This is probably my favorite chapter of the entire story. Sorry, I didn't include any of their time at Simon's though. The chapter was just too long to add more than was needed.
Chapter 20: Life is a Highway
"Hey Simon. What's up?" Ruthie walked out of her closet where she was picking out an outfit for wear for dinner that night. The Bennetts were coming over.
"I got a question for you." Simon announced.
Ruthie held up a blue blouse to look at it. "Shoot."
"How would you like to bring Sam and David down here to LA and stay for the weekend."
Ruthie dropped the blouse on the floor. "Really? That'd be great!" She paused. "Wait. I just got my license. I don't think Mom and Dad will go for me driving all the way to LA."
"Yeah. You're probably right." Simon thought for a moment. "Hey, I know. Why don't you bring Martin along. He can drive."
Ruthie scoffed. "Martin? Please, I don't think Mom would go for that."
"I thought you said Martin was starting to grow on her."
"He is but still."
"But nothing. You never know until you try. Plus, Megan is really excited about you all coming down." Simon insisted.
"Okay, but I'm not doing the asking. You are." Ruthie demanded.
"Fine. Hang up and I'll call them right away."
Ruthie hung up her cell phone, looked down at the blouse lying crinkled on the floor, looked up and smiled before throwing her phone on her bed and rushing out the door. She arrived in the kitchen just as Annie picked up the ringing phone.
"Hello." Annie said into the phone as she gave Ruthie a questioning look for running into the room.
"Hey Mom."
Annie perked up. "Simon! It's great to hear from you."
"Yeah, it's good to talk to you too. I actually called because I wanted to invite Ruthie, Sam and David to come visit us this weekend." Simon explained.
Annie gave Ruthie a knowing look. "So that's why your sister is watching me expectantly. And why may I ask are your parents being excluded?"
"Well, we don't have room for all of you. And I thought you and Dad would like a weekend alone."
Annie clicked her tongue to her cheek. "Uh un."
Simon gave in. "Okay, fine. Megan's not quite ready for the in laws. Can they come?"
"I don't know. Ruthie's just got her driver's license. I don't think I'm comfortable with her driving down to LA alone."
Simon jumped in. "That's why I was thinking Martin could come along and he could drive. He's had his license for four years plus he's constantly driving back and forth between Sequoia and Glen Oak."
"Well, I'd have to ask your father about this." Annie tried her best to sound enthusiastic.
"Ask me about what?" Eric walked up to the counter stealing a carrot from the bowl and biting into it.
Annie moved the phone away from her mouth. "Simon's invited the kids down to visit him this weekend and he wants Martin to drive."
"That's sounds great." Eric said through chews. "They'll have a lot of fun."
Annie gave Eric a look and rolled her eyes. "Okay, they can go." She reluctantly informed Simon over the phone.
"Yes!" Ruthie jumped up a little excited. "I'm going to tell the twins."
"Felicity, we're leaving." Mr. Bennett announced to his daughter who was sitting on the couch next to Ruthie.
"Okay, I'll be right there." Felicity stood up.
Mr. Bennett nodded directing Mrs. Bennett toward the door with his hand on her back.
"So when do you leave?" Felicity asked as she and Ruthie walked toward the front door.
"Probably Friday. Depends on Martin."
Felicity paused at the door. "You know I don't remember you telling me about what Martin thought of the trip."
Ruthie's eyes bulged out. "Oh my gosh. I completely forgot to ask Martin?"
Felicity laughed. "How could you forget?"
Ruthie shrugged. "I don't know. The way Simon and I started talking it just seemed as if we had asked him. I got a phone call to make. I'll talk to you later." She rushed up the stairs.
Felicity exited the house laughing.
Arriving in her room in less than a minute, Ruthie jumped on her bed grabbing her cell phone. Laying on her stomach, she quickly dialed Martin's number.
"What do you want?" Martin teasing voice came over the receiver.
