Page 13

Chapter Eleven

Darcy

Last night was so much fun but wobbling in half asleep at two a.m. not so much. The Adventure Dome was insane, and Vale and I ended up with even more stuffies that we won. Mommy and Daddy Jack were trying to figure out the best way to get all our stuff home.

“Wakey, wakey, Princess. Breakfast is here.”

Mommy peppered my face with kisses. I squirmed and almost peed. “Need to potty, Mommy.”

“Okay, take care of business and meet us at the table.” She kissed me again then wandered back out into the living room where the others were.

I dressed in comfy clothes again, pulled my hair up in a ponytail, then put my new wedding veil headband on.

I loved it so much and I got to match my new bride bear even though she had to stay behind today.

I didn’t want her pretty white dress to get dirty.

“Good morning, sleepy head,” Vale teased before he shoveled a forkful of pancakes into his pie hole.

“That was attractive,” I rolled my eyes at him while Daddy Jack whispered, “chew your food,” to him. “Morning,” I greeted the rest of our family as I sat between Mommy and Sarah. “What’s the plan for today?”

“I haven’t been out much so if it’s okay with the group, can we walk to our destinations so I can get a bit of sightseeing in or is it too far?” Sarah had been glued to her penny sluts practically since we got here. Daddy Jack pulled out his phone to map the route.

“Looks like it’s a seventeen-minute walk to the M&M store then New York-New York is across the street from it. Totally doable.”

“Perfect. There’s your itinerary answer, Princess,” Sarah winked. “I hear you two had fun last night. Looks like you emptied out a claw machine or twelve.”

“Some of them we got that way and the others we turned in our tickets for. Mommy and Daddy Jack played too and then we all rode the bumper cars and the merry-go-round and played the rolling ball game. It was so much fun.” Vale’s head bobbed the entire time I talked.

It was like reliving it all over again. We had such a great time, and it was even better watching Mommy and Daddy Jack let go and play too.

“Sounds like it. I have a feeling we’re all carting home stuffies in our luggage tomorrow.” Sarah nudged me with her shoulder. “I’m so happy for you, Darcy.”

“I’m glad you’re here, it wouldn’t be the same without you.” And I meant it. We finished eating, grabbed our purses and were off.

“Look, Daddy.” Vale pointed ahead. “There’s a Coke store too. Can we go in there?”

“Of course, it’s connected to the M&M store.”

These stores were huge and three stories high. “Whoa.” There was an entire wall with every color of M&M’s you could imagine.

“Grab a bag and pick your colors, Princess.” Mommy helped me get all the purples and pinks, then we rode the escalator up to the other floors and shopped some more.

Mommy found us matching M&M shorty short pj’s.

“We’ll be so cute for movie night, Mommy.

” We got coffee cups and silly socks and magnets with our names on them.

Well, Mommy’s said Mommy cause they didn’t have Vivienne.

After that we crossed over to the Hershey store and New York, New York.

“Look up, everyone.” Our eyes immediately went to where Daddy Jack pointed.

“Wow, that’s way up there.” The rollercoaster was swirling around really fast up in the air. “No thank you.”

“Not big on rides?”

“No, Mommy. They make my brain smushy.” I didn’t like that feeling at all.

“I’m with you there, baby girl. Never been my thing.”

Vale was in heaven when we stepped inside the Hershey store, not that he hadn’t been in the M&M one already. Daddy Jack had to chase him after Vale took off at a run. I wonder if he ate all his M&M’s as we walked over cause the little monkey was super hyper.

Mommy and I got a few more trinkets. I got a cute Hershey bar wallet, and we found magnets with our names on them here too. She said those were easy to get home and memories to use on the fridge to hold up all my pretty pictures. Mommy was so smart.

Sarah immediately sneaked off to the casino.

She was having the time of her life. I don’t remember her and Vale ever going on vacation.

She worked a lot, but was always home with him, so maybe this was her first time away.

As long as she was happy, that’s all that mattered to me. Sarah more than deserved to be.

Mommy shook her head at Vale’s silliness. “I’m afraid to mention there’s a huge candy store on the strip that goes beyond chocolate.”

“Let’s keep that as our secret.” I had a feeling Daddy Jack would be ordering one of those monkey backpacks that had the human leashes connected to it for the next time he took Vale anywhere.

“Smart girl.” Mommy kissed my head. “Let’s see what else they have.”

“Look Mommy, a s’more pillow like at Pride Camp.”

