Chp11 the week in review.

c-pov:

it's been one month since we returned to Seattle. the days are spent in school. the nights in heaven. Anna is like a new person; She is addicted to learning, like a massive hit of speed. She makes friends easily. We are the "it" couple in school. everyone is either awed or hates are guts. The kings and queens are most annoyed with us. We are everything, they fake. I hold my girls hand thru the halls like I'm walking thru a virgin forest. The air is tinted with her scent; the world is wonderful thru her eyes. I smile lot. Peopled are beginning to like me.

Some of the teachers support us, other attack us. Mrs. Warren, Anna sex-ed teacher is the leader of the hate. We are everything she rails against. Teen marriage is an abomination to her. She nearly had a stroke when one of her sex-narcs reported me teasing Anna about our baby being home alone. She even notified child services, who were not amused to search Grey Manor, only to discover Bruiser. Mom read them the riot act, and then the school principle and Mrs. Warren.

The small circle of friend, have been solid and mostly cool. Kate Kavanagh is a nosey little reporter in training. But she adores Anna and Bruiser. I think she secretly has a crush on Elliot. But what do I know, I'm just a guy.

Easter is fast approaching. I tell the Parents we're RV to the Oregon Coast for the holiday. Grandma T quickly seize the thought and suddenly it's a family RV trip. The Grand's and Elliot will be in one RV. Mom, dad, ands Mia in another. Anna and me in our new RV. I convince them to use smaller RV to make the travel on highway one easier.

Saturday morning, we head out. The trip south is hilarious as Elliot has scrounged up CB radios for each camper. Dad isn't sure about mom camping. All the camping we did as kids was hiking and tents. Mom never came camping. She doesn't tent camp well. Rv'ing is different. She seems to like the bed and the comforts. Mia likes the over cab bed. Elliot not so much. I remind him he can sleep on the floor of the grands rental RV.

The Grands seem to de-age as we move down the road. Grandpa T is just so funny on the radio. The girls play I spy and Elliot is consent-ly honking at baby's along the way. Anna and Bruiser are making my trip hell. Bruiser is seated in the passage seat. Like a regal prince on tour. Anna is in the back, in a tight, very tight t-shirt with a mini skirt, less panties. She teases me with snacks and drinks. If we stop, mysteriously a longer skirt appears. She is lounging on the couch, reading aloud some Classic film noir novel. All sex and thrills, with bad dames and wicked men to taunt the hero and his maul(slang for girlfriend bombshell, google jean Harlow). Try driving with a Hardon for a few hundred miles.

Pulling into the first RV park. We'll move in a two days to a new park further south and still a third near the California border. It's off season, easy camping. We are able to get side by side sites at all three RV parks. Anna has a full plan of sites, shops, and thing to do.

I help the guys learn to rig the RV for the night. Connecting the water, power, and sewer. Leveling the rigs and shading the windshields. All but the parents RV. We're going down the road to a famous restaurant for dinner. That way nobody has to cook tonight, our first road day. Anna and the girls walk Bruiser along the beach and meet and small talk with the people they meet. RV can be very friendly or very isolationist. So you have to roll with the mood of the people. Mostly people are friendly and happy to talk and be listen to.

Dinner is a lively affair. The Grands hold court. Talking about the road trips of their youth before the kids put a damper on it. How Grace hates snakes because her brother Bob, dropped a gopher snake in her tent one night. The last time Grace camped in a tent.

The banter between the mom, grandma T, and Mia is refreshing till Anna leaps up and runs out. I follow so fast my chair hits the ground. I find her curl tight on a bench looking out to sea. Her legs held so tight by her arms I can see blood pool. I take her in my arms. She's crying uncontrollably. I don't understand what wrong.

Mom comes over a hugs us. Anna starts to speak. "sorry! Sorry! I ruined everything. I should be tougher. But it hurts. So much."

"Anna what hurts. Tell me please?" I beg, kissing her hair. Stroking her back.

"your mom, and T and Mia are so caring and happy together. So like mothers and daughter should be. I know I'm being petty. But why couldn't my mother be like them. Why? What did I do wrong? Why couldn't she be a mother?" she vents and just weeps. Grace takes her from me. "Christian, go stay with your dad. We have this." I start to argue, but Grandma T and Mia are there to hold her. they understand while I don't. I stand and leave. Feeling like a coward for not staying.

Dad and Grandpa are waiting on the edge. We go to the other side of the view. I can see my wife. But not hear them. "Christian, it's hard to see the thing your family has denied you all your life. When I first dated and married Grace. I had these breakdowns too. Anna is asking why her mother and stepdads, never cherished or supported her. she never had anyone just love her unconditional. She was a pawn in the family drama and power struggles. She will get better. The Family is going to show and support her, that she is cherished, loved, and respected. Not just because she your wife. (he hugs me) but because she's a really good person. Kind and caring, unselfish and loving. How she stayed like that thru all the hell she endured is a testament to her soul and heart." Dad hugs me tight, as Grandpa strokes my hair.

Yes, I see now. I will have to make more of effort to support her. love her. make her never doubt for one second that she is loved, and cherished. We all return to the table. We eat. Anna is dragged into the banter. Mom and Grandma T include her in the banter. Mia is all over the place, topic, opinions and dislikes. I see Anna reign her in and direct her like a big sister.

We leave and return to the RV park. Bruiser is wild to get to Anna, like he knows she needs him. I drag him for his nightly walk. Returning the party is in the Grands RV. The girls are playing some Disney trivia game, while dad and Elliot wait me to play poker. Grandpa is regaling us with hippie music and folk albums.

The girls are touring the shops and galleries while we men fish. The holiday goes perfect. The rental RV sewer backs up. One bust a tire. Mine runs like a clock, till I accidently hit a very big pot hole and bust an airbag in the suspension. All in all, a really good trip. For the first time, my family see each other as individual and part of the family. We really bond. Dad see us, me as an adult. Sure and confidant in my actions and world. But still the son needing his father approval and support. Elliot is amazing how the clowning man-whore is really a nice, caring guy under the façade. Mia is more than a cloth horse. And Mom is not the perfect person I put on a pedestal. But a really cool person with hopes and dreams for us kids.

She sees my marriage as a great start to my new life as an adult. Anna is perfect woman for me. We are smart and loaded with common sense. That my issues and Anna's are mirrors of each other. We solve each other needs and wants. I laugh as we cruise north to home. Anna sits on the floor next to my leg. Her head on my thigh. Bruiser head in her lap. As the headlights flash an eerie theme thru the RV. I follow the others in are little convoy. The world is bright. My world is bright. Anna is my world.