Author's note: This is my birthday gift to me! I hope you all like the story so far.
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"George!" Helen cried. "I didn't know you were coming over! My, have you grow!"
George smiled. "And you haven't changed a bit, Mrs Girardi," he said, extending his hand.
"Oh, come here you," Helen said, hugging the man tightly. "How long are you staying in Arcadia?"
"Not long," he replied. "But, I have a favor to ask of you. As you may know, my grandmother's in the hospital-"
"Oh dear!"
"Yeah..." he took a minute to clear his head. "Anyways, I was hoping that Joan and Kevin could accompany me there. I would be so lonely driving up there all alone, and I would like some time to catch up with these two," George said, hoping to sway Helen's decision.
"I would have to talk to Will about it, though it makes me a little uneasy that all three of my children will be far from me. Joan probably told you that Luke ran away with his girlfriend-"
"Yes, she did."
"-and I don't like that they are alone somewhere. But, if you have Joan and Kevin..." Helen trailed off, leaving the rest to figure out what she meant.
George grinned. "Well, I also have an alternative motive for bringing your children with me. See, I know where Luke and his girlfriend, Grace I think her name was, are hiding out." Upon seeing Helen's face he continued. "They made me promise not to tell, and that Grace was going to 'kick my ass' if I told anyone. And, from what I heard, Grace's threat should not be taken lightly."
Helen chuckled. "That's Grace for you."
"Since we are going to pass where they are staying, Joan and Kevin are going to come back with them while I stay in North Carolina with my grandmother."
Helen hugged him again. "Thank you. I will talk to Will about this, and I'm sure he'll let them go with you."
-----
"Wow, George. I forgot how persuasive you can be," Joan said as the pair sat on the couch.
"Hey, it's what I do."
Joan laughed. "I'm glad you're taking us along with you. The parentals were getting way too over-protective and it was creeping me out."
"I know what you mean," he said, but a small frown formed on his face. "It's just... never mind."
Joan turned to him. "What?"
"It's nothing."
"If it was nothing, you wouldn't have brought it up," Joan argued.
George sighed. "It's just something... you don't have to worry about." A new smile was plastered on his face, yet this one seemed a lot less cheery.
-----
"Will, I think we should let the kids go off with him. He knows where Luke and Grace are. I want my baby home," Helen said, getting ready for bed.
"Where is George now?"
"He's in Luke's room. But, I want to let them get Luke."
"Well, as a cop, I don't think it would be wise. We haven't seen this boy in years. Who knows what he's like now. But, as a father, my heart tells me to let them go."
Helen walked up to her husband and rested her hands around his neck. "Which part of you is screaming the loudest?"
Will sighed. "The father in me is."
-----
At breakfast the next morning, Will and Helen told the three younger ones they could all go, as long as they called once in a while to say where they were. Joan jumped up and hugged her parents. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
The trio ran upstairs to pack after eating their food and left within the hour. "Don't forget to call!" Helen reminded them as they pulled out of the driveway.
"Yes Mom! Bye!" Joan and Kevin called back.
"Bye Mr and Mrs Girardi!" George said. "Thanks for everything!"
----
The ride was mostly filled with reminiscing, and the occasional argue over what radio station to put it on. Joan fell asleep after a few hours, leaving Kevin and George to talk.
"So, you got a girl?" George asked, as he changed lanes on the auto route.
"Well, there was this girl, Lily. But, she's an ex-nun and not quite sure about relationships and stuff. She's gone this summer to visit her parents, but I plan on asking her out when she gets back."
"Cool, cool."
"You?"
"Well, I broke up with my girlfriend a few months ago," he said, shaking his head. "Donno what I saw in her. Just another woman who doesn't understand my intellectual side." Both men laughed at that. "But, seriously, I was hoping to see my ex in North Carolina. The only reason we broke up was because I was off to University in New York, and she was staying there. Now that I'm done, well, I'd like to get back together with her."
"Awesome," Kevin said.
The rest of the trip was silent, except for the soft music coming from the radio.
