“So, I’m thinking about going to visit my parents and grandparents before the baby comes.”
“That’s a great idea. I’m sure you miss them. How’s your dad doing?”
Misty never once asked how my father was. I never realized how disconnected we really were, until now. “Same. Mom says he started a new chemo. So far, he seems to be adjusting to it well.”
“When were you thinking of going to see them?”
“In a few weeks. I have a lot to do before the baby gets here, but I need to see them, you know?”
“You should go. Family is important,” she says.
“Yeah. I think I’ll fly. It will give me more time with them. I don’t see them coming back here any time soon. Dad really likes his oncologist.”
“I’m sure it’s hard to be away from them, especially with all the changes going on in your life.”
I nod. She gets it---gets me. She’s so easy to talk to. I’ve never been one to open up, unless it was to Aaron. There’s nothing he doesn’t know about me. Well, there is one thing. If he knew the thoughts I’m having about his baby sister, he would kick my ass.
The flight to Alabama is uneventful. I spent the entire time running through everything that still needs to be done. I’m trying really hard not to freak the fuck out that in just a little over three months I’m going to be a daddy. I’m going to be responsible for a tiny human and all her needs. I’m a little overwhelmed.
I traveled light with just a carry-on, so I can avoid the whole baggage claim fiasco. I’m searching the crowd for my mom. She insisted she pick me up. I hear her before I see her.
“Evan!” She’s already in a sprint toward me, so I stop and drop my bag to the floor, preparing for impact. When she reaches me, I wrap my arms around her and pick her up in a tight hug. “I’ve missed you.”
“Missed you too,” I say, placing her back on her feet. “How’s Dad today?”
“He’s feeling good. This new chemo doesn’t make him as sick,” she explains. “Let’s get you home.”
I nod my agreement and pick my bag back up. Throwing my arm over her shoulder, we leave the airport.
“How are Grandma and Grandpa?” I ask once we are on the road.
“Good, it’s hard living back home with my parents after all these years.” She laughs. “It’s like it doesn’t matter that I’m forty-eight years old, married with a child of my own. I go right back to feeling like a teenager again.”
“Grandma always was a caretaker,” I agree.
“Yeah, she fusses over your dad constantly and some days it drives him crazy. He just wants to be left alone. We’ve thought of buying a house or renting an apartment, but it just seems crazy when it’s just the two of them in that big old house. Not to mention, it’s nice to have the help, especially on the bad days.”
We don’t really talk about the “bad days.” I know they are there, but they try and shelter me from it as much as possible. Like my Grandma, Mom often forgets I’m an adult she can lean on for support. Hell, I’m about to be a dad.
Mom and I spend the rest of the drive just catching up. Before I know it, we’re pulling into the driveway. The first thing I see is my dad and my mom’s parents sitting on the front porch waiting for us. Until this moment, I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed them.
“Evan,” my dad says as I clear the final porch step. He slowly rises from the rocker he’s sitting in and walks toward me. Reaching me, he pulls me into a hug. I notice his hold is not as tight as it used to be. He’s losing his strength. I feel guilty for not coming with them to help Mom take care of things---take care of him.
“Jeff, you need to share,” I hear my grandma say beside us. Dad releases me with a chuckle that quickly turns to a cough.
Grandma pulls me into a hug, with Grandpa reaching out to shake my hand. “We missed you,” Grandma says.
“Congratulations, Evan,” my grandpa says. He’s always been a straight shooter. He’s the first one to mention I’m going to be a father. I was shocked Mom didn’t bring it up on the way here.
“Thank you.”
“Well, I have lunch ready. Let’s head inside,” Grandma instructs.
Everyone heads into the kitchen. I drop my bag by the door and dig out the ultrasound pictures. Taking the empty seat across from my parents, I reach over and hand them to my mom. I watch as a slow smile forms and tears well up in her eyes.
“I can’t believe I’m going to be a grandma,” she says, never taking her eyes off the pictures.
I think the staff at Misty’s OB office feels sorry for me. They printed out almost twenty pictures. I have one on my fridge at home. Kinley is actually the one who put it there. She, Aaron, and I were working on assembling all the furniture for the baby’s room. Kinley stopped to make us a late lunch. When she called us to the kitchen, I noticed it was hanging there. I remember I pointed to it and she shrugged her shoulders, and said, “I just thought she should be here with us.” I’m glad Aaron was there. If he hadn’t been, I would have grabbed her and kissed the hell out of her.
“Do you have a name?” Grandma asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“No, not yet. I just…It’s a big deal.”
Dad laughs. “Yeah, I remember it took us seeing you before we actually decided on a name.”
Mom reaches over and lays her hand on top of his. “You just looked like an Evan to us,” she laughs.
I wish I had that. I wish I had a partner to stand by my side. I only have myself to blame.
“Yeah, I haven’t thought about it too much. I’ve been busy getting everything I’ll need. McKinley has been a huge help. I gave her my credit card and told her to have at it. It’s overwhelming, everything a baby needs,” I confess. I dig my cell phone out of my pocket and pull up my photo gallery. I bring up the recent pictures I took of the nursery after we got all the furniture assembled.
“Here’s the room. Kinley’s done most of it. She painted it all while I was branding cattle. She also picked out the furniture and helped Aaron and me put it all together last weekend.”
Mom and Grandma talk about how pretty it is and how the white furniture really stands out with the color of the walls. All the same things Kinley had said.
“She’s done a great job. I love the room,” Mom says, handing my phone back to me.
“She really has. I don’t know what I would do without her.”
“How are they, McKinley and Aaron?” she asks.
“Good. Aaron and Jerry are still partners, although Jerry keeps saying he’s ready to retire and work for Aaron,” I laugh.
“I’m sure he is,” Dad says. “It’s hard work.”
“And McKinley?” Mom prompts.
“She’s great. She graduated a few months ago, so she’s living at home, which I think I told you. Jerry and Sarah gave her the space above the garage and she’s turned it into a studio for her photography. You should see some of her pictures. She’s really good. She’s been great about helping me shop and set the baby’s room up. She made me a list of everything I still need to do and has even convinced me I need a new truck.” I stop talking when I realize I’ve been gushing about her.