To all of those that are reading, thanks. To the guest that reviewed, thank you, I appreciate it. I'm not sure why you didn't like the second half, was it something about her spending the afternoon with Hawks? With Adam? Or the way they treated her? Or something else? Also could you consider leaving a name? I only ask because just reviewing as "guest" makes it a little unclear if the same person who continues to review or a couple different people. Anyway thanks for your review.

Chapter 23: Road Trip

"First, I want to say that I'm not completely saying this because of my talk with Star today. That is definitely part of it but I'm not completely clueless. When I gave you that photo the other day, I didn't expect your reaction. Part of me did think you would be stunned but mostly I thought you'd be happy. Like I said, I wanted you to have a photo where Mom wasn't dead tired. It was only after I saw your face that I realized there was a chance you could be angry about it, like Ben was. I'm sorry. I didn't think about that but I also wanted you to see how much you look like her," Matt said.

"Who are you kidding? I look like Dad," Lizzy answered as the microwave dinged. She pulled the pizza from it, its melty cheesy aroma filling the room, and stood at the counter to eat it.

"Hair and eye color maybe but when you smile, the way your eyes light up, how passionate you can get about things, and how protective you can be, that all reminds me of Mom. I was trying to do something nice and apologize for it not coming out that way. After what Dad gave you, I hoped this would be something similar. You didn't seem quite so upset about that."

"What Dad gave me? The blanket?"

"The book. You didn't look at it?" He looked at her carefully.

She shook her head. "No, and I left it at home."

"It's a journal of sorts. Mom's art ideas. All the big moments in her life: babies, the first day they got the house, room designs—"

"Mom was an artist?" Lizzy asked. She looked up from her sausage and pepperoni pizza at her brother. He rocked the bar stool in front of him with a sock clad foot.

"Yep. She painted murals on all of our walls, designed your nursery, did a lot of paintings too."

"Now I wish I hadn't left that book in Ohio."

"I think I might have some home movies. I can go check the attic."

"Attic? We have an attic?"

"Of course we have an attic. Come on."

"Pizza," Lizzy said, motioning to the cooling pizza on the counter. Matt smirked but let her finish her pizza. After that he led her upstairs and to their attic.

Lizzy spent the rest of her time in Minnesota playing hockey with Matt in the basement or with the Ducks, the occasion trip to an ice rink to work on her skating, and watching home movies of her parents and brothers.

"You're up early," Matt said on the 28th. It was the day she was supposed to be leaving for Georgia. She was definitely nervous but was unsure if it was because she'd be meeting them for the first time, or if it was because it would be the first time she made more than an 11 hour drive by herself. True, an 11 hour drive was pretty big when she was only 16 but this would be clear across country and not just through five states. Instead it was a 19 hour drive through eight states.

"Leaving for Georgia," Lizzy said, nibbling on her toast.

"Mom's parents?" he asked. She nodded. "Grandpa likes baseball so keep the topic on that. Hockey reminds him of Uncle Austin and that's not pretty. Grandma on the other hand is a real sweetheart. Get to know her and it'll be like you know Mom. I promise."

Lizzy nodded. "Is it okay if I leave most of my stuff here and just pick it up on Labor Day?"

"I may not be here, so if I'm not, as you walk up to the front door to the left of the door there's a covered outlet. Lift the cover and taped to the outlet is a key. "It'll open the deadbolt. The door handle is never locked. Right inside the door is the alarm pad for the security system. You have thirty seconds to type in the code or the cops will be called. It's Star's birth year in reverse and she's a year younger than I am."

"So instead of entering 1-9-blah-blah, is blah-blah-9-1?"

"Yes."

"How come you don't lock the door handle?"

"Because with the reinforced door frame that I've got, people will try to kick it in first. That won't work. The door frame and the deadbolt stop that so they try to pick the lock. Most people lock both locks. Thieves know that. So when they try to pick the locks, they're always locking one lock. It works better if there are more locks but come on. Anyway, you'll be fine and I'll make you the same deal I made Seth. You're welcome to stay here when you don't want to be at the school but you keep your grades up to a B average and you stay on the team. I find out it's any lower than that or that you're missing classes and practices you go back to school and this place becomes off limits. I mean it. You got to deal with school and you gotta deal with baseball, hockey too if you go out for that team. Also, no boyfriends, no friends, no parties. The house is open to you and you alone. Not even Charlie can be here when I not, Fulton neither. I'm sorry, Liz, but I don't want you getting into trouble. Cleaning lady comes by once a week to reset lamp timers and clean up, so try not to make her job harder and if you need something let her know and she'll take care of it."