----
Grace and Luke were swimming in the lake when a car pulled up. Neither recognized the car, but they still got out of the water and Grace wrapped a towel around herself. Joan came bounding out of the car and hugged Luke and Grace tightly.
"I missed you guys!" she squealed. Both Grace and Luke chuckled.
"Hey Joan," Luke said. "Who did you drive here with?" He noticed a man get out of the driver's side and help Kevin out of the passenger seat.
A giant grin appeared on her face. "You'll never believe who."
"Girardi, just spit it out already. I don't like the idea of some guy I don't know see me in my bathing suit," Grace said, a scowl on her tanned face.
"Grace, I never knew you had such nice legs. I should get you to wear skirts..."
"Girardi, do you want to wear a body bag as your outfit?" Joan shook her head. "Good. Then never tell me that again."
"Wow, so I should be afraid of an ass kicking then," the man said, walking next to Kevin.
"And who the hell are you?" Grace snapped, feeling uncomfortable in her bathing suit.
He laughed. "Luke, you gotta remember me. String Luke."
Luke's mouth dropped. "George?"
"One and only. And this must be your girlfriend. Mate, you've done good for yourself." He eyed Grace up and down, making her fidget nervously. "Very good."
Luke blushed. "Yeah, well, how about we go inside so Grace and I can change. We'll meet you in the living room." With that, Grace ran into the house, trying to hold on to her towel, Luke walking behind her.
----
Luke and Grace came down a few minutes later, Luke in a pair of khaki shorts and a white t-shirt. Grace took up her usual clothes once again, long pants and a Jimmy Hendrix t-shirt. Luke nearly groaned in disappointment. He'd rather liked the shorts and tank tops she had begun to wear.
"That's the Grace I know," Kevin said. Grace scowled. "Definitely the Grace I know."
They all sat on the sofa, and Kevin went to get a bottle of water from the fridge.
"So, Luke, you guys are coming home with Kevin and I, right?"
Luke nodded. "Our money's run out. We only have a few dollars left that we were going to use for gas for the ride home."
"Good, 'cause Mom's been freaking out since you've gone."
"Sorry about that. I just had to get away." An awkward silent filled the room.
"Well, I think I'll go out and get us a pizza for supper," Joan suddenly said, rushing out before anyone could object. She grabbed the keys to George's car and closed the door.
"Okay then. So, Luke, how'd you meet your girlfriend? You two are total opposites."
After telling George some of the story, with Grace's comments thrown in, they all decided to play cards while they waited for Joan to get back.
----
Joan stopped at the first pizza place she could find. The sign read "Pizza Del Dio", and Joan walked in. A gruff man stood behind the counter. He scratched his bald head.
"Bonjourno. What can I get you?" he asked.
"A half vegetarian and half pepperoni pizza please."
"That'll be 15$ Joan."
"God," she said.
"What do you think "Dio" means?"
"God in Italian. My dad sometimes swears in Italian and drags your name through it."
"Yes. I know. Now, I while you wait for your pizza, let me give you some advice. Remember the woman George was talking about in the car?"
"I was sleeping, how would I have..." God gave Joan a knowing look. "All right. Fine! I was eavesdropping. Happy?"
"He wants to meet her. Make him meet her. Visit his grandmother with him."
"What?" Joan raised her eyebrow.
"Too complicated?"
"Not complicated enough. It's strange, even for you." A sudden realization hit Joan. "Oh my gosh. Are you losing your touch?"
"Here's your pizza. Have a nice day!" Joan took the pizza and handed the money to God. She glared at him with what she hopped was an evil glare before leaving the pizza place.
---
The smell of pizza filled the air as Joan entered the cabin. "Food!" everyone yelled together. They all grabbed a piece and went to sit on the couch, with Kevin on the other side of the table. Joan watched as Luke and Grace smiled secretly at each other, and noticed that they seemed so happy, so alive here.
She sat on the floor and grabbed a piece of pizza for herself, trying to get involved in the conversation going on, but God's request lingered in her mind.
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Author's note: Please Review! I got about 1 review for the last two chapters! Thanks to al l who've read though. I hope you've enjoyed my story so far!