Free Sky Cowboy by Kasey Millstead

it might be a while before Olive can play.
    Without missing a beat, Oscar replies, “Daddy kissed Ava.  On the lips .  Daddy said he can’t get girl germs off Ava because he loves Ava.  Grandpa! ” He yells, running over to hug Scott Henley.
    Holy shit .  Jeremy told Oscar he loves me.  He loves me.   Holy shit .  Maybe he just said that by way of explaining.  Yeah, that’s probably it.
    “Oh, here she is,” Maggie Henley comes toward me beaming at the baby.  I hand her Olive and stand so she can sit.  Jeremy immediately grabs my hand and pulls me to him, tucking me to his side.
    That’s when I notice the sparkle on Edie’s ring finger.  My eyes widen and I look to her face to see her looking between Jeremy and me.  She’s smiling.  I catch her eye and gesture with my eyes toward her hand.  She raises her eyebrows and grins huge at me.
    I break away from Jeremy and walk over to her.  Giving her a gentle hug, I whisper in her ear, “Yay!  Congratulations.”
    “Thanks,” she whispers into my ear, “Congrats to you as well.  You two look good together.  We need to catch up soon.  I need all the details.”  I can hear the smile in her voice.
    “Just in here,” I hear the nurse say.  I stand and walk back to Jeremy.  He claims me again and I tuck my hand into his back jean pocket, just as Jules walks in.
    “What the fuck?” She whisper-shouts at Edie.
    My eyes swing to Edie and I watch her look at Jules and raise her eyebrows high.  Really high.
    “Looks like I’ve got my own what-the-fuck question,” Edie replies, seriously. 
    I look back at Jules.  Then I look to Edie again.  Then I look at Maggie, who’s still sitting holding the baby.  Then I look to Scott who has paused in his game of Thomas with Oscar.  Then I look to Oscar, who’s obliviously still playing his game.  Then I look at Jackson, who’s looking around at everyone with a ‘what’s going on?’ look on his face as he exits the private bathroom.  Then I look to Jeremy.  Jeremy looks down at me and we both silently communicate, let’s get the fuck out of here.
    Jeremy clears his throat, and says, “Right, we’ll be off.  We’ll catch up with ya later, yeah?   You need anything, Edie, let Ava know.”
    “Sure.  Thanks for coming in guys.”
    “C’mon Oscar.  Let’s get home.”  Jeremy takes Oscar’s hand in the one that isn’t holding mine and we walk out waving goodbye.
    Jules has got some explaining to do…

    “Do you have to work today?”  Jeremy asks me.  We’ve arrived home from the hospital and Oscar is in the lounge room watching Thomas the Tank Engine on DVD.  Jeremy and I are in the kitchen – I’m cleaning up the mess from the lunch we just had, and Jeremy is sitting at the counter watching me with a funny look on his face.
    “No.  I texted mum earlier to tell her I wouldn’t be in today. I’ve only got to feed my horses later today.  You?”
    “Nah.  Got a big muster this week, though,” he replies then pauses and I think he’s going to continue telling me about the muster.  But he blindsides when he finally speaks again.  “I like you in my kitchen, honey.”
    “Uh,” I stammer.
    “ I had a talk to Oscar before we left for the hospital this morning.  He asked me if, because I was kissing you, it meant you were his mummy.”
    At his words, I draw in a sharp breath and my mind automatically recalls the night last year when Oscar asked me if I’d be his mummy because he didn’t have one.
    “Yeah, I thought you must’ve had a chat with him – the “Daddy loves Ava slash girl germs” comment in the hospital sort of confirmed it,” I laugh nervously.
    “Yeah,” he agrees, somewhat distractedly.
    “Ava. A-V-A.  Is Ava sleeping at Oscar’s house tonight? Ava can take Oscar to school tomorrow.  Does Ava want to watch Thomas with Oscar?”  Oscar comes running in, firing off questions before running out again without waiting for his answers.
    “Ava