To Find Love...

Chicago, Here We Come

December 2026

"Bobby, it's time to go," I shouted down the hallway as I grabbed my bag and the last box left in the apartment.

"I'm ready Mommy," Bobby replied carrying his backpack with a few toys, snacks and his tablet for the long trip ahead of us.

"Are you sure you have everything?" I ask as I take one quick walk through the apartment.

"I think so," he replies waiting by the front door.

"Well, this is the last time we leave this place. Are you ready for our new adventure?" I ask him with a smile.

"Why do we have to leave again?" he asks looking up at me.

"We are off to bigger and better things, just like we talked about. I have a new job waiting for us and we'll be staying with your cousins for a little while before we get our new place. Don't you want to see them again?"

"I guess," he mumbled. I shook my head with a small grin on my face.

"This is a good thing sweetie and you'll get to make a lot of new friends and there is a lot more to do in the big city than there is around here."

"But I'm going to miss Riley," he replied.

"I know you will, but we will still talk to him and his mom as often as we can. OK?" He nods in response. "Come on, we have to stop and see Grandma and Grandpa before we begin our travels."

"OK," he says as he heads down the stairs and to the front door.

We walked to my car and I loaded my bag and the last box into it while Bobby settled in his car seat in the back. I was taking all of our clothes and necessities in the car to take to Stacy's place while all our furniture was being taken by a moving truck and put into storage nearby.

I don't know how long we are going to be staying with them, but I'm hoping it won't be too long after I start working. I really didn't have a lot of time to look for an apartment after accepting the job and wrapping things up here. I was glad that my landlord let me out of my lease early since I moving out of the state and he had waiting list so it would fill quickly.

I drove us to my parents' place which was a couple of hours away, but I knew we had to see them before we left for Chicago. We arrived just before noon and my mom had a table full of food waiting for us along with my grandparents sitting there.

"Grandma! Grandpa!" Bobby yelled as we entered the dining room running to give them each a hug. He then gave Nana and Papa a hug as well (Nana and Papa are my grandparents, but since I called them that, he does too).

"Oh my goodness, have you grown again?" my mother teases Bobby as she tries to lift him up.

"I'm always growing Grandma," he replies. He's too smart for his own good.

"Well growing boys need to eat, so sit down and dig in," Papa chimes in, grabbing a plate to fill up.

"Hi Mom, Dad, Nana, Papa," I finally say before giving them each a hug.

"Hi sweetie," Mom says. "I hope the drive was good."

"It was, thank you." I replied taking a seat at the table.

"When are you planning on leaving?" Dad asked.

"I'd like to get started pretty soon as I only want to spend one night in a hotel. I know we'll be making plenty of stops along the way."

"No need traveling on an empty stomach, so eat up," Papa tells me. Papa and his food, I chuckle to myself.

"I will, I will," I laugh in response. "Thank you for lunch Mom, you really didn't have to do this."