Three's Company

14. Kayaks and Fairs

Paisley's POV

  I'm really excited for today, after finding out at breakfast that we're going to the fair later. I'm still a little shy around Mommy's family. I've always been shy around new people, especially when I feel little. Mommy's parents are really nice though, Jeff especially. He's silly and he doesn't ask me lots of questions like Sherry does. Plus Sherry keeps giving me strange looks, I wanna ask Mommy why, but I wonder if it's all in my head. Mikey is another story, he hasn't really said anything to me, but he's not very nice to Mama. I wonder why he doesn't like her, but Mama doesn't seem to really care, so I decide it doesn't matter.

  "Come on Pumpkin, we gotta get you changed." Mommy says suddenly. Even though we're all done with breakfast, everyone is still sitting around the table talking. I wasn't really paying attention.

  "I not wet." I whisper, my cheeks getting red.

  "Into a swim suit baby." Mommy says and scoots my chair away from the table. "We're going out on the lake."

  "B-but da fair?" I whine as Mommy scoops me into her arms. It sounded so fun when Jeff was talking about it. I've never been to a fair before.

  "That's later Pumpkin. After nap time." Mommy smiles and pats my bottom. I nod, as long as we're still going to the fair I'm happy.

  "Meet you girls at the dock in...oh let's say 15 minutes?" Jeff asks and Mommy and Mama nod.

  "Perfect." Mommy smiles.

  "I'm not going on the lake." Mikey huffs in annoyance.

  "Boy. I wasn't talking to you." Jeff says ruffling Mikey's hair.

  "I don't like that." The young man grimaces, pushing his father's hands away. Mikey dodges under Jeff's arm and runs for the stairs. Mommy laughs and says something to Mama I didn't catch. Then the three of us head upstairs so we can get changed.

  "Ooh Mama pretty!" I exclaim when she pulls out my swim suit. I didn't know she got me a new one. It looks like a watermelon, green bottoms with a pinkish red top.

  "Glad you like it Princess. Let's get you dressed." Mama smiles.

  "Ready Freddy?" Mommy asks.

  "I not Freddy!" I giggle and Mommy pinches my cheeks.

  "No you're not. Paisley is a much better name for you." Mommy smiles and holds her hand out for me.

  "Or Pumpkin. Or Princess." I grin while grabbing onto Mommy's hand. Mama is right behind us while we make our way outside.

  "Your Mom's not coming?" Mama asks when we reach the dock, where Jeff is messing around with the kayaks.

  "No. She's not a fan of kayaking." Mommy says with a shrug.

  "You know I rarely actually take the kayaks out. No one wants to go with me." Jeff says, having heard Mommy.

  "Aww Dad, I'll always kayak with you." Mommy smiles.

  "Ah you're one of the good ones Lizzy." Jeff grins patting Mommy's shoulder. "Two in each, how would you ladies like to split up?"

  "Blue!" I shout, louder than I meant to and can hear everyone laughing. I don't care at the moment as I run over to the blue and purple kayak. It's pretty, I want this one.

   "Paisley, do you want to ride with me or Dad?" Mommy asks, which makes Mama scoff. "Baby, you don't know what you're doing, if you and Paisley ride together, you'll capsize." Mommy says to Mama.