hey omg i am sooo sorry it's been so long. I'm ashamed of myself. lol. I hope you like this chapter, and I'll try to update more often from now on.
Romaqueen3- Thanks so much! You're absolutely right, and I just hit myself for it, but you're the only one that caught it so YAY. lol. You're not a dork at all lol, I would have loved it too hehe. I've read a few of your stories, but that was before the genius in me discovered how to review. I love them, just so you know.
cami- I understand. This story is based on an experience I had also. It took me so long to update because no one knows what happened, and I had to make it up. I hope the coming chapters cheer you up and I'm glad you like it!!!
here it is!!!
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Chapter 5: New York
-The Next Week-
The past week had been fairly turbulent for the Gordon family. They were completely thrown out of whack and blocked off from the life they'd known.
It wasn't all terrible though, after all, they had nice neighbors who had come with housewarming gifts for Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, and quite a few playdates for Gordo. The young child enjoyed the neighborhood kids, but was aching for Lizzie and Miranda inside.
"Howard, please tell me the phones are hooked up, I need to call Jo," Roberta said to her husband while she dried her hair. Her demeanor had changed in the past couple of days. When talking to her husband, her words were short and to the point. Her tone was sharp and cold, a perfect reflection of her current feelings toward him.
"I haven't been able to catch hold of a phone company yet. We probably won't get them working until we get back from New York," he replied quietly.
The woman scoffed and stood up, walking across the room. She was still mad at him for not including her in this life altering decision. Of course she was. She had every right to be, but she knew she couldn't stay mad at him forever.
He had greatly expressed his apologies many times, and although what he did was huge, she just couldn't hold the grudge much longer. Every time se looked at him, he would smile at her in such a cautious, melancholy way, she would feel horrible for being so hard on him.
"I really need to call Jo," she repeated bluntly, "we disappeared a week ago and haven't contacted them at all."
"They probably just think that we went to New York early or something," he said, "We're leaving for New York tomorrow, so you can call them from the airport or the hotel."
"You're right," she admitted, "as always."
The man grinned and kissed his wife on the forehead for the first time in a while.
"It'll all be alright, you'll see," he told her.
"I hope you're right with that one also, I would hate to see your 'I'm-always-right streak' end now," she joked.
"I don't think it will," he joked back.
She gave him a small smile.
"Good, just don't get arrogant or anything."
He laughed with her.
"I'll go get Gordo from next door, I'll be right back," he told his wife. He went downstairs, and out the door, shut it behind, and went to pick up his son.
Roberta sighed and sat down on the bed. She was still mad at him, but deep she knew he had meant well.
The woman rose and began packing her things. Their flight to New York was early the next morning, and she had never grown out of her teenage 'shut-up-and-let-me-sleep phase.'
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Roberta finished packing. She had packed for the whole family, and was both incredibly happy to be finished packing, and exhausted from around two hours of back and forth from the suitcase to the clothes and, well, packing.
She laid down on the bed and drifted off to sleep.
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Howard opened the front door carrying Gordo, who had chocolate ice cream cone clutched in his hand, and a grin on his face. His mouth was, of course, smeared with chocolate, as was his shirt, but hey, what are washing machines for?
Mr. Gordon yelled up to his wife and brought his son into the kitchen. He sat Gordo down on the countertop and let his legs dangle off at the knees. Then he pulled up a chair and sat in front of him to keep him company while he ate.
Not that Gordo needed company while he was eating at all. In fact, he never made a sound when he ate, he had to concentrate heavily on his good; especially ice cream... can't let that out of your sight. He had kind of a 'can't talk-eating' attitude, and would completely ignore everything until he was done with his meal, like many young boys. But, it never hurts to try, right?
"Did you have fun at your friend's house, Gordo?" Howard asked.
Gordo kept eating; he had adorably managed to get ice cream on his nose and right temple next to his hairline. Ah the talents of youth these days.
"Howard, when did you get back?" Mrs. Gordon asked while descending the stairs from the bedroom into the kitchen.
"Just five minutes ago we went to Baskin Robbins," Howard replied.
The rest of the day sped by in the most uneventful way, and by 9:30 that night, Gordo was sleeping, and the married couple decided to call it a night and retire to bed early.
They slid off to sleep, still keeping to opposite sides of the bed even though most of the tension had worn away.
