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Eli sucked down his juice until it squelched at the bottom. “I get to go first.” The boys started arguing while Liam tried to break in.
“How about I lead one of you on Bolt?” I offered. “If Aunt Delaney thinks he’ll behave.”
Owen crinkled his nose. “Who’s Dee Laney?”
“Me,” my wife answered. “Just like your dad is nicknamed Liam, I’m nicknamed Laney. I think Bolt will be fine. He had a long ride, and it’s just around the campsite.”
While I internally beamed at Delaney’s confidence in me, they went quiet and stared at me until Owen said, “I get to go on Bolt first.”
Eli’s expression flashed his disagreement. “No, I get to ride Bolt first.” More arguing ensued.
I shot Delaney a rueful glance. “I only meant to help.”
“It wouldn’t matter,” Liam said around a mouthful of sandwich. “Parenting more than one kid is nothing but refereeing.”
“Same with teaching,” Aspen added, then leaned over her chair to my wife. “Hey, Laney, did you get any pictures from your ride today?”
Delaney dug out her phone, and the ladies went through photos. She got animated and talked with her free hand while periodically steadying the paper plate on her lap. Lyric jumped up and hovered between their chairs so she could see too. Then Kennedy scooted her chair closer.
The huddle of women with Delaney at the center summoned another memory. Before Mama died, we used to meet up with her cousins and their kids. She’d had a big family. They’d all resented Dad for meeting Mama in Guthrie. She’d been there for a horse auction, met Dad, and they fell in love. She didn’t return to El Paso, then he’d moved farther north and east, and she’d gone with him. Mama had told us once that her family resented him for taking her so far away. Too far to easily drive, too short to fly. Mama died so young, her family had heaped more blame on Dad for their lost time with her, and they’d cleaved Ansen and me out with him. But for a few summers before Mama was too sick to travel, we had big get-togethers with lawn games, barbecues, and music.
God, I’d forgotten those.
If I had thought of those family reunions any time before now, it would’ve been just another loss. Just another thing I would never get back, thanks to our way of life.
My throat grew thick as I watched Liam juggle a thousand questions from his kids. Would Delaney realize that if she came with me, we’d still get to visit and plan camping trips? Or would I have to make a choice between this kind of life or my job?
I was no longer sure what I would pick.
