27. Knox

I finished strappingthe car seats into the back seat of my truck and then turned around to see Larkin holding Jackson on her hip and finishing up a game of Simon Says with Emily, who was jumping on one leg. It was one of those beautiful summer mornings where golden sunshine was dripping through the trees and the breeze was just cool enough to cut the heat.

“All done,” I said to them.

Emily put her leg down and then pumped her fist. “I winned!”

I chuckled, thinking it was just a minor detail that she was the only one playing the game.

“Ready to go?” I asked them.

Emily tugged at her mom’s purple T-shirt and said, “Can we give Knox his shirt?”

The embarrassed smile on Larkin’s lips piqued my interest even further. “What shirt?” I asked.

Larkin reached into her diaper bag, taking out a purple shirt with white lettering. On the front, it said GO #9 with a football instead of an O and a diamond inside of the nine.

“That’s so cool!” I said, reaching for it. “Did you make this?”

Larkin nodded. “I got out my Cricut last night and played around so I could surprise Em with a shirt. But she insisted I add something to the back of your shirt. For a prank.”

My eyebrows drew together, and Emily giggled while I turned the shirt around. On the back, in small white letters, it said, CALL ME STEVE.

“My name’s not Steve,” I said.

Emily nearly fell over from laughing so hard. Her giggles were so contagious, Larkin and I had to laugh along and Jackson joined in too. I made to put it over the Diamonds T-shirt I was already wearing, but Larkin said, “You don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to.”

“Oh, trust me, I do,” I said, pulling it on the rest of the way. Emily laughed so hard she couldn’t breathe. “Come on, squirt,” I said, hauling her over my shoulder. “Time to get in the truck.”

“Okay, Steve.” She giggled all the while as I put her in the car seat.

Across the truck, Larkin tried to buckle in Jackson, but he wasn’t having it. He was stiff as a board and grunting at her. I knew a lot of people might wrestle him in, but instead, she started singing a song to the tune of “Happy” by Pharrell Williams.

Because I’m buckled,

Buckle in if you feel like a kid who’s extra safe.

Buckle in if you feel like you’re following the law.

Buckle in if you know that buckling is the best.

Buckle in if you’re up for a safe and fun trip.

Because I’m buckled.

Jackson foughtat first but was captivated by her singing, eventually easing into his seat and giggling as she tickled his little belly. Emily must have caught the smile on my lips because she said, “Mama sings that song all the time.”

I smiled down at her, adjusting the chest clip so it rested right over her sternum. “Your mama’s the best.”

Emily nodded like she agreed, and then I snuck a smile at Larkin, who was smiling back at us across the car. “Ready to go?” she asked.

I nodded. “Let’s hit the road, Jack.”

Emily said, “Her name’s Larkin, not Jack.”

Laughing, Larkin got in and explained that it was a song. And we played it as we started our way out of town. Something about this trip felt special, like it really was the beginning of a tradition. And maybe even a family.