Scenes from a Roadtrip (Read 8,168 times)

[Kpatch]

Great descriptions André DiMera. I feel like I'm on the road trip too and took a ride on the historic train. It was fun.

[heroicmuse]

Nice tour! Thank you for the history André DiMera

[fluffysmom]

Thanks for the railroad history André DiMera. My hubby would love to ride on a steam engine.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 7

RIVERSIDE AND GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY – WISCONSIN DELLS, WISCONSIN
The train pulled back into the top station. It stopped with a whoosh of steam and a loud whistle.
CLAIRE: You know, no matter how many times I hear it, I don't think I'll get used to that.
CIARA: Me either.
Ciara and Claire got out of the coach.
CLAIRE: So, what do you want to do?
CIARA: I kinda want to look around the gift shop for a few minutes.
CLAIRE: Okay, cool.
The girls walked over to the gift shop and looked around.
CIARA: We should get something. You know, something to remember this part of the trip.
CLAIRE: Like what?
Ciara shurgged. Then, the girls saw a wall filled with t-shirts.
CIARA: That'll work.
CLAIRE: Which one do you want?
Ciara pointed to a white shirt with a picture of the engine that had pulled their train.
CIARA: That one. You?
Claire looked around and saw a similar shirt, but this one had a picture of a blue steam engine.
CLAIRE: That one.
CIARA: Cool.
The girls paid for their shirts, and then left.

CAR
It was getting cold as the day went on. The girls were still in the parking lot of the train station. Ciara was looking at something on her phone.
CIARA: Looks like the Ducks are closed. It's too cold to be out on the water.
CLAIRE: That's a shame.
CIARA: We can still go to the fudge store, if you want.
CLAIRE: Sounds good to me.
Ciara put down her phone, started the car, and the two left. As they drove onwards, snow started to fall. It was only light, for the moment. They drove through the downtown area.
CIARA: So, when you come to the Dells, this is where all the major stuff is.
CLAIRE: Whoa! Look at the Ferris Wheel! It's huge!
CIARA: I know! It's so cool!
CLAIRE: So, this is downtown?
CIARA: Mmhmm.
Soon, they pulled up to a small shop and got out of the car.

FUDGE SHOP
Ciara and Claire walked into the fudge shop.
CASHIER: Good afternoon.
CLAIRE: Hi.
CIARA: Hello.
The girls looked around.
CLAIRE: Whoa! How many types of fudge are there in here?
CIARA: I have no idea!
CASHIER: Well over thirty. We also have popcorn, brittle, nuts and saltwater taffy.
The girls looked at all the different types of fudge.
CLAIRE: I'll have a pound of milk chocolate fudge, please.
The cashier got out a small box, cut off a pound of fudge, and put it in the box. She then handed the box to Claire.
CASHIER: Anything for you, dear?
CIARA: Yes, I'd like a pound of chocolate peanut butter fudge, please.
The cashier did the same with some chocolate peanut butter fudge and handed it to Ciara.
CASHIER: Anything else for the two of you?
CLAIRE: No, I think we're good, thanks.
CASHIER: Okay. One second.
The cashier typed something into her cash register.
CASHIER: That'll be $31.93, please.
The girls handed the cashier some money, got their boxes of fudge, and left.

CAR
Back in the car, each had taken a piece of their own fudge and were eating.
CIARA: This is so good!
CLAIRE: It's amazing! I love fudge!
CIARA: Me too!
CLAIRE: So, what do you wanna do now?
CIARA: I dunno. Most of the stuff here is closed, sadly, because it's winter. Next summer, we'll come back here. Then we can have a real adventure in the Dells.
CLAIRE: Sounds good to me.
CIARA: We could keep going north if you want.
CLAIRE: Yeah, that sounds good. I'll drive this time.
CIARA: You sure?
CLAIRE: Yeah, you drove all day yesterday and most of today. It's my turn. Besides, it'll give you a rest.
CIARA: Thanks.
The girls switched seats and started north.

[Kpatch]

Okay, I really want to travel with these girls. They do the funnest things. I would like to place an order for a pound of macadamia nut fudge.

[heroicmuse]

I'm with Kpatch. I don't suppose they have sugar-free fudge though. LOL Thanks for the tour André DiMera!

