The Guy Named Harrison: Book Two

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The Panthers had a bye this weekend, and the weekend off. Normally, teams practiced on their bye weekend. The coaches gave their players this weekend off because they were playing extremely well. It wasn't on pace to be like last season, but the team was doing great, and having only played 10 games, they were already predicted to be a Super Bowl contender again.

Harrison and Carrie took Riley to the lake one last time before it got cold. It was already cold, but it wasn't going to be long before it got really cold.

"I got her."

Carrie unbuckled Riley from her car seat and handed her to Harrison standing behind her. As he took Riley from his wife, he immediately noticed that she felt heavier with her heavy jacket and heavy pants on to go with a Panthers winter hat and boots.

"I didn't think it was going to start snowing soon Riley."

Carrie looked over her shoulder. "It's not going to snow yet," she answered. "But what's not very cold for us is a lot colder for her."

"Here."

Harrison reached out and took the tiny mittens Carrie was holding out for him. "Mommy brought you some gloves. See that Riley?"

Once Gary and Wilson jumped out, Carrie closed the back door of her Jeep and opened the hatch to grab Riley's stroller.

"You don't have to get that. I can carry her."

She shut the hatch and grabbed her jacket from the top of the car. "You sure about that? We're going for a long walk. She's going to feel heavy fast."

"I have muscles."

Carrie laughed and gave him a playfully push. "Alright muscles. We'll see how long you hold out."

She grabbed her bag full of Riley's stuff and swung it over her shoulders. Carrie had a feeling he was going to be complaining not too far into their walk, so she brought Riley's kangaroo carrier that he could strap to himself.

Harrison walked beside Carrie as they started on the trail. He held Riley against his hip, just as Carrie often did when she made dinner and held Riley at the same time.

"Look at the birdies Riley," Harrison told her, pointed out to the lake where some ducks were diving down underwater.

Riley had just turned three months. And long with laughing at a lot of things her parents said, she was also beginning to really talk back to her mommy and daddy in her own language.

She spotted a rabbit crossing the path ahead of them before the dogs even spotted it. "It's a bunny."

Riley muttered something else. "Soon Riley. Soon mommy and I will be able to understand what you're saying."

➄➈

"Carrie, can you take her for a little bit?"

"Why, are you tired?"

She smiled as he thought of an answer. Carrie knew he wasn't going to openly admit that his arms were tired.

"I've been carrying her for a while."

"And?"

"It's your turn."

She shook her head. "You're tired."

"I'm not tired."

"Yes you are."

"Fine, I'm tired."

Carrie almost didn't hear him right. She wasn't expecting him to admit it. "Her carrier is in my bag."

She took Riley from him as he immediately started unzipping her back. "You better tell daddy he needs to workout more. He needs bigger muscles to carry you."

Somebody almost backed into me in the parking lot today and I flipped out because this very same thing happened to my friend before Thanksgiving break except for the person did actually hit her car. This girl just stepped on it and backed out really fast and I slammed on the brake, stuff went flying in the back, I honked at her, and she just kept backing up like what? I wasn't stopping to let you out you almost fricken hit me. I had a friend with me and she screamed a little bit and she got a taste of my very strong vocabulary. Honestly I think I'm going either get hit by somebody or end up fighting somebody by the end of the school year.