“Hey, guys!” I grin down at the baby. “Hi, Penny.” She smiles back, two bottom teeth sticking out. “Why don’t you guys just use my tent instead of this one? Mine’s plenty big for the crib. We could just trade for the weekend.”
Kelly looks at me with wide eyes. “Oh, we couldn’t do that. We couldn’t take that from you.”
Ben looks at me with relief on his face and says, “Of course we could. Sounds fantastic.”
Kelly looks like she might start crying. “I didn’t even think about the tent. I brought his sound machine, all of his bottles…I think I brought two hundred diapers. I brought some sleep sacks to keep him warm. But I didn’t remember that the crib wouldn’t fit in the tent. I can’t believe this. I’m a horrible mother.”
My eyes go wide. “That doesn’t make you a horrible mother,” I tell her. “You were so focused on the baby. That’s a good thing.” I pat her shoulder awkwardly. “Besides, you’re camping with the Granger side of the family. You know we always bring way more camping gear than we need.”
Kelly relaxes at that. “Are you sure?”
“Don’t even give it a second thought.” Because I’ll be doing enough of that for both of us. “Lucy and I will use your tent, and you use mine.”
Ben looks like he’s about to weep with happiness, so I shoot them both a quick grin and walk away.
I grab the tent out of the back of the FJ and go to set it up at the site next to Kelly and Ben.
I hope Lucy is surviving my grandparents, but judging by the laughter coming from the trailer, they’re probably in there having a nice hot cup of coffee together, while I deal with the mess Mom got us into.
I don’t know how I’m going to explain to Lucy that my big tent just shrank. I unzip the bag, pulling out the tent poles and laying them along the ground. Maybe I can convince her that tents shrink with age. I’m sure I could make up something that maybe she’d believe. She said she didn’t have that much experience camping. But she’s not that much of a sucker. She’d never buy it.
Ben walks over. “Hey, let me set it up at least. I’m going to feel extra guilty if you set up your tent for us too.”
“Are you sure? I don’t mind.”
Ben nods quickly. “Let me keep a little bit of my pride. I forgot that we had such a tiny tent. You’re doing me a huge favor.”
“Well, thank you. I’ll say hi to Grandma. I haven’t seen her yet. She stole Lucy, and they’re somewhere around here, probably getting into trouble together.”
Ben grins. “I still can’t believe you got married, man. I can’t wait to meet her. Bring her over when I’m done setting this monstrosity up.”
Mom cuts me off as I head toward Grandma’s trailer, and she wraps me in a hug.
“Thank you, sweetie. I hope this doesn’t put you out too much.”
“I hope not too. This is Lucy’s first time camping.”
Mom leans back and looks at me with wide eyes. “Oh no. I’m so sorry! I shouldn’t have asked you. She’s going to think you always camp like this. Oh well. Don’t worry. I have a very soft sleeping pad I’ll bring over and put in the tent for you. At least that will be comfortable.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I lean over and kiss her on the top of her head. “That would be great. I’m gonna need every little bit I can to butter her up.”
Mom gives me a quizzical look.
“I convinced Lucy to take precious time off for this trip. I want her to have fun.”
“Of course. That makes sense. Sure sounds like she’s having fun right now.”
I glance at the trailer that seems to be rocking. Maybe I’m imagining it. Maybe not.
“You don’t suppose you just married a young version of your grandmother, do you?” Mom asks with a twinkle in her eye.
I can’t help but chuckle. “They’re pretty different.”
Mom waggles her eyebrows. “But they both seem to enjoy having fun.”
I agree with that.
“I always have fun with Lucy,” I admit to her.
