078:

Melia had forgotten that she had to sleep in a tent with other cousins. Ryan hadn't bothered to set up cots, so she struggled with that until one of the other boy cousins took pity on her and helped out. There were tents everywhere. Her mother had made sure she had at least one pack and play for Hannah, but she would have to sleep on the cot with Abby. It was hot out, and rather humid. Ryan had taken off with his brand new adoring age fourteen fan club, all the girl cousins so excited at another actor in the family.

Her phone fell out of her jeans pocket and another of Billy Jo's kids, that she shared the tent with handed it back to her. She stared at it and then out the tent flap. At least it was a big army tent type thing, and it had plenty of ventilation. She sat on her cot uncomfortably to nurse Abby while Hannah played on the ground with her toys. Everyone had gone down to dinner.

Her grandparents and their living siblings put this reunion on every year in the early fall, and as many people as could came to it. There were hundreds. The old farmland had been in the family for generations going back to the revolutionary war, she supposed. There were at least six living siblings and Grandma was the oldest. And she had a huge mess hall down at the bottom of the hill where they took all their meals together. It had a huge kitchen and dance floor; later there would be a dance. There was one every night of the reunion. It was usually really fun, but tonight Melia just felt exhausted.

She stared at her phone. Then she flipped it open and hit redial. Robert had been the last person to call her. She found that she just wanted to hear his voice.

He answered quickly. "Hey, Tia Melia!" He sounded excited to hear from her. "You never call me, I always call you! This is a surprise!"

"Robere! I just wanted to hear your voice."

"Well, here I am, babe, you got me! What's on your mind?"

"What are you doing?"

"I am fishing. The sea is calm, the lights of the harbor are a ways off, probably a mile, but they glow. It's just starting to get a little balmy, and we might have a little evening shower."

"I wish I was there." She sighed.

"What's wrong, angel? Isn't the reunion to your liking?"

"No, it's fine. I'm just tired. It's been a long day."

"Ten hours of travel with two under a year wearing you out? It would have done me in for sure!" And then he snorted. "Where's the boy wonder? Still hanging around?"

She told him about the trip over, about Ryan not helping her set up, about the cousins and the tents, and the mess hall and the games and music she could hear below them. They had a great conversation about reunions and how you could feel a part without being a part, or how you could feel alone without being alone. She told him the normal chain of events and then about her own family and their part. They would inevitably be asked to sing.

"Maybe next year." Robert said. "I'll get a free Mann Girls Concert."

"You'd like to come?" she asked and then felt herself blush. That was telling...

"Yeah." He coaxed her. "I would if I was invited. It would be nice to spend a little more time with you after our cruise."

"How long are we going to cruise?"

"As long as you'll let us." He joked, and then got all serious. "I really do want to spend some time with you; you won't ditch me will you? You promised to come on the cruise after your film."

"I will." She said softly.

"I am coming on to you a little stronger these days aren't I? I guess it comes natural." He laughed. "Plus I'm just sitting here watching the sunset and I can't help but think about you... and the girls."

"It'd be nice to have a few more sunsets, wouldn't it?" she smiled.

"Very nice." He agreed.

*******