The moment we turn to walk up to the barn, the noise hits us. Kids running in and out. Music drifting through the air. Voices overlapping in a way that may feel chaotic to some but it’s simply my life. Always has been.
Granny’s house is home. Noelle spots us first, baby tucked into her chest, one hand waving, the other holding Matt’s hand while he holds Kane’s hand.
“You made it!” Noelle shouts.
Matt shakes my hand then says, “Good to see you Anna.”
Noelle hugs Anna before me. Guess I’m getting sent to the back of the line.
Before I can say anything, Granny’s voice cuts through the noise.
“Well, it’s about time.”
Annika stiffens beside me. I glance at her, brushing my fingers over her hand. She doesn’t pull away. It’s a small win but I’ll take it.
Granny steps out of the barn, wiping her hands on a towel like she’s been cooking all day. She stops in front of us, eyes moving from me to Annika and back again.
Assessing. Always assessing. Not just anyone is good enough for her grandchildren.
“Granny, this is Anna. My girlfriend.”
“So,” she says, tilting her head. “You’re the one fixing my grandson’s head.”
I choke on a laugh.
Annika freezes for a few seconds, then to her credit she recovers.
“I’m trying,” she says, cautious and reserved.
Granny snorts and grabs her elbow. “Well, good luck with that. He’s been hardheaded since birth.”
“Granny.”
“Oh hush,” she waves me off and turns back to Annika. “At least he’s pretty. That helps.”
Annika blinks, a rolling chuckle escaping her throat. And just like that, the tension cracks.
Granny pulls her into a hug like she’s known her forever. “Welcome to the O’Ryan Family chaos,” she says with a grin on her face. She loves it when the entire family is together.
The barn is full. Tables set up end to end, food or flowers covering every surface. Kids weaving between legs like it’s a sport. I have five nieces and nephews under five. Paulina, the only teenager. She darts past us, hair flying, asking if we can start with cake.
It’s loud and unfiltered. Annika stays close to me, not clinging but staying within my reach.
J.D. and Greyson’s boys are sword fighting with sticks while dressed like superheroes.
Noelle and Matt’s son, Kane, is rolling around on the wooden floor acting like they killed him.
It makes me think of how it must have been for my mom.Having J.D. and Greyson and then ten years later having Noelle, then me and Witt.
Everyone has come to celebrate with Granny. Friends, employees that work on the farm and of course our whole family.
I ask J.D., “Where’s Dad and Witt?”
“Cutting the brisket Granny smoked all day.” J.D. leans in and whispers in my ear. “Witt’s acting weird.”
“That’s normal.”
“Weirder than usual. Sutton tried to talk to him about a permanent position with the Armadillos and he blew her off.”