“How do you feel about coming out to the bus again?” Carl offers.
“I don’t think Slay, Natasha, or Bianca would appreciate that,” Samantha replies. “Besides,” she lays both hands flat on the sides of her stomach, “I don’t think I’ll fit in the bunk like I used to.”
Carl leans forward and rests his forearms on his thighs. “I think if you spoke with them, you’d find them to be more forgiving than you give them credit for.”
Wayne adds, “And I’ll be happy to part with the camper for a week or two.”
She looks at me, her eyes conflicted. “How would you feel if I spent a little more time with you guys?”
“Ecstatic.”
She shrugs. “Well, maybe I can spare a week.”
“Do your parents intend to come down for the birth?” Dorrine asks.
“I’m hoping to fly my mom, sis, and nieces down sometime after if that’s okay with Samantha.”
“Are you kidding? I would fly your sister down right now if I could.”
“I’ll make sure a guesthouse is ready for them,” Dorrine offers.
“Oh, no. I can put them up in a hotel.”
“Nonsense,” Wayne says. “Family stays with family.”
I’m shocked at his offer, partially because Samantha was so at odds with him while she was living on the bus, but relationships change and evolve, and it’s clear that whatever water they had under the bridge has been drained.
“I appreciate the offer and might take you up on it.”
Carl leaves, but I stay, excited to get to know Samantha’s family.
Dorrine disappears into the bus, coming back a minute later with a deck of cards and who I can only guess to be Samantha’s brother.
He looks me up and down, smirking.
“Did youhaveto drag him out?” Samantha huffs.
He holds a hand out for me. “You must be…Toxic?”
We shake. “You can call me Joe. I take it you’re Elliot?”
“Yes, the favored Weston child.”
“Try the most annoying,” Samantha sneers.
“I hear you’re good at poker,” Dorrine says as she sets up a small table.
“I’ve won a hand or two,” I say sheepishly because I don’t like bragging.
Wayne cracks his knuckles and looks me straight in the eye. “Yeah, well, get ready for me to mop the parking lot with your ass.”
So that’s how it is.
“All right, pops, let’s see what ya got.”
THIRTY-THREE
Samantha
