5. The Start of the Summer

The airport was so crowded that Carson, Bridget, and Eric could barely walk without being bumped, pushed, or not touched at all. Carson was getting fed up and nearly attacked a younger kid who pushed her out of the way, before her mother grabbed her and steered her on.

Since all Carson had was a carry-on dufflebag, there was no need to stand in the ginormus line to check bags in. They headed to gate 19, where Carson would catch a flight to Chicago, and then down to New Mexico. The gate was bustling, and it was time to board.

Eric pulled her into a giant bear hug. "You kick major a—'' Bridget threw him a look, as if to say, There are kids around! "Butt. You kick everyone's butt." Then he whispered in her ear, "And try out for goalie so we can both beat your Mom when you come home."

Bridget whacked Eric on his tanned arm. "I heard that," she said, pulling her hair back. She hugged Carson, swaying her back and forth slightly. "You will kick butt. And find some hot coaches," she added.

Eric looked worried, and held up a hand. "But don't get any."

"Dad…" Carson wailed. "Lighten up. I'll have a great time. It's an all-girl soccer camp. You wouldn't let me go to one that was coed." She looked at the line to board. "Well, I better get going. I love you both."

"We love you, baby," Eric said, and Bridget blew her a kiss. Then he mouthed, "Kick ass."

As Bridget and Eric turned to leave and started walking slowly down the row of people waiting to board, a middle-aged man looked at her. "That your sister you sent off?" he asked, smiling.

Eric looked from the man to Bridget, and his wife slithered her arm around his waist, making it obvious she was with Eric. "She's my daughter," Bridget replied coolly.

That made the man turn around.

Sophia stood at the same airport where Carson was at, only an hour later. She was standing in line to check her bags, with her Mom and Dad.

"I think you're going to have a wonderful time, Sophie," Lena said, tying her hair back off her glowing face. "Italy is just so beautiful. Look what it did to your father."

"What, you don't think this is natural?" Fabrizio said, indicating his face. Lena laughed and kissed him lightly. Sophia shook her head. What was it with her parent's public display of affection?

"You are going to come home a better artist than me," Lena told Sophia. "I just know it. Soaking up the sun, the guys, the artwork. I wish I was going."

"You know, Mom, you had the opportunity to be an teacher there for the summer, but you chose to stay at the museum," Soph replied. Her mother was the curator at the National Museum of Art in Baltimore. She could have joined an intern group and worked at the La Belle Art Institution in Sorrento, Italy, but chose to stay instead.

"And now I regret my decision," Lena said sadly.

"But you wouldn't be with me," Fabrizio reasoned. "Aren't you glad you stayed?"

Lena pretended to ponder. "True…" she trailed off. Fabri kissed her again.

Sophia reached the counter, and she set her suitcase on the scale. "Boarding pass and passport, please," the attendant said. Sophie reached into her purse and pulled out her hideous passport, her boarding pass stuck inside. She handed it to the attendant, who checked it thoroughly. She entered the suitcase's weight on the computer, printed out a tag, stuck it on the suitcase, and sent it down the conveyer belt.

"Okay…" Sophia said as they left the counter, reading her boarding pass, "gate 40 in the East Wing…"

Fabrizio looked over at the Baltimore Airport map. "Dang it. We have to take the train."

Since Jules had nothing better to do then sit home, eat candy, and watch movies, she tagged along with the Harper's to the train station at noon to send Ana off to Virginia. The train didn't leave for another half hour, so Jules guessed they had a lot of time to cry.

"I still don't understand why you guys didn't decide to come," Ana said, fiddling with a suitcase.

"We didn't want to," Rob said bluntly.

"Rob, honestly," Carmen said. "Ana, we would just rather stay here. I'm not on best terms with Lydia's side of the family, so you can see why it would be awkward. But it's great for you because you barely know them!"

"I can come," Jules said. "I can wear your clothes."

"Funny, Jules. I would love you to come, but, ah…" Ana said. "Anyway, I don't have a reserved seat." She pointed toward the train.

Carmen blinked. "Okay."

"Meaning I want to find a good seat," Ana implied.

"Okay."

"So…I better board the train."

Rob looked at his watch. "Yeah, you might want to, because I have a business meeting in an hour I can't miss," he said.

"Rob, don't worry about work, they'll understand," Carmen assured irritably.

"No, Carmen, I don't think they will," Rob growled.

"Honestly. There are more important things than your work. Like your daughter, who is going off to visit more family." Carmen's face was going red.

"I barely know them, Carmen!" Rob's voice was rising.

"Rob, not in front of the girls, or in a public place for that matter," Carmen said lowly. "We'll discuss this later." She turned to Carmen. "Baby, I think you should go find a seat.