Chapter Three
They eventually passed a sign that said 'Welcome to Crabapple Cove, Population 3,987'. The road was long and winding, more like a wide dirt path that stretched a bit more than a mile. The whole Hunnicut family gasped in unision as they entered the fairytale town - Hawkeye just smiled his usual smile. Neat white houses with gardens and small picket fences, children out in the yards romping with friendly-looking dogs, elderly men and women sitting on porchswings talking. It was as though the town had come out of a dream.
Driving slowly down the road, Hawkeye recieved many waves and smiles. He slowed to a stop as an older woman with dark brown hair and friendly eyes motioned for him to roll down the window.
"Good afternoon, Benjamin." He blushed as she called him by his first name, because he could hear BJ snickering behind him. "Afternoon, Mrs. Tospin. What can I do for you?" He elbowed BJ and smiled sweetly at the woman. Probably the same sweet, persuading smile that everyone in that whole town had known since he was born. Mrs. Tospin passed a white envelope through the window and into Hawkeye's hand, saying "This is for your father." She looked curiously over at his blonde companion, and to the four crammed into the back. Then her face lit up. "Oh, Benjamin, is this the Hunnicut boy?" It was his turn to chuckle as she referred to BJ as 'boy'. BJ nodded and smiled, reaching over Hawkeye to shake the woman's outstretched hand, and purposely bumping his elbow into the other man's nose.
"Yup, that would be me. I'm BJ, this is my wife Peg," He motioned to the back with his free hand. "my two sons, Charles Sherman and Benjamin Franklin, and my daughter Erin Marie." "It's wonderful to meet you, BJ. I'm Liliana Tospin, an old friend of Daniel Pierce. You know, this town has heard an awful lot about you from our Ben." She smiled and waved at the kids in the back, who waved back. Charlie and Benjamin put their hearts into it, grinning from ear to ear. Erin was plainly nervous and bored at the same time. "Well," she said "I should be getting back to the house. If you need anything, just holler! I don't live far from the Pierce household." With another friendly wave, Liliana turned and started making her way down the road.
Hawkeye rolled up his window and glared over at BJ. "I swear to God, BJ, if you make one crack..." The other man smiled innocently and said "I won't say a single thing about it..." Hawk sighed slightly in relief. "...Benjamin." As they sped up a bit, the small town was left behind. They drove down the same dirt road, now under a beautiful canopy of tall oak trees that seemed to meet in the middle of the road. The sun shone down through the leaves and cast beautiful patterns through the windows, holding the Hunnicut family in silent awe. Hawkeye still just smiled.
They came out from underneath the trees and stopped at a two-story white victorian style house. It was like Hawkeye had always spoke of so wistfully those boring nights in the Swamp. It had a wrap-around porch and a large apple tree growing in the front yard, a tireswing hanging from one of the branches. Stopping in the driveway, he opened the door and got out, turning around and opening Erin's door too. Everyone got out and stretched after the hour-long drive. The first thing on Charlie and Ben's minds was the swing. The two little boys ran for it, climbing excitedly onto the old tire, the little Hawkeye hanging through the middle and his older brother on top. They swung back and forth excitedly.
"Boys, boys, where are your manners?" BJ called out to them, a disapproving look on his face that was mirrored by Peg. Hawkeye just shook his head and muttered "They got 'em from their daddy... yowch!" Recieving an elbow in the side, he added "It's fine. Children are always drawn to that swing! My dad put it there himself when I was two." "Kids!" BJ yelled, pretending to look worried "Get off there now! It's not safe!" Hawkeye glared as his best friend just smiled sweetly.
Peg closed the door behind them and walked quickly across the yard, bending down to speak with her sons for a moment. Erin smirked and muttered to Hawkeye "Mom's always had the stronger hand in situations like these." Hawkeye's face turned red with suppressed laughter, before he burst out in straight guffaws. It quieted a moment later, when he called "Sweetie! BJ and his family are here!" There was a delighted squeal from within the door, which was slightly ajar, followed by a sight that BJ Hunnicut would never get used to.
Almost waddling out the door, came an eight-months-pregnant Margaret Houlihan. Er, Pierce. BJ toppled onto the emerald grass in a cold faint.