"Ha Ha. Very funny." Ruthie smirked. "I have something to ask you. And I'm telling you now you can't say no."
"Tell me we aren't going on another double date."
"No." Ruthie rolled her eyes smiling. "Simon has inviting us to come down and visit him this weekend."
"Ah." Martin breathed out. "Let me guess, I'm supposed to do the driving because your parents' aren't comfortable your new driver's license status."
Ruthie scrunched her eyebrows. "Yeah. What are you psychic?"
Martin laughed. "No. Simon called me."
"Figures." Ruthie turned onto her back. "So can you come?"
"Yes." Martin assured. "But unlike you, I'm not exempt from all my exams. I have one at two o'clock on Friday so I won't be in Glen Oak until seven."
Ruthie jerked up. "Yeah, yeah. That's fine. I'm just excited to get out of this house for a few days."
"Those bags have clothes in them right. No candy?" Annie followed the twins out the front door toward the drive way.
"We don't have any candy." David said.
"We sold all of it to the Carlson twins." Sam finished.
"Okay. Good. You got your toothbrushes, right? And clean underwear?"
"Yes, Mom." Sam sounded annoyed as he handed his bag over to Martin.
Martin packed the final bag into the back of his car and closed the door. "Don't worry Mrs. Camden. If the twins forgot anything, we'll be sure to get them replacements."
"Thank you, Martin."
Ruthie smiled to see her mom being friendly toward her boyfriend.
"Now Martin, you have directions on where you are going right?" Annie asked.
"Yes. Ma'am."
"Good." Annie nodded. "And word of advice, don't let Ruthie look at the map. She has a tendency to think she sees short cuts that aren't short cuts."
"I do not." Ruthie folded her arms.
"Yeah, you do." David piped up. "Remember Maine?"
Ruthie just rolled her eyes in defeat as Martin chuckled at her. "I won't let Ruthie near the map."
"Oh." Annie thought of more directions. "I've put some snacks and drinks in Sam and David's backpacks so don't listen to them if they claimed to be hungry or thirsty. Only stop if you need gas or a rest stop. And try to stay close to the highway if you do stop."
"Can do." Martin assured. He looked down on his watch. "Well, we'd better be going."
"Oh, I'm going to miss you guys." Annie took Sam and David in her arms. "You two behave. Don't cause too much trouble." She gave each of them a kiss on the cheek.
"We won't." Sam said as he wiped the area that his mom just kissed.
"Wait." Eric came hurrying out of the house.
Everyone turned.
"David, you forgot your toothbrush." Eric hand the green brush to his young son.
Annie gave David the look.
"Sorry, Mom." David said meekly.
Annie moved over to Ruthie. "Take care of yourself honey and your brothers." She gave Ruthie a tight hug.
"Bye, honey." Eric kissed Ruthie on the forehead.
"It's just a weekend." Ruthie proclaimed. "We're not leaving the country. Let's go."
Get'cha get'cha head in the game
"Please make it stop." Ruthie leaned her head into her hand.
"Hey. You got a problem with High School Musical?" Martin said in mocked hurt.
"Only when I've heard the soundtrack two times over now."
"Well it's keeping them busy?" Martin used his thumb to point backwards.
Ruthie turned to look at her brothers busy singing along. "Yeah. I guess."
"Oh, good. There's a gas station at the next exit." Martin read the blue road sign. "I'm running low."
"Good. I'm thirsty." Ruthie complained. "Notice my mom didn't bother to pack me any drinks or snacks."
Martin just chuckled as he maneuvered into the exit.
"Where is this so called gas station?" Ruthie looked out the window into the darkness.
"Are we lost?" Sam asked from the back seat.
"No." Martin said assuredly. "I just never knew this area was so rural. I'm sure the gas station will show up."
Ruthie looked at him. The lines on his face told otherwise.
