Zeena and I are flying home for Jim's graduation. She has gotten used to flying. She does great on the plane. The only thing she doesn't like is the pressure change. It takes her a few good head shakes to "pop her ears" everytime.
Uncle is at the airport to pick me up in his work clothes. I let Zeena go. I watch as Uncle gets down on one knee to greet her, and then he realizes his mistake. All you hear is. "Zeena...Noo.. UGH!" As Zeena tackles him in her excitement she is standing over him giving him kisses. Uncle is now laughing. "Get off me you Big Dummy." He says as he pushes on her.
We get my bags and head to the garage, and I see a work truck. "A work truck?" I ask.
"Hey, I am here. We had trouble at a site. I got hung up. I didn't have time to get my SUV at the shop." He says. "We go from here to the shop, swap trucks and I am on vacation ". He says with a smile.
We get to the shop, and Zeena runs for the office. Uncle brought her to work sometimes when she was at home, and everyone in the office loves her. She knows she will get lots of love in there.
I go in with Uncle and say hello to everyone. Answering all the questions about what it's like making a movie. Some of the questions are silly, but I answer them. We are walking out and Uncle puts his arm around my shoulders as we walk to his SUV. "I am proud of you, Mary. You have really grown and matured while you were out in Hollywood. Just watching you talk to everyone in there, and answering their questions. I can see your Mom in you. She was always so kind to people." We stand at the truck and he hugs me. I smile and enjoy the hug.
We get back to the house and Auntie is there and she gives me a big hug. "I have missed you." She says.
I giggle. "I have missed you too." I say.
The next day we get up early, and I take Zeena over to Amy & Andy's. I am there for an hour catching up. They tell me all about the appearances Amy has done for the charity, and the work Andy has done at the charity what Amy has done at Goldstar.
Today is going to be a very long day and we will need every square inch of Uncle's SUV and mine that Anna has up at school for Anna & Larry's stuff. There will be no room for Zeena.
Once I knew when the graduation was happening I called a local restaurant with a function room and booked it for everyone and their families. It's a big group of 13 people: me, Jim, Anna, Larry and everyone's parents. Jim asked if he could invite Barry and his parents, and I thought that was a wonderful idea.
Meeting after the actual graduation was a little chaotic, but we manage. I finally find Jim and I jump into his arms. We weren't able to get here before the students went onto the field. Traffic and parking was crazy.
He holds me tight, and I whisper in his ear. "I have missed you so much."
His answer just makes me melt. "I love you so much. I never want to be apart like this again." He says. I just hug him tighter.
He pats my bum, and I release my legs and slide down his body. He looks down at me and smiles. My sundress has gotten all pulled out of place. One of my boobs and bra are exposed almost to my nipple. I smile at him as I fix my dress. "Perv." I say with a smile.
"And if I said let's go back to my empty dorm room right now?" He asks.
I giggle. "I would say let's go."
"So who is the perv." He asks.
I reach up and give him a quick kiss. "You are. I am just horny." I say as I squeeze his hand. We find his parents, and then take them over to where I told Auntie we would meet them. We can't seem to find Barry. "Ezzie, can you sense Barry in this crowd? Can you have him come to us?" I ask.
I know I am asking a lot of Ezzie. It takes her a moment to respond as she searches through the hundreds if not a thousand plus people. "He will head this way with his parents." Ezzie says.
"Thanks, Ezzie." I say.
We get to Auntie & Uncle, and Anna & Larry are there with his parents. Anna screams since she sees me first. "COUS!" She runs to me and we hug each other tight. We have never been apart for this long of a period of time ever.
"I am so proud of you." I say hugging her
As we hug I hear Barry's unmistakable voice. "JIM!" He screams and waves. When he gets closer he wraps Jim up in a bear hug. "We did it. We did it." He says.
I drive with Jim and his parents. Since they have already packed Jim's stuff in their rental and have room for me. Auntie & Uncle may need the extra room. It takes forever but we get Anna & Larry's stuff packed and head to the restaurant.
It's a really fun time, and I am really happy to see that Auntie & Uncle get along with Jim's parents. By the time we leave it's getting late, so I take Jim & his parents directly to the cabin. Auntie, Uncle & Anna head home to unpack Larry and Anna's stuff, and then they will come up in the morning. I call Amy and she promises to take good care of Zeena for the night. I know she is in good hands.
We get to the cabin and I open it up. It doesn't have the same stale smell like when we first came up here, but you can tell it's been closed up. The first thing we do is open all the windows and light the candles Anna & Amy bought.
Jim takes my bag, and says. "Dad, pick a room." He says as he nods to the two other bedrooms, as he puts our bags in my.. well in our room.
Uncle put an Open/Close card on the fridge. With instructions what to do to open the cabin and close it. Christine and I do some of the easy stuff. Turning on water, propane and flipping all the circuit breakers.
We pretend to help, but we really just watch Jim and Mack pull the picnic table and adirondack chairs out from under a tarp against the cabin. Christine and I fold the tarp and put it in the shed, and take the folding chairs out to air them out.
By the time we are done, we are all hungry, but there is no food here. So we head into town for pizza. We will have to go food shopping tomorrow. The supermarket is closed by the time we drive by it.
It's late when we get back to the cabin. We sit on the deck and just marvel at all the stars in the sky. There are no bright lights or big cities nearby so you can see a ton of stars.
Jim squeezes my hand and smiles at me. I know he is thinking something dirty. I can see it in his eyes. He can't say it because his parents are right there with us. "Ezzie, what is Jim thinking?" I ask.
"Mary, he is imagining you and him laying on a blanket having sex under the stars. He is imagining you on top of him. He is looking up at you and seeing you surrounded by the stars." Says Ezzie.
I rub my finger across his palm, and he looks up at me. "I Love You." I mouth to him.
He smiles at me. "I love you too." He mouths back.
We sit out for a bit making small talk. Christine stretches. "Come on Mack. It's late. Let's go to bed." She kisses the top of Jim's head. "You two behave. Don't stay up late." She says as she and Mack head inside.
I get up after a few minutes. "I need the little girls room." I say as I walk inside. "Ezzie, are Christine & Mack going to bed?" I ask.
"They are." Says Ezzie.