Rainbow bows out of the next round of Scrabble, and I sub in. And then, in a move very uncharacteristic of me, I lose on purpose. Kerrigan wins. Under the table, my grandma affectionately squeezes my thigh.
The red rocks of Sedona come into view, and though I've seen it before, that doesn't stop it from being stunningly beautiful.
Our first stop, according toWe're Going To Have Fun, DAMMITis Airport Mesa to feel the vortex.
When the motor home is parked at the far end of the lot because that's the only place with enough space for this behemoth, Rainbow scoots out of the bench. She stands at the ready for my grandma, should she require assistance. I fold up my chair and replace it where it goes, then stand at the counter and pretend I'm busy with something so my grandma doesn't feel like I'm watching her. But I am, in my peripheral vision. I haven't been privy to the ins and outs of her day on this trip, seeing her only in chunks of prescribed time. Aside from the shortness of breath that is not constant, it's hard to believe she's ill. Until now. Until her caftan sways just so as she slides from the booth, lifting enough to reveal a swollen ankle.
I glance at my mom and Kerrigan, expecting to see their alarm, but there is only sadness across their expressions. Ten minutes ago we were laughing, but reality has swooped in and smacked us across the face.
I excuse myself to the small but surprisingly nice bathroom, splashing a little water on my cheeks and forehead. I can do this without falling apart. Falling apart is for later, when she is no longer here.
I leave the bathroom and find everybody has walked outside. Dom waits for me, leaning against the open door with his phone in his hand.
"Is work ok?" I ask.
He nods. "I have a meeting tomorrow morning I'll have to call in for."
"Sure," I answer, my thoughts drifting to my job. The meetings I'm missing. It feels odd not to go into work every morning, coffee in hand. I'm not on vacation, but I'm not going to work, and I'm not at home. I'm in limbo, in an alternate universe where all I do is road trip around the desert.
Dom motions for me to go first. When my feet hit the pavement, I stare out across the red mesa, piñon trees growing wild from the canyon walls.
"I feel it," Duke says dramatically, shaking his arms. "The vortex has taken hold."
"Me. Too." I twitch my hands, enjoying the way my big brother laughs.
Rainbow pointedly looks the other direction.
Grandma smacks both of our arms. "Quit being assholes."
She steps away to talk to our dad. Duke and I share a smile, and he asks, "Hey, why did your husband buy a bunch of milk last night?"
"He was thirsty," I answer, turning on my heel. No amount of sibling bonding is worth answering follow-up questions.
Dom leans against the motor home, eating a protein bar. "How many of those did you bring on this trip?"
"A lot," he answers after he swallows. "I knew I'd be eating on other people's timetables, and I figured it was a good idea to have easy food that would keep the blood sugar up."
I tug at his sleeve and bring my lips to his upper arm, saying against the fabric, "My grandma and Duke both asked why you were buying so much milk last night. They saw you?"
"Not your grandma, but the rest of your family was standing next to the scene of the crime when I walked in with the milk. I guess word got around. What did you say?"
"I ended up telling my grandma we had a sexual mishap."
Dom's eyes widen, and I hurry to defend myself. "I know, I know. I wouldn't have said anything, but my grandma is diabolical. She knew just what to say to get me to talk."
Dom presses the last bite of his bar into his mouth. "Which was?"
"She said I couldn't help with Scrabble if I didn't tell them why we needed milk."
He finishes chewing, nodding acceptingly, likethat'll do it. "How did you avoid telling them what really happened?"
"The conversation moved on to semen in the eye, and carnelians in the vagina."
It takes a few moments for my words to penetrate before Dom asks, "Carnelians like the crystal?"
I nod. "Supposedly they will make my vagina a more inviting space."
Dom blinks twice. Steps closer, voice low. "As the man lucky enough to spend a few glorious minutes between your legs, I can personally attest to howinvitedI feel."
