The last week of July was a blur. “I don’t think we should go,” Laney said the night before they were to leave. In her arms was the last load of laundry.
Noah looked up from his laptop. “You can’t back out now. Asher’s all packed. He even packed Halle’s things.”
“I know, but this house is a disaster, and I can’t come home two days before the wedding and have it all cleaned . . . and have time to make enough peach cobbler for sixty plus people. Do you have any idea how long it takes to peel that many peaches?”
“I’ll help you. We’ll all help. In fact, while you’re gone, I’ll get more peelers, and when you’re ready to make the cobblers, we’ll have a peach peeling party.”
Laney frowned and shook her head. She had no reply for such an absurd solution. She just felt like crying. She turned to head up the stairs with the laundry.
“Don’t worry about the house,” he called.
She dumped the laundry on the bed and spread it out so it wouldn’t wrinkle—most of the clothes were hers—things she planned on taking: T-shirts, shorts, underwear, a pair of jeans, a sweatshirt, her running shorts, and a sports bra—in case she had the chance to go running, which she was beginning to doubt. Glumly, she opened her suitcase, folded each item and laid it in. Her heart just wasn’t in it.
“Rabbit, rabbit!” Asher said softly, blinking at the darkness. There was just the slightest hint of gray outside his bedroom window, and his heart pounded with excitement as he pushed back his sheet. “C’mon, Halle,” he whispered. “We’ve got to get ready.” The puppy, who’d grown considerably since they’d brought her home, yawned, and settled her head back on her paws while Asher shuffled to the next room.
“Mom,” he said in a hushed voice, shaking her. “It’s time to get up. You said we have to leave early.”
Laney mumbled, “It’s too early for school, hon. Go back to bed.”
“Mom,” Asher persisted. “We’re going to Georgia . . . remember?”
Laney sat bolt upright, opened her eyes, and looked at the bedside clock. “Crap,” she grumbled. She looked at Asher. “You didn’t hear that.”
He grinned. “Nope.”
Laney nudged her husband. “Hon, I overslept . . . and I’m going to take my shower.”
Noah rolled over, looked at the clock, and immediately pulled himself out of bed. Sleepily, he carried Laney’s suitcase down the stairs, turned on the coffeepot, and started to pack a cooler with snacks and drinks.
Asher pulled on his John Deere T-shirt and shorts, made his bed, brushed his teeth, packed his toothbrush, and thumped his suitcase down the stairs, with Halle at his heels. “I’m ready,” he announced.
“Mmm . . . you look ready,” Noah said with a smile. “Why don’t you go get the comb and we’ll try to tame that wildfire on the top of your head.”
Asher reached up to touch his hair. “Oops!” He dropped his suitcase and turned to run up the stairs, almost knocking Laney over.
“Be right back,” he called.
Laney dropped her backpack by the door, and Noah handed her a cup of coffee. She took a sip and smiled. “As much as I’d love to drink this right now, I think I’m going to put it in a travel mug and drink it when we’re a little farther down the road. I’d like to at least be off the Cape before we have to make our first stop.”
Noah chuckled. He knew all about Laney’s pit stops when they traveled.
“It’s not funny,” Laney admonished. “And it’s your fault.”
“My fault?” Noah asked, feigning innocence.
“Yes, your fault for impregnating me so many times.”
“Yeah, well it would be nice to have the opportunity to try to impregnate you again,” he said, putting his arm around her shoulder.
“Well, you have a long wait,” Laney said wryly, “with this full house. Besides, in case you forgot, you’re fixed and I’ve paused . . . so they’ll be no more impregnating.”
“We could still go through the motions once in a while . . .”
“We could . . . if there weren’t so many little ears around.”
“Well, maybe we’ll have to get away for a weekend.”
Laney poured her coffee into her travel mug. “I don’t think ministers are allowed to go away for the weekend,” she teased.
“I’m sure something can be arranged . . . maybe Nantucket?”
