Jingle all the Mitchell Way: a holiday novella(15)
“Jax!” Amber scorned. “The girls. Watch your language.”
“You two are sickos,” Reese added.
“Don’t get on me about it,” I argued. “It’s your fetish.”
While she did her best to ignore me, Jake and I got back on the road, determined to make good time getting to our first stop.
With our destination set on New Orleans, we knew we’d have a full night’s worth of driving. By taking turns we’d be able to make it without stopping, allowing the girls and the twins to get a good night sleep. Amber would have two days before she began filming. She’d been running lines in anticipation, but I knew her nerves were shot, though she refused to admit it. With no formal training, I prayed my wife would have what it took to play the role with ease. She’d done plenty of videos, so it wasn’t far-fetched to believe she could do a good job. I wanted the best for her. The idea of her getting bad reviews, or being told she was horrible wouldn’t sit well with me. It was my job to protect her, and even though I’d never be a rich movie star, it was clear I’d always be her hero. I planned on keeping it that way too, so one of those wealthy schmucks couldn’t try to take her away from the life we had back in North Carolina.
“Dude, are we there yet?” Jake asked after we’d been driving on the same road for several hours.
“If we were there my ass would be in bed with my wife. Quit your complaining. You’re supposed to be looking for deer before they run out into the road and f*ck up this pretty machinery you plan on keeping.”
“I’ve got insurance,” he mumbled while checking out our surroundings anyway. The area we were driving through was pitch black and cloudy. Not even the moon could be used to illuminate our way. I was getting tired of following my headlights, praying I’d come up on a tractor trailer to follow behind to keep focused.
Jake began humming a familiar holiday jingle. As much as I hated Christmas carols, I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel to the beat. After a few seconds we both began belting out the lyrics, paying no mind to the sleeping crew in the back. “Jingle Bells. Jingle Bells. Jingle all the way…”
Jake played air guitar in the seat next to me while finishing. “Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh.”
We pointed toward each other. “Hey!”
We finished the song, continuing on with another one of our favorites. For a few minutes it was entertaining, making the monotony seem a little more bearable, up until I heard someone clearing their throat behind me. “Are you two having fun?” Reese said in a soft voice.
“Is everyone asleep back there?” Jake asked.
“They won’t be for long, not with you two having a rock concert.”
“Sorry,” he apologized. “We were trying to pass the time.”
“How was Amber? Is she freaking out yet?”
“She took a Xanax. I guess it helped her go to sleep. I told her I’d manage the twins if they woke up, that’s why I’d appreciate it if you kept it down. She needs her rest. Tomorrow is going to be huge for her. It’s not like meeting a movie star on the street. She’s going to be working with these people day to day. She wants to prove herself worthy. Amber doesn’t want recognition for her pretty face. She’s determined to make a name for herself. I’ve got to give her credit. I’d never be able to put myself out there. People are *s. I wouldn’t want the scrutiny.”
“That’s why she’s the star and you’re the sidekick,” I added. I wasn’t trying to give Reese a hard time. In her own way, she was stunning, but more like the hometown chick every guy had a crush on. Amber was the type of woman you couldn’t get out of your mind. She had me hook, line and sinker from the first time I laid eyes or her, and as hard as it was to believe, she’d picked me to spend the rest of her life with.
With her career blossoming, I’d promised to pick up the slack at home, and in this case, on the road. The most important thing was for us to be a family, and we were both determined to make sure we didn’t take another for granted.
During my momentary reminiscing, I felt a strong pull on the steering wheel, causing me to immediately slow the vehicle down. “Holy shit! Something is wrong.”
“What do you mean? We just got this thing,” Jake argued.
“Dude, did they do an inspection?”
“Yeah, remember when I took it back to finalize the paperwork? They said everything was still new.”
“Just because it hasn’t been used doesn’t mean shit won’t go bad. Didn’t you learn anything from working all these years? I’m pretty sure she’s got a flat tire, and your ass better hope there is a real replacement, or else we’re going to be camping out on the side of this road until help arrives.”
Jake didn’t seem too sure of what the motorhome came with. He’d made a purchase on the whim, not thinking it out like he normally did. As much as I appreciated what he was doing for my family, a part of me was angry he hadn’t put more care into the trip.
“Ugh! I better go check on the kids. They’ll probably wake up since we’re not moving. Apparently it’s freezing outside. Make sure you put on some coats before going out there.” Reese exclaimed while heading toward the rear of the RV.
“We don’t need coats. We’re men. We’re invincible,” I suggested while Jake and I made our way out in the frigid temperatures. Reese was right. Even though we’d headed south, the weather had changed drastically. A chill struck me the moment my feet hit the asphalt. I contemplated going back in for a coat and gloves, but didn’t want my brother calling me a *. If he could endure it, so would I.