Page 60 of Walker

“It's whatever you want to do,” Walker tells me, tightening his grip on my arm when we walk down the stairs like he is afraid I’m going to fall.

“About time!” My mom pretends to be aggravated. “I made use of your kitchen and packed lunches for everyone.” She pulls me into a hug, kissing my cheek. “Now come here to your mother-in-law and let me smooch you.” She smooches them both on their cheeks, letting the kiss linger a little longer than necessary.

“Walker, I think I want to move in.” My dad, Everett, walks out of the garage holding a bunch of tackle.

“Come on, we need to hit the road.” My dad Knox waves to us.

“We’ll drive behind you.” Walker takes his keys off the counter and my mom waves at Walker and Darren behind her shoulder.

“I think I need to watch out because my mom is trying to create a harem.”

They laugh. “Can you imagine your mom and my mom getting together?” Darren asks, his face paling at the idea.

“You know that’s not a bad idea.” I put my finger to my lip. “Wait, you don’t mean that, right?” he asks when I leave him standing.

* * *

Summer

* * *

“Let me help you in.” Walker steps in first and practically picks up me and my mom, placing us in the boat.

My mom grips my arm. “Daughter, please give them to me.” She sighs watching them.

I smack her shoulder a little. “I will not! We will fight to the death.” I glare at her, trying to fight back a smile.

My dad, Knox, says, “Do you want me to dump their asses in the lake?” He pulls my mom to him.

She rolls her eyes. “I won’t do it again, promise.”

He grunts, smacking her on the ass. “That’s right.”

“You guys are trying to make me sick,” I tell them and sit down into one of the seats. “If it wasn’t for our love, you wouldn’t be born,” my dad Knox says. I put my hands over my ears.

They put all the gear into the boat and we are off, the cold wind has me cringing but it’s so beautiful. I always dread getting up early but the second I see the beautiful sun sliding over the mountains, over the water, the fresh clean air, it’s intoxicating.

Walker moves to sit in front of me, blocking the wind from me and my mom. Darren bends over toward me, covering me and my mom in the blanket that he brought.

She gives me the cutest face; they are amazing and I’m so spoiled by them. I grew up watching my mother being cherished and loved beyond anything. I knew I wanted that.

Walker has his hat turned backwards, staring out into the water and Darren is leaning back, arms behind his head looking at the sky. I have that love now; I have more than I ever dreamed.

I went to a haunted trail with my friends and left with the loves of my life.

The boat slows down and they let down the anchor. “Blue gill?” I ask my dads.

“Oh yeah.”

I take my pole and add the bait then I throw my line out right beside Walker’s. “The person who catches the least number of fish has to clean them all!”

“Uhm I’m not in this, I’m not a fisherwoman. I’m here for my husbands viewing pleasure.”

Please end me.

My dad, Knox, winks at my mother and Everett stands beside me, pulling me into a hug. “I have missed you, baby girl. Is work going okay?”

“Yeah, work is going great! I’ve been doing a lot of it virtual but next week I’m starting back in the office full-time.”

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