Page 5 of Champagne & Handcuffs

I wasn’t sure how much farther we had to go to get to Grandma’s, but I was tired of riding in the car. I just wanted to go to Disney World already. “Can we get McDonald’s?” I’d seen those golden arches in many towns we’d passed.

“We can’t. We’re having lunch with Grandma.”

“We are?” I perked up.

“We are.”

“How much farther?”

“Not far.”

I sighed. That was too long. I wanted her to tell me now. “Can she meet us at McDonald’s?”

“No, baby. We’re meeting her at a rest stop, and then I’m turning around and going home.”

I’d never had more than a night away from my parents before. “What am I going to do at Grandma’s when we aren’t at Disney World?”

Mommy shrugged a little. “You’ll play with the other kids around like you do now.”

“But I won’t have any friends.”

“Make some.”

My forehead scrunched up. “There are kids that live in trailers?” I’d assumed only grandparents did.

She chuckled. “Of course.”

We pulled off the road into a rest stop, and I immediately saw my grandma sitting at a picnic table. The moment the car stopped, I reached for the handle.

“Stop!” Mom bit out. “Not so fast.”

“But I want to go see Grandma!”

“We are, but I don’t want you to get run over.”

“I won’t get run over.”

“Just grab your bag, and we’ll walk over together.”

I sighed as I grabbed my backpack from the back seat. We walked across the parking lot toward Grandma, and I watched as her grey-haired head lifted. The moment she saw us, she stood.

“Grandma!” I rushed into her arms. Grandma was the best. She taught me how to play this card game called Gin Rummy and every time she came to visit, we’d play for hours.

“Hey, Sethie. I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too.”

“How was the drive?” Grandma asked my mom as we sat at the wood table.

“It was good. I would have driven all the way yesterday, but we left late.”

Grandma pulled sandwiches out of a red cooler. “It’s not a problem. Sixteen hours in a car is too long. I didn’t mind meeting you a few hours from Miami.”

“Thank you. And thank you for taking this one for the summer.” Mom rubbed her hand in my brown hair, and I shrugged her off.

“I’d do anything for you and Troy.”

“I know. We appreciate it.”