They eventually passed a sign that said 'Welcome to Crabapple Cove, Population 3,987'. The road was long and winding, more like a wide dirt path that stretched a bit more than a mile. The whole Hunnicut family gasped in unision as they entered the fairytale town - Hawkeye just smiled his usual smile. Neat white houses with gardens and small picket fences, children out in the yards romping with friendly-looking dogs, elderly men and women sitting on porchswings talking. It was as though the town had come out of a dream.
Driving slowly down the road, Hawkeye recieved many waves and smiles. He slowed to a stop as an older woman with dark brown hair and friendly eyes motioned for him to roll down the window.
"Good afternoon, Benjamin." He blushed as she called him by his first name, because he could hear BJ snickering behind him. "Afternoon, Mrs. Tospin. What can I do for you?" He elbowed BJ and smiled sweetly at the woman. Probably the same sweet, persuading smile that everyone in that whole town had known since he was born. Mrs. Tospin passed a white envelope through the window and into Hawkeye's hand, saying "This is for your father." She looked curiously over at his blonde companion, and to the four crammed into the back. Then her face lit up. "Oh, Benjamin, is this the Hunnicut boy?" It was his turn to chuckle as she referred to BJ as 'boy'. BJ nodded and smiled, reaching over Hawkeye to shake the woman's outstretched hand, and purposely bumping his elbow into the other man's nose.
"Yup, that would be me. I'm BJ, this is my wife Peg," He motioned to the back with his free hand. "my two sons, Charles Sherman and Benjamin Franklin, and my daughter Erin Marie." "It's wonderful to meet you, BJ. I'm Liliana Tospin, an old friend of Daniel Pierce. You know, this town has heard an awful lot about you from our Ben." She smiled and waved at the kids in the back, who waved back. Charlie and Benjamin put their hearts into it, grinning from ear to ear. Erin was plainly nervous and bored at the same time. "Well," she said "I should be getting back to the house. If you need anything, just holler! I don't live far from the Pierce household." With another friendly wave, Liliana turned and started making her way down the road.
Hawkeye rolled up his window and glared over at BJ. "I swear to God, BJ, if you make one crack..." The other man smiled innocently and said "I won't say a single thing about it..." Hawk sighed slightly in relief. "...Benjamin." As they sped up a bit, the small town was left behind. They drove down the same dirt road, now under a beautiful canopy of tall oak trees that seemed to meet in the middle of the road. The sun shone down through the leaves and cast beautiful patterns through the windows, holding the Hunnicut family in silent awe. Hawkeye still just smiled.
They came out from underneath the trees and stopped at a two-story white victorian style house. It was like Hawkeye had always spoke of so wistfully those boring nights in the Swamp. It had a wrap-around porch and a large apple tree growing in the front yard, a tireswing hanging from one of the branches. Stopping in the driveway, he opened the door and got out, turning around and opening Erin's door too. Everyone got out and stretched after the hour-long drive. The first thing on Charlie and Ben's minds was the swing. The two little boys ran for it, climbing excitedly onto the old tire, the little Hawkeye hanging through the middle and his older brother on top. They swung back and forth excitedly.
"Boys, boys, where are your manners?" BJ called out to them, a disapproving look on his face that was mirrored by Peg. Hawkeye just shook his head and muttered "They got 'em from their daddy... yowch!" Recieving an elbow in the side, he added "It's fine. Children are always drawn to that swing! My dad put it there himself when I was two." "Kids!" BJ yelled, pretending to look worried "Get off there now! It's not safe!" Hawkeye glared as his best friend just smiled sweetly.
Peg closed the door behind them and walked quickly across the yard, bending down to speak with her sons for a moment. Erin smirked and muttered to Hawkeye "Mom's always had the stronger hand in situations like these." Hawkeye's face turned red with suppressed laughter, before he burst out in straight guffaws. It quieted a moment later, when he called "Sweetie! BJ and his family are here!" There was a delighted squeal from within the door, which was slightly ajar, followed by a sight that BJ Hunnicut would never get used to.
Almost waddling out the door, came an eight-months-pregnant Margaret Houlihan. Er, Pierce. BJ toppled onto the emerald grass in a cold faint.