Mommy laughed. “Yes, though most of yours were more deconstructed s’mores since you ate everything separately.” She picked up the small stuffie. “I think we have room for this.”

“I, for one, am glad I had the forethought to put my suitcase into a larger one, so we do have an empty to fill,” Daddy Jack shook his head. “Vale has collected more silly lounge pants while on this trip then his side of the closet has room for.”

As if he heard his name, Vale walked up carrying a Reese’s, Hershey’s, and Jolly Rancher pair. He’d already found some with mini M&M’s on them across the street. Sheesh, how many did he need? Said she who now has a million stuffies.

“Darcy, see how cute?” He handed them to me. “I got a Hershey kiss and Reese’s stuffie too.”

He was too funny. “And you got the blue M&M one already. I got a mini s’more one like we had at camp. I can’t wait for you to go with us next summer.”

“Me too.”

“Alright you two, let’s go check out.” We followed Daddy Jack over to the registers. After we paid we entered the casino area.

“I wonder if this is what New York really looks like?” Vale’s wide gaze scanned the area, as did mine. There was a lot going on.

“Parts of it do,” Daddy Jack told him. “The shopping area is a mini replica of Greenwich Village.”

I saw what they meant when they said each hotel has its own theme, which was cool. To me though, the casino areas were all the same. Mommy got some more magnets, which were great. I hated using tape on the pretty stainless fridge. After that we trotted down the strip toward our hotel.

Sarah was having a great time and won five hundred bucks in New York, New York, so she was a happy camper.

“How about an easy night tonight? Enjoy the pool, then pack and order room service?” Mommy made a wonderful suggestion. My feet hurt by the time we got back to our room and all I wanted to do was chill.

“Great idea, V.” Daddy Jack flopped down on the couch. “My dogs are barking.” He, Mommy and Sarah laughed but Vale and I were lost. “Dogs as in my feet hurt.”

Hmm, weird saying… Why would anyone call their feet dogs?

“Okay you two, let’s get swimsuits on and head down to the pool. Will you be joining us, Sarah?” I loved how mommy included her in everything.

“I believe I will.”

How funny it was that all five of us grabbed our ereaders.

I couldn’t wait to dive in, then dry off in the sun binge reading, curled up in a cabana with Mommy.

Mommy and I talked about all kinds of books we both liked.

How perfect was it that we had similar tastes in books?

One more piece in the puzzle that was us.

“Everyone, grab a bottle of water from the fridge,” Mommy called out.

“Yes, mother,” Daddy Jack teased even though he did what she said. Mommy had a way of commanding others. That’s what made her so great at her day job.

We claimed an empty cabana and parked our stuff there.

Before we dove in, Mommy slathered me in enough sunscreen for a large family.

I was all white and sticky feeling. What was nice though was with most of the guests checking out today the pool area was empty.

Vale and I splashed and laughed while Mommy and Daddy Jack watched us.

What a great way to spend our last day of vacation.

As I swam up to Mommy she wrapped her legs around my waist and pulled me in. “This is so nice.”

“We picked the right time to come, Mommy.” Leaning against her chest was one of my favorite places to rest. “I’ve had so much fun. Thank you for the best time of my life, Mommy.”

“You’re welcome, Princess. Your enjoyment feeds mine and your smile brings me such pleasure.”

When Mommy held me tight, all the mean, negative voices in my head quieted. Even they knew not to mess with her.

“Come on,” Mommy tapped my tush. “Your shoulders are getting red. Let’s get out and read for a bit.” Stupid sunscreen doesn’t last long enough. It was so relaxing floating with mommy, but cuddling and reading sounded just as nice.

Except as soon as we cuddled up, I dozed off watching Mommy read. Hadn’t even opened my own book…

“Alright, Sleeping Beauty, that’s enough heat for one day. Let’s go upstairs, shower, and get packed.”

I rubbed my eyes and glanced around. Daddy Jack was waking up Vale too. Guess I wasn’t the only sleepy head.

Mommy picked up all our stuff then took my hand, which I was thankful for. My legs were still all wobbly and if I dropped my iPad I’d be super mad.

“I call first dibs on the shower!” Sarah hollered and ran for the one we’d been sharing with her.

She firmly stated when we arrived that she was not sharing with men.

Raising one son was challenging enough but a bathroom with two of them wasn’t happening in this lifetime or the next.

The way she said stuff really cracked me and Mommy up.

While Mommy set the clothes we’d need out and packed the rest, I did my best to stuff as many of my toys and stuffies into my backpack as I could. “Argh!”

“What’s wrong, Princess?”