Since we had not known exactly when the Allied driver would arrive that morning, Eric had planned that we would only drive about four hours the first day. Since the driver had arrived quite early, we checked into the hotel and still had a fair amount of daylight remaining. We both knew that the next few days would not be quite so fortunate in terms of the driving schedule.
The company was being quite generous. Eric was able to use the company credit card to pay for gas (which was very much a welcome relief given the gas prices) and food, and he was able to arrange suites for us each night along the way at the company-approved hotels. Virtually the entire trip was being paid with the company credit card – the two things the company definitely would not pay for were anything with alcohol and anything related to sex. "As my new boss told me, somewhat jokingly, I think," my big brother commented at one point, "'The company won't pay to keep you occupied when you get to your hotel each night.'"
That would be my job.
The four hours of driving passed rather quickly for me: I slept most of the way. After about three hours of nonstop driving, I awoke and found myself looking directly at a gas pump. We took the opportunity to stretch our legs and buy a quick snack inside the gas station before continuing onward, and I again slept for most of the final hour, awakening as the car slowed to exit the highway.
The hotel was on the outer edge of the city, with a large business park across the street and several other hotels in the immediate area. Check-in was fast and easy, and soon we lay together on the single massive bed, holding hands as we looked up at the off-white ceiling.
"Sorry I was such a terrible traveling companion today," I apologized.
"Don't worry about it," my big brother replied, giving my hand a squeeze. "Just having you in the car with me was nice."
We soon went out for dinner, finding a nice local steakhouse which was quite popular. The Old West theme was very prominent, almost gaudy, but the food was absolutely sensational. It was clear that most of the customers were from the area, and that the waitresses seemed to know many of them personally. It reminded me of where Eric and I had grown up, in a small town where everyone literally knew everyone by first name, and it was surprising to see such a memory come to life again in a strange city.
After dinner, we drove around the area, simply exploring, and found a nice park. We strolled together, chatting quietly, planning how the details of the move-in would be handled, specifically in terms of buying things for me since I really only had what was previously in my dorm room. At the small pond at the center of the park, we stopped and leaned against the fence, watching the ducks swimming merrily as the daylight began to fade.
As we stood there, I realized that my big brother and I were engaged in everyday activities – driving, going out to eat, watching ducks – yet as mundane as they were, these activities were all the more meaningful to me. In a way, it was as if Eric and I were young again, spending almost all our time together; only now, we were far closer than we had been so many years earlier.
We were much too close, according to my logical mind. Yet my heart beat a little faster just because my big brother stood beside me, just because he would hold me in his arms, just because he would kiss my cheek, just because he would give me a soft appreciative smile. While my mind tried to impose the dictates of society upon me, upon us, my heart sang of love and my gut affirmed the fate which had brought me so much closer to the one person who had already meant the world to me.
As we watched the ducks, we became even closer still, and in a rather public way, in this semi-secluded public place, when my big brother placed his hand upon mine upon the fence. I looked at him with a loving smile, and saw the same being returned in triplicate, and we stood together watching the swimming ducks.
