Yeah, I didn't want a forced happy ending for that story so I kept it more bittersweet, not a downer but not forced happy ending.
Today's suggestion was from Boris Yeltsin who suggested this a story with a married Lori. (And Bobby, but i wanted to rhyme with story) Trying to get back to Royal Woods for Christmas, though storms effect things. Thanks for the suggestion. I hope everyone reading, enjoys!
Story 14: Home for the Holidays
Prompt/ Premise: Lori and Bobby try to make it home for Christmas, but nature is against them will they make it home?
Lori was in her room packing up a few essentials. Bobby came into the room with his attention tuned to his wife putting stuff in a suitcase.
"Another suitcase? We aren't moving, it's just a few days," he said.
"I'm only packing things I need," she replied.
"I still need room for the presents, why didn't you just send them through the mail?" he asked.
"Hey, this is first time in years my whole entire family will be together," Lori said.
She closed the suitcase and sat down on it to hold it down while she locked it.
"Yeah, it will be nice to be in Royal Woods again," Bobby said.
"It's weird how most of my family moved away from there," Lori replied.
"Who's still there anyway?" Bobby asked.
"My Parents, Lincoln, Lana, and Lisa," she answered.
She handed him the suitcase; it was so heavy he almost fell over. He grunted as he carried it and left to put it to pack it away.
Lori walked down the hallway to another room in her house. The door was open a girl who was wearing black jeans, long sleeve yellow t-shirt and a black beanie on her head, with tuffs of her short dark hair poking out the front and sides. She was watching a Christmas movie on TV.
"Alanna," Lori called.
"Yes, Mom," Alanna said.
"You are supposed to be packing," Lori said.
"I finished already," Alanna said.
"Really?" Lori asked.
"Yep."
"Can I see your bag then?" Lori asked.
"Sure," Alanna said.
The eight-year-old jumped from her bed and grabbed her burgundy bag and gave it to her mother. Lori unzipped it. She looked inside and rooted around.
"2 pairs of jeans, Al?" Lori asked.
"I only need 3 pairs of jeans, those two and the ones I'm wearing," Al replied.
"Ugh, I guess you have enough socks, underwear, and shirts," Lori replied.
"Where are we staying, anyways?" Al asked.
"We are going to your uncle Lincoln and Aunt Paige's house," Lori said.
"Everyone isn't staying at the same house, are they?" Al asked.
"No, your aunt Leni's family, Aunt Luna and Sam, Lynn, and Lilly are staying at your grandparents, Lucy will be at Lisa's home, and Lola will be at a hotel," Lori answered.
"Surprised, Aunt Lola is not going to Lana's," Al replied.
Lori put the stuff back in the back, leaving her daughter's other stuff alone, re zipped it, and set it back on the floor.
"We're about to leave in 30 minutes, so get ready," Lori said.
"There's a chance of snow from Ohio to North Dakota this day before Christmas, we'll keep you updated on News Talk 99.9, now here's the traffic with Jeff," a woman on the radio said.
"Nice, a white Christmas," Bobby said.
He was waiting in the driver's seat of the family's large blue SUV. Alanna was in the back seat watching something on her tablet. Lori came running to the passenger door, he unlocked the doors and she came inside with a huff.
"What took you so long?" he asked.
"I was making sure everything was in check, so we don't come home to either a literally empty house or a burned down one," She replied.
"To be honest, I don't think robbers will take everything in the house," Alanna replied.
"Well, whatever," Lori said.
"Are you ready to go now, Babe?" he asked.
"Yep, ready boo boo bear," Lori said.
Alanna gagged.
"Oh, you'll find yourself someone soon and act the same way," Lori replied.
"I'm eight, too young for that stuff," Al quipped.
"OK, seatbelts on; this is going to be a long ride," Bobby said.
As they drove the change in cities showed a grayer sky, about an hour drive they entered Toledo. Al continued watching stuff on her tablet and Lori was texting on her phone to friends and family. Bobby took brief looks at his wife and daughter and rolled his eyes. He switched the radio to check the weather again.
"Robert Jones Paranormal Watch, weeknights at 11pm on News Talk 99.9. Now here's the weather: snow will be falling in around 20 minutes in the Toledo area, more snow is already falling north and as far Royal Woods, Michigan. Storms are moving south, south-east reading as far south as Findlay. Temperatures are currently in the upper 20's to lower 30's, it's 34 in Crandle, 31 in Toledo…" the radio said. Bobby switched back to the Christmas music.
