Chapter 3: Exhausting Trip
"Kate…"
"What?" asked Kate sleepily rolling over in bed…away from the person who tried to wake her from her slumber.
"Wake up sleepy head," replied Jack in her ear. Kate rolled back over so she was right up against Jack who was lying on his side next to her, already dressed.
"Do I have to?" asked Kate opening her eyes slowly.
"Yes," replied Jack kissing her forehead, "Do you know what today is?"
"September 7th," replied Kate softly…slowly the corners of her mouth turned up in a smile.
"And what happened on September 7th …twenty years ago?" asked Jack.
"Do I get three guesses?" asked Kate.
"Sure…and the first two don't count," said Jack laughing.
"Let me think…September 7th …it must have been something very important…so important that you felt obliged to wake me up," said Kate like she was really pondering the thought. "Hmmm…I remember a wedding…three bridesmaids…three groomsmen…Hurley carrying a set of twins…and a very handsome groom…"
"And a beautiful bride," added Jack.
Kate smiled and kissed Jack deeply. They continued to kiss until they heard snickering behind them. They broke apart and found all four of their children leaning in the doorway of their bedroom.
"Isn't that cute?" asked Boone wiping away a fake tear.
"Oh yes," replied Christian pretending to blow his nose in Hannah's shirt.
"Do you know why there is a door to our bedroom?" asked Jack sitting up.
"Well…" began Christian but Hannah hit him in the stomach.
"Sick," mumbled Matthew.
"Okay, well bring them our present," said Boone shoving his siblings. Hannah turned around and picked up a shoebox. She brought in into the room and set it on the bed.
"Open it," said Boone encouragingly.
"I'm afraid it might explode," said Kate. She opened the top of the shoebox and found a rubber band ball and two plane tickets. "Ummm?"
"It's two plane tickets and a rubber band ball," said Matthew.
"Yeah, I got that part," replied Jack.
"It's two tickets to the U.S…so you can visit the world biggest rubber band ball," said Boon happily.
"Thank you," said Kate laughing. "I'm sure we will enjoy this greatly."
"Yes," said Christian, "Our one week school break is coming up…and we figured that would be a great time for you two to get some alone time."
"Right," said Jack. "And if you think we are going to leave all four of you at home…alone…for more then 24 hours. You are sadly mistaken."
"We have already thought of that," said Hannah.
"We will stay with gramps," said Matthew smiling.
"Okay," said Kate, "Jack…I guess we are going to see the worlds largest rubber band ball."
"The worlds largest rubber band ball?" asked Shannon trying not to laugh.
"It's the thought that counts," replied Kate. She and Shannon were sitting on the back deck of the house, lemonades in hand. "Plus Jack and I have been saying for a long time that we would like to get away just the two of us."
"That's true," said Shannon, "The last time any of us had a decent vacation was when we all went back to the island."
"If you call that a vacation," said Kate.
"I haven't been to the U.S. in a long time," said Shannon. "I wonder if we would have accents if we went back there."
"Maybe," said Kate, "Let's see…our kids have grown up in Australia…with American parents, with Sawyer who is from Tennessee, Diana who is Puerto Rican, and Charlie who is British."
"Wow," said Shannon thoughtfully, "Talk about totally screwed up accidents." She looked over at her house and then back at Kate. "I would love to go to the U.S."
"Why don't you and Sawyer come with?" suggested Kate.
"That would be wrong…us coming along on your and Jack's anniversary trip," said Shannon.
"Please," said Kate, "We wouldn't even have to stay in the same place…just fly over with us. You two need some alone time as well."
"That is true," said Shannon, "But I don't know if I can get the time off of work."
"Shannon," said Kate laughing, "You own your own business."
"Oh yeah," said Shannon laughing along with Kate, "Blonde moment."
"What if we just brought the whole family," said Kate, "It could be a lot of fun. We never go on vacations as a family. Just think all eleven of us taking on the mid-west."
"That is a great idea," said Shannon, "But what if our husbands don't want too?"
"Who cares?" asked Kate, "Everyone knows…it's the women who really control the family."
"So this is the mid-west," said Boone as he and Christian walked out of the small local airport in the middle of Iowa. They had taken a flight to Des Moines and then caught a small airplane to the small town of Sandstone. "Fields and fields of corn? Dead corn?"
"It's supposed to be brown," said Kate as she put her suitcase into the RV they were renting. "It means it's going to be harvested soon."
"Why is it cold?" asked Christian who was wearing a pair of shorts and a t-shirt that read 'Too hot for you'.
"Because it is fall here," replied Hannah rolling her eyes. "Don't you to ever read?"