"I'll agree to your deal. I don't think Fulton and I will ever get into any trouble but I understand why you're worried. Are you going to marry Star?" Lizzy asked.

"Someday. I love her but I want to be sure before I do. Where are you stopping tonight?"

"I hadn't thought about that." She licked the toast crumbs from her fingers and threw away her napkin. There was no way she could make a 19 hour drive in one day, she'd be too tired—

Matt cut off her thoughts. "You could always call Danni. She's got a place in Knoxville and I'm sure she'd love to have her future sister-in-law stay."

"Future sister-in-law?"

"Chris's girlfriend? The one he's going to marry some day?"

"You sure about that?"

"Yes. Anyway. You could call her and see if she'll let you stay or you could just go to Dad's house. I know it's only 11 hours and that means an eight or nine hour drive tomorrow but you wouldn't have to ask. You don't have to make up your mind now, you don't really have to go until you get to Indianapolis, but I would consider giving her a call when you get to Lafayette. That way she can walk you through where you're going and how to get there."

"How does she know to get there?"

"She's from Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. It's right across the Illinois border, she goes through Indiana all the time to get to school, when she goes home. I'm gonna miss you, kiddo."

"Miss you, too." Matt pulled Lizzy to him hugging her tight. Things had gotten better between the two of them and it felt like he had his sister back.

As Lizzy crossed into Indiana from Illinois she called Chris and got Danni's number and he too insisted that Danni wouldn't mind Lizzy staying with her. About 90 minutes later, just outside Lafayette, Indiana, Lizzy called Danni and told her the dilemma.

"Sweetie, like your brothers told you, I am more than happy to have you stay with me. In about an hour, you'll be in Indianapolis. When you see a big red church on the left hand side, it's got a tower on the corner closest to the road, call me back and I'll walk you through that," Danni said. Five phone calls and several hours later, Lizzy was in the elevator of Danni's apartment building.

Sorta garlicy. That was the first thing Lizzy thought when she stepped through Danni's doorway after being let in. That's what it smelled like at least. "Thank you, so much. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it," Lizzy said.

"Of course, sweetie. You just missed the pizza guy; I figured you could use something to eat after traveling all day."

"You are amazing." Danni smiled and lead Lizzy to the couch. They spent a little time talking and getting to know each other, at the end of which Danni insisted Lizzy take her bed so she would be fully rested to drive to Georgia the following morning. "You have had this apartment since college?" Lizzy asked. Danni nodded. "That means Chris's been here and I don't want to think about what the two of you have done on the bed. My brother is no saint. You might be, but he is very charming."

"That he can be. Okay, since you insist." Danni pushed some brown hair out of her face and went back to her bedroom. Lizzy sighed and got comfortable on the couch. The following morning after a good and hearty breakfast Lizzy continued her drive finally pulling up at the house about seven hours later. When she did she had to double check the address. The house in front of her was massive, probably even bigger than the house in Minnesota or Adam's house, both of which were pretty big. She climbed out of the car after putting the top up and walked up to the door. She took a deep breath and rang the bell. She felt nervous. She hated feeling nervous. Her stomach was in knots and her hands were feeling a bit sweaty. She almost felt back in the middle of the biggest game of her life. Then the door opened.

"Lizzy!" a very familiar voice cried. Lizzy stared in shock at her cousin.

"Bash, wha—what are you doing here?" Lizzy asked, shaking off her shock.

"They're my grandparents too. I can come see them, can't I?" he asked.

"Uh, I didn't expect you."

"I can see that."

"Bash, who's at the door?" a woman's voice called from inside.

