For Her, He Will

Chapter Four - Everyone is a threat.

It was dusk when Oakley saw John's suburban pull up to the main house. She was washing the dinner plates from earlier while Kayce and Tate were playing a game of checkers. Putting the last glass away, Oakley turned around, drying her hands on her jeans.

"Hey, your dad is back," Oakley said walking around the island.

"Alright," Kayce eyed her from his seat.

"I'm gonna go ask him how his meeting with the Ag Commissioner went," Oakley walked over and grabbed her jacket.

"Now?" Kayce asked, turning in his seat to watch her. "Baby, do it in the morning." 

"I don't know how long he'll be here and if I wait, he'll probably forget or something," Oakley slipped her jacket on. "It won't be long, I'm sure he's tired."

"Get your jacket, Tate," Kayce stood up.

"Kayce, come on," Oakley sighed. "Y'all are playing."

"We can finish after," Kayce walked over and reached behind Oakley for his jacket on the hook before putting it on.

"You don't trust me with your dad?" Oakley asked as Tate opened the front door and walked out.

"You I trust," Kayce pushed Oakley's back gently to get her to walk out of the house. "Him, I don't trust and if he says something stupid to you, I want to be there."

"I can handle your dad," Oakley rolled her eyes.

"I don't doubt it, babe," Kayce smirked as he walked past her after locking the door.

The three of them quickly made it up to the main house, Kayce shut the door behind them and instantly they were all warmed up. Oakley walked into the living room and looked for John but didn't see him.

"Grandpa?" Tate called out.

"Didn't realize you'd be here," John walked out from the kitchen. "Would have come home sooner."

Tate ran up and hugged John, who was looking at Kayce.

"Sorry I missed your birthday," John nodded. "Did you have a nice day?"

Oakley thought that was a weird way to ask, but she wasn't going to judge John and Kayce right now seeing as they at least were talking.

Ever since John announced, without speaking to Kayce first, Kayce had been distant. It was easy for Kayce to slip away from his father, Oakley had seen him do it countless times. Oakley didn't think John realized just how much effort Kayce had to put into their relationship to make it even...decent. But if John did realize, then Oakley was hurt for Kayce seeing as his father chose to run over his son's comfortableness.

"It was a nice day," Kayce nodded, smiling over at Oakley.

"Here, I got you this," John walked over to his day bag and rummaged through it.

Kayce shot Oakley a confused look.

"You didn't need to get me anything," Kayce cleared his throat.

Oakley tilted her head to see what John was pulling out of his bag. Whatever it was, it was wrapped in white tissue paper. John handed it to Kayce. Carefully, Kayce unwrapped it.

Inside was a holster made out of dark leather. It looked handmade, from what Oakley could see, and the stitching was précised. Kayce almost looked angry as he stared down at it and Oakley was nervous for a second. Not because he was angry, but because she knew that was his face before he would get emotional. 

"That was my father's," John said and Kayce nodded in understanding. "I got it re-stitched in Helena and it was done while I was there...so uh...Happy Birthday."