"Does playboy count?" asked Boone. Kate shot him a deadly look from the car, "Just joking Mum. Just joking."
"Are we ready?" asked Jack happily walking towards them.
"I think so," said Kate smiling at him. Jack put his arm around her waist and kissed her deeply.
"Ew," said Boone, "Please not in public."
"Hey it is our Anniversary trip remember?" asked Jack breaking away from Kate.
"If we knew that you two were going to act like that we wouldn't have come," said Matthew poking his head out of the rental van. "Come on let's get going."
"Alright alright," said Kate as they kid all piled in the back of the van. She got into the drivers seat and Jack walked around the van and into the drivers seat. He motioned for Sawyer to pull out of the parking lot. The Marshall's had rented their own van as well. Jack pulled out onto the road…completely deserted except for the two vans.
"What do you see?" asked Christian looking out the window.
"Corn," said Boone his voice filled with boredom. "How about you?"
"Corn," said Christian.
"Are you two going to that the entire time?" asked Hannah who was playing a game of checkers with Matthew at the kitchen table.
"Probably," said Boone in a monotone voice. "Hey Chris you wanna play eye-spy?"
"Sure," said Christian.
"I spy something brown," said Boone.
"Corn?"
"Yup. Your turn."
"I spy something yellow," said Christian.
"Corn?"
"Yup. Your turn Boone."
"I spy something green."
"Corn?"
"Nope."
"What?"
"Soy beans!"
"I swear nobody would know that you two are eighteen and in college," said Hannah disapprovingly.
"And if people heard your voice they would think that you were our grandma," said Christian.
"Why don't you just grow up?" asked Hannah.
"Because what fun would life be?" asked Christian. "We would be like you…BOOORRRIINNG!"
"Haha," said Matthew softly.
"Are you siding with them," asked Hannah.
"They have a point," replied Matthew moving his checker so Hannah had to king him.
"I'm boring?" asked Hannah shocked. "Like Grandma?"
"Sort of," said Matthew, "Let's just say you have enough maturity for yourself and the twins."
"Hey Chris," said Boone.
"What?" asked Christian.
"I spy something icky," said Boone giving Hannah a quick look.
"Hannah?"
"Yup," said Boone.
"This is it?" asked Christian starring up at the giant rubber band ball. We drove all this way for this.
"Well what did you expect?" asked Jake, "Something better."
"Sort of," said Matthew.
"You wanna see if we can push it over?" asked Boone his mouth forming into his mischievous smile.
"I don't know," said Christian, "Dad might get mad. Or Mom…and that would be worse."
"Or my Dad," said Jake.
Boone and Christian shuddered.
"Let's just take pictures okay?" suggested Matthew, "That way nobody gets angry."
The giant rubber band ball was in the middle of a large field. There were picnic tables spread out across the yard.
"I can't believe my mom grew up in Iowa," said Hannah. She, Laura, and Rebecca were all sitting at a picnic table.
"It is really boring," replied Rebecca. "Well then again we grew up outside of Sydney. There is always something to do."
"Laura are you okay?" asked Hannah. They usually couldn't get Laura to stop talking. Now she was just sitting in silence.
"Just thinking," said Laura.
"About?" asked Rebecca.
"Mike," said Laura looking ashamed with herself.
"Come on sis," said Rebecca. "Don't spend any more time thinking about that asshole."
"Yeah Laura," said Hannah, "You can do so much better. I know Boone and Christian would take you on a date. You wouldn't even have to ask."
"They are idiots," laughed Laura, "I would have to be really really desperate."
"Me too," said Rebecca, "Like if they were the last two men on earth."
"They are idiots," said Hannah, "But they sure can make you laugh…and even though they don't want me to know it…they are pretty protective. Like when I had my date for homecoming…they gave him the third degree like you would not believe."
"They have a lot of growing up to do," said Laura, "It's sad that we are younger then them and we think they need to grow up."
"What is that?" asked Jake as the four boys walked towards the girls.
"Itching powder," said Christian his voice low. "It might accidentally sprinkle on the girls."
"You two are so bad," said Jake as Boone took the top off the powder. He walked forward towards the girls, but his foot got caught on a tree root sticking out of the ground. The jar flew up into the air and Matthew and Jake jumped back. Three seconds later Boone and Christian were completely covered in the white powder. All the girls looked at them and began to laugh as they began to squirm.
"AHHHHHH!" yelled Boone scratching his arms. "I'm itchy!"
"You idiot!" yelled Christian, "When I stop itching you are so dead!"
"How much longer?'
"We've only been in the car for four hours."
