We Are A Family

Chapter 13

We visited Kayla's mom first with the kids, Elizabeth and Alexander were both shy to meet their grandmother. Alexander met her a few times in the past, but he had forgotten what it was like at her house and how it felt to be back in Texas.
Kayla and her mom talked a lot, Jody; her mom's husband kept cracking jokes with Mark and CC who would listen and laugh then make jokes of their own.
It was weird, being back in Texas. I had forgotten about the bipolar weather, we stayed in a motel in Jasper before heading to Lufkin. I was nervous to see my parents again, I felt like I was neglecting them. I've kept myself trapped with raising both Bandit and Lily Marie, CC was fixing to be going back on tour with the guys.
I wasn't quite sure how to feel about him leaving, with Bandit being only one and Lily was five; I wasn't ready to be left alone just yet. I knew I had Shay, but with her talking about wanting a kid of her own now; it was all a big mess. Children were popping out everywhere and I-
"How are things with you and your family, Haley?" I looked up losing all train of thought, Kayla and Laurie were looking my way.
I ran a hand through my hair with a soft smile. "Everything is fine, how are you and Jody?" I asked before going back off into all of the thoughts. I watched as Kayla's mom talked, I nodded then glanced to CC and the kids; Bandit was pulling a toy from Beth and then started crying when CC removed the toy from both kids then handed it to Mark.

So much has been going on, I myself haven't been able to keep up with most of it. Lily was growing up way too fast, CC was going on tour soon and Bandit would be two in three weeks. It was stressing to even think about, I had put into thought about wanting another kid; but when I mentioned it to both Shay and Sammi. They thought it was crazy, Sammi declared that Lily should have been enough for me. But, then Bandit was born and everyone loves him. Maybe it was a bad idea to want more than two kids, I mean; my mom and Kayla's mom had three kids.. Maybe I was crazy.
I don't know if I could ever tell Lily that I almost died when she was born, or that I did die.. Then again, who would tell their kid that they almost died giving birth to them? It was a known fact, that I had a weak heart. I was fine giving birth to Bandit, maybe it was the first time thing.. Hell if I know.
I slowly removed myself from the couch, everyone was saying their goodbyes to Laurie and Jody. We would stay the night in the motel then head to Lufkin the next morning.

When we arrived at our motel, Lily and Alex wanted to go swimming right away. Of course it took twenty minutes to calm the kids down the moment the grown ups said no.
Me, CC, Lily and Bandit entered our hotel room. It was next door to Kayla's and Marks. Lily kept exclaiming how good it felt in here, she then declared that daddy needed to put cartoons on.
I lied Bandit on the bed to change his diaper, he kept fussing and kicking at me to the point he was crying hysterically.
I was exhausted, I didn't want to deal with this. CC came to my rescue though, he pulled off Bandit's soiled diaper then replaced it with a new one.
I gave off a soft smile, I needed a shower.

I walked into the bathroom, striping out of my clothes; I turned on the warm water with a hum. When I turned to the mirror, CC awaited me. He brought me into a hug, then asked to join me in the shower.
Too tired to argue about the kids needing to be watched over, I let him anyway.
We didn't shower long, Bandit was crying and Lily kept knocking on the door.
Needless to say, it was a long night in the motel. With Bandit crying constantly, and Lily getting into things; it made me not have the idea to want more kids. These two were already enough too much to handle, all I remember that night was putting Bandit in the crib; reading with Lily until she fell asleep then cuddling with CC.

The next morning came quick, I couldn't stop yawning. We were twenty minutes away from Lufkin, and Lily was wanting to go to the zoo when we got there. To her advantage, CC questioned me where it was and the next thing I knew; I was calling Kayla to meet at the zoo.
Lily jumped out of the truck with CC's help, her brown eyes full of excitement.
"We're at a zoo!" She exclaimed, she ran over to Alex excitedly the moment he was helped out of the truck.
"Alex, we're at a zoo! The dinosaurs live here!" She beamed.
Alex's hazel eyes grew wide before tugging on his mother's sleeve. "Mommy, are there really dinosaurs here?" He asked as if doubting his cousin.
Lily gave off a pout before turning to her mom. "Mommy, tell Alex that there are dinosaurs here!" She demanded.
Kayla and Haley exchanged looks before shrugging.
Lily looked to Alex. "Come on! They are really long dinosaurs, they don't have the teethies and wings like in Land Before Time; but they are small!" She said.
It was then when the sisters realized, Lily was talking about the lizards and snakes.

I yawned watching Lily and Alex getting excited over the bears, and to my amusement. Kayla was on a mission to see the sloths, she kept talking about them to Mark who was totally amused with how excited a twenty-six year old could get over sloths.
I watched CC pointing to the tigers with Bandit who's eyes were wide with either fear or amazement, I really couldn't figure that one out myself.
I glanced down feeling Lily tug on me, "mommy lets go see the dinosaurs." She said loud enough for a kid maybe a year or two older than her look over her.
He had dirty blonde hair and blue eyes with freckles.
"There are no dinosaurs here." He told her.
And that, was when the argument began.

"Uh huh!" Lily said with a frown.
The kid rolled his eyes at her. "Nu uh, they are extincted! They died a long time ago!" He snapped.
Lily's eyes became teary, she stomped her foot. "They do exist! You dummy!"
"Lily Marie Coma!" CC hissed with a disapproving look.
Lily looked at her dad with a hurt expression. "He is though! Dinosaurs exist!" She snapped.
"You're stupid." The boy finally retorted her direction.
Lily glared, stomping up to him. She pinched his cheek until he shoved her back.
"Hey, hey, hey!" I exclaimed before walking over to my daughter and the boy who was prepared to fight if needed.
Lily pushed me away before pushing him down, climbing onto him; then pulling at his cheeks while he pulled at her piggy tails.
I was face palming at this, Mark and CC were finally just laughing at the amusement. I was supposed to be a parent here, not allowing this to happen.
It took five minutes to break the two apart, Lily glared before turning to me.
"Bring us to the dinosaurs! I want him to know they exist!" She demanded.
I glared Kayla's way after hearing her snort.

Not arguing with my kid, I brought her and the little boy to the snake section; she kept tugging on him until we made it to the anaconda. She pointed hard at the glass with a glare.
"Dinosaur!" She hissed.
The boy looked ready to face palm himself, he glared at her. "That is a snake!" He snapped, this time he began tugging her until we made it to the alligators and turtles.
"Those are dinosaurs, that still somehow exist!" He hissed.
Lily looked at them with wide eyes.
"I want one." Was all she stated.
I stood there for the longest minute, before turning to Kayla who already had this big grin plastered on her face.
"Does she remind you of someone?" She asked me.
I couldn't help but smile softly at the resemblance, I remember when I came here when I was seventeen with Kayla and our family and demanded that I wanted a alligator. To my disadvantage, my mom told me no.
I knelt down next to my five year old with a soft smile, the amazement and curiosity that was held in her eyes was what made me smile.
Memories like this, is what made a family.
One that I loved very much.