“And hopefully a mattress,” I add, following him out the door. “I already threw out the last one.”
“What? Afraid of sleeping on the same mattress as Aunt Martha and Uncle Jay?” he asks over his shoulder with a sly grin.
I shiver at the image. Martha and Jay are affectionate,veryaffectionate, no matter the place. I don’t want to think about them getting freaky in the same bedroom I’m staying in.
“You might want to make sure to bleach the dining table… You never know.”
I smack Nate as I jog past him. “You’re disgusting.”
Dad stands at the back of the trailer where a cream slip-covered sofa and mattress wait to be unloaded. His arms are folded across his chest as he watches us with a beaming smile. “It’s like old times.”
Nate nudges my shoulder as he passes by. “She’s still as bossy as ever.”
I scoff. “Me? You’re the one making gross comments.”
“Yep, just like old times,” Dad grumbles, working the ratchet straps.
Gramps climbs out of the passenger seat, a stainless-steel travel mug in his hand.
“Gramps!” I shout as I round the truck to wrap him in a hug. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
“Figured I’d come help supervise.”
“We both know they could use it.” I chuckle, guiding Gramps toward the path leading to the front porch. We lean against the white railing, watching Nate and Dad work together to free the furniture. With one on each end of the mattress, I jog up the path and hold open the door for them.
They wrestle the mattress through the door. I should’ve ordered one that came in a box rather than one from the local furniture store. These small doorways make moving difficult. Although then, I would’ve missed out on their antics.
“Watch the corner,” Dad grits out as he shoulders the mattress. “You’re going to scratch the fresh paint.”
“How am I going to scratch the walls? It’s a mattress. And you’re the one who cut the corner too short.”
“Just pivot.”
Nate huffs. “Okay, Ross.”
“I’m no Ross Geller. I’m more of a Joey.” Dad turns his attention toward me, running them into the wall again.
“Jesus, old man.”
That does it. I laugh, doubling over at the memory of watching Mom and Dad quoteFriendsas Nate and I sat with themto watch reruns. My family’s had an obsession with the sitcom forever. Everything in life circles back toFriends.
“Glad you’re entertained,” Nate mutters as his boots stomp up the stairs.
“Which room?” Dad asks as he starts up the steps, with me close behind.
“The one on the left.”
“Good choice, Pumpkin. It has the best view of the farm.”
I couldn’t agree more. From the bedroom window, I can see for miles. Flat farmland, growing crops, machinery working the fields, and way in the distance is the shelter house where the river meets the border of Drummond Farms and Riggsby Cattle.
Once upon a time, that was my favorite place in the entire world. A spot where I imagined my own home built as I watched the sun set over our land.
“You know,” Gramps says as we follow Dad and Nate. “I haven’t been here since the last time Jay and Martha stayed.”
I choke on a laugh as Nate stumbles over a step. Dad curses as he fights to hang on to the mattress. Nate glances over his shoulder and shares a knowing look as we both try to keep it together.
“Those two always loved staying here.” Gramps continues. “They couldn’t keep their hands off each other.”
