Chapter 7 - Randy
~July~
I embraced my sister-in-law, careful of her already small baby bump. “How’s the morning sickness?”
“Dios mío, it does not end,” she replied, voice curling around her accent.
“Does anything help? I remember you liked chamomile tea before.”
“It helps a little. Ginger tea is better this time.”
“At least that’s something. Hopefully it clears up for you soon.”
Pounding feet from the hall as Michelle and Marco emerged from their bedrooms, backpacks bouncing where they already wore them.
Yazmín straightened and met her children’s eyes. “Mija, Mijo, you behave for Tío Randy. Understood?” she asked, using English for my benefit.
“?Sí, Mamá!” they chirped in unison.
She chuckled and leaned in close. “You will call if they are too much?”
I smiled. “Of course, but you don’t need to worry. It’s one night. Enjoy your time with Jessie instead.”
She grinned. “A night alone with mi alfa. I am looking forward to it.”
“Good.” I hugged her again. “She’ll be back soon?”
“Si. She has gone to the store.”
“Ok. I guess we’ll get going so we don’t miss the movie.”
She nodded, then turned to the kids and knelt. “?Vengan, mis ni?os! Denme un abracito antes de irse.”
Both of them ran over and hugged her tight. She kissed each on the cheek, then stood again. “Have fun.”
“Ok!” they both replied, Marco bouncing on his toes.
I laughed. “Come on, kiddos. I’ve got tickets for that new movie you wanted to see.”
“Bye, Mamá,” Michelle said.
“Bye, Mamá,” Marco echoed.
They headed toward the door, and I followed.
“See you tomorrow, Yazmín,” I said as I stood on the threshold.
“Bye!”
The kids ran to my truck and hopped in as soon as I opened the door.
I was glad that they both weighed enough to be able to use just the lap belts, since my truck didn’t have the straps necessary for booster seats.
Though I wasn’t going to push my luck either. It wasn’t entirely legal for them to ride with me, but not illegal either. Trucks as old as mine were in a gray area that some cops didn’t care about.
To the movies, home for the night, then return them to Jessie and Yazmín in the afternoon.
Supplies were already up at the campsite—wood stacked and ready in the old brick firepit. The kids would help me raise the tent, and we’d stay up past their bedtime to watch fireworks over the lake.
The next generation would find magic on the land.