Mommy Mouse (sequel to City Mouse)

Chapter 4: Motoring

Leo, of course, was flipping his shit before they even left New York for the drive down.

"So we're driving so Happy can come with us?" he asked.

"Yes, Leo, you know the plan," Mouse answered, laughing. "Merry and Chrissy will stay in New York, and Travis will check on them for us while we're gone, to make sure they're okay. You and Happy will stay with Grandma and Grandpa after the wedding while Daddy and I go on our honeymoon. Then they'll bring you guys to New York when we come back, just in time for you to start first grade."

Mouse and Henry had seriously discussed taking Leo with them to Tahiti for the honeymoon.

"I really wouldn't mind," Mouse had insisted, nodding for emphasis.

"I actually believe you," Henry replied with a laugh, looking at her in the darkness of their bedroom. "But he's been wanting to go to your parents' anyway, you know? And this might be his only chance this year, and they did offer..."

"I know, but this will be the first time we've left him," Mouse said. "The first time you've left him, right?"

Henry nodded, pulling Mouse close to kiss her on her forehead.

"I know, and I feel weird about it, too," he admitted. "But it's our honeymoon."

"So what?" she said stubbornly. "We only have to please ourselves, and if we want him to go, we should take him."

So they had left it up to Leo, and he had decided he'd rather stay with Grandma and Grandpa and Happy, and ride the horse, Blaze, who was taking the saddle very nicely now.

So they were driving to Mouse's parents' rambling farmhouse on the outskirts of Alexandria, luggage, Leo and Happy in tow, after bidding a tearful farewell to the cats.

"I don't think they even care," Leo said sadly, turning away from Merry, who was washing her face. "I don't think they're even going to miss us at all." Chrissy didn't even open her eyes.

"I'm sure they're sad on the inside," Mouse said, trying to convince her young son that the cats felt sorrow over the fact that their humans were leaving them for two weeks.

"You really think so?" Leo asked, turning hopefully to his mother.

"I do," she answered firmly. "Now let's take Happy for a quick potty walk and get her into the car, okay?"

"Okay," Leo chirped, his good humor restored as he headed out of the room.

"Couldn't you look a little bit sad?" Mouse asked the cats rhetorically. She was given two green-eyed looks by the cats before they returned to their nap and bath, respectively.

Mouse sighed and went to join her family in the car.

Henry enjoyed the drive down to Virginia, singing and playing games with his fiancée and young son. He didn't even mind stopping to let the dog out, or being surprised when she jumped from the back of the SUV to the back seat because he'd forgotten to latch the door to her crate.

"Daddy!" Leo  shouted. "Happy escaped! She escaped and jumped over into my lap, look!"

Henry turned from the passenger seat and saw a huge pile of fur where his son had been moments before. He could hear Leo giggling as Happy licked his face all over, and smiled over at Mouse, who was driving.

She grinned back at him, laughing at the happy sounds emanating from the back seat as their dog tickled their son.

"Happy, stop!" Leo begged. "I can't breathe, you're making me laugh too much!"