Michelle was wondering where they were driving, but Rachel gave no hints. After a few minutes, and filling the gas tank, the girls got on a highway.
"It's been a while since we did a mother/daughter trip," said Rachel.
"Yea, last time it was just us was that little trip after 6th grade"
"That was a nice trip. That spa was really relaxing."
"Is that where we are going?"
"Nope."
"Are you going to bring up my body changes this trip? It took me a while to recover last time."
"Nope, I figure you know all the changes by now. You are always welcome to ask me stuff, Michelle."
"If anyone is changing soon, it might be you, mom."
"I'm a bit young for 'The Change', Michelle. Maybe I want you to have a younger sibling, ever thought about that?"
"No, I haven't. The way you talk to Jon about 'settling down' with Karyn, I figured you were focused on grandkids than more kids."
"I hear they are easier," replied Rachel, "speaking of grandkids, when is Davonne due again? Next month?" Michelle did some quick math, and if Davis was Davonne 1 week a month, his pregnancy would last about 3 years, and he got pregnant about 2 years ago...
"I think she may have about 2 months left."
"I can't believe Martha is going to be a grandmother before me. Did Davonne every figure out who the father is? I had good money on the Smith boy."
"Our parents are betting on the father?" asked Michelle shocked
"No, just talking about it. Now, don't you get any ideas. You are a pretty young lady, so I'm sure the boys are getting ideas."
"I'm not really interested."
"Probably for the best. I was a little worried that when Davonne got pregnant, either you or Rika may follow."
"Why would we do that?"
"Well, Davonne started modelling, and then Rika did some pictures too."
"How do you know about that?"
"Parents know how to use the internet, and we talk. We are older than you girls, but still able to learn new things. We also caused some trouble when we were your age. Anyway, Rika's mom is pretty upset about it. She's asked Rika to stop modeling and earn money a different way," stated Rachel. Michelle thought that It's funny that Henry never mentioned anything. There was a quiet for a bit before Rachel spoke again
"Are you going to room with Diane at Yale?"
"Hope to, we are trying, " replied Michelle noting they were generally going northeast.
"You two have been good friends for a while now. I'm glad you met at girlscouts. Remember that fit you threw before you went? You wanted to get in the boyscouts, even though you were a girl. Apparently, now that is OK, but then it was girls in girl scouts and boys in boy scouts."
"I remember that argument a little differently."
"Well, you were young, so that's normal. So, are you and Diane more than roommates?" asked my mom looking in my direction with a hint of playfulness, " you can tell me you know, woman to woman. I just want you happy."
"...We've been dating for a while now, mom."
"Looks like I win that betting pool too. Marsha thought maybe you were dating Rika. Why didn't you tell me you liked girls? I'm pretty open minded you know."
"...it just hasn't come up..."
"I can see you are a bit uncomfortable. Would it help you to know I dated a girl once or twice when I was about your age."
"WHA?" asked Michelle, her mind blown.
"You think you are the only one that may like someone of the same gender? There is a whole community out there now. Back when I was questioning in the 1990s, it was not quite as...accepted, as it is now. I'm not sure accepted is the right word, but hopefully you know what I mean."
"Spill the details mom, " asked/said Michelle. The next bit of the drive was a blur, with Rachel telling the story of how she met her high school and college girlfriends. One she broke up with before things got serious, and the other she broke up with because her grandparents didn't want their "little girl" to be partners with another girl. It was hard to picture her grandpa as anything but loving, but obviously a parent/child relationship is different than a grandparent/grandchild relationship. Rachel actually teared up about her forced breakup with her college girlfriend, Mary. Michelle talked about her feelings for Diane, making sure to not mention the necklace. Before Michelle knew it, they were in Maine in a small town outside Augusta.
"We're here!" announced Rachel.
"Where?"
