Jason took a drag off of the cigarette, slowly blowing the smoke out and up as thoughts raced through his head.
Damn it. He chewed on his lip ever so slightly. He wasn't so much worried about catching hell from Heather as he was about the upcoming trip. Sure, she'd tear his head off for smoking again. A steep price for one smoke every couple months or so.
The true pain he was about to endure lay hundreds of miles away. Another extended family Christmas. Something he avoided as much as possible. Only this year Heather wouldn't let him.
Jason glanced over his shoulder, catching a glimpse of his wife through the large bay window that dominated their living room. Her sweet demeanor toward the public and her image as a devoted mother almost made him laugh. Sure, she had friends aplenty, and she and little Noah were practically inseparable. Jason had the honor of supporting their little family as the sole breadwinner. No, Heather's online craft store didn't count for crap. Didn't even amount to shopping money for her.
The charmed life. What every guy is supposed to work for, right? He flicked the ashes from his cigarette and took another puff. This time he turned his attention to the driveway. There sat the long silhouette of the carriage that would take them to see Great Nana Pearl. Given Nana's age, it would likely be for the last time. And that is he only reason Jason agreed to make the journey.
- 2010 SportTanic Touring.jpg (35.26 KiB) Viewed 1724 times
Casting aside his cancerous vice, he strode slowly to the 2010 SportTanic he bought as an off-lease special last year. The color was hideous for a car of its power and luxury. Its automatic gearbox was just as much of a travesty. Both were Heather's fault. The fact that he got the luxury sedan of his dreams was the only victory he could claim; he would have divorced her if he had been forced to drive a minivan home from the lot.
Luckily, the SportTanic had higher safety marks than any van they could find. And that allowed Jason to play to Heather's only weakness: Noah. After all, Heather would be a poor excuse for a mother if she let him ride around in anything less than the safest car. He just... forgot... to tell her that the Touring model was turbocharged until a few weeks later. Jason paused and smiled, recalling the moment she found out, and the sweet vindication it gave him.
He slid one finger under the lip of the trunk lid, popping the electronic release. The SportTanic's cavernous cargo area was full to the brim with diapers, toys, and various other items for Noah and Heather. Only a single suitcase and a garment bag belonged to him. All that he'd need to face the onslaught of cousins, uncles, and aunts that were sure to be there. And, for the first time in his life, he'd show up in something worthy of attention. At least, for reasons other than being rusty and dilapidated.
Sun Dec 28, 2014 3:22 pm 
Close to home or not, I'll be able to flesh it out a bit.
