Chapter 37

In the morning I got up and looked at my watch. Fuck, it was almost seven. I woke Luna up, then after giving her a kiss I apologized and said I had to get ready for the day. She said she understood, and after a last kiss I got dressed and headed home.

Once inside I started a pot of coffee, then took a shower. I was fully dressed and starting on my second cup when I heard Pete pull in. Rose and Paul threw open the door and ran to give me hugs, and I was picking them both up when Grace got out.

And I had to admire seeing her in the tight jeans and shirt she was wearing. She had gotten even bigger since the last time I had seen her, and she really was almost a woman now. Pete came up and handed me some money, then after hugging the kids said he would see them at Aunt Linda’s in the evening.

We climbed in my car, and when I asked they said they had eaten before leaving the hotel. So I got a breakfast biscuit on the way and was not as hungry when we pulled into the parking lot. And it was early enough that it was a short walk to the gate, no need to park far away and use the tram.

None of them had been here before, so I guided them to the large board with the park map on the front and pointed out the various rides. And I was a bit surprised that none of them had been on a roller coaster before. Paul seemed excited, but Rose seemed nervous as did Grace. “Here, let’s go back to Gold Rusher. You should like that one, it’s not really a roller coaster, more like a fast train. Come on.”

I guided them back, and the girls watched a few trains come by and admitted it did not look that bad. I pointed out how it did go up and down, but was never more than a couple of feet off the ground. We all got in line, with Grace and I sitting in the back of the car and the kids in the front.

Grace was squeezing my hand hard when the train left the station, but was soon laughing and screaming along with the kids. We were most of the way though when it slowed down a bit, and she admitted it was not as bad as she thought it would be. And when it was done we were all laughing and smiling.

We hit a few more rides, with the girls trading every other ride. Sometimes I was with Grace, other times with Rose. But it was a lot of fun. I even got them on the log flume right before lunch, and Rose was screaming when we got a bit wet on the last drop.

When we joined up in the walk area, I tried to ignore that Grace had gotten a bit wet also, and I could now tell the bra she had on was white and left a little of her cleavage visible through the wet fabric.

I asked the kids what they wanted for lunch, and we settled on a place that sold burgers. The kids got that as Grace and I had chicken sandwiches. After that we decided to walk the big loop around the park.

Just looking at Viper scared all of them, but I was able to talk them all onto going on Ninja. Once again, because the cars were under the tracks and close to the ground that seemed to make them feel better and less afraid.

We were in the back corner of the park and I was teasing them we should go on Revolution next. But they saw that it was a real coaster and went upside down, and all three of them refused. We were near the back of the park, and Paul started jumping up and down and saying he wanted to go on the raft ride. I looked at Grace and she nodded, so we went to hit that one next.

Now we all got a bit wet on the log ride, but we got absolutely drenched that time. Grace and I were between the kids, and I had Rose squeezing one hand and screaming, and Grace doing the same on the other. And at the end I was grinning at all three of them.

And noticed that now all of Grace’s shirt was soaking wet, and it was obvious her nipples were hard under it. Thankfully when we got off she took Rose and went into the bathroom. Paul and I did the same, and about ten minutes later the girls rejoined us. Grace had obviously rung out their tops, and dried them most of the way with the hot air hand drier before rejoining us. And inside I gave a sigh of relief, as even though Grace was almost my sister I had to admit she had become a hottie.

Paul decided he wanted to go up to the top of the tower, and they all enjoyed the view from the top. When we were waiting for the elevator I saw a guy a couple of years younger than I was walk up to Grace and say “Sabes dónde está el frente?”

She looked over at me with a look of puzzlement on her face, and I quickly pointed and told the guy to turn left when he got to the main trail. He then asked Grace “No eres Mexicana?”, and nodded when I said “No, ella es una Shoshone India Americana. Ella no habala Español.”

He headed off, and I saw that he met up with another guy that seemed to be laughing at him. “Paul, what was that about?” Grace asked when we reached the elevator and were waiting for it to arrive.

“He was asking where the front of the park is. I think he was about to hit on you and thought you were Mexican also. His accent is almost perfect Baja, so he likely does not know much English. I explained to him you were not Mexican but Indian. And if you looked, his buddy started teasing him after he left.”

She grinned at me, and when we got to the top she took my hand and held it as we walked around and looked down at the park. “That’s actually kind of flattering, but I don’t speak Spanish. I took German as my foreign language.”

When we were back at the front, I could hear music from the concert area so we headed over there. It was some local boy band mostly doing covers of Backstreet Boys songs, and Rose wanted to go in and see them. Grace said that was a good idea, so we went in and sat towards the back.

