On The Road Again - Chapter 47 - Finale (Patreon)

*DING DONG*

Carmen looked up from her book and lowered her glasses, confused. Then, she looked at the time.

“Who could be at the door at this hour?” She complained to herself, then put her book down and got up to answer the door.

*DING DONG DING DONG*

Peter repeatedly hit the bell, hoping Jill would hear it and maybe it would add some urgency to Carmen.

“I’m coming, geez!” Peter could hear Carmen complain through the door and chuckled to himself. Finally, Carmen opened the door. When she saw Peter, looking as stern and stoic as he could, she raised an eyebrow.

“Do I know you?” she asked.

“I thought you might recognize me. My name is … Patrick, and I was at the carnival,” Peter explained. Carmen looked closer at Peter and finally put it all together.

“Oh yeah, I remember you. What do you want?”

Peter briefly looked over Carmen’s shoulder and saw Jill holding a bag and sneaking out the back door. He cleared his throat.

“Ma’am, I couldn’t resist seeing you again. I believe the universe has brought us together, and, well, I was hoping you had felt the same.”

Carmen stared at Peter, dumbfounded and trying desperately to process what he was saying.

“Is this some sort of joke?”

Jill rushed outside with her bags, using all her old hockey and ski bags to fill as many essentials as possible. She packed all her stuff, barring a few replaceable knick-knacks and consumables here and there, in three large bags and a backpack. Three trips, that’s all she needed.

Isla was exactly where she told Jill she’d be, waiting with the trunk open. As Jill opened the back gate and saw Isla, both hearts fluttered, and they rushed into each other's arms. Isla held Jill for a moment before pulling back and planting a long, passionate kiss on her lips.

Finally, Jill pulled away. “We don’t have much time.”

“I know. I just…”

“I know,” Jill reassured Isla, and the pair smiled.

“You go back in; I’ll put this in the car,” Isla instructed Jill, and she obliged.

“What are you even talking about?” Carmen asked, annoyed.

“When we were at the carnival, I was interested in your daughter, Jill,” Peter explained as Jill snuck back inside. As she heard, she raised an eyebrow and held back a chuckle. Then, she rushed back to her room.

“Right…” Camren asked, hoping he would just get on with it so she could return to her book.

“But, then I saw you, and there was just this instant connection. Don’t you think?”

Jill rushed out again, nearly bumping against the door but slowing down just in time to avoid the noise.

“How many more?” Isla asked.

“Just one,” Jill replied.

“Please hurry.”

Jill nodded and rushed back inside.

“Look, I don’t know what sort of joke or prank you’re pulling, but I’m not in the mood for it tonight,” Carmen said, closing the door. “Goodnight, Patrick.”

“Wait!” Peter put his foot in the doorway to stop her from fully closing it and turning around to see Jill as she snuck in. Jill froze, but as Carmen’s attention went back to Peter, she rushed back in.

“Look, buddy, I’ve had just about enough of … Kennedy?” Carmen said questioningly, confusing Peter.

“Uh, yes. I’ve had enough of Kennedy too, so I’m here for you….” Peter tried to play off her words, but he missed the meaning.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Kennedy asked from behind Peter. Peter turned around and felt the colour leave his face as he saw Kennedy arriving home.

“I, uh, I was just….” Peter stammered, not sure what to say.

“What are you doing here?” Carmen asked Kennedy. “I thought you guys were continuing?”

“That was before Isla left on her own. Oh hey, did you drive her?” Kennedy asked Peter, and Peter didn't reply. Kennedy just rolled her eyes and looked past him and her mother. “Jill! Wait.”

Jill froze, her final bag in hand and just steps from the back door. Isla watched through the gate in horror as Jill didn’t move.

“C’mon! Just run!” Isla whispered to herself and waved to Jill, but Jill didn’t move.

Kennedy stepped inside the house and approached Jill. Heather followed behind her, and Carmen and Peter watched.

