***ऀ䴀椀渀搀礀Ⰰ 倀愀甀氀Ⰰ 䴀愀爀欀 愀渀搀 䤀 眀攀爀攀 猀琀愀渀搀椀渀最 漀甀琀猀椀搀攀 琀栀攀 欀椀搀猀ᤀ†爀漀漀洀Ⰰ 眀愀琀挀栀椀渀最 琀栀攀洀 愀猀 琀栀攀礀 猀氀攀攀瀀⸀ ഀ
“They’re smart little kids, you know?” Mindy said, “Kurt’s teacher told me he was best at art…got my genes, huh?”ऀ圀攀 愀氀氀 氀愀甀最栀攀搀 氀椀最栀琀氀礀⸀ ഀ
“Yeah, that one he got…” I said.ऀᰀ䈠甀琀 䤀 戀攀琀 䬀愀琀栀攀爀椀渀攀ᤀ猠 最漀椀渀最 琀漀 戀攀 樀甀猀琀 氀椀欀攀 礀漀甀Ⰰᴀ†䴀椀渀搀礀 愀搀搀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䰠椀猀琀攀渀猀 琀漀 愀氀氀 琀栀漀猀攀 䴀漀稀