"I don't care. I want out. It's so boring."
"This was your idea.'
"I don't care. Please tell me that we'll be at the restaurant soon."
"Kate, you are as bad as the kids."
"It's just so boring," mumbled Kate, "Driving."
"Well we let the kids chose were they want to go," said Jack.
"And that was a mistake," laughed Kate, "Now we are stuck going to see the world's largest frying pan."
"That's Boone and Christian for you," said Jack.
"We can hear you, you know?" asked Boone loudly from the back of the van.
"Yes we know," said Jack.
"Are you guys hungry?" asked Kate as they approached a small town.
"YES!"
Fifteen minutes later the two vans pulled into a small town restaurant. Immediately the four Shepard kids and three Marshall kids walked quickly into the restaurant to get something to eat. Sawyer and Shannon followed them quickly, but Jack and Kate stood outside for a moment in silence.
"I think I am going to go walk around," said Kate looking around at the town. They were standing in the downtown area. There were only five buildings, the restaurant, a post office, town hall, police station, and church.
"I thought you were hungry," said Jack.
"I am, but I really want to take a look around," said Kate smiling, "Order me something to go?"
"Alright," said Jack giving her a kiss. "Don't get lost."
"I won't," replied Kate walking away from him. She walked down the main street. This town reminded her so much of the town she had grown up. There was only one thing that Kate and Jack had ever disagreed about. Jack had wanted to move to a smaller town, somewhere in Australia that no body knew about. But not Kate, she wanted to stay in Sydney. She needs the bigger atmosphere. What happened to her, so publicly was like a wound that would never heal. She would never let her children go through anything like that. Mistakes should be forgiven, not remembered for all time.
Kate continued to walk, the brisk autumn wind hitting her face, her cheeks were becoming red. When she turned the corner she found herself in a park filled with identical white tents. A big sign read "Church Benefit Sale". Kate walked towards the tents and found dozens of people selling and buying handmade items. Kate walked through the rows of tents, drawing attention to herself, she was someone that the towns' people did not know, and therefore she was very interesting.
"Hello," said Kate walking up to a table selling pet supplies.
"Hello," said the woman, "If you don't mind me asking…where is your accent from?"
"Excuse me?" asked Kate surprised at the woman, "My accent?"
"Yes, Dear," replied the woman kindly, "Your definitely not from around here."
"Oh," said Kate smiling, "I'm from Sydney, Australia. But I grew up in Iowa."
"I see," said the woman, "I'm Jamie."
"Kate," said Kate nodding politely.
"Do you have a dog?" asked Jamie.
"Yes," said Kate, "He's very old. I had to leave him at home with my Dad."
"I see," said Jamie, "My dog had puppies a few months ago, would you like to see them?"
"Yes," said Kate following the woman. She followed the woman behind the tent and to a large area of grass where two Labrador breed puppies were sleeping. One puppy was a golden color and the other one was a dark brown. The woman opened the gate around the puppies and picked one up she turned around and put her in Kate's arms.
"My daughter named this one Sasha," said Jamie petting the golden puppy's head.
"She's adorable," said Kate as the puppy woke up and began to lick Kate's face. Kate and Jamie began to talk and Kate didn't realize that the time just flew by, what seemed like only five minutes turned out to be an hour and she saw that everybody had come looking for her. Jack spotted her right away and headed towards her, everyone else scattered among the tents.
"Running away?" asked Jack as he reached Kate.
"No," said Kate smiling, "Jamie this is my husband Jack."
Jack and Jamie shook hands as Kate put the puppy back into the enclosed area; the puppy stood on its back legs and began to whine.
"I think she likes you," said Jamie, "She's free to anyone who wants her."
Kate looked up at Jack and smiled.
"Kate you have a dog," said Jack.
"I know, but Buddy is lonely," said Kate giving Jack her puppy dog eyes.
"Kate…" said Jack trying to look away…the puppy dog eyes always worked, "Alright."
"Thank you!" said Kate jumping into his arms. She broke away from him and picked up the puppy, but then the other puppy walked sadly over to the edge of the fence, he looked up at Kate and barked once. "Jack…"
"Kate…" said Jack, "One is enough."
"But Jack," said Kate, "He's so lonely. Look at his little face…his little blue eyes…"
Jack breathed out deeply. He looked over at the puppy and then picked it up.
"But this one is mine," he said smiling and Kate kissed him. Jaime looked extremely happy. She sold them two collars and two leaches and said a happy goodbye as Kate and Jack made their way back to the others.
"What are you going to name him?" asked Kate who was holding her puppy instead of putting her on the ground, "She already has a name."