[fluffysmom]

I'm glad the girls are having fun. I wonder where they will end up next.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 8*

NORSKE NOOK – OSSEO, WISCONSIN
It was now the next day. Claire and Cara were in a restaurant in a town called Osseo. They were eating breakfast.
CLAIRE: This is really good!
CIARA: So good!
CLAIRE: So, where are we off to today?
CIARA: I was thinking about stopping in a town called Ladysmith.
CLAIRE: What's out there?
CIARA: Nothing specific. It's just a small town that I've been in a few times, and it's nice.
CLAIRE: Okay, cool.
Soon, the two girls had finished eating. Their waitress came by to pick up the dishes.
WAITRESS: How was everything?
CIARA: Really good, thanks!
WAITRESS: That's good. Would either of you be interested in some pie for desert?
CLAIRE: For breakfast?
WAITRESS: If you'd like.
CIARA: Sure.
CLAIRE: Sounds good to me.
WAITRESS: Okay. What would you like?
Ciara and Claire looked down at their place mats, which had a list of the pies on them.
CIARA: I'll have chocolate, please.
CLAIRE: Banana cream, please.
WAITRESS: Okay, I'll bring those right up for you.
CIARA: Thanks.
The waitress left
CLAIRE: Pie for breakfast?
CIARA: Yeah.
Claire and Ciara hi-fived. The waitress came back with two slices of pie, and set them down in front of the girls.
WAITRESS: Here you go. Enjoy.
CLAIRE: Thank you.
The waitress left, and the girls began eating the pie. After one or two bites, Claire pointed at the pie.
CLAIRE: This pie is amazing!
CIARA: Tell me about it. I've had banana cream here before. It's so good.
CLAIRE: For sure. I still can't believe you you can get pie for desert after breakfast at this place.
CIARA: I know! It's awesome! I was reading through the menu here, and some of these pies have won awards.
CLAIRE: Well, I can see why. They're super good!
The girls continued eating their pie. After they'd finished, a waitress came and took the dishes away.
CIARA: So, I chose Ladysmith. Where do you want to go to next?
CLAIRE: Well, I've always wanted to see northern Wisconsin, which I'm guessing Ladysmith is part of.
CIARA: Yeah.
CLAIRE: How about afterwords, we go north, up to the U.P. and then head west.
CIARA: Sounds great to me.
The two girls put some money on the table. They then stood up and went back to their car.

AMERICINN - LADYSMITH, WISCONSIN
It was now early evening. Ciara and Claire had stopped in the town of Ladysmith, Wisconsin. They were currently in the hot tub of the AmericInn.
CLAIRE: This place is adorable!
CIARA: I know! It's so cute! It almost looks like a log cabin.
CLAIRE: Totally. You know, I wouldn't mind staying here for another day.
CIARA: Up to you, girl. I'm cool with whatever you wanna do.
Claire's phone rang. Claire got out of the hot tub and walked over to the table with her phone on it. She picked it up and pressed a button.
CLAIRE: Hello?

*This chapter is partly made up of two chapters from a previous story: Spring Fever. It has been extended with new material specially written for this story.

[heroicmuse]

After these nice vacation scenes it sounds like we're back to some drama with Calire's phone ringing. Wonder what's gonna happen.

[fluffysmom]

Yum to banana cream pie for breakfast. I hope the phone call is good news for Claire.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 9

