CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - Busted

I found her in the kitchen making coffee. We often found ourselves sitting on the kitchen stools around the island in the middle of the kitchen when we needed to plan out things.

"I heard it in your voice when you called from the beach yesterday." Her back was still turned towards me as she measured out the grounds and poured them into the basket. "But you guys were real cute in the tub trying to make it look like my idea!"

"But Honey!, would I do that to you?" I feigned surprise and hurt, but she knew I was kidding. I could see it in her eyes when she turned back to me. She came over in her robe and gave me a big hug, holding her embrace for a few moments.

"I'd rather you took your trip at a time in your life when you could come home to me and remember it for the rest of our lifes." She was beginning to cry. "I don't think I want to sit on that front porch one day and regret not having let you go when you were healthy enough to enjoy it. I hate that Lance isn't gonna have anyone to share that with when he comes back."

I dunno how I managed to get this woman to love me 30 years ago, and stick with me for so long. After 25 years of marriage she can still surprise me like this. I didn't want to remind her of the possibility that he just may not be coming back at all.

"Besides, he will need someone to watch over him. It ain't gonna be pretty towards the end." She spoke knowing how these things end up, working in a hospital for 20-some years. "I guess we can cash in some of those stocks we have losing money in the Market."

Always the practical one and the financier in the family, the reality of what would be involved was settling in. Likely she started thinking of these things since yesterday after my call. "Well, we may not need to hon", I said.

"Lance and I have talked about it some - I just thought it best to let you see how important this is to him, and lately to me. He knows how short things are here. He's selling all his stuff except for his bike and gear. He's got no family, sold his business and house, and is cashing in everything he owns." Kim was near tears again as she listened to me.

"He's offered to cover the whole trip, including flying you out a couple times to join us on segments of the ride. He knows he needs someone to watch over him. This isn't just him wanting a riding buddy - he needs someone to help."

She listened with her head lowered, turned to close the coffee percolator and pushed the 'Brew" button. With her back to me and both hands on the counter top, she asked "What about the business?"

"Well", I said, "I usually bring the laptop with me anyway and keep business going. I just wouldn't do any new development while on the road … just do maintenance and keep up with requests." My Web Development business wasn't really dependant on my sitting in a chair in my office. I often ran the business from the road, as long as I could find a phone line I was in business. Creating brand new sites was tough on the road, but I would just forego new stuff for the duration.

"There's one more thing."

She turned and looked at me expectedly. Even with her hair all wet, no makeup and in a clunky old bathrobe, she made my knees weak. "More?"

"Yeah" I tried to form the phrase correctly to keep it from looking like this was a deciding factor for me - it really wasn't, but there's no diplomatic way of putting this. "He's gonna give me his bike when this is over."

Kim knows my passion for getting a '53 Panhead - the birth-year bike I've always wanted. When I came home from that ill-fated camping trip when I met Lance, she listened for hours in the tub about this guy I met that had "my bike".

"He'll deserve it by the time we get back", Lance had said as he rounded the corner, obviously overhearing the last of our conversation. "And before you say anything, it's not about the bike, or the plane tickets for you, or the expenses… I'll have no need for any of it soon - I really like your husband's company, and the bottom line is if I am gonna be able to take this ride, I need his help."

He looked down apologetically and added, "I'm sorry to make this look like we just decided about this trip. I'd decided a month ago, and told him about it last night at the beach." He looked in my direction briefly, and then back at Kim. "I assure you the first thing he thought about was you and the kids, and how this would affect you guys."

Then he flashed one of his trademark smiles and said, "Listen, I'm going in any case. I think I could make it a better trip with a friend who could help and watch over me. But it's a big decision on your part and I'll understand your decision. Like he just said, I'll cover everything, bring you out for some of the rides through some nice spots of the country and I think when this is over, I'll have no need for "Petey" anymore."

Kim turned away, eyes welling up with tears, and asked if we wanted coffee. Lance and I murmured 'yes' in unison, and we sat around the kitchen island table in our robes as we discussed the logistics of a trip to the west coast and back. I knew this was a rather selfish trip on my part, but Kim was well aware of the strong need and desire I had to do this. We've spoken about it for years.

Besides, I've been publishing a Harley-Riding website for years on my adventures around the country, but there's been very little "around the country" involved. Mostly 2-3 day trips on the east coast and the occasional longer ride. I'd love to chronicle a ride to the west coast and back that took several months. "Muthuh's Rides" needed a good long ride listed in its archives anyway. God knows I did, and it was certain Lance was going anyway.

Always the practical one, Kim drew up in her chair, took a deep breath, looked at me and said, "If you can wait till spring and be back by our Family Reunion in June, I won't try and stop you. I know what this means to you." And then to Lance, "And I know what it means to you, too."

With that she pushed back her chair and kissed me goodnight, went over and gave Lance a kiss on his cheek and said, "Let's talk about this in the morning after breakfast." And she left the room.

Lance and I just sat on opposite sides of the table for a moment, nodded our heads in agreement, and went to our separate rooms. Kim was already curled up under the covers, quiet, but far from asleep.

Here it was, a few months before we were to leave on this trip, and the adventure was beginning already. For me, much of the excitement of a trip like this was in the planning. There was little sleep that night, and I forgot to ask about where her foot was under the water.

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