“Nantucket sounds nice,” she agreed, sounding doubtful. “When you figure out when and how we can afford Nantucket for a weekend, let me know.” She missed their lovemaking too, but she was usually too tired to dwell on it. She was perfectly happy to have him cuddle next to her at night. “I’m going to miss you,” she said.
“I’m going to miss you too,” he said softly, pulling her into a hug.
Just then, Asher bounced down the stairs with the comb and a spray bottle full of water. He pretended to shield his eyes and teased, “Get a room, wouldja?”
Noah pulled him into their hug, which made him giggle. “I’m gonna wet my pants,” he said breathlessly.
“Well, you better go to the bathroom then,” Noah said, laughing and releasing him.
Twenty minutes later, after quick bowls of cereal, a reminder to keep an eye on Lucky, and a walk around the yard for Halle, they loaded everything in the car. The eastern sky was just beginning to brighten, and Laney looked out at the ocean. “I can’t believe we’ve only been down to the beach a couple of times this summer,” she said sadly. “And by the time we get back, summer will be almost over. The kids have hardly been in the pool.”
“That’s not true,” Noah consoled. “They’ve been in the pool—even Halle’s been in the pool,” he said, scooping up the puppy, kissing her head, and putting her on the backseat. “And when things settle down, we’ll make a point of getting down to the beach. Things’ve just been a little hectic this summer.”
“Halle loves the pool,” Asher piped, climbing into his seat.
“Hey, where’s my hug?” Noah said, eyeing him in dismay.
“Right here,” Asher replied, jumping into his arms.
“Have you got Halle’s leash?”
“Yup.”
“And you’re gonna be good?”
“Yup.”
“And help Mom?”
“Yup.”
“And not eat all the peaches on the way home?”
“Yup.”
“And not let Mom eat all the peaches on the way home?”
He giggled. “Yup!”
“Okay, then you can go.” He kissed his forehead. “Love you,” he said, plopping him into his seat.
“Love you too.”
Noah turned to Laney.
“Don’t eat all the peaches,” he said with a grin.
“I will. I mean won’t,” she said with a laugh.
“Do you remember how to go?”
“Like the back of my hand,” she assured him. Then she looked up at the house. “Do you think I should wake them?”
“No. You said good-bye last night. They’re fine.”
“But, what if—”
“What if nothing,” he interrupted. “We’ll be fine . . . you’ll be fine . . . and like it or not, you’ll be back before you know it.”
Laney half smiled and nodded, and he pulled her into one last hug. She lay her head on his chest and felt the rhythmic beat of his heart. It was as steady as he was. “I love you,” she whispered with tears in her eyes.
“I love you too,” he said softly, holding her tight.
Asher cleared his throat, and Laney smiled although her eyes were glistening, and Noah looked over and realized Halle had her head out the window. “You make sure her window stays up a bit so she doesn’t fall out,” he reminded.
“I will.”
Laney opened her door.
“Got your phone?”
She nodded.
“Charger?”
She nodded again.
“Call me when you get there?”
“I will.”
Noah smiled, and as Laney turned the key, he stepped back and waved. She smiled wistfully and waved back. And as she pulled away, watching him continue to wave, hot tears spilled down her cheeks.
“Don’t cry, Mom,” Asher said cheerfully. “We’ll be back.”
As the sun came up over the Sagamore Bridge, Laney glanced in back and realized that Asher had fallen asleep with Halle’s head in his lap. Smiling, she slid the top of her travel cup open and took a sip—the coffee was still hot. She was glad she’d waited. Now Asher could sleep, and she could probably make it all the way into Connecticut . . . maybe even New York . . . before she had to stop.
Cape Cod to Georgia was an eighteen-hour trip without stops, but she didn’t plan to drive straight through. They’d go as far as Virginia today, and then hopefully make it to the farm by early Sunday afternoon. She felt less anxious about going now that they were finally underway. She knew all along that leaving would be the hardest part. As she reached for her sunglasses and turned on the radio, her thoughts drifted to the rolling hills of the farm and the bear hugs they’d get from Lyle. It had been much too long.