Just then a loud bang happened and Martin gripped the steering wheel maneuvering the car to the side of the road. "Great." He exclaimed in annoyance. "We blew a tire."
"You got an extra right?" Ruthie said nervously.
"I should." Martin unbuckled and got out of the car.
"You two…" Ruthie turned to the twins. "Stay in the car."
"Okay." They said in unison.
Ruthie followed after Martin.
"Damn." Martin yelled out.
"What is it?" Ruthie came around to the back of the car.
"My spare tire's gone."
"How is it gone?"
"I don't know!" Martin yelled.
Ruthie took a step back. "Sorry. It was just a question."
Martin softened. He took her in his arms. "I'm sorry. It's just that I'm supposed to be taking care of you. Not getting stranded on a dark rural road."
Ruthie pulled away. "We got cell phones. We can just call a tow truck." She pulled her cell phone out her jeans' pocket. "Or maybe not." She cautiously looked at her boyfriend. "No service."
Martin breathed out. "It's okay. I see some light up ahead. It's probably the gas station. We can just walk."
"Yes!" David jumped out of the car. "An adventure!"
"Do we have too?" Sam said coming out of the other side of the car.
"It looks like it." Ruthie sighed. "Let me just get my purse." She returned to the passenger's side and grabbed her purse of the front door.
"How long have we been walking?" Sam trudged along.
"Five minutes." Ruthie rolled her eyes.
"This is just like that movie." David said.
"What movie?" Martin asked.
"The one with the chainsaw murderer and the actress that looks just like Mary."
Ruthie turned but continued to walk backwards. "You know you're not allowed to watch horror movies."
"It's your fault we saw it." Sam claimed.
"How was it my fault?" Ruthie turned back around after nearly tripping on a rock.
"You were supposed to be babysitting us but instead you were making out on the back porch with Martin."
Ruthie gasped while Martin broke out in laughter. "That was a good night." He said between chuckles.
Ruthie stopped and grabbed her brother's arms. "Okay, here's the deal. You don't tell Mom and Dad about my little make out session and I won't tell them about you watching a horror movie."
Sam smirked. "Hey, we know how to keep a secret."
Ruthie gave them one last intimidating look. "Okay."
Martin pulled on Ruthie's arm. "Come on. We don't have time for this."
The loud music and drunken laughter could be heard from the road.
"Drink Here and Get Gas?" Ruthie looked up at the sign to the gas station and bar. "What kind of name is that?"
"A bad name." Martin said. "Come on." He walked toward the door.
Ruthie followed after him guiding her brothers in front her by the shoulders.
The bar was dark, smoky and crowded.
Ruthie and the twins made their way through the crowd following Martin toward the bar.
"Hey there honey." A clearly drunken guy about Martin's age jumped in front of Ruthie. "What's your name?"
Ruthie frowned at the man whose shirt was completely unbuttoned showing off his buff chest. "That's none of your business." She tried to move forward but he blocked her way.
David realizing this wasn't good ducked away to get Martin who hadn't even noticed they had been stalled behind him. Sam clung to Ruthie's waist.
"You got a mouth on you. I like my women sassy?"
Ruthie placed her hand on her hip. "You're women? What are you from the stone age?"
The guy chuckled. "There goes that mouth again."
"Can I help you?" Martin came up put his arm around Ruthie. David jumped in front of them next to Sam.
"And you are?" The guy slurred.
"I'm her boyfriend so I'd appreciate it if you'd back off." Martin tightened his arm around her.
"Boyfriend? Looks like you two have been together too long. Your kids sure are old." He took a drink of his beer bottle.
"These are my brothers." Ruthie told him angrily.
"Oh, then, let's go make some more brothers." He grabbed Ruthie's wrist forcibly.
"Get your hands off her!" Martin pulled Ruthie away and punched the guy in the nose. He shook his fist in pain before starting to guide Ruthie and the twins in front of him toward the bar.
