest of us sat around rather quietly in the living room while Grandma asked questions about the day before.

I was about to answer "good" for the third time when Vince and Charlotte walked in.

"Who's ready for a road trip?" Vince called.

"I am!" I jumped up ready to go. I was always anxious to get on the road. "Throw your bags in the back and let's get going!" I said goodbye to Grandma again and we were off. She and the Petersons were traveling together the next day.