“I just wanted to say I’m sorry,” Kennedy said.

“Me too. This whole thing was shitty,” Heather added.

“That’s okay. Now, if you’ll excuse me….” Jill tried to continue outside in plain sight as if nothing was happening.

“Why do you have a bag?” Kennedy asked.

“She’s packing for her big trip tonight,” Carmen answered for her, assuming that was the case.

“Big trip?” Heather asked.

“Jill here made it abundantly clear on the way home that she needs some behavioural correction. So I’ve arranged to have her attend a special camp for a few months.”

“Oh my god, you’re not serious,” Kennedy laughed. “She threatened this stupid camp on me all the time, Jill; you don’t need to pack.”

Kennedy tried to grab Jill’s bag from her, but Jill clung tight. As Kennedy stepped forward to grab it, though, she saw Isla’s SUV in the alley and raised an eyebrow at Jill.

Isla finally saw Kennedy and started to panic.

“Fuck! What do I do?” She asked herself.

Inside, Carmen continued. “Oh, but it’s not a joke this time, Kennedy. They’re coming tonight, and in fact, they should be here shortly.”

“You’re full of shit,” Kennedy replied. Carmen scowled.

“Don’t talk like that to your mother! You know, it’s probably your fault she’s so foul,” Carmen accused Kennedy.

Kennedy scoffed. “She’s foul because…of me?”

“Well, you weren’t a very positive influence, were you?” Carmen continued. Peter and Heather exchanged uncomfortable looks.

“And you were?” Kennedy challenged.

“Oh please, I did my best, but there was no solving you two. I made the mistake of not getting specialized help with you; I’m not making that mistake again,” Carmen spat.

“So I’m the fuck-up you’re okay with, but Jill, you need to ‘solve?’ That’s rich. Can’t tell your friends at your stupid book club that both your daughters are fuck-ups, can you?”

“Maybe we should….” Heather said to Peter and pointed to the door. Peter nodded, and the two left.

“She was pissing her pants and wearing diapers. She needs help!” Carmen yelled. Kennedy was fuming. After a moment of silence, she turned back to Jill.

“Go. Isla’s waiting,” She whispered. Jill froze. “Go!” Kennedy said louder, and Jill sprung into action.

“Where do you think you’re going, miss?” Carmen took steps to follow Jill, but Kennedy stepped in her way. “Move.”

“No.”

“Do I have to make another call and get you on that bus too?” Carmen threatened.

“I don’t know,” Kennedy said smugly. “You tell me!”

Suddenly, a soft hiss broke the tense silence, followed by drips hitting the floor. Carmen looked down, and a disgusted look coated her face. Kennedy was wetting herself.

“You gross, disgusting girl!” Carmen spat, which just made Kennedy burst out laughing. Carmen looked up from the forming puddle to see Jill throwing her bag in the back of Isla’s SUV and jumping into the passenger’s seat. “Jill! You come back here this instant!”

Carmen pushed past a now-soaked Kennedy, treading in the pee puddle on her way out, and began to chase after Isla on foot. Isla put her foot on the gas and sped out the alley, leaving Carmen in the dust as she got to the edge of the backyard.

In the car, Isla and Jill screamed excitedly.

“You did it!” Jill cheered.

“We did it!” Isla replied.

“I think I peed,” Jill laughed, looking between her crotch for wet spots.

“Well, that’s allowed around here,” Isla joked.

“You wouldn’t believe it,” Jill started. “Kennedy apologized!”

“No way,” Isla scoffed.

“She did! I think she actually meant it too!”

“How could you tell?”

“Didn’t you see?” Jill could hardly contain her excitement. “Kennedy pissed herself in front of my mom!”

“She didn’t!” Isla replied in disbelief.

“She did!”

“Damn! I wish I had seen that.”

“Oh, and I HAVE to tell you about my drive home,” Jill added.

“Well, we have lots of time on the road ahead,” Isla started. “Maybe you should get a diaper on first?”

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

THE END