Chapter Four: Getting Ready
JAKE P.O.V.
"So, are you ready to go?" I asked Peyton as she was dressing Jenny up to take her over to my parent's house.
"Yes I am. Yes I am," she said in a baby-voice to Jenny, who smiled a four-toothed smiled at her. "I think Jenny's getting another tooth!" Peyton said excitedly as she gently stuck her pointer finger into Jenny's mouth. Jenny started to half-suck-half-chew on Peyton's finger. "Ouch!" she laughed.
"Really?" I looked up from my packing and walked over to them. I looked in Jenny's mouth and, sure enough, there was a little bit of white peeking out of her top gum.
"Here, you take her and go put her in the stroller and I'll go mark it on her baby calendar," Peyton said as she handed me Jenny.
The baby calendar had been Peyton's idea. Whenever we discovered something new about Jenny - walking straight for the first time, saying words or running, - we would add it onto the calendar.
"You know, it's such a nice day out. We should push Jenny in her stroller over to Mom and Dad's," I told Peyton as I peeked out the door.
"Ok, then, let's go!" Peyton said as she pushed Jenny in her stroller and out the door. "Could you grab my bag, too, please?" she flashed a smile at me.
"Of course," I said, as I grabbed her light backpack. "Do you have everything?" I asked her, surprised that her pack didn't feel that heavy. I grabbed my duffel bag and heaved it onto my shoulder. It was a little bit heavier than hers.
"Yeah," she said as she locked her front door. We walked down the sidewalk to my parents' house, which was conveniently only a couple blocks away. "Why?"
"Well, your bag is so light." I said and smiled at her, liking the way she looking pushing Jenny along in her stroller. It seemed like the sun was shining right on them. There wasn't even a cloud in the sky. It was a great time to go camping.
"Well, it's only four days, so I don't really need that much. Just three pairs of pants, six shirts, and, of course," she blushed. "Other clothing, that I won't mention because of little ears." She patted Jenny on the head. I laughed.
"Jakey!" my mother squealed as she opened the door and ran out to us. "And how's my wonderful granddaughter?" She lifted Jenny out of her stroller.
"Here's her clothes," Peyton handed over Jenny's baby bag.
"Thank you, Peyton." My mother smiled at Peyton uncomfortably. They had met for the first time about a week ago. Mother still didn't understand why I wanted to live with Peyton instead of at her and Dad's house. But, as I explained to her before, they haven't really been around babies for 17 years, since I was one, and I didn't think they really wanted to be around one now.
"So, are you ready to go camping? Can you stay for a while?" I could tell my mother really wanted to stay and chat with me, but Peyton had told Brooke that we would meet her and Lucas at her house at 9:30, and it was almost that time.
"Uh, we'd like to, but we have to go meet our friends, you know, so we can go on our camping trip." I smiled at my mother as she bounced Jenny on her hip.
She tried to hide her disappointment, and said, "OK, then. Do what you kids gotta do. But, have fun, and be safe! Don't worry about Jenny, I have a fun play date planned at the park!" Mother gave me a hard hug and gave Peyton an quick one.
"Bye," Peyton said to my mother. "Bye Jenny!" she cooed at Jenny. Jenny tried to grab for her but Mother held her back.
"Bye, now." She closed the door.
"Well. That was awkward," Peyton said as we walked down my parent's sidewalk and back to her house, so we could take her car. "Here, I can take my bag, now." She grabbed her backpack.
"Thanks," I said, and shifted my slightly heavier bag onto my other shoulder.
We got to Peyton's car, and she tossed me the keys. "You can drive," she smiled sweetly.
"Thanks! Brooke's is just right across town, right?" I asked, even though I knew the answer. I hopped in the driver's seat and turned on the car.
"Yep. Let's go camping!" Peyton and I laughed, and I drove us to Brooke's.
I was definitely looking forward to spending four days with Peyton.