"That's Gram. Come on." He grabbed her hand and pulled her inside shoving the door shut behind her. Lizzy tripped over her own feet as she was pulled along, passing a dining room to her left, a formal living room and staircase to her right, various photos along the wall in the hall and came to a stop at the kitchen island. She slipped a bit at the sharp stop but managed not to fall. To her right was a massive living room, a fireplace and back door along the far wall and to her left, what looked like a true chef's kitchen; lots of counter space, a large three door refrigerator, wall ovens, a gas cook top, and a breakfast bar opposite where she had come in. The floor was a dark wood and ran the length of the house with area rugs in each room.

"Well, bless my stars," the woman at the counter said. Lizzy looked at her and smiled nervously.

"Hi, I'm Lizzy," she said softly.

"I know who you are, darlin'," the woman said. "Bash, go get your grandfather. That man is always in his office." She rolled her eyes and Lizzy smiled a bit. "Have a seat, I don't bite." Lizzy put her Eden Hall baseball bag down beside the island, it had everything she needed for the next week and a half, and sat down at one of the stools at the island. "You look so much like her."

"Like my mom?"

"Yes."

"No, I don't. Ben and Matt do, but I don't."

"Okay, sweetie. Zack, let's go!" she called. She rolled her eyes again and went back to chopping vegetables.

"What is it, Anita? I know I am not late for dinner, it is only two in the afternoon." The man walked across the living room towards the island and Lizzy looked at him. He was tall, with dark hair and she was pretty sure he had blue eyes. Sure enough when he got right up to the island, she could tell he had blue eyes. He also smelt of expensive cologne. "Well who are you?"

"Zack, be nice to your granddaughter," Anita snapped.

"Granddaughter?" he asked slowly. He looked her over from top to bottom as Bash munched on a carrot he had nicked off the counter. Lizzy looked over her grandfather trying not to stare. Then he smiled. It was the same smile Lizzy had seen on her mother's face in photographs. "You're beautiful."

"Thank you?" Lizzy said softly but confused.

"Anyway, I'm Zack and this is my wife Anita, we're your mother's parents, and of course you know your cousin," he introduced them.

"You were at Chris's graduation." She finally realized where she recognized him. He had been the man at the end of the table, the one she had assumed was Danni's grandfather, the one who had talked about the minor league teams in Tennessee.

"Our grandson graduates college, of course we're going to be there. Just like we were at the Stanley Cup games," Zack answered. "So darlin', what's for dinner?"

"Roast," Anita answered.

"Gram's a chef, head chef at a local restaurant. Best in all of Savannah," Bastian bragged.

"Don't most head chefs work on a busy Saturday night?" Lizzy asked, spinning to look back at her grandmother.

"My granddaughter's first night in town, of course I'll be here," Anita answered.

"It's okay, really. I understand you have to work." Lizzy smiled convincingly.

"We could always show her the restaurant, let her see you work, then once the rush is over, take her out on the town and show her around," Zack proposed.

"Okay," Anita agreed. "Take her stuff upstairs and show her where she'll be staying. I'll clean this up and head in."

"Of course, this way." Zack picked up Lizzy's bag and lead her up the back staircase. Turns out, about halfway up it connected to the front staircase. "This is our room if you need anything," Zack motioned to the big double doors at the top of the stairs. He motioned to the door to the left of those, "that's the guest bedroom, has its own bathroom, and over there are the linen closet, the laundry room and your uncle Austin's old room. That's where Bastian usually stays when he's here. And this," he led her around the right of the stairs, "is your mother's old room. You can stay here. Take some time, explore it. We haven't changed it since she moved out to live with your dad permanently."

"How long ago did Uncle Austin die?" Lizzy asked.

"Four years, just after Bastian's eighth grade year. It really did a number on the kid. I was talking to your father and got to talking about it and he mentioned Eden Hall and it being a boarding school. We knew that Seth had just graduated from there and I got Sasha and Bastian to talk to Seth about it at the funeral and eventually Sasha decided that staying home wasn't good for him so she convinced him to go."

"Bash from around here? I mean does he come over a lot?" Lizzy asked.