Now boy band is one of my least favorite styles of music, but Grace and Paul sat in front of us and she seemed to be excited to see them. Of course, she was the age where a bubblegum group like that would be her style.

Grace and I quietly talked, and I asked her if she was enjoying the trip. “Oh, yes! I got to take off and land, and it’s been great seeing you again. I’ve missed you, George.”

I admitted I had missed her also, and I realized it was true. She then told me it had been cool watching me play again, and in a real recording studio. And that today was even better, as she had never been to a real theme park before.

“Even the roller coasters we went on were not as bad as I had feared. I’m really glad you suggested this, it’s much better than just hanging out at the hotel.”

I looked forward, and nudged Grace and had her look also. Sometime in the last half hour both kids had zonked out, leaning against each other and asleep even though they were sitting upright. Grace giggled, and said to just let them sleep.

We continued talking, and I told her I had heard her and her boyfriend had broken up. She gave me a look, and nodded. “Yeah, when your brother asked me to come along, I jumped at the chance. We were going to go riding that weekend, and when I told him the next day I had to cancel he got pissed. And I mean pissed. He tried to order me to cancel this trip instead, and I said I wanted to see you and I was not going to do it. Well, ah, he then said something not very nice about what we might do, and I told him he should go and do exactly what he said, but to his own mother. And at that I got out of his car and walked home.”

“Oh shit, I’m sorry. But you did the right thing, that was so wrong. I would have fucking knocked his lights out if I’d been there.”

“Well, good thing you weren’t then. Quint is six foot tall, and a linebacker. But thank you for saying that, it’s one of the reasons I love you.” And she hugged me tight after she said that, and kissed my cheek.

Turns out they had been dating a couple of months, but until that moment she had no idea he had such a jealous streak. I tried to think of a Quint, and when I asked if I knew him she shook her head. “Naw, he only moved to the area from Idaho Falls about a year and a half ago. But he goes to the church, and I met him in youth group. He was not pushy, but that jealous streak was more than I can stand, as well as trying to order me around.”

I nodded, and said she is probably better off without him. We talked until the band finished their set, then woke up the kids and decided to head to the kiddy area. We found a bench near the front that looked over the area, and told them to go ahead and go on whatever rides they wanted. And I laughed as both of them dashed to the kiddy roller coaster.

We spent about an hour as they went on ride after ride, some of them two and three times. And they seemed to enjoy being able to pick what they wanted and not having us there. But I saw it was almost four, so we went and told them one more ride then we had to take off. They both decided to go on the airplane ride, then we headed out. Of course we stopped at the big store at the front of the park and they each got a shirt and a few other things. And Grace laughed when I bought a hat and put it on her head. It had the park logo on it, and out the back a long blonde ponytail.

However, she did go back to the register and exchanged it for a black one. “Thanks, it’s actually kinda cute, George. But blonde? What, you want to lower my IQ or something?”

We laughed the rest of the way to the car, and about a half hour later we were pulling up in front of Linda’s. Pete and Mandy were already there, and everybody was exchanging hugs and kisses when we went in. And I was not even surprised when I saw Rosie was there also. Sherry was happy to see her cousins again, and the three went upstairs to her room as we all congregated in the living room.

Grace told them how much fun the park had been, and I handed over my phone so they could see the pictures I had taken. “I just wish I had remembered to grab my video camera, but it’s still packed in the storage trailer somewhere.”

“That’s alright, just email these to me when you get a chance.” I promised Mandy I would, and we spent the next hour or so talking until Linda said dinner was ready and Grace went upstairs to get the kids.

It was some kind of Mexican casserole, with meat, beans, cheese, and tortilla chips. And it was really good. Pete and I both had two servings, and the entire bowl was empty when we finished. We returned to the living room and continued talking as the kids were watching a movie on the TV.

Rosie asked Linda for the recipe for the dinner tonight, and she smiled and said she would bring it over in a week or so. “Actually, I got it from Becky. I’ve made it a few times before, and when I asked Sherry what I should make tonight that is what she said.” We all laughed, and Pete said she had made a perfect choice.

“I forgot all about that, she used to make that every few weeks.” Rosie asked if it was a family recipe she got from her mom and he laughed. “Oh no, not at all. From what she told me, about the limit of her mom’s cooking was frozen dinners. No, before we met she found a boxed dinner like Hamburger Helper. She liked it, but decided she could do it better and cheaper herself. You have to realize, when we first got together, Becky was even cheaper than I was.”

