“Tallywacker? Is that the best you can do?” Colin asks.
“We’re in Scotland. It seemed appropriate,” Teddy yells over the baby. I grin, listening to the banter. This is the family I love. The family that would brave thousands of miles, screaming babies, foul-mouthed teenagers, and van problems to be here for me.
We finally locate the van Matt is driving fifteen minutes later on the side of the road. Everybody has bailed out except Aiden who is in the back.
“Did you realize that a toddler can projectile vomit hard enough to hit two seats in front of them?” Matt asks when we pull over. “Aiden is trying to get the puke off the back of the seats.”
Laughing, I climb out of our van to help Aiden while Felicity changes their son’s clothes. We hunt down our remaining water bottles as Marcus pulls out a spare T-shirt from his bag to use. We work for several more minutes until most of the puke is out. The van still smells a little funky, but it’s the best we can do.
“Don’t worry,” Izzy says. “Theo and I will switch vans. I’m used to the smell by now.” After shuffling vans, we start back off. We should still arrive around lunch, leaving us plenty of time to eat before having to get dressed.
“I bet they’re freezing,” Maggie says from the back. “Matt has all of the windows down.” We traded Izzy, Theo, and Teddy for my family. My mom is behaving since she has a guidebook in her hand, explaining to my stepdad everything we are seeing on the way.
Colin, however, is fighting off my sister’s barely veiled advances even though his new wife is sitting next to him. To Maggie’s credit, she thinks it’s hysterical watching Colin squirm. It seems like we’ve been driving forever when Sienna asks when we’re eating lunch.
Looking at my watch, I realize we should have been in Midfield by now.
“Grayson, where are we?” I ask.
“I have no idea. I thought you were watching for our turns,” he says, looking at me.
“I don’t think we’re on the right road,” I tell him, looking at the map. If I can just find some sort of named landmark out the window, I might have a chance of figuring out where we are. No way am I going to admit to daydreaming out the window instead of paying attention!
“Grayson, is that the ocean?” I ask a few minutes later when we roll to a stop at the end of a dead-end road.
“Fuck,” I hear him mumble under his breath.
“Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.”
I snort a laugh at Colin’s comment before trying to ignore Grayson’s scowl. We turn when Matt knocks on our window.
“Are you marrying Aquaman?” Matt asks with a smirk.
“Hang on, I’ve got this,” I say, jumping out of the van. The doors open as everyone climbs out to stretch their legs. I’m standing with the map, desperately trying to guess where we are. Checking my phone, I realize I can’t even call Alex for help. “Does anyone have cell phone service?” I ask as everyone pulls their phones out, checking.
“Why would there need to be cell phone service? There’s no one out here to use a phone.” My sister does have a point, but it doesn’t help our problem.
“Let’s just backtrack until we find something you recognize,” Lily suggests. Rounding everyone up, we finally get turned around. It’s almost two when we stumble across our destination.
We quickly hunt down the cottages Grayson has managed to find spread around the area. There’s a small gas station near one of the cottages, so we stop to ask directions to the James Ross croft. After several attempts to conquer the language barrier, an old farmer stops for gas. He explains how to get to their house using landmarks like blooming heather and big rocks.
“How much will I need to pay you to just take us there?” Colin finally asks in exasperation. After a little negotiation, we pile back in the vans with bags full of snacks none of us recognize to follow the farmer in his small truck. Checking my watch, I see it’s already three thirty.
“Don’t panic,” Maggie calls from the back seat. “We’ll make it in time. We have everything, so you can change at their house.” I smile back at her. I’m not in a total panic yet. Even if we’re a few minutes late, Alex will wait.
We’re bumping down two ruts that I would only roughly consider a road when we hear a loud bang. Gliding to a stop, Grayson hops out of the van. When I climb out, I find him staring at the hole where our tire used to be.
“Who the fuck loses a tire?” Grayson asks, looking at the empty hub in disbelief.
“I think this belongs to you,” Matt says, rolling the wheel toward us.
“Did that old guy just drive off and leave us?” Marcus has wandered up to join Matt and Grayson to stare at the axle. I almost laugh when they all look in unison where the truck used to be then back at the van.
“I’m no expert but I don’t think there are supposed to be ball bearings littering the road.” Marcus adds. I do laugh this time when they all look at the bearings then back at the axle.
“We’re not going to make it, are we?” I ask. Aiden slides an arm around me, pulling me close.
“Alex will wait. I’m pretty sure he’ll wait forever for you,” he says. I nod at him, fighting the tears that want to start up. It’s either going to be tears or hysterical giggling, I haven’t decided yet.
