Joanna and David shot each other disbelieving looks. Earlier, David had taken too long in the bathroom, and Joanna’s dispute with a McDonald’s employee over what was supposed to be a tomatoless burger had forced an itinerary revision of over fifteen minutes. However, for Grant, she was more than willing to wait.
“Dude,” Wally grinned, gesturing toward the counter, “that was so rad! I’ve never seen anyone actually finish one of those. I was literally blown away!”
“Yet, there you stand,” Grant frowned.
“Huh?” Wally looked confused.
Grant shook his head. “It figuratively blew…”
“Grant, just go!” Joanna broke in with a laugh.
“Look both ways before you cross the street,” Nora hollered as Grant jogged out of the store.
Randy rolled his eyes. “Eighteen, Nora! He’s eighteen!”
“Oh hush, he’s seventeen, and he’s my baby!” Nora slapped Randy’s arm playfully. The two embraced as Randy took the brown paper bag of snacks in one arm. He leaned down and kissed the top of Nora’s head as they walked out the door. His affection surprised her, but it was welcomed.
“I love you, Nora,” he smiled. “You know that, right?”
Nora practically blushed. “You better,” she laughed.
“You told us that you took care of the reservations, Mother,” Rachel huffed as she crawled out of the van. “Thank goodness this place had a room.”
“It isn’t your mother’s fault that the dates were confused,” Randy replied as he began the task of unloading the luggage. “And, I can’t do anything about all the hotels in this area being booked. We’ll try to get additional rooms in the morning. It’s late, and it won’t hurt us to camp out in one room for the night.”
The room was crowded and fuses were short. Joanna and Emily were at the sink brushing their teeth while Nora was in the shower. Rachel was in one bed and Melissa was in the other. Wally had gone down to the lobby to ask for additional pillows, and Grant had chained the door behind him. David and Randy sat at the table by the window playing cards as Grant crawled into bed with Melissa.
“Grant, don’t get too comfortable,” David said as he took at hit from the deck. “This game is almost over, and then I’m going to bed.”
“I’m sleeping right here,” Grant declared. “Why do I always have to be the one to sleep on the floor?”
“Because I’m almost twenty years older than you are, and I said you’re sleeping on the floor,” David shrugged mater-of-factly. “Get over there in the bed with Rachel if the floor doesn’t suit you.”
“Sorry,” Rachel said, filing her fingernails. “Mom and Emily have already called it.”
“Yeah, no boys allowed,” Emily grinned as she crawled under the covers.
A cold shiver ran down Joanna’s spine at the thought of spending the night on the floor anywhere near Wally.
“I mean it, Grant, get up,” David nodded.
“Why should I have to?” Grant protested.
“Oh, I don’t know,” David laughed. “Maybe because that’s my wife you’re sleeping next to.”
“I’m not moving,” Grant insisted. “Melissa doesn’t mind if I bunk with her.”
“Get out of my bed,” David chuckled as he stood up.
Grant closed his eyes and offered a little grin just to irritate his brother.
“Oh, you asked for it,” David shook his head. “May the best man win! Winner gets the bed!”
The boys began tussling playfully, and the sound of Grant’s giggles made Melissa smile.
As the scene escaladed, Melissa escaped to the safety of the no boys allowed bed.
“Geez, why can’t you guys just play Rock, Paper, Scissors like normal people?” Joanna protested.
Grant pushed David hard, sending him falling back into the headboard against the wall.
Melissa gasped. “There are people next door! You’re going to have them calling the cops!”
“I am the cops!” David chuckled as he pulled his shirt off and tossed it aside.
“Oh, that’s how it’s gonna be?” Grant nodded, ripping his own shirt over his head.
“The shirts have come off,” Rachel shook her head. “There is no stopping them now!”
The wrestling match momentarily spilled over onto the girls’ bed, and Emily pounded Grant with a pillow. “No boys allowed,” she scolded.
“Off the top rope!” Grant yelled as he jumped from the girls’ bed onto David’s back, putting him in a strong choke hold as they retreated back to their makeshift wrestling ring.
“Stop! Grant, I can’t breathe!” David hollered. “Dad! Make him stop!”
“If you can talk, you can still breathe,” Randy offered, unconcerned.
