As they boarded the shuttle, Brandon removed his phone, opened up his truck’s app and started the truck. Smiling, he said, “There, the heat will be on when we get there, and the heated seats will kick on too.”
“Awww, my Prince Charming.”
It took them about five minutes to reach the long term, then they walked to Brandon’s running truck, seeing it Sarah giggled, “Awww it really is Daddy’s little brother.”
Brandon shook his head, opened the passenger for Sarah allowing her to climb in, threw both their bags in the back seat, climbed in, hit the start button, and headed towards the exit. After paying for his parking, they headed west on I-78, making their way onto I-80.
“So are we going to stop by your place first?”
“No, it’s south of here. I packed my extra stuff in a bag and it’s under the back seats”
“Oh okay, how long of a drive is it?”
“About 5 hours, assuming roads are fine once we head north out of Williamsport. Weather looks fine, but up in the mountains, who knows. I texted Mom and told her we should be there around 9.”
Sarah kicked her boots off and pulled her feet up into the seat, “So tell me more about your family.”
“Well, my Mom works for the lumber company in town, and my Dad sells potato chips in the area for Lays. How I don’t weigh 250lbs still baffles me.”
They both laughed as Brandon filled Sarah in on growing up in the middle of nowhere, and just things about his life before moving to NJ. After stopping for gas outside of Williamsport, they began to make their way north where they eventually ran into snow just outside the small town of Gaines. Within 10 minutes, the ground and road were completely covered, Brandon had slowed down, shifting into 4WD as they made their way through the valley.
Even though it was dark, Sarah was glued to her window, as they cleared the last town before his hometown, Brandon looked at her, “Do you want to stop and get out?”
“Really? It’s just so beautiful.”
Brandon pulled over on the side of the road where he used to fish growing up, “C’mon, grab your jacket.”
They both put their jackets on, climbed out of the truck; Brandon took Sarah’s hand and walked her towards a field beside the creek. When the truck’s lights shut off, they were enveloped in darkness as the flakes fell in clumps around them.
“I used to fish here growing up. If it wasn’t snowy and clear, you could see so many stars, you wouldn’t know what to think.”
Sarah bent down picking up a handful of snow from the ground, throwing it up in the air while watching it fall. Brandon couldn’t help but smile as she did it again and again, almost with kid-like curiosity. She finally turned to him, “I’ve seen pictures of it and we could see it on the mountains in California, but it’s just so light!”
Brandon reached out and pulled her close, kissing her passionately. They stood in the open field kissing for a moment before Sarah shivered, breaking the moment and causing them to laugh, she said, “Okay, can we go back to the truck?”
Brandon laughed, “Yep, we are about 10 minutes from my parents.” They walked back to the truck, and made the last of the drive to Brandon’s parents.
Ch.13
Pulling up the gravel drive, the headlights of Brandon’s truck lit up a white, two story house sitting under a series of pine trees. Putting the truck in park, “Welp, here we are.”
Sarah climbed out of the truck as Brandon did, “It’s so pretty with the snow.”
They were interrupted by a large black mass coming around the porch huffing, Sarah gasped, “Ummmmm….” The mass then barked.
“Cooper, knock it off!”
The black mass skidded to a stop in front of Sarah, wiggling and vibrating as it sat in front of her, “Sarah, meet Cooper. Our doofus black lab.”
Sarah leaned down, allowing the dog to sniff her before scratching his big head and ears, “Well hi there Cooper, you scared me, you look like a bear.” The big dog looked at her with big eyes and dopey grin, giving her a big lick right across her cheek.
Brandon hefted their bags out of the truck, “Okay you two, let’s go.”
They walked to the porch, Brandon opened the door and yelled, “Mom, Dad, we’re here!”
Brandon ushered Sarah inside, as she walked past him, Cooper nearly knocked her over going in too, causing her to burst out laughing. Brandon shook his head as his mom came around the corner, “I’m so sorry I didn’t hear you all pull up, sorry about Cooper, he’s a little much sometimes. You must be Sarah, I’m Connie”.
Sarah went to shake her hand saying, “Hello Mrs. Ba…” but she was cut off as Connie pulled her into a firm hug.
“Call me Connie.”
Brandon heard the floor squeak as his father came out of the living room, “Wondered if the snow had slowed you all down.” He slapped Brandon on the back then hugged him, “Good to see you son.”
Brandon hugged him back, then stepped back, “Sarah, This is my dad, Ben.”
Ben took a step towards, looking at her as she smiled, before saying, “You’re way too pretty to be with this guy. Blink twice if you’re here against your will.”
Sarah giggled, “Not yet, How are you Mr. Baker?”
Ben pulled Sarah into a hug, “Don’t you dare call me that, it’s Ben darling.”
The four of them made their way out of the hallway and into the living room where they all sat on the sectional. They spent the next couple hours talking so that Sarah and Brandon’s parents could get to know each other. Sarah had no problem fitting in with them.
As the clock got closer to 11, Sarah began to yawn, “I’m sorry to be a party pooper, but I’m sleepy, where am I sleeping?”
Brandon deferred to his parents, it was Connie who finally spoke up after a minute of silence, “Listen, we aren’t stupid, if you want to sleep in separate rooms, I’ve made up the guest room for you sweetie, but if you want, Brandon’s old room is upstairs and the first door on your left.”
Sarah nodded then smiled, “Thank you again for letting me come, what time do I need to get up to help with lunch?”
“Oh honey, you don’t have to help me cook, but if you want, I’ll start getting everything ready around 8. Lunch is at 1230.”
Ben then chimed in, “Brandon you had better get to bed also, I need you to help with a few trees that I cut down.”
“Awwww Dad, I’m on break, do I really have to work.”
This caused them all to laugh, Ben shook his head, “You’re only home once every couple months, I’m going to get as much work out of you as I can.”
As he and Sarah stood, Brandon mumbled “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.”
They said goodnight, Brandon picked up their bags and headed upstairs with Sarah following him. He opened the door to see it just like the last time, his high school trophies from baseball, pictures of deer he had gotten and other mementos from his childhood. Sarah paused to look at them all, “You were quite the busy kid.”
Brandon laughed, pulling her into a hug, and a quick kiss, “It was be busy elsewhere or let my dad work me to the bone”
“Eh hard work is good for you. Where’s the bathroom?”
Brandon released her saying, “Next door down on the right.”
Sarah opened her bag, gathered her toiletries, pair of leggings, and a long sleeve top. While she was getting ready for bed, Brandon grabbed another blanket from the closest and got his own things situated. When Sarah returned, she put her stuff back into her bag and then climbed into bed.