Mandy squeezed his hand at that and agreed. “Oh, the fights they used to have! Pete would go out and spend like two thousand dollars on something, and she would get furious he was blowing his money and would have to live off of her. That was before I had him call his dad and find out what he was really worth. I was sitting there when his dad told him he was worth over a hundred thousand dollars. Not even Pete had any idea.”

He nodded as Linda and Rosie laughed, and said he had thought it was maybe ten thousand. “That was after I had bought the first laser printer, we were already talking about starting the print business. She saw it as a waste, I saw it as an investment.”

Grace asked when that was, and Pete looked up at the ceiling for a moment. “Oh, 1988 I think. I was staying with her and doing therapy as they were doing all the work to retire me from the Marines. And I think I had just opened ‘Computer Outlet’ at the time, next to Herb’s shop.”

“So that is where the money came from?” she asked.

The other four laughed, and Mandy shook her head. “Nope, that was mostly the insurance settlement for his truck, along with the money he’d made doing games and his savings. Back then, Pete did not give a damn about money, he just told Larry to throw it in the bank. And sometimes Pete would call him or Dee and ask if there was enough money to pay for something. Dee actually thought he was a bit crazy for doing that, as he had not long before asked if he could spend around three thousand dollars for a truck, and he had over twenty-five thousand in the bank at that time.”

Rosie laughed, and said that was almost like our dad was. “Now George, Pete, I love your father to death. But Larry’s the exact same way. Go out to a junkyard to get car parts. Instead of hiring a publishing agent for Pete he learned how to do it himself. And when I needed help for Mandy when she started drawing professionally, he helped me learn and only charged us cookies.”

Grace raised her eyebrow and said “Cookies? Like, peanuts, that little?”

Linda burst out laughing and shook her head. “No, I was still at home then, and had the same deal for me. He literally charged mom cookies. Or sometimes a cake. He did not want any money from mom or Mandy, refused to even consider it.” She reached over and took Pete’s hand in hers, and Mandy and her mom both smiled at that. “We were still engaged then, so your dad was already considering us family. And even when I removed myself from the picture, that never changed.”

Grace and I admitted we had not grown up quite that way. We grew up aware our families were well off, but we admitted we still lived frugally.

“Yep, and Dave was happy as heck when your mom married your dad, Grace. I was almost a son to him, and he always seemed a bit bummed that I never liked hunting. But then he got a son-in-law that loved it as much as he did. But they never did that because they were cheap, they just love hunting. Me? I like eating it, but it seems like a hell of a lot of work just to get dinner when you can just go to the store or pull something out of the freezer.”

At that Mandy crossed her arms and scowled. “But Pete, you still go fishing all the damned time. From spring to fall, almost half the time you have a day off you go fishing.”

“Yep, and that takes no work. I drop in the line, and can then relax. Not tromping through the woods, keeping on the lookout not only for what I’m hunting, but for something like a cougar or bear which might be hunting me. I’ve caught a lot of fish, but never once had a fish try to catch me.”

We all laughed at that, and Mandy and Linda had the kids say goodnight to everybody. And they and Grace headed up to put the kids to bed. That just left Rosie, Pete and I and she asked me how I was doing.

“Well, a lot better since they told me they had dropped all charges. I’m back at school full time now, and will have my AA at the end of the next semester.”

“Well good for you! What are you going to do after that?”

I looked at Pete, and shrugged. “Honestly, I’m undecided now. I’m going to take a quarter off when I get my AA, and try to get some more certifications. Instrument flight and twin engine I hope. Then start studying and adding more flight hours so I can get my commercial license. And probably transfer back to CSUN to start the real pre-law program.”

“Well, that sure sounds ambitious. And music?”

“Naw, other than for fun and Pete and Mandy’s project. Keith says I could probably work as a studio musician, but my voice is not good enough to go any farther than I have gone already to be honest. And I like Uncle Keith, but I can’t see myself like he is in another twenty years.”

Pete shook his head sadly and agreed. “Keith had a lot of potential and drive when I first met him. But he made some bad choices, and the drugs didn’t help. I would not say he’s a burnout, but he seems comfortable in his life now. Doing studio work mostly, but maybe this project with Jack and Rad will give him more drive.”

“Well, he also has the Crutknackers, don’t forget that.”

Rosie asked what that was, and Pete shook his head. “Rosie, that was a band that Keith had with his daughter and a few others. George, they broke up several months ago. Crystal had less interest in playing than she did in going on dates, and his keyboardist is expecting a kid. Keith simply decided that it was time to call that quits, as he would have had to rebuild the entire band after that.”

“Crap, I had no idea. I was wondering how he was able to do that and the band at the same time.”

