Love Prevails (Kris Bryant)

31| Mother Knows Best

Kris

After McKayla got the closure she so desperately wanted and deserved, we were finally able to enjoy Thanksgiving. A lot of my family was here but she already met most of them. It's been a while but she's great, there should be no problems with them catching up. Unfortunately my brother had to work but we were hoping he could be out for Christmas. Kayla retreats to the kitchen and I sit in the living room with the guys getting ready for the Bears-Packers game.

"How was Boston" my dad asks.

"Really cool, nothing like Chicago but still a great city. Everything is so close together I felt right at home" I admit.

"And how is McKayla" he asks giving me that over protective look. I might be his son, but McKayla was his pride and joy, no doubt about it.

"She's good. She's had no issues regarding to the gunshot wound" I assure him. I wanted to tell him that we were going to start a family but we were waiting to announce the pregnancy just to make sure everything is going smoothly. That and we wouldn't have to answer so many questions for so long. We wouldn't have the answers just yet anyway.

"Wait, is this the same McKayla from high school" my cousin Michael asks. He met her at the one Christmas senior year but we weren't together yet. And by the next Christmas she was on the other side of the country so my family hasn't been around us while we were in a relationship.

"Yeah, the really pretty baseball player who I've known practically all my life" I remind him.

"I remember her, that's not a face you forget. But you guys are together" he asks a bit shocked.

"Yeah, we never really broke up after we first got together. When we went our separate ways we still talked almost every day and would face time or skype or something" I explain.

"Dang. You really only talked to her" he asks.

"Well yeah. She was my first love and first a lot of things, she's the same way with me. We've always been good together and now we're actually together" I laugh.

"I always knew it would happen" he insists and I roll my eyes. He gave me a lot of crap about her so I find that hard to believe.

"Yeah, just like you always thought you'd be the one to make it in the majors" I laugh.

"You never know" he defends causing my dad and I to laugh. We watch the pregame show and McKayla joins us. She loooves her football. Las Vegas might not have any sports teams but she sure fell in love with the Chicago ones quickly. Especially when it came to hockey and football.

We make our plates of food and McKayla sits between my cousin Natalie and I. Her and Nat always seemed to be close, Natalie loved that she played baseball and McKayla loved that she liked school so much. I knew they would hit it off but Natalie might actually steal her from me.

"Pass the ball! You see the defense blitzing meaning someone in the secondary will be open if they rush five... trust your line and throw the damn ball" McKayla yells as Cutler is sacked for a second straight snap. I try to stifle my laughter but fail as my family just looks at her.

"Yeah, Mike coached her" aunt Emma announces and I lose it. Aunt Emma and my dad was the closest so Natalie and Michael and I were always close. It sucks my brother Nick couldn't make it because he loves Thanksgiving football and would love this but he has his own family to worry about.

"Sorry, I'm just frustrated" she explains.

"Please keep going, this is great" Michael encourages and I shake my head, this is going to be a long day. We eat our food and watch the game that the Bears somehow won. McKayla couldn't even believe it. I help my mom clean up while Michael has his dance dance revolution revenge from six years ago.

"How are you and Kayla" she asks handing me a dish.

"I know you already asked her this question mom" I claim.

"Yeah. But I want to hear things from your point of view" she insists.

"Everything amazing. I promise, you know I can't lie to you when it comes to her. Even in high school when you figured out I saw her more than a friend I couldn't deny it. You saw through it all. But we're really happy mom, I expect nothing less" I admit.

"I know you'll take care of her and she'll do the same for you, but it's scary knowing my kids are out in that city trying to make a difference in the world of sports with so much that can go wrong" she sighs.

"I know mom, but you raised us the best you can. Not a day goes by that McKayla doesn't talk about how great of a mother you are, she wants to be like you one day. We've had some rough times but we're battle tested. Nothing life throws at us we can't handle. I promise that we're going to be okay, we're always going to be okay" I reply pulling her into a hug. My mom's emotional, both her boys are growing old and making mistakes on their own and having to find a solution. But we're going to be alright, she's done all she can.

"I just love you guys... a lot. Your happiness is important to me and seeing you two together, it makes me estatic. I always hoped you two would end up together, I just wasn't sure if you guys knew it" she laughs into my chest.

"The world works in mysterious ways, all I know is that she is the only one for me and I'll treat her right" I promise. I help her serve the pies and McKayla and Michael argue over who won dance dance revolution. We all knew it was Kayla but you couldn't tell him that. Eventually it gets late and everyone goes home so McKayla and I retreat to my room. She looks around and admires the trophies and medals that hung up.

"Out of all there awards and medals, you're my favorite accolade" I mention and she blushes, I love that I can still do that to her after all these years. She looks at the state medal and smiles.

"I love you Kristopher" she says.

"And I you... McKayla."