For Us, It Will Be

The crowd of eighty Oakley had planned for turned into about two hundred people. Luckily, Gator had planned for more people so there was enough food and drinks to go around. The wranglers all had on clean shirts and, for now, things seemed to be going okay.

It could also be that Oakley was in the air-conditioned nursery, rocking Elsa in her arms and waiting for the little girl to take her afternoon nap. As she turned to pace again, Oakley jumped slightly seeing John standing in the doorway.

"Sorry," He whispered.

"It's okay," Oakley shook her head. 

She watched John look at Elsa in her arms. Oakley remembered when the twins were born. John had brought Tate to the hospital and sat in the chair with Evelyn for a long time. The man had a special place in his heart for the women in his life.

She hesitated. Oakley knew John saw her hesitate, but didn't care. Walking slowly over to him, she turned so Elsa's face could be seen by John.

"This is Elsa," Oakley said softly.

"She's beautiful," John said.

"She is," Oakley nodded.

"Everything been going okay with her?" John asked.

"She's a good baby," Oakley nodded. "Sleeps enough, eats well...it's tough, but it could be so much more difficult. She's my easy one."

"The twins are growing," John said.

"They are," Oakley nodded. "They're in that awkward age of testing their surroundings and boundaries of me and Kayce."

"Sounds about right," John nodded. "And then Tate." 

"And then Tate," Oakley smiled a small smile. "His senior year."

"Unbelievable," John murmured.

"You're telling me," Oakley saw that Elsa was fully passed out.

She sighed, looking at John.

"I need her to nap to stay on schedule," Oakley said.

"Of course," John stepped back out of the room,

Oakley placed Elsa down into her crib and turned her. noise machine on for her. She then walked out, closing the door softly behind her. John had waited in the hallway for Oakley. Without a baby in her arms, she felt a bit more exposed.

"What about you and Kayce?" John asked.

"What about us?" Oakley asked.

"How are the two of you?" John looked tired now in a better light.

"We're okay," Oakley said. "It's...tough, but we're okay."

"I appreciated the support yesterday," John cleared his throat. "I know that wasn't all Kayce."

"No, that was mostly all Kayce," Oakley shrugged and started to walk down the hall. 

"Oakley," John called out.

She looked over her shoulder at him.

"This...needs to happen," John said.

"Did I say it didn't?" Oakley asked.  

"Your actions, or lack thereof," John slowly walked toward her.

"My actions have nothing to do with this," Oakley said. "My actions are about taking care of my family."

"Which is my family, too," John said. "A fact you seem always to imply otherwise."

"I think parent trumps grandparent when it comes to children," Oakley said.