I pull in and Gannett and I each grab a girl before they jump out of my lifted truck. Terra squeals and claps her hands as soon as her feet hit the gravel. That, in turn, gets the dog all wound up too, and he starts running in circles, tangling himself up in his leash. Tatiana gets hearts in her eyes looking at the fifth-wheels—posh, moveable mansions.
Gannett notices that look too. “Sorry, doll. Dad’s budget isn’tthatbig.”
Tati hums, “Maybe if you didn’t say bad words all the time…”
I chuckle as if I don’t also add to their jars on a frequent basis. I’m working on it though.
We walk around the lot for a bit before a saleswoman shows up. She shows us more that are within Gannett’s budget, and will suit the needs of our little family unit. Still seems weird to me to call us a family unit, since only two months have passed from the day I sold Taryn thepub, but here we are—looking at campers that can accommodate all of us.
That, and we’re going on a trip where I can formally introduce Gannett and the girls to my family. Well, the closest way I can, anyway. We’re going to where my mother grew up. A place that I’ve never been to, though I should have, because that’s where she was laid to rest. A town that always felt like such a fairytale place to me, since she spoke of it with such fondness.
I don’t know, it just felt right to plan a trip there. Dr. Goucher encouraged it, saying that even though I have no living relatives, it might be a nice way for us to go there and see what made it such a special place for Mom. I already know what made it so special. That was where she lived, all before she met Marlin.
I’m shocked at how quick the process is when purchasing a camper, but I guess I shouldn’t be. It’s August, Maine’s prime camping season is nearly over, so dealerships will move heaven and earth to get rid of an over abundance of inventory they have sitting on their lots. We’re not even here for two hours before I’m getting Gannett’s new rig attached to my ball hitch.
He pats the side, arching a dark brow up at me. “Does spontaneously throwing $16k on a rolling hotel room buy me a little insight on where we’re going?”
I smirk. “Yeah, I guess so. We’re going to Ridge Falls. Well, technically the campground is in Pineland, the next town over, but I, uhm, I want to see where my mother grew up.” I pause, gnawing on the inside of my cheek. “But I also wanted you all with me, when I do. And I know we could have stayed in some motel or B&B or whatever, but you’d said that you’d never brought Tati and Terra camping, and I wanted to give you and them that experience in return.”
He grins, his straight, white teeth on full display. “Aw! That’s really sweet of you, babe. Now, see? You’re a very thoughtfulbig, gay dateplanner too! This is awesome. I’m friggin’ stoked.”
“Me too!” Terra chimes in. “Can we have a big campfire with s’mores an’ stuff?”
I nod. “Only if we put broccoli in them though. Your mom told me to make sure you eat something green this weekend.”
Both girls grimace. “Ew, Mr. Gordy,” Tati balks. “I’m not eating what you cook.”
Gannett scoffs. “You eat his cooking all the time. Surely you don’t think I know how to make a proper supper, do you?”
Terra giggles. “Da smoke alarms haven’t made noise lately.”
I chuckle too. “Microwave hasn’t had to be replaced either.”
Gannett groans, but it’s playful. “I can always check and see what the return policy is on these things,” he notes, hiking a thumb over his shoulder at the trailer.
Twinkie chooses then to bark at Gannett’s feet, almost as if he doesn’t agree with that plan at all.
“Alright, time to get going if we want to get there before you girls gotta go right to bed,” I quip, opening up the door to the extended cab and helping Terra climb up to the running boards.
After getting the girls and Twinkie all settled into the back, Gannett slides in the passenger seat. He leans across the center console, pecking my cheek before buckling himself in. Once we start heading for the I-95, he casually reaches over and threads his fingers between mine.
“You two been doin’ a lot of kissin’ an’ holdin’ hands a lot more,” Terra notes. “Are you gonna get married like Mumma and Steve?”
Gannett and I give each other curious glances. We’ve never even remotely thought about whether that’d be the next step between us. The topic has never come up, since we’ve been taking things one day ata time—one new emotion at a time—so that I don’t wind up feeling overwhelmed.
Honestly? I don’t even know how I’d feel about it. My first marriage was nothing but a piece of paper, a contract only, one that was easily torn to shreds.
Gannett spins in his seat. “You know, that’s a really good question, Terra. But mine and Gordy’s relationship doesn’t have to match Mumma and Steve’s.”
“Like how you are both guys?” Tati asks.
Gannett smirks. “Well, that too. But what I meant was that we’re both moving at different speeds, and that’s okay. If Mumma and Steve are comfortable with getting re-married, and they’re happy with the pace they’re moving, I’m happy for them.
“I think Steve is a really great guy. I know he loves you girls and treats you like you’re his own. I know he makes your mom happy, he supports her as a partner, and she deserves that.”
He glances over at me, then back to the girls. “Does that make sense?”
“You don’t want a big weddin’ like Mumma an’ Steve?” Terra asks.
