What could go wrong when taking a road trip, alone, across the USA after a break up? Well, I can answer that for you.
Your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. That's what could happen. The universe is really out to get me, these days.
That is...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
May 29, 2022
I kiss James's cheek, "I'm gonna go see if Darby needs help and drop off the pie." He nods his head in acknowledgement, immersed in a conversation with his grandpa.
"Hi, Elle," Darby greets as I walk into the kitchen. "Be a dear and help me take these dishes out to the table," she instructs. I set the pie down and jump into work. After all of the food is transferred into the dining room we call the boys in to eat.
"This is your last Sunday dinner?" Lucas asks, a slight sadness in the words.
I nod my head, reaching under the table to find James's hand. Needing reassurance that he is still here next to me. At least until tomorrow...
"We are going to miss you! You'll have to come visit," Darby commands, not taking no for an answer.
"I would love to!" I smile. "Montana has got to be my favorite state, now. No contest." Everyone laughs.
"Why is that? The mountains," Lucas asks.
"No definitely the town. What's not to love about Adler," Darby guesses.
I chuckle, "those are a few of the reasons," I look at James, "but not the main one." He smiles at me, eyes sparkling, and squeezes my hand.
We dig into the food, talking about a wide variety of topics. From cars and cattle to celebrities and town gossip.
"Elle, could I talk to you," Darby asks as we finish eating dessert, which everyone loved. It was demolished in minutes, yet again.
"Yeah of course," I wipe my mouth with my napkin before standing up. James gives me a questioning look but I can only shrug because I genuinely have no idea what this could be about.
"Boys, clean up, will you?" Darby smiles at them before ushering me to the front porch for privacy.
"So dear...I saw James at the drugstore yesterday," Darby says.
Surely she doesn't know what he got. James said we were in the clear. I try not to show my panic, remaining calm on the outside.
I nod my head and she continues, "I may be old, but I'm not stupid." She pats my arm, "thank you for being safe." The blood drains from my face and rushes to my cheeks all at the same time. I struggle to swallow, a knot in my throat from the embarrassment of getting caught.
I try to respond but it's just a whole bunch of incoherent stuttering. She smiles at me.
"I consider you family and would love to welcome you into the family through a great-grandchild anytime but thank you for being responsible nonetheless. I appreciate you," she pauses. "You've been great for JJ, really. He's been the happiest I've ever seen him. Always laughing and smiling now. I can see the relationship you two have plain as day. You guys both look at each other the same way. Like you're in love. I'm rooting for you guys," she laughs. I smile, glad that she wants me to be a part of the family and that the awkward talk is over.
We hear voices nearing the door and she hurries to finish her speech, "Anyway, what I was trying to say is thank you for everything. You are welcome here anytime, even if it doesn't work out between you too, but I think it will." The embarrassment is almost completely gone away, replaced by a sense of belonging.
We hug Darby and Lucas goodbye, then head to the truck. A few miles down the road James turns to me, "What did my grandma want?"
"Oh um, she knows about us."
James grins, "we are an us now?"
I grin back, loving being and 'us'.
"Oh and she knows about the Plan B." I watch as the grin drops from his face and his eyes go wide in horror. I break out into a fit of giggles, glad I'm not the only one that nearly died from embarrassment today.