"I don't know," said Jack stopping, his puppy was having a hard time keeping up with him. He picked up the puppy and carried him under his arm; the puppy's paws resting on his forearm, his tail wagging madly.
"Just don't let the twins name him," said Kate laughing as they walked towards the rest of the family.
"I won't," said Jack, "Believe me nobody could forget their fish Gonorrhea and Syphilis. Those two are crazy."
"Well you know they get it from your side of the family," said Kate smiling.
"Probably," said Jack nodding his head then laughing.
Two days later Kate and Jack found themselves in Arizona. After visiting everything on the kids list, the adults decided to take time out to see something they wanted to see: The Grand Canyon. After four hours of driving they had finally reached their hotel. Kate sat on the edge of her and Jack's bed, Sasha lying in her lap. She could hear the kids through the wall in the other room. Boone, Christian, Jake, and Matthew were in one room, unfortunately the one next to Kate and Jack. In another room were the girls, and then next to them Shannon and Sawyer. Suddenly the hotel door opened and Jack walked in holding his puppy. It had taken them awhile to find a hotel that would allow dogs. Jack sat done next to Kate and let Perro off his leash. Jack had had difficultly coming up with a name so he called Hurley. Hurley had suggested Perro that means dog in Spanish.
"I think I am going to need a vacation from this vacation," said Jack lying down across the bed, Perro jumping up after him. He petted the dog between the ears, his eyes closed.
"Yeah," said Kate lying down next to him, "We know next time when the kids try and send us away for the week we will let them."
"That's right," said Jack tiredly, "But we are going home in two days."
"Good thing you don't have to work," said Kate.
"I am going to sleep all day," said Jack smiling to himself.
BANG!
"What the hell was that?" asked Jack sitting right up.
"Twins," said Kate smiling and shaking her head at the same time.
"Shall we go check on them?" asked Jack, "Just incase they are doing something illegal."
"Probably," said Kate sitting up. Jack got up off the bed and offered Kate his hand. Kate took it and he lifted her off the bed. "What do you think they did?"
"Something to impress the girls most likely," said Jack laughing.
"See they are just like you!" said Kate nudging Jack playfully in the side.
"Haha very funny," joked Jack as they left their room. They found Hannah and Rebecca outside the room laughing. "What's going on?"
"The twins tried to see Laura in the shower," said Hannah barely able to speak, "And Uncle Sawyer caught them."
"Ooooo!" said Jack dramatically. "What cause the bang?"
"Oh," said Rebecca, "That was my Dad slamming the twins hotel room door. They are probably still cowering in fear."
"Good," said Kate smiling. "Bet they won't try that again." Just as she said that the boys door opened and Boone and Christian walked out of it both of their faces stark white. "Are you two okay?"
"Fine," croaked Boone, "J—Just going for a walk."
Both of twins whipped around when they heard Sawyer and Shannon's door opened. Sawyer stuck his head out of the door and the twins took off in a run down the hallway.
Sawyer walked out of the room and over to Jack and Kate who were laughing.
"Hey," he said casually.
Jack opened his eyes slowly…he was back home…finally. They had returned to Sydney about 8 hours ago…at two in the morning. They were all absolutely exhausted, unfortunately for the kids, they had to go to school since they had already missed so many days, Boone and Christian had brought all of their college work with them…if they had actually done it…was a mystery. Jack rolled over and found that he was alone in the room, but the balcony door was open. Jack sat up and saw that Kate was sitting outside with all three of the dogs. Buddy had immediately liked Sasha and Perro. Jack got out of bed and put on his bathrobe and walked out onto the balcony.
"Good afternoon," said Kate looking up at Jack.
"Morning beautiful," said Jack after giving her a quick good morning kiss.
"Fully rested?" asked Kate smiling.
"Yup," said Jack, "That was nice being in the U.S. again."
"It was," said Kate. After buying their home Jack and Kate had never thought about moving to the U.S. again. It was different in their small Sydney suburb…life moved slower…time didn't fly by as fast. Everyone in the family was a U.S. citizen, but had a dual citizenship in Australia. "But it's always nice to come back home."
"Yup," said Jack sitting down next to her, "Hurley really missed us I guess. We had about 30 messages from him on our phone. He kept forgetting we were gone."
"That's why he is coming over in about an hour," said Kate, "He called again this morning."
"Haha," said Jack laughing.
"I'm glad to be home," said Kate seriously, "Now that I think about it this is my favorite place in the world."
"Because I'm here," said Jack jokingly.
"Yes," said Kate seriously.
Jack leaned over and kissed her deeply and then broke apart slowly.
"I love you."
To be continued…
