CHAPTER 4

I start to laugh and let Kori explain the situation as I start to go down the list of who is in and out at this point. Jun and Lilly have permission along with Devin and Masha. Ben is going but Mom shot down Liz on the trip for reasons that were not up for discussion or negotiation. Isaac and Allison are out too because their parents are not even okay with the youngest members of the group away from them. I have to meet with Rachael's parents tomorrow to get permission for her. I've only met her father but he's a very 'styled' individual so I'm hoping the mom meeting will help smooth everything over so I can get all five of my girls out with me. The only straggler left is Natsuko who for some damn reason hasn't decided whether she can come or not. I figured she'd be fine considering how well her mother and I get along but with her being more and more distracted and distant I'm a little concerned. I turn my attention to Kori who is going over smaller plans.

"Honey the drivers are gonna be by tomorrow to meet you and pick up the vehicles Loretta rented. Imelda is gonna get the truck for the bikes and any big luggage," Kori tells me going over the plan.

"Okay baby I need you to get onto Natsuko and find out if she's coming or not and double check with Hanna, they're being last minute about this and I'm not liking it," I tell my girl turning my attention to the message that pinged on my phone.

It's Rachael telling me that I need to be over to her place at noon to meet the parents. I get a DeNiro mental image for a second but I met her Dad and figured that I'll be fine with the Mom and tell her I'll be there. I get back to the girls who are in happy worker mode and just smile as I sit down and wrap my arms around Matty who is on the phone with Hanna for Kori. I get a positive from my Amazon that Hanna is coming and continue to hug her as we work everything out.

It's only a couple hours later and the girls are in my room still planning while I figure Ben and Liz are having a relationship discussion in her room. And while I wasn't listening in on their conversation while coming back from the bathroom I can't help but notice nervous voices inside and decide that I'll just focus on my own relationship for now by heading back into my room. I get inside and curl up on the bed with Imelda as Kori gives me more bad news.

"Honey Natsuko isn't sure she wants to go and her mother says she needs to meet with you tomorrow afternoon so that she can discuss the details of her going," Kori tells me crawling onto my other side.

"Great, I already have to meet Rachael's Mom tomorrow and the drivers, now I gotta talk Natty's Mom into letting her go," I grumble about getting some girl love.

Some snickering from Kori and Katy gets my attention but Imelda and Matty stifle it before I can ask any questions as to what is going on. Imelda does a great job of changing the subject.

"Honestly if a little Japanese girl doesn't want to go then let her stay," Imelda says adding a fresh perspective.

"No, that little girl seems like she didn't come out of everything okay and she deserves to go with us and have some real fun this summer," Katy replies, adding herself to the girl pile.

I'm already pinned in and with Katy and now Matty piling on I'm stuck until I nod yes and get some happy approval noises when Mom comes in and reminds the girls as to the time and that they'll get their own time soon enough. I say goodbye to the girls and chat with Mom in the kitchen when I hear Ben leaving and watch as Liz enters the doorway to the kitchen.

"So apparently I'm not the only one in the group who is stuck at home when the greatest road trip opportunity of my life happens without me," Liz declares more to Mom than me.

"We had this discussion Liz, you haven't been responsible enough this past year and you let your grades slip too much," Mom says not looking up from her baking.

"Mother, that is crap, I got a C plus. You make it sound like I failed out of school," Liz complains.

"I'm not having this discussion again Elizabeth," Mom says as she stops putting cookies on a baking pan.

I creep out of the kitchen and into the living room where Dad is sitting down and watching a game while the 'women folk' duke it out. About the time a female Hitler comment comes out of Liz's mouth that gets Dad to choke on his water, we watch as Liz stomps off to her room. Mom joins us out in the living room and things calm down as we avoid conversations about Liz and Hitler comments. I double checked with my Rachael about tomorrow and she told me to 'be strong and it'll be fine' as advice with her mother which gives me something to think about as I head to bed.

Most of the morning is uneventful with family getting ready for work and Liz being a butt to everyone. Mom ignores it as she heads out to work and I get to meet my drivers at about ten. I asked the Old Man to send me someone reliable and apparently that means two prospects who are patching in when we get down to Texas. Both guys look nervous about the trip and I tell them that the only major problem they will have to deal with is not touching the girls and possibly a lingerie catfight. The latter comment gets their attention and I give them the information as to where to get our vehicles from. I let them leave before double checking with Imelda and Devin about the U-Haul which is soon to be ours by the 'tone' of Imelda's texts. I give her a positive response and finally at about eleven thirty grab my coat and hop on my bike to Rachael's house. I park in the driveway and ring the bell; it doesn't take long before I'm greeted by Peter, Rachael's father.

"Guy, it's good to see you," Peter greets letting me into the house," Go ahead and wait in the living room, Rachael will be down in a minute and we'll start then.

I have to remind myself as to the fact that Rachael's parents have money, the house is still in pristine condition and Peter is wearing some nice upper class slacks and a button up shirt and has blonde hair with bangs styled up. I sit down and hear him go upstairs and get my girl. Rachael and her Peter join us and after I get a quick kiss on the cheek for my girl we chat while I wait for the Mom. A few moments and I hear the door from the garage open and close before I'm greeted by the sight of a larger bald man with a goatee wearing my style of clothing, T-shirt and jeans. He walks up to me and I stand to shake his hand.

"Hey there, you're Guy right? I'm Randall but you can call me Randy," the big man tells me shaking my hand.

"Nice to meet you sir," I replied and sat back down to wait.

I'm sitting on the loveseat across from Peter and Rachael as Randy joins them on the couch next to Peter. It's quiet for a few moments before Randy breaks the silence.

"So that bike out there is yours," Randy asks me politely.

"Yeah, I had it for almost a year now," I reply, smiling at Rachael.

"I got a bike in the garage, not a speedy little thing like yours. A heavy road bike," Randy told me with some pride.

"Nice, I got this one from my bio-Mom down in Texas as a makeup gift for a lot of missed holidays," I tell him, wondering who he is and where Rachael's Mom is.