Meet Me in Fantasyland

Excerpt:
With an arm around each of her twins, Rissa told them, word for word, about the conversation with their dad that morning. Knowing they would be hurt, but determined to be honest, she knew in the end that it would be best.

"Dad may not want to see us ever again," Seth sniffed.

Her son held back the tears, determined to be a man about things. If only he would let loose once to get it out of his system. He refused. Hopefully, the boy wouldn't be alone when the pain eventually surfaced.

"I think right now the idea of the two of you joining him and his new wife is a little daunting. Especially because of the age difference; she's not that much older than either of you." She imagined Tom felt he had three children instead of just two. If he kept them apart it might be overlooked how young Blondie really was.

Rissa placed a kiss on Seth's forehead then did the same to Sandie. "He'll come around when he's ready. In the meantime, I'm here for both of you if you need anything."

"But who's going to be here for you?" Sandie asked.

If they only knew there hadn't been anyone to lean on for years. "Okay let me put it this way. We'll be here for each other. How's that?"

"Sounds good, Mom." Seth grinned, a little weak, but still there. "When is that darn pizza man going to get here?"

The doorbell rang as if on cue and they all laughed. Seth bounded off the couch to answer the door, while Rissa stood to search for her purse.

Just this once, an exception to the food in the kitchen only rule, they ate in the living room. Paper plates, pizza cartons and pop cans were spread across the coffee table.

Sandie turned on her favorite television show American Idol. The finalists on the program were down to six. Seth made it known he thought the hot looking girl would win. On the other hand, Sandie rooted for the handsome young man who sang like Frank Sinatra.

Rissa sighed, waiting for the right moment to broach the subject of a trip to Disney World. The trip would still be an adventure even if the twins were a little old. They could do lots of things, like visit Universal Studios and Sea World.

Ryan Seacrest announced they would be back in a moment, providing the break she'd waited for. "I was thinking maybe we'd take a vacation. You know get away, enjoy ourselves, what do you think?"

"Where?" Sandie turned her attention away from the dancing bunny and looked at her.

"Florida? Disney World."

"Lame," Seth announced around a mouthful of pizza.

"Oh fun! I hear the Tower of Terror at MGM is great." Sandie countered. "And they have fun water parks. Come on, Seth you like to swim."

"And we could spend a day at Sea World or Universal." Rissa smiled, hopeful they'd say yes.

"I guess that would be okay. When would we go?" Seth asked.

"In two weeks."

"Why can't we go sooner?" Sandie frowned.

Rissa put the can of pop to her lips and gulped down a swallow. "Promise not to laugh?"

Seth looked around her at his sister and raised a brow. "Sure."

"Have I ever told you about my friend Bobby?"

"Yes," They chorused.

"Well, when Bobby's dad was transferred we made a pact to meet in twenty-five year at the bridge to Cinderella's castle."

"Oh man, how corny. Why in the world did you pick that place?" Seth asked as they both laughed.

"It's a long story. I'd forgotten all about it until I found my old diaries earlier today. Bobby probably won't even be there, but I thought if we all go for a vacation I can check it out."

"You two must have been great friends. Why didn't she ever write you?" Sandie's gaze swung back to the young Frank Sinatra wannabe. "Hold on a minute."

Ryan Seacrest took stage and called the two contestants to stand on either side of him. The twins scooted forward as if they wouldn't hear if they didn't get as close to the television as possible. Seth's hot chick smiled at the audience, but then Ryan said, America voted and you're going home. Young Frank threw his arms around the losing singer, but it was hard to tell if he comforted her or not.

"Man, I voted for her. I know everyone red-blooded male in this country did too."

Rissa tried not laugh, but a chuckle escaped nonetheless. "The boy had more talent though."

"Yeah, it's not all about looks, you know." Her daughter smiled. "So are we going to go meet your girlfriend?"

"Girlfriend?" Rissa was puzzled for a moment, and then realized Bobby could be a girl's name. "Bobby isn't a woman."

Both her children turned to her in question and a shiver of unease slid down her spine. Maybe they wouldn't understand. After all, even though four months had passed since Tom left, she had packed up all his clothes today--making the hurt fresh.

"Bobby and I were just buddies."

"Is he gay then?" Seth asked.

Without warning, the laugh erupted from the bottom of her stomach. Leave it to her son to believe that was the only way a guy could be a buddy to a girl.

"No, he used to ask me advice about girls all the time. And I'd ask him about guys."

"So why didn't you marry him instead of Dad?" Sandie asked.

"He moved away and we lost touch. I loved Bobby like a brother." Rissa pictured him the last time, standing on her porch. The look on his face made her pause a moment. Had it only been friendship?

"Well I think it's romantic to meet after twenty-five years." Sandie threw her arm around her and gave her a squeeze. She gave her daughter a startled look. What did the exuberance mean?

Seth winked at her, "I'll let you guys drag me to Florida then. I want to meet this guy. I bet he really is gay and just wasn't out of the closet back then."

"Seth!" Rissa laid a hand over her flat tummy as if it would hold back more giggles. "Believe me he wasn't."

"Yeah right, Mom." He shook his head.

Picking up her can to drain the last little bit of cola, she bent and grabbed the paper plates. Sandie reached over, gathering dirty paper towels and Seth followed suit. Rissa blinked. Usually, unless a reward was offered, neither of the kids helped. Well it seemed to be a miracle.

One she would enjoy for tonight.