"We are making good time; looks like the storm is coming this way," he said.
"Hope it doesn't get too bad," Lori said, "Uh oh, Lola has new boyfriend."
"It won't last long," Bobby said.
"Don't say that!" Lori replied.
"She dumped a guy because he clashed with her outfit," Bobby explained.
"That was literally a false story from a tabloid," Lori said.
"Do you know if Lynn is still with that guy?" Bobby asked, interested in his in-law's family gossip.
"I don't know, and I'm not asking," she said.
"I just don't want it to be awkward, like last time," he said.
"That was your fault."
"It was my fault; I didn't know your sister was divorcing?"
"Yes, at least she's not with that cheating jerk."
"Be honest, they were both cheating on each other."
Lori looked back at her daughter who was still watching her show and had headphones, not paying attention to the conversation. The sighed in relief and looked forward at the road seeing the white specs from the sky.
"I sometimes forget she's right there," Lori said.
"She's just like you, all focused on that tablet," Bobby said.
"We don't have that much in common," Lori replied.
Finally, they made it across the Ohio-Michigan border. The snow got more forceful and visibility shrank. The cars on the highway had to drive slowly. Alanna took a break from her tablet to notice the snow coming around the windows.
"Babe, could you check the weather on your phone?" he asked.
"There's snow and it looks like it's all the way up to Canada," she replied.
"It's like a winter wonderland out there," Al said.
"What's the next town, anyway?" Lori questioned.
"Monroe seems this drive will be longer than planned now," Bobby said.
"I'd rather us get there safely than quick," Lori replied.
A few miles up a car accident had now caused a long delay. Every car for the stretch going northbound was stuck in a standstill. Bobby ended up in a routine of looking at the gas gauge, the clock, and the cars Infront of him for any sort of movement.
"That was Neil Diamond here on Detroit's Christmas station, we are hearing of an accident on i-75 northbound, near Monroe, that's after another accident on I-75 near Southgate is being dealt with," the D.J said.
"Hey Lincoln, no we're stuck on this highway, we'll be there as soon as possible, don't wait up for us though," Lori said. "Yeah, send Paige and Landon my hello."
"It'll be alright, we'll make it," Bobby said.
When the cars were able to start moving again, the snow had accumulated, and visibility had gotten worse as it fell thicker. Alanna looked at her tablet and Lori looked nervously between her phone and the road.
"Bobby, we should find somewhere to stop; there's no way we are going to be able to stay here," she said.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yeah," she answered.
They parked at parking lot to get bearing of where they were exactly.
"Do you think there's a bathroom?" Alanna asked.
"I'll be right back," Lori said to her husband.
"Don't get lost," Bobby said.
"We are only going to find a bathroom, and figure out where we are, I have my phone," Lori said.
He watched his wife and daughter walk through the wind and snow until they disappeared. "Walking in a winter wonderland," the song on the radio said. Must have been the ironic station. His phone started to ring.
"Hey Ronnie Annie," he said.
His sister had heard about the snow and wondered if he was seeing it; he honestly say that he could see the snow. She was spending Christmas with the family in Great Lakes City. He asked about the food and how things there were going, there was no mention from him about the weather.
"Love ya too, sis, talk to you later," he finished the call.
He looked at the clock and got worried. His daughter and wife were somewhere they could be 2 miles or 2 feet, he couldn't tell. "White out conditions have cause I-75 to be closed in parts," the voice on the radio said, "The snowstorm might get worse, it seems to have come out of nowhere."
There was a tap at the door, he looked over and saw Lori standing there. He unlocked the door. Alanna and Lori got into the vehicle.
"I was so worried about you two," Bobby said.
"I have good news, there's a motel up there, and due to the storm, some rooms were canceled, we can go in there," Lori said.
"That's good news, the highway is closed, and the storm is getting worse," Bobby said.
"Al, get your tablet and charger, I'm going to get a couple things, and we are going to the motel, "Lori said.
The family of three walked in the sense that they were moving their feet on the ground, the wind was heavy, snow limited their visibility, and none of them were wearing the right footwear.
Safely, they made it to a motel room. Lori called Lincoln and told him she wouldn't be able to make it after all.
"Will Santa find us?" Santa asked.
Bobby rubbed his daughter's head and smiled to give her some assurance.
"Don't worry, Santa is able to do anything," he said.