"You should really ask him about that, but no. His mom lives in his childhood home in Alabama. Her family is from there, she went to college here and met his dad," Zack answered. Lizzy nodded and he left her alone, putting her bag down just inside the door. To Lizzy's immediate left was a white door, which as it turned out lead to a walk-in closet and to her right was a desk and a vanity, both that matched the rest of the white furniture around the room. Next to the vanity was a half empty bookcase and then another white door, this one, she found, lead to a Jack and Jill bathroom. Across from the door that led in from the hall were two windows and then in the corner of the room a twin bed with a lilac comforter. At the foot of the bed, against the walk-in closet wall was a dresser. The medium blue walls were covered in photographs, a University of Georgia Football poster from 1970 on the wall between the two windows, and band posters. It seemed her mom was a country girl at heart, much like Lizzy was. Lizzy moved closer to the desk and vanity to see that the photographs were all of teens at all kinds of high school events and the closer she got to the bathroom, the more there were from college. She spotted one of her parents sitting outside somewhere enjoying a picnic and smiled. They looked so happy. Lizzy smiled as her phone rang.

"So you made it yet?" Ben asked when Lizzy picked up.

"Yeah, I'm here. Met Grandpa and Grandma," Lizzy answered. "Bash is here too."

"Good. Grandpa's fine but Grandma prefers to be called Gram."

"Got it. Grandpa said I could stay in Mom's room. It's a nice room, reminds me of mine, 'cept a lot less sports stuff in here and the walls are lighter than I'd paint mine."

"When Gram and Grandpa aren't looking and you're sure you're alone in the room, move the Georgia football poster. I think you'll be surprised. I gotta go, call me later," Ben told her.

"Okay," Lizzy answered. Lizzy shook her head and looked around. Once she was sure her grandfather had gone back down to the kitchen and Bash wasn't around, she picked up the bottom of the poster and lifted it up. There painted on the wall was a pure white bulldog.

"That's Uga," Anita said from the doorway. Lizzy dropped the poster and spun in shock. She hadn't even heard her come up the stairs. "Don't worry. We've known about him since junior year. He's the mascot for the University of Georgia, in Atlanta. We're currently on number five, that there is number two. The family actually lives here in Savannah and they go to nearly every football game as well as some important events. I just came up to say that I was leaving and that I'll see you there. If you could put on some slacks and pull up your hair, I'd appreciate it, but the shirt's okay."

"Yes, ma'am," Lizzy answered. Her grandmother smiled then walked away. Lizzy walked over to the bed and sat down then stared at her cell phone for a moment before dialing Adam. "Hey, Banksie," Lizzy said when he picked up.

"Okay, Cupcake, what's wrong?" Adam asked gently. Her voice was softer than he had heard in a while and he wasn't sure he liked it.

"I just met my grandparents."

"Your mom's parents? How's that going?"

"Okay, I think. My grandma's a chef and real sweet. Grandpa on the other hand is kinda standoffish, but I've only known him for half an hour."

"Well, that could have something to do with it. Give him time, you're hard not to love."

"Thanks. So, how are you?"

"Nuh-uh, there's more to it."

"I'm scared. Part of me thinks they won't like me. I know you just said I'm hard not to love, but it's a valid fear, right? I mean it's been 17 years since they've seen me. According to my dad, they were there when I was born, but haven't seen me since because of my step-mom."

"It's going to be okay. So what if they don't like you?"

"Cake-eater!"

"Hear me out. They live in Georgia right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, if they don't like you, you don't have to see them. If they were in Minnesota, you'd have to see them all the time and it would be a constant reminder that someone doesn't like you. Not everyone is going to like you, as hard as that is to swallow, it's part of life."

"Yeah, I'll come to terms with that. Like you said, it'll be hard but not everyone likes me and I shouldn't care. I shouldn't have to change myself if they can't love me for the way I am."

"On the other hand, you're their daughter's little girl. That last piece of their little girl and you are so amazing. They should love you for that. That's what grandparents are for. Just relax, be yourself, and they should love you."

"See, this is why I called you. You always know how to make me feel better."

"Thanks, I try. Was Fulton busy?"

"I don't know, I didn't call him. Why?"

"It's just odd, that you'd call me first." Lizzy didn't answer, worried that she was no longer as close to Adam as she wanted or used to be. "It's not a bad thing, Liz. Just odd. I'm glad you called," Adam told her.

"Are you sure? I mean I feel like I'm always messing up and that I can't do anything right at the moment."

"You're fine. I know it's been a hard year and there have been some missteps but you're still a Duck and we're glad you're at school with us."

"Thank you." Lizzy and Adam talked about hockey for a moment or two then he had to go.