Good Enough(36)

“So why the troubled look on your face then?”

“I don’t know. I’m just scared of getting hurt I guess.”

“Before I dated your Grandpa I had an enormous crush on a man named Henry. Oh, he was such a looker. He had the best lookin’ tush. We flirted with each other a lot and even fooled around but there was no spark. He didn’t give me butterflies. Does Jameson give you butterflies?”

“Yeah, all the time.”

“About a month later of the chase game with Henry I met your Grandfather. Oh my, he made me so nervous. I was shaking all the time in the beginning. I even broke up with him one time because I was so scared of how he made me feel. I thought it would be easier to just run away and break it off before I fell in love. He chased after me. It was like a movie. He had his Army uniform on. He looked so handsome in it. If he doesn’t chase after you, he’s not for you. I can tell by that look in your face you did the same thing I did Hillary. You ran didn’t you, and he chased after you?”

I couldn’t speak. I just nodded my head. Damn, Grandma is good.





“You put it out there, so you were asking for it.”



March 3, 2002

WHILE I HAVE MY CAR WARMING UP I call Jameson to let him know I’m leaving shortly, so he knows to expect me to arrive within thirty minutes. I didn’t sleep very well last night. I’m tired and I’m nervous about the next couple of days. I swear I’m trying not to be.

I told Jameson I would wait till we were about to head out to stop for coffee, gas up my car, check the oil and windshield washer fluid. You know, all those pre-trip necessities.

As I pull into the parking lot of the apartment complex of Jameson and his mom’s place I don’t see him waiting outside so I park and go inside.

I knock at the door.

“It’s open!” I barely hear Marcie, Jameson’s mom yelling over what sounds like her television set.

“Hi!” I say, stepping inside while wiping my shoes off.

“Hi sweetie. Please take your shoes off before you come in.” Marcie sneers.

“Oh. I wiped them off. Don’t worry.”

“Still, dear. I don’t want excess dirt on the carpet.”

“Oh. Uh, okay. You’re watching ‘Face The Nation’ I see. The politics on that show drive me crazy.”

“Well dear, only intelligent people like that show, so it’s okay.”

What the—

“I’m ready to go!” Jameson shouts, exiting his bedroom carrying his luggage bag.

“Bye mom. I’ll call you when we get there.” He gives Marcie a hug.

“Have a great time.” Marcie says, while giving me a hug goodbye as well.

Here goes etting’!

Most of the five hour drive to New Hampshire I slept. Yup. I’m a bad co-pilot. The lack of sleep the night before hit me in the drive. I woke up just as we were entering North Conway. It was like déjà vu. The stretch of road ahead looked so familiar. For a few years my father took us up to New Hampshire for a week during the summer but this couldn’t be the same town could it? He didn’t mention anything when I told him where I was going.

As we continue to drive on Route 16 towards the hotel, I’m noticing familiar sites. I notice a restaurant sign with a huge cow on top of it. I notice an arcade building and the motel across the street from it.

“Holy crap! This is where my dad took us!”

“Where?” Jameson asks, quizzically.

“Here. This town. This road. It’s all coming back to me now. Did you notice that restaurant with the big cow on top of the sign? And the arcade we passed. The motel across the street from it, that’s where I stayed as a kid. My dad would take me and my brother to the arcade across the street to play while my mom stayed in the room watching TV. The motel had a pool outside in the back.”

“That’s so cool babe.”

“I can’t believe I remember that. I was so little. I couldn’t have been more than eight years old at the time. I’ll have to tell my dad when I call him later so he knows we got here safe and sound.”

The rest of the drive to the hotel consists of me staring out of the window with eyes wide and a smile from ear to ear. It’s so scenic and beautiful up here. Before I even realize it we are turning off the main road and up towards the hotel. I can’t help but notice the enormous outlet center that we pass on the way. I am totally going shopping at some point. I giggle as I notice the massive moose statue in front of the hotel entrance sign. I am awe struck with the large grey buildings beauty covered in a light dusting of fresh snow. Eight large white pillars adorn the main entrance giving it that extra fancy feeling.