We drove out to Arizona, via St.Louis, for some much needed relaxation. My wife and I had been at each others throats for the past 4 years. In that time we had been on several vacations, about two a year,but this was our first one to Arizona. Our neighbor, Jerry, had told me that Arizona had saved his marriage.
“It’s all the old folks.” Jerry had said.
“Arizona is full of them. It’ll remind you and wifey that you only have so many years left together, and that you shouldn’t spend them all fighting. At the very least, you’ll want to fuck like animals because of all the heat and boredom.”
Jerry let out a disgusting cackle.
I would have preferred he didn’t say that last part in front of two of my kids, who were standing there with me.
I live with six kids. Jeff, Will and Sally are my wife’s kids from a previous fucked-up marriage. Tim, Sammy and Terry are my kids.
“Sorry kids.” Jerry said, after I didn’t laugh.
“Where’s your wife?” My youngest boy, Tim, asked.
“She died.” He said.
Jerry had told me this when we first met. I hadn’t even asked.
“Car accident. Nobody’s fault.”
There was an awkward, painful silence and lack of eye-contact after he said “Nobody’s fault.” I didn’t trust Jerry. Even my kids could tell that he probably killed his wife. But I would try anything to fix my marriage, even a flimsy plan from a neighbor who leaves his house twice a year.
We left the kids in St.Louis for the weekend. Jeff, who was the oldest at 27, was in-charge. Lucy, my wife, had to be convinced that Jeff was old enough for that responsibility. This was part of the problem with our marriage, she had very deep-rooted trust issues.
“Jesus, Lucy. The boy is 27 years old, he shouldn’t even be living with us anymore.”
“He has cerebral palsy, Stewart.” She replied with the shocked look that was always on her face when this argument came up.
“Well how’s he going to get better without a little responsibility?” I said.
Lucy rolled her eyes and went out to the porch for a cigarette. Typical.
But things were better now. We hadn’t seen the kids in a few hours, and we got to talk like we did back when we were dating.
“I’ve always wanted to see the Grand Canyon, ever since I was a little girl.” Lucy said, with her feet on the dashboard.
I smiled at her. She looked so young and free, like she did in those pictures she showed me from middle school, before she had kids.
“Do you know how close our hotel is to it?” Lucy asked.
“To what?” I replied.
“The Grand Canyon, silly.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Lucy, how many times do I have to tell you? We’re spending 11 days in Arizona. 6 in Phoenix, 5 in Tucson.”
“What do you mean? We’re not going to the Grand Canyon at all? That’s all I’ve been talking about for weeks!” She said angrily.
And all I had been talking about was The Marriott in Phoenix! This woman really just could not listen.
“Baby, all I’ve wanted to do since I was 8 years old was see the Grand Canyon.” My wife said softly.
“Can we please take one night and go see it? Please? For me?”
I sighed. God I love her.
“You really want to see this ‘Grand’ Canyon, don’t you?” I said, using one hand to make air-quakes, my other hand staying on the wheel.
“Yes. Please.” She replied with a smile on her face.
“Alright, the rooms are booked already and there’s a $15 cancellation fee, but if you want I can take a different route and we can see it for 20 minutes on the way to Phoenix. But we’ll have to drive all night in order to make the reservation.” I said with a smile.
My wife looked out the window.
“Okay.” She said softly.
Lucy didn’t speak until we got to the Grand Canyon. I think she had fallen asleep.
“We’re here.” I said.
“I know.” She replied quietly.
I got out of the car. Lucy stayed inside. I tapped on her window.
Lucy got out of the car and walked with me to the edge.
I had to admit, it was pretty majestic. Yelp had said the Marriott had a gigantic jigsaw of the Grand Canyon displayed in its lobby. 1152 pieces. This view was sort of spoiling the jigsaw for me, but it was worth it to see my wife happy.
I looked over at my wife. She was starring blankly out at the horizon. I nudged her arm gently, she didn’t move.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Do you think that God is real?” Lucy said, not looking away.
I thought about it for a moment.
“I suppose so, I’ve never really considered it before.” I replied.
Lucy looked at me, her eyes were welling up.
“Do you think he loves us?”
“Maybe.” I said, beginning to wonder if this whole “Grand Canyon” thing was such a good idea.
“Well he sure has a funny way of showing it.”
With that, Lucy walked back and got in the car.
We still had 13 more minutes before we needed to get back on the road, but I wasn’t going to point that out. I was excited to get to Phoenix. They shut down the water fountain at 11 and if we made good time I could see it before we checked in.
