Southern Sunshine (Southern 8)

“I’m going to be strong like him,” he says, and I laugh. I walk with my arms around Gabriel and Tucker all the way to the chaos that is my family.

"This one yours?" I look at Ethan, and he smirks.

"He talks a big game." I look at him. “You need to bring him into the gym,” I say.

"Nah," Ethan says. “He’s too busy trying to be a cowboy."

"Really?" I look over at him, and he smiles big. “You don’t say."

"I’m going to be rodeo king,” he says proudly.

"You think so,” I say, and he nods his head and crosses his arms over his chest very much like his father. "Well, I’ll stop by this week and see what you got."

"Uncle Reed." I hear my father talking and look over at him. “He was the best cowboy I’ve ever seen." Gabriel looks at me like he’s unsure. “If he stayed with it, I have no doubt he would have destroyed my record."

"That’s not exactly true,” I say, and he looks at me.

"Yes, it is. You were twelve years old and walked out after the best round anyone has ever seen and you were, like, done. Nothing could change your mind," he says, and I have to shake my head. The memory is now a little bit foggy.

"There you are," I hear Chelsea say, coming to us. “I have been looking for you all over the place."

"Is she talking to you or me?" I ask Tucker, who shrugs.

"I’m talking to both of you." She comes over and gives me a hug first. “Asshole," she whispers so no one can hear and then stands back and punches me in my shoulder.

"Mom," Tucker says, laughing.

"That’s for not calling me back,” she says and then punches me again. "That’s for not coming home in six years." She pulls her hand back again, but Mayson grabs her around her waist.

"Easy there,” he says, putting his hand on her stomach. “Leave the man be."

"Yeah." I place Tucker in front of me holding him as a shield, in case she tries to hit me again. “Leave me be."

"Auntie Savannah," I call to my aunt, who is sitting with my mother. She gets up and rushes over to me.

"You little shit,” she says softly as she puts her head on my chest. “You’re too skinny,” she says, and I laugh now.

"Chelsea hit me,” I say, putting an arm around her shoulder, and she shakes her head. “Twice." I hold up two fingers. “Tell her, Tucker."

"Don’t you," Chelsea says to her son, and he laughs at her. I’m about to say something else when I see my brother, Quinn, walking in. His little girl, Grace, is on his hip as she looks up at him and tells him something. Willow is walking beside them.

Quinn looks around the yard, and when he spots me, he points in my direction, and she smiles. Another kid I met through FaceTime. He walks over to us. “Here he is. Uncle Reed,” he says, and I scrunch my nose up to her.

I hold out my hands to her, and to my surprise, she comes to me. “Want to go pet the horses?" I ask, and she nods.

"Where is Amelia?" Chelsea asks, looking around, and I see her waddling in.

"She looks pissed,” I say and then look back at the group. “Why does she look so pissed?"

"She’s almost overdue," Chelsea says, laughing, but then turns her face when Amelia glares at us.

"She should blame her husband," I tell the group. “He put her in that state." I look back down at Grace. "Let’s get away before she comes over."

"She needs to wash her hands," Willow says, “before she eats."

"She’s fine," Quinn says. “Reed has her."

I turn now and kiss Grace’s head. “When did you get so big?" I ask, and she points with her finger.

"Horse,” she says, and I laugh.

When we get to the barn, I put her down and hold out my hand. “Ready, girl?" She nods her head and walks with me. "Show me where your horse is," I say. She pulls my hand toward her stall, and sure enough, her name is out there.

She doesn’t stop talking for five seconds, and when my father comes into the barn an hour later, she runs to him. “Grampy," she says. “Uncle Reed said a bad word."

"One time," I tell my father. “You weren’t supposed to tell anyone." I walk to her and tickle her stomach. She tries to push me off through her giggles.

"It’s good to have you home," my father says with a smile on his face.

"Yeah, it’s nice." I surprise even myself when I admit it as I follow him out of the barn.

Kids are running around everywhere, and I see Christopher talking with Harlow. "Feels just like it always did." I laugh now. “Except another generation."