The guy slowly got up wiping the blood tripling down from his nose. "Don't walk away from me." He pulled Martin around by the collar and punched him in the face. Martin backtracked stunned.
"Martin!" Ruthie cried out concerned trying to grab him.
Martin pulled away and lunged at the guy thus starting a full on fight. The crowd gathered around them cheering.
"Martin! Martin!" Ruthie yelled holding tightly onto his scared brothers. "Stop fighting!"
"Break it up." Two policemen emerged through the crowd and ripped the two men apart.
"What's going on here?" The taller, older cop gripped on to Martin's hands.
"This drunk was hitting on my girlfriend." Martin breathed heavily trying to calm down.
"Not again, Hank." The other cop sighed. "Come on. Looks like you're going back to jail for the night." He pushed Hank through the crowd and out the door.
The other cop let go of Martin. "Sorry about that. Hank gets drunk every night and picks a fight with someone. Usually a local though. Where're you from?"
"Glen Oak." Martin said as Ruthie came next to his side trying to touch his bruises. He batted her away. "I'm fine."
"You don't look fine." Ruthie protested.
"Glen Oak. I have friend in Glen Oak. Name's Kevin Kinkirk." The cop said.
Ruthie stared at him surprised. "That's my brother-in-law."
"Well, I'll be damned." The cop took his hat off and stuck out his hand.
Ruthie shook it.
"I'm Gary. Kevin and I worked together in Buffalo. You must be Ruthie. The youngest daughter of the Camden clan. And you two must be Sam and David."
Sam and David looked at each other. "Wow!" Sam exclaimed.
"You must be psychic." David finished.
The adults laughed.
"Uh, no sad to say I'm not psychic." Gary chuckled. "Kevin's one of my best friends. He's told me all about the Camdens."
Martin broke in. "That's great but honestly, we were on our way to LA when I went off the highway to get some gas and then blew a tire. I'd really like to get back on the road."
"Of course, there're tires out back." Gary put his hat back on. "We'll get you back on the road ASAP."
"Thank you!" Ruthie said enthusiastically.
Ruthie pushed the front door open dropping her bag on the floor. "Home sweet home." She murmured wearily.
Sam and David came running in after her. "Mom! Dad! We're home."
Annie rushed down the stairs. Eric came in from the kitchen.
"Oh, my babies." Annie rushed over to kiss and hug the twins. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah. We're fine." Sam said.
"Are you sure?" Annie continued.
"What's wrong, Mom?" Ruthie was confused
Eric cleared his throat. "Kevin's friend Gary called him and then he told us about your little altercation in the bar on Friday."
"It was awesome, Mom." David stretched out his hand expressively. "Martin really got that guy."
"Boys, why don't you go upstairs and unpack." Annie said sternly.
The boys took the hint and rush up the stairs.
"Mom, Dad, it was completely by chance that we ended up in that bar." Ruthie tried to explain.
"It's not chance that Martin decided to take my nine-year old sons into a bar and gets himself in a fight." Annie declared.
"It was either take us in there or be alone on dark country road." Ruthie felt herself get angry. "And Martin was protecting me when he got in that fight."
"Annie, we really should hear the story." Eric placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I've already heard the story. I don't care. The point is that Martin put my children in danger and for that I forbid you to see Martin."
Ruthie blinked. "What?"
"Annie, I don't think…" Eric tried.
"I've made my decision and I do not want Ruthie to see Martin anymore."
Ruthie felt tears welling up in her eyes. "I can't believe you. But you know what I'm eighteen years-old. You can't control who and do and do not date. I love Martin and I plan to continue seeing him!" She rushed up the stairs.
Eric looked at his wife in shock.
Annie threw her arms up. "I'm not changing my mind." She walked out of the room.
Eric stood there blinking.
Next Time on Far Away: In the first part of the finale, T Bone arrives at the Camden house just in time for Sandy's wedding creating an awkward situation for Ruthie.