The Return Trip

"Da note was a nice touch." Nikki commented as I entered the Van.

I unfolded the small piece of paper to find a small handwritten note. Actually was nice to see Maria' handwriting, which was a flowing text that suggested she had written a heck of a lot of notes as well as a heck of a lot of paperwork.

I'll be there. This isn't going to be a locker room story. -Maria

Beneath she had written her phone number and what looked like a faint mark.

"She didn't have any lipstick, and I told her not to worry about it. She kissed it anyway." Nikki pointed out the mark I was inspecting.

"Ah... guess she really is a romantic at heart." I let my gaze settle on the police cruiser as it rolled away from the two of us. It took only a moment for it to be lost out of sight behind another rise in the concrete, decorated with an oak tree that seemed far too clean for its surroundings.

"California... wow. Back home a cop wouldn't have A, looked like dat, B, Let us go, and three, give you her phone number."

"And agreed to show up for a date."

"Lest we forget!" Nikki exclaimed. "I'm wondering right now what de fuck George is up to. He should have called by now. Fifty bucks says he's still sitting around bullshitting with Uncle Gus. Last time the two of them met up they sat in a diner for five fukkin hours while I was dying to get some rest. We'd just worked this festival for twelve hours, and of course didn't make a dime..."

Nikki continued to tell the story, which got a bit interesting, but involved far more people than I was actually familiar with. It did make the point though, which seemed to be that her husband had an inexhaustible desire for attention and acclaim. I'd like to think I paid attention, but my mind started drifting about the time she got to the part involving the young cousin they were bringing along getting hit on by a Ohio prostitute and not realizing it.

Fortunately by that time, we seemed to have hit the last stop light on the highway. We idled there, waiting patiently as no cars whatsoever crossed the highway.

"Nikki... I think I lost track about four cousins ago." I admitted as she brought up yet another name.

"You're lucky. You get to just walk away from family. I wish I could solve my problems with an Uber call sometimes."

"Yeah, I kinda had to, but do you really want to ruin this great time by complaining about people who aren't here?" I pointed out the obvious once again as the light turned green and we began rolling once again.

"They ARE here. Ugh.. dat's the worst part. Can't even get away on vacation without my family tagging along. Swear dey woulda come on my honeymoon if I hadn't planned it myself."

"Wait, that's... they're ON your cousin's honeymoon, aren't they?"

"Yeah, Big Family Wedding in California. Total Honeymoon suite and everything. Was de bride's dream wedding, and Aunt Vita had dis friend who cut her a deal on..."

"Can I stop you right there, Aunt Vita, that's the travel agent, right?"

"She's been doing it for years, and most of her clients don't wanna learn how to actually book anything." Nikki explained. "Yeah, so... Oh wait a second, I love this beach..."

Nikki's gaze shifted to the right to a low beach that curved neatly up towards the highway. An occasional person could be seen walking along it, but the general feel was one of serenity.

"Took a walk with George when we first got here, but he ruined it. Kept checking the game the whole time."

"What game?"

"I don't know. Something on his phone. I lost track if he's actually betting or if it's just one of those little match three things."

"Could always drop you off like you asked." I pointed out as we rolled past the beach. "Tell him you want that romantic walk with him. Tell him that you're pissed about him ignoring you."

"You'd just do that? I thought you liked me?" Nikki's voice became nervous.

"I do... just, not sure what you want here, Nikki."

"I don't know. We have had some good times, ya know." Nikki spoke a bit quieter as we passed several brick and mortar walls that marked house boundaries.

"Your call," I said.