Theo and Reed's Blessed Groomzilla Event

Chapter Thirteen

The next day the Walton Fishers, St.Austins and the happy engaged couple all woke up bright and early because it was Road Trip Time! ( As Winnie had phrased it in his text at six AM ). Theo had found his precious charger although he had already restored his phone's battery in their car. Mary Davis had made sure all  the cabin refrigerators had food to last their visit so after they met in Theo and Reed's cabin Theo had fixed everyone a breakfast of bacon and eggs with coffee for the adults and juice for the two children. Livvie and Benji were put out as they ate ( They were bored plus Benji wanted his phone back plus Livvie was complaining she only had two bars on hers ). " It's not even pulling up Tik Tok! ," Livvie exclaimed in horror. At the mention of Tik Tok Saint removed the phone from his daughter which had her complaining even more. Last summer at camp the kids had learned sign language as a lark and because it seemed fun plus the adults didn't know what they were saying. Benji rolled his eyes and signed to his bestie," Parents suck. " Livvie signed back," They're so old. " Winnie looked at them with a smile and signed back to them," One day you'll appreciate their being old and sucking as parents. I also heard they're giving the phones back after the wedding. This is family time remember? "

Theo looked at Winnie and the children with much suspicion. " Winnie, I didn't know you could sign. "

Winnie smiled merrily. " I'm a man of mystery,  Theodore. "

Apparently, Dennis said as he finished up his coffee, they were all going two towns over. First to see what he called The Gorge ( Reed , Saint and Benji actually seemed happy about this while Livvie complained about her nails breaking). Matt claimed nature made him break out in hives and Theo saw himself falling into some river at this gorgey place. Then they were going to something called a Mystery Hole. Theo was not fond of that idea either. It sounded like something that might hurt him. He kept picturing a really big gopher hole. Dennis smirked that he would try to drive slower this time. Reed whispered to Theo that Dennis' smirk was not called for. Before they left Matt whipped up a picnic lunch for them all at this gorge place with it's trees and water and rocks and other things that would probably hurt Theo.

Of course by the time they all got to The Gorge Theo and Matt had changed their tunes. It was the most beautiful sight the Texas and Georgia men had ever seen. They took probably one too many pictures on their cell phones. Reed and Saint both teased them that " they told them so". Then Matt started to itch and Theo nearly fell down the long stretch of wooden steps when a big woman with an incontinent poodle had ran into him. Reed had grabbed him just in time. " My hero ," Theo teased and Reed smiled.

The picnic went well. They ate all the ham and cheese sandwiches and potato chips and apples that Matt had brought with them. To the point that the adults were all flopped down beneath nearby trees, not certain they could move any more. The kids chased butterflies in the sunlight.

It was so peaceful that Theo thought nothing could spoil it.

Until Winnie sat up , rhinestone sunglasses on his face, his vape in hand. He was searching the nearby parking lot as though looking for something.

" You ok ," Winnie Pooh Bear ?," Dennis asked as he flopped a long arm around Winnie's suddenly tense shoulders. Winnie looked nervous but he shrugged. " Just nerves. I guess. I thought I felt someone watching me. I felt that way back at the cabins. "

Theo looked at Matt.

Matt looked at Theo.

Saint and Reed looked at each other, both hoping their husbands didn't get into any trouble.

Theo sent a text to Matt , amazed he had a signal. It said," We need to stay close to Winnie until the wedding and we all get out of West Virginia. "

Matt looked at his phone after it beeped. Then he texted back : Yeah , we do. Matt looked up at Theo.

Theo looked as serious as a heart attack.