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DAY 14 – Saturday, March 27
START / END: Orangevale, CA
MILEAGE: 36 miles

HIGHLIGHTS: Laura’s House, Old Folsom

I felt mildly guilty about sleeping in past nine o’clock when I knew Laura was up with a hangover, taking care of Laila at her usual 7am.  Our original plan for the day had been to head back into Old Sacramento (or “Old Sac” as it’s called) for the afternoon.  But the timing of our late wakeup, Laila’s nap and the fact the Lauren and I had an Outback Steakhouse gift certificate that we wanted to take Laura out to dinner with, pretty much killed that plan. 

Instead we went into closer-by Old Folsom to walk around.  With board sidewalks, cobblestone streets and even an old hitching post here and there, Old Folsom has tried to maintain the charm and character of the Old West.  In the beginning, this was a boomtown that came to life because of nearby gold mining.  These days, the area is good for walking and shopping while “New Folsom” provides more modern neighborhoods and business districts along with outdoor recreation in the form of two lakes and plenty of bicycle paths.

The four of us walked around the shops of Old Folsom for about an hour.  There were several head shops and new age stores that Laura loved, as well as a store selling lots of Native American paraphernalia.  They were nice places to look around, but none of us were really in the buying mood.

Back at Laura’s we continued simply sitting around and talking, and playing with Laila, throughout the afternoon.  Laila was such an energetic and happy kid with the most adorably infectious little laugh.  All day long she would bring us toys and books and other objects, saying, “This?”  We explained to her that Lauren had another baby growing inside her tummy.  After that, whenever we asked Laila where the baby was, she always pointed to Lauren’s stomach.  Laura was, for all intents and purposes, a single mom, but she had done a better job so far raising her daughter than some of the most “intact” families I’ve ever met.  When I knew her in Los Angeles, Laura was a wild child, partying all the time, drinking, smoking, hooking up, and always yearning for more freedom.  But as soon as she realized she was pregnant, she gave it all up.  Instantly.  The maternal instinct grabbed hold of her and she committed herself to being the best mom she could be.  And it shows.

The day was uneventful compared to the last two weeks, but we loved it.  Being at Laura’s felt right.  It felt comfortable.  It felt like home.  Once again, we forgot that we were actually here on a road trip.  It made us sad every time we remembered that we would be leaving tomorrow.

Around five o’clock we loaded into the car and drove to the Outback.  Laura knew she was amongst good, nonjudgmental company, so she ate her steak the only way she’s ever wanted or known how, with her hands.  Forgoing a knife and fork, she simply tore at the meat with her teeth. 

The ride home was somber, everybody knowing that we would be leaving for San Francisco in the morning.  Jay called while we were still in the car to ask why we hadn’t come down to Old Sac this afternoon.  Laura apologized and told him that we had gone to Old Folsom instead.  We heard only half of the conversation, but knew what she was going to suggest before she said anything.

“Jay says you guys should stay an extra day and come into to Old Sac tomorrow.”

Lauren and I looked at each other, certain that the look in the other’s eyes would be saying, “How do we let her down easy and say we have to go?”  Instead, what each of us saw was the desire to stay just a little longer.  We smiled at each other, knowing what the other was thinking, happy and surprised that the feeling was mutual.  We both shrugged and said, “Yeah, okay.”

Laura was genuinely surprised.  “What?  Really?!?  Oh my God, they said they’d stay!” she all but squealed to Jay.  She had expected a long, drawn out discussion that wouldn’t change the fact that we were leaving.  She hadn’t expected the fight to be won so easily.  “Oh my God, that’s so rad!” 

Yes, she actually said “rad.”

Lauren and I smiled at each other.  One more day at home.  Just one more day. 

ONTO WEEK THREE