Jake pulled in John's Park For Kids. We decided it would keep Rylee busy and Jake and I could relive some childhood memories. Mark and Maryann pack a cooler and a picnic basket for lunch after we talked and played.
"Daddy wook, Ewwie and Dake are here!" Rylee was standing at the top of the red slide while Mary and my father sat at the picnic table. When they saw Jake and I, they stood. My heartbeat sped up suddenly as I realized my dad would be meeting Jake.
I politely hugged my dad and pulled away slowly to introduce Jake. "Dad, I'd like you to meet Jake, my fiancé. Jake this is my dad Mark and his wife Maryann." My father shook Jake's hand with a pat on the back and Mary did too.
"It's a pleasure to meet you both," Mary said softly. Her voice was calm and smooth, much like my mothers.
My dad went on giving Jake the fatherly talk while Mary asked me about how Jake and I met. Once I told her our story, I asked her the same thing. It turns out Nary went to college with my dad but Mark fell in love with my mom before Mary had her chance.
Rylee came running over to me and tugged on my jeans. "Will you come pway wif me? Pwease!" I couldn't say no to that! Her accent was so cute and she really wanted me to. So I grabbed Jake's wrist and pulled him along as I ran up the stairs to the clear tubes. I haven't been in them since I was eight.
"Ellie, don't get stuck," Jake yelled from the other tube. Rylee was standing at the ends clapping and telling us to race.
What the heck, why not. "El's be prepared to lose to the racing king!" Oh no he didn't, he had no clue what he just started. He was going down.
Rylee starts a countdown, "fwee, two, one!" I dove forward like a pro diver. My fingers reached the edge and I pulled myself out by my arms, letting my chest hit the ground first. I looked to my left to find Jake stuck in his tube. Jake's butt was stuck on the top and his legs were under that, stopping him from going anywhere.
"A little help here?" I ran to his feet while Rylee giggled. "Ellie I need you to try to pull my feet out. I'm going to try and straighten my body and slither out." After four minutes or so, Jake was able to lay flat and pull himself out like I did.
Out of nowhere a loud band went off, making Rylee panicky and Jake and I look around. "It sounded like an early firework that didn't quite make it," I said, trying to calm her down a bit. "Rylee, how about we play on the swings? We can make Jake push us since he lost the race."
"Otay, I'm a big girl now so I know how to push myself aftow I get help." She rushed down the stairs and across the play ground. Jake laughed and chase after her like a monster. When he reach Rylee, he picked her up over his head and set her down on the swing.
Bang, bang, bang.
"Dats an earwy pawty" Rylee commented. I no longer thought that was a firework. The sounds were getting closer and within the next five minutes, sirens. More loud sounds, more sirens, yelling.
"Everyone to the car!" I yelled. Jake grabbed Rylee, Mark and Mary grabbed our stuff, and I helped. I was going to be killed or have my family in danger again. And I certainly didn't want Rylee to worry. She was too young to even understand.
But it was already too late for that. Riley was shaking and Jake times while they sat in the backseat of Jake's Volvo. It was cute to see him taking care of her so well. I never knew he was that good with kids.
"Rylee, do you know what that noise is?" Jake asked. "Doesn't it sound quite funny? Almost like there is a huge party going on. And they didn't invite us? But do you know what? We are going to have our own party without them, OK?" He was soft-spoken and trying to calm her.
"Otay Dake. What awe we doeing to do?"
" I think Big Sister Ellie is taking you back to our house. Don't worry, your mommy and daddy are in the car behind us. What do you say we play a boardgame when we get to my house?"
"Do you have a Candy Yand? I yove dat game. Dake, do you know else I yove?"
He looked at Rylee, "what?"
"I yove you Dake."
