Same Time Next Year

Chapter 22 - Year 5

Noah

The next morning, we decided that only the three of us would drop in on family lunch and surprise our families.  Lee thought it was too early to bring Rachel, since they had just gotten back together.  He didn't want to get Mom all excited quite yet.  I was glad that Lee had decided to come with us because I'm not sure I ever would have heard the end of my Mom's questions if only Elle and I showed up together.  It was hard enough now to answer her questions about me and Elle because I didn't have any of the answers.  They were the same questions I had of Elle.

Lee knew Mom was hosting lunch this weekend, since she had mentioned it to him when they talked earlier in the week.  Lee drove and we got there just in time to see Brad pulling into the driveway with Mike in the passenger seat.  What the hell?  How is that even possible? I think Brad must have gotten overly excited when he noticed the three of us getting out of the car because he almost hit Lee's car.  Elle and I were dying laughing at the expression on both Mike and Lee's faces.  It was even funnier because I'm not sure Brad even noticed.  He threw the car in park and jumped out, heading my way first.

"Hi, Noah!  I didn't know you were coming today!  Did you know I got my driver's permit?  Did you see me driving?  Once I get my driver's license, I'm going to see if Dad will let me learn how to drive a motorcycle, just like you!"  I glanced sheepishly over towards Mike, hoping he had missed that last sentence. I could tell by the glare he was giving me that he hadn't missed anything.  I know Mike had some bad feelings towards me years ago after I had broken Elle's heart, although I thought he had mostly gotten past that in the years that followed, but the last thing I needed was to have him blame me for Brad wanting a motorcycle.  I might have to do what I can to talk him out of that today.  I have to laugh at this kid, even has he grows taller and is starting to look like he's not a little kid anymore, I'll still always think of him as the eight year old who wouldn't stop following me around when Elle and I started dating.  He sure hasn't slowed down his talking at all.  I have a feeling he gets that from his older sister.

"Well, look at you three.  Here's a sight for sore eyes.  Good to see you all together."  Mike pulled Elle in for a hug before shaking hands with me and Lee.

Mom must have heard all the commotion outside and saw us all out the window because before we made it to the door, she came running outside.

"Noah!  I wasn't expecting you this weekend!"  She wrapped me into a hug that always made me feel a bit like a little kid again.  "Oh and Lee and Elle, of course I'm happy to see you two.  But, Noah, I didn't even know you were going to be in town."  Mom wrapped Lee and Elle into hugs too, although I don't think her eyes ever left me.

"Sorry I didn't give you a heads up.  It was kind of a spur of the moment getaway and I thought I would just surprise you."  I could tell my Mom was happy enough to see me that she wasn't going to say much about me not telling her beforehand.  I was lucky I could usually get away with quite a bit with her these days just because she missed seeing me so much.

"And somehow all three of us ended up at the beach house this weekend, so we spent the day all together yesterday."  Lee explained.  Noticing my Mom's expression at this news, I started following Mike and Brad into the house, trying to avoid her eyes.  Somehow I didn't think she believed in the coincidence quite as easily as Lee had.

We all went inside where we found my Dad in the living room watching golf.  He seemed almost as happy as my Mom to see me, pulling me in for a hug before immediately starting to ask about my classes.  I noticed that Brad seemed to be following me until it was time to eat and he grabbed the seat next to me as soon as I sat down and started talking cars.  He wanted my opinion on every car he was thinking about getting.  Even Mike piping in to explain to him that most of the cars he was talking about were too expensive or not safe enough didn't seem to deter him.