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The alarm clock on Howard's side of the bed rang. 5:00 AM. He sat up in bed, turned the alarm off and gently shook his wife to a half conscious state.
"C'mon, wake up, the car will be here in an hour," he spoke quietly.
"I'll be down soon, you go... have fun," she mumbled almost incoherently. She rolled onto her other side and closed her eyes again.
Howard chuckled at her childish behavior and went to wake Gordo, who proved to be less of a problem.
He lifted Gordo out of the crib and carried him down to the kitchen, buckling him into the high chair.
Mr. Gordon buzzed about the kitchen preparing breakfast and coffee for his son and wife, who had just appeared at the top of the stairs. Mrs. Gordon slowly made her way downstairs and sat down at the tale.
It was very early and still dark outside when the room briefly lit up.
"Taxi's here, just pulled into the driveway," Howard calmly observed, still half asleep himself.
"Oh," Roberta said sipping her coffee.
The two adults looked at each other and raced upstairs. Five seconds lately Howard jumped the bottom two steps, picked up Gordo and bounded up the stairs again.
Half an hour lately the family was in the cab on the way to the airport.
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The next two hours flew by. They were very excited about going to New York, and Roberta was scanning the airport for a phone, but with no luck so far.
They were already running late when Roberta finally saw a phone.
"A phone! A phone! Oh thank goodness," she rushed over and pulled a quarter out of her pocket and put it into the slot.
"Last call for boarding. Flight 8346 to New York's La Guardia Airport. Calling all passengers." A voice rang out to the bust people milling around the gates.
"We have to go Roberta, you can call them when we get there," Howard said, taking her hand and lightly pulling her towards the lady taking tickets.
"NO. I have to talk to them," she started to dial the McGuire's number.
"Will the Gordon party of 3, if you are in the gate, Howard Gordon to Gate 7, your plane is waiting."
"We have to go. Now." Howard said reluctantly.
Roberta dropped the phone, and they boarded the plane.
A passerby shook his head and went to the phone Roberta had used. It was still hanging there. He picked it up and placed it back on the hook, drowning out Jo McGuire's calls of "Hello? Hello?"
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The plane landed in New York. The weather was miserable. It was pouring and the sky was full of thunder and lightning.
The pane pulled into the gate and the passengers poured out of the plane and into the baggage claim area. Roberta once again skimmed through the crowds for a phone. She saw a man with a sign that said 'Gordon.' She waved him over and he began helping Howard with the bags.
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The cab pulled up in front of the beach house and the Gordons stepped out. They opened the door and walked inside. After flying all day and waking up so early, they were exhausted.
Howard dropped the bags at the top of the stairs and put Gordo to sleep in his room. They'd unpack tomorrow. It was too late now. A large clap of thunder briefly startled him, but he fell face first into his pillow and was out like a light, as were all of the lights as well.
He heard Roberta scream downstairs in anguish and storm up the stairs; her feet fiercely pounding on each step making the floors shake.
He turned over groggily and looked at the furious figure of his wife in the doorway.
"A blackout," she said, "I called her. She picked up, and the phone when dead."
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They sat down at the breakfast table, Roberta's head was down, and she stirred her cereal lazily with her spoon.
"It'll be alright, sweetie," Howard said.
"She hates me by now. We disappeared so long ago without a word, I bet she hates me. There's just no point in calling anymore."
She signed and stood up. The woman walked up the stairs and pulled one of the two suitcases that were still at the top of the stairs into the bedroom.
She began unpacking, opening drawers, putting the clothes in, and shutting them again. When she had finished the first suitcase, she looked around. There was a shirt of Gordo's on her bed that she had forgotten to take to his room. She picked it up and walked down the hallway to the child's bedroom.
This was her sister's beach house, and Gordo was staying in her nephew's room. She looked around. He had a few baseball posters, and the famous 'I 3 NY' sign. There were a couple other posters scattered on the walls as well.
She put the shirt away and turned to go get the other bag. A picture on the wall caught her eye as she was walking, and she turned to look at it.
While she was looking at it, she tripped on the suitcase. Roberta began to fall forward; she put her hands out to stop her fall and went tumbling lightly down the stairs.
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Don't kill me! She'll be fine, don't worry. I'll have the next chapter up in a shorter amount of time than it took for this one, that's for sure.
Keep reviewing! Please! I love them! Talk to you all soon!!!