“Well, that’s how. The three of them are already talking about trying to farm their services out to others. Jack doing the filming or editing, and Rad and Keith doing the music. The two of them already know enough studio musicians that they can fill it out as needed. I don’t think after this Becky, Peggy, Kris, or any of the others will be involved. That was mostly because of you, little brother. And Becky actually likes the idea she is finally getting paid to do some professional work outside of my game presentations.”

By that time the girls returned, and Pete stood up and asked if Mandy was ready to go. I looked over at Grace, and she said she just needed to get her bag out of the back of the van. I asked her what she was doing, and she said she was going to stay here for the night.

Which I knew meant she would likely be bored out of her mind, as she barely knew Linda. “Well, how about this? We can go ahead and take off. How about we head to Hollywood for a bit? We can walk around Hollywood Boulevard, then you can spend the night with me.”

Rosie raised her eyebrow at that, but Mandy just laughed. “Mom, don’t think anything of it. Almost as soon as they moved up there George and Grace were sleeping together. The two of them were almost like Pete and Kim were as kids. As close as siblings, but with less fighting.”

Grace looked at Mandy and Pete, and they both smiled and nodded. So after another round of hugs and kisses, we all left other than Linda. Rosie took off as Pete opened the back of the van and pulled two overnight bags out. He put one over his shoulder, and handed the other to Grace.

I looked at him and raised my eyebrow, and he laughed. “Becky invited us to hang out with them in the hot tub. So this is our swimwear and a change of clothes for afterwards.” And I got a smile as I held the door for Grace as Pete and Mandy walked across the street.

“Wow, must be nice. I’ve never been in a hot tub before.”

“Oh, it’s nice. Becky has these Christmas lights strung up all over the back, and it’s like being in a hot bathtub with bubbles.” She laughed at that as I pulled out of the subdivision and headed to the freeway.

I pointed out a few sights on the way, like Universal Studios and the Hollywood Bowl, then we pulled off and were heading towards the main area. It was the first time Grace had ever been there, and she was looking everywhere as I drove a few blocks then parked on a side street. And hand in hand we headed back to the Boulevard.

She was amazed at everything, and was stopping every few seconds to read whose names were on the stars in the sidewalk. But she looked a tad revolted when we passed the first porn shop. “George, they really have those just out like that where anybody can see?”

I grinned and nodded. “Yep, you ain’t in Pocatello any more, little girl. This is the big city, where they have big city appetites.” She stuck her tongue out at me, and asked if I had ever been in one.

“Oh, a couple of times. They’re kinda nasty, to be honest. A funny smell, and it’s kind of like a book store and a video rental place. But all the books, magazines, and movies are about sex. Oh, and in the back are these small booths with a seat with a TV. They have a couple of dozen videos playing, and you pay like a buck for five minutes to watch them.”

“Eww, why don’t they do that at home?”

““Well, I would guess some have no internet, or are married so can’t do it at home. And they also sell sex toys, some also go there for that I imagine.”

And when I said that, she actually turned her head and looked back at it. “Yeah, I guess that would be the place to get them. I obviously can’t go in the one in Pocatello, you gotta be eighteen.”

“Well, it’s the same here. And please, why would you want to go in one in the first place? I’ve not been in one since I first got here, and can’t imagine going back into one ever again.”

Grace looked up into my eyes and had a crooked grin on her face. “Well, I am single again. And girls have needs too.” She then giggled again and squeezed my hand, and I was a bit surprised. And once again I realized that Grace was not the same little girl I had left standing outside her house when I first came here.

We walked all the way to the corner near the Pantages, and Grace had me take a picture of her under the marquee which showed that “Wicked” was playing. And she marveled at seeing the outside, and said the tapes she saw with Pete did not show much of this part of the theater, just the inside.

This was the end of the main part of the town though, so we crossed the street and headed back the other way. We had gone about a mile by this time, We stopped at a hotdog stand and picked up some sodas, then kept walking. We went in a few souvenir shops, and she spent ten minutes picking up some shirts for her siblings. Then after we passed the theater where all the new Disney movies premiered she had me take another picture of her under the marquee for “The Incredibles”.

Then we went to the Chinese Theater. And Grace had a fun time taking pictures of some of the hand and foot prints in the cement, and putting her hand or feet in some of them. It was almost ten when she was finally done, and took my hand in hers as we walked back to my car.

As we walked Grace thanked me again for doing this for her, and I told her it was a pleasure. “We’ve only gotten together a few times since I left, and I really have missed you also.” She smiled up at me when I said that, and I smiled in return. “And to be honest, that has surprised me. When I left I was thinking you were being a bit of a pest, but now I realize you were a part of me I never realized was gone until I saw you again.”