Epilogue
Scherri
Six months Later
So now I know absolutely for sure I couldn't be happier. Not that I was is any doubt before, but now we've got each other and Peb, our little family is complete, for the moment. Because we've talked about the kids we're going to have and as soon as our little adventure is over, I intend to get started on the expansion project.
Stick and I ended up staying at our parents' house until after the funeral. When they came home from their night away, well, I'd like to say that everything was different, but nothing much was. I could see my mom was slightly chastened and that Mr Greengross, sorry, I still can't call him 'Dad' - anyway he'd obviously put his foot down over me and Stick being together.
“I don't think he wants to lose his son for another five years,” Stick told to me when we were safely cuddled up in bed.
Yes, we were allowed to share a bed but that may have had something to do with Bella. Even though she was the favored daughter now, our mother still hadn't made up a space for her to stay. I told her to take the attic and I'd move down with Stick.
“He risked the wrath of mom for you,” I said, impressed.
“He wants to be part of our lives.”
“Our lives. I like the sound of that. So official.”
Stick pulled me tighter into his huge embrace and I nestled down, getting comfortable.
“We will make it official but Scher, your sister's got a point. I don't have much to give you right now but I promise that's gonna change. I'm gonna make us an amazing life and you'll never be unhappy or want for anything.”
“Never mind about Bella,” I told him, trailing my index finger along a carved ridge of muscle. My sister had gone a bit Father Figure during dinner. Without meaning to, she was all over Stick's case.
“Where are you living now, Sticky?” she demanded.
“Since I got back I've been crashing in a studio pad at the beach. Nothing but a man cave, really.”
“What sixty inch screen and sweaty socks?”
“Ya, that pretty much nails it.”
“So is Scherri going to be moving in her stacks of Victoria's Secret Pink?”
“For now we'll find a place for that, whatever it is. Until we get on our feet.”
My mother had rolled her eyes, but I looked the other way and pretended not to notice. She just can't help it.
“Good, so the world is our oyster?” I'd reassured Stick.
He nodded and squeezed my hand under the table.
Just like he's squeezing it now. We've stopped to grab breakfast at a diner on a highway across the desert.
“You happy, Babe?” he asked, searching my face.
“I couldn't be happier. It's literally not. Even. Possible.”
Before we set out, my own dad had gotten genuinely father figure on me, when I called him from Stick's house. (It will probably be Stick's house in my mind forever).
“What about your job? What will you do for money?”
“I could leave tomorrow without them noticing I've gone. They can get another barista and I can get another barista job.”
“But what is Stick planning to do to take care of you?”
“Daddy, we're going to take care of each other while we figure it out. Please be happy for me. I have the man I love who loves me more than anyone in the world.”
“Okay, Baby. I know you can make whatever you set your mind on turn out great.”
It was great that Daddy wasn't at all invested in this sibling business. It was all in the thoughts of those who wanted it to be an issue.
After Gran's funeral was over, we all picked over dinner in silence while Mr Greengross told us about a neighbor's camper.
“I always wanted to take the family across the country in one of those things,” he said. The funeral must have brought up his wife, Stick's Mom's death.
“That would have been cool, Dad.”
Stick clapped his father across the back. I don't remember the two of them ever taking a trip together when we were growing up.
“Jed's got a 'For Sale' sign on the windscreen so I guess he's given up on that dream.”
Mr Greengross slid his eyes hopefully cross to my mother but she remained totally impassive and he soon let go of the thought. But later, when Stick and I were entwined around each other in bed, with Peb scrabbling to burrow under our feet, I had an idea.
“Gran left me a little money.”
“I know, Babe. Do you know what you want to do with it?”
“I do. I want to live your dad's dream. I want us to drive across our country. Not just across, up, down, all around. To figure out together what we really want. Where we want to make our nest.”
I invited Mr Greengross along with us and we all went to look at the trailer that was for sale down the street.
“Wow, you never said it was an Airstream, Dad,” Stick burred.
His eyes lit up and although I wasn't at all sure, because the vehicle must have been gorgeous once but was way past its prime and had no bathroom, I made myself look thrilled.
“I can fix it up for you, Scher. It will be our silver bullet when I'm done with it.” Stick promised me and I believed him.
Stick and his father were already discussing where to install a washroom and I could see decorating the place with pretty curtains and vintage china, like something out of a magazine.
It was a project the whole family chipped in on. Almost the whole family. Stick and his Dad did the dirty work, with some girly help from me. I mostly took care of washing jelly jars to be our glasses, stuff like that. One weekend Bella brought some amazing brightly colored china she said she found at a fancy swapmeet in La where she lives. Even Mom offered to sew the curtains I wanted, with ruffles around the edge.
And then we took off. Hitting the road pretty much like Jacket, going wherever our fancy took us. One day the Grand Canyon (where Peb wasn't at all impressed about being kept leashed) next day some little town with a row of amazing bluegrass music bars in the center.
We always look out for a glimpse of Jacket. We haven't crossed paths with him yet but then again, I never truly appreciated the size of this vast land. And Stick and I mostly spend our evenings in our little silver bullet time capsule. With Peb still always scrabbling under the blanket for a foot cuddle.
It's small but we made it very cozy and really, how much space do you need when you're going to spend your time lying on the bed, twined around the most beautiful man in the world?