They didn't have any food and mostly just stayed in the motel room hoping the storm would at least slow down.
"We don't have milk and cookies for Santa," Al said.
"I'm sure he'll understand," Bobby said.
"Yeah, don't worry, sweetie," Lori said.
Alanna fell asleep, while the exhausted parents checked out a news broadcast to see if anything about the storm was going to change.
"I don't want her to be disappointed in the morning," Lori said.
"I'll get some of the gifts from the car later," Bobby said.
The whole family had ended up sleeping. The daughter in a bed, the couple on the floor with Bobby resting his head on Lori's stomach. Everyone had ended up sleeping in their clothes. This sleep was broken by a knock at the door. Bobby heard it and staggered himself awake. He looked at the clock it was 5am.
"Why would someone be knocking on that door, this early?' Lori asked.
"Maybe it's an emergency," Bobby replied.
Bobby opened the door where an overweight man with a grayish beard and hair on his head stood.
"Hey, my name is Chris, and I was doing some last-minute work, and was wondering is that blue Suburban, yours?" the man asked.
"Yeah, is everything alright?" Bobby asked.
"There's nothing wrong, I was wondering if you folks were headin' somewhere before the storm?" Chris asked.
"Yeah, we were trying to head towards Royal Woods, my wife's family is there," Bobby answered.
"Royal Woods, that's actually, on my route," Chris replied.
"Route?" Bobby asked.
"Yes, I have a special client, I was going to deliver a car to, as a gift for his wife, but he called it off due to the storm. I still need to get to Royal Woods because my cousin and sick and I want to see her, that's why I took the job in the first place. So, if you are willing, I'll can take you and wife to Royal Woods and put your SUV on the trailer and go." Chris explained.
"Oh, my daughter is here too," Bobby replied.
"She can come too," Chris said.
"So, you really can give us a ride?" Bobby asked.
"Oh yeah, the roads are clear of vehicles, and I essentially have a plow," Chris said.
"Let me check with my wife."
"I heard him, that sounds literally too convenient," Lori replied.
"I know, and to show you this isn't some trick or scam, this is free of charge," Chris said.
"Come on, Babe, Christmas is made for these moments," Bobby said.
"Alright, but this guy better not mug us and leave us for dead during this trip," Lori said.
Alanna laid her head on her mother's lap as she slept in the backseat of the truck. Bobby was sitting in his SUV that was being pulled on the trailer. The trip took about 3 hours, which was longer than it would normally. There was about 3 inches of snow on the ground and snow glistened in the sunlight as it rose.
"This is a good place to stop," Lori said.
Alanna woke up.
"Are we there yet?" she asked.
"Well kind of," Lori said.
"I'm going to help get your vehicle off the trailer," Chris said.
"Mom, can I see?" Alanna asked.
"Sure, be careful and stay off to the side," Lori said.
Lori and Bobby hugged each other because they were separated for 3 hours, and they weren't even that far.
"Hey, uh thanks, Chris," Alanna said.
"You're welcome little miss, hope you have a Merry Christmas.," Chris said.
"Your truck is nice, that engine runs smooth, I thought red would be more your normal color, though," Alanna replied.
"Red?" Chris asked.
"Yeah and sorry we didn't have milk and cookies for you," she said.
"Ah, I see, well I had enough for the night," Chris replied.
"Thanks for your help, sorry about the whole mugging comment," Lori said.
Chris laughed, "It's fine, to be fair, I would have thought the same thing, if it was you," he said.
"Are you sure you don't want anything?" Bobby asked.
"I'm sure, seeing you folks happy is gift to me, Merry Christmas," Chris replied.
Chris got into truck and started it. He waved to the family and drove away. Lori, Bobby, and Alanna got in the family SUV and rode to Lincoln's house.
"Mom and Dad, you know who that was right?" Alanna asked.
"Yeah, Chris," Bobby said.
"I mean, that was Santa," Alanna said.
"Al, what makes you say that?" Lori asked.
"His name was Chris, like Chris Kringle and he granted my Christmas wish of getting to Uncle Lincoln's house," the girl explained.
Lori turned on the radio to hear some Christmas music during the drive to the in-law's home. "We're commercial free this Christmas Day, hope it's Merry and Bright; you have an excuse not to hit the roads today as most of the highway is still closed for clean up," the DJ said.
"The highway is closed?" Lori thought.
Both Santiago parents looked back at their daughter in the backseat, then at each other.