AMERICINN – LADYSMITH, WISCONSIN
Claire's phone rang. She got out of the hot tub, dried off her hands, and answered it.
CLAIRE: Hello?
Pause.
CLAIRE: Hi, dad. How are you?
Pause.
CLAIRE: I'm good.
Pause.
CLAIRE: The trip's going really good so far! Ciara and I spent yesterday in Wisconsin Dells, and now we're in this little town in northern Wisconsin called Ladysmith. It has one of the most adorable little hotels, it looks like a log cabin!
Pause.
CLAIRE: Yeah, I'm definitely having fun. How are things out there?
Pause.
CLAIRE: Crazy? How so?
Pause.
CLAIRE: Dad, what's going on?
Pause.
CLAIRE: Oh, okay.
Pause.
CLAIRE: Yeah, all right.
Pause.
CLAIRE: I love you, too.
Pause.
CLAIRE: Bye, dad.
Claire hung up her phone, a little disappointed at how quickly Shawn-D had had to end the conversation. She walked back over to the hot tub and got in.
CIARA: So, I take it that was Shawn?
Claire nodded.
CIARA: What did he say?
CLAIRE: Not much. I guess he and mom are fine, but he says things are crazy.
CIARA: How so?
Claire shrugged.
CLAIRE: That's what I asked him. He was about to tell me, but then he suddenly had to go.
CIARA: Oh, that's a little disappointing.
CLAIRE: Yeah.
Ciara saw that Claire looked sad.
CIARA: How are you doing with all this?
Claire shrugged again.
CLAIRE: It's...trying to process all of this, it's really difficult.
CIARA: I can imagine.
CLAIRE: I just...I don't know.
Ciara scooted over and put her arm around Claire.
CIARA: Hey, it's okay. It'll be okay.
Claire leaned in to Ciara's shoulder and whimpered.
CIARA: Do you want to dry off and go back to the room?
Claire shook her head.
CLAIRE: Could we maybe just sit here for a few minutes?
CIARA: Sure we can. We can do whatever you want, Bear.
CLAIRE: Thanks. Ci?
CIARA: Yeah?
CLAIRE: I'm really glad you're here with me. I don't know what I'd do without you. You're an amazing best friend.
CIARA: Thanks. You're an amazing best friend, too. And, I'll always be here for you.
Ciara and Claie hugged.

[heroicmuse]

I want to know what is going on with Shawn too. I'm glad Claire and Ciara have each other.

[Kpatch]

Me too. I don't think the word "crazy" was used lightly.

[fluffysmom]

I'm very curious about what's going on with Shawn, Belle and Jan.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 10*
CJ'S KITCHEN - FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA
Over the next several days, the girls drove north into the U.P, then back to Wisconsin and into Minnesota. From Minnesota, they traveled through northern Iowa and to Nebraska. After spending a few days in Nebraska, they ventured into South Dakota. Following a short stay there, they ventured into North Dakota. It is there, in Fargo, that we catch up with them. Ciara and Claire had stopped at a diner and were now eating breakfast.
CLAIRE: You know, actually being in Fargo makes me think about that one movie. I keep expecting William H. Macy to walk in here with Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare, planning how to kidnap his wife.
Claire and Ciara laughed.
CIARA: I never actually saw the movie.
CLAIRE: Seriously?
CIARA: Yeah, seriously.
CLAIRE: When we get home, we need to have a movie night. I'll show you Fargo and you can show me American Beauty.
CIARA: It's a deal.
CLAIRE: Surely you must have seen the TV series, though, haven't you?
CIARA: Haven't seen that either, and don't call me Shirley.
The girls continued eating.
CIARA: This is good.
CLAIRE: Yeah, totally. You havin' fun so far?
CIARA: Definitely. Are you?
CLAIRE: Yeah. Minnesota and the U.P. were so pretty! And, this is where the fun should begin. We'll be getting into the mountains in a few days time.
CIARA: Cool.
Claire's cell phone rang. She picked it up.
CLAIRE: Hello?
Pause.
CLAIRE: Hi, mom. How are you?
Pause.
CLAIRE: We're good. How are things out there?
Pause.
CLAIRE: Well, that's good. Did you guys find out anything?
Pause.
CLAIRE: Come on, mom, don't keep me in suspense. What did you find out?
Pause.
CLAIRE: Really? That's great! I mean, not that we had to go through all of that, but that you found out the truth!
Pause.
CLAIRE: Yeah!
Pause.
CLAIRE: I have no idea. We've only just stopped in North Dakota. We're in Fargo.
Pause. Claire chuckled.
CLAIRE: That's what I said!
Pause.
CLAIRE: Yeah, we're having a great time!
Pause.
CLAIRE: Okay. Say hi to dad for me.
Pause.
CLAIRE: Love you, too!
Claire hung up the phone.
CIARA: Good news?
CLAIRE: Yup. They went to get a test done and finally got the news that Jan had been faking all of the previous ones. So, my dad is my dad and my mom is my mom.
CIARA: That's awesome!
CLAIRE: Yep!
Claire held her glass up.
CLAIRE: Well, here's to a great trip.
Claire and Ciara clinked glasses.

*NOTE: This chapter is partly based on a chapter from Spring Fever. It has been extended and features new material written specifically for this story. Also, from this point forward, there will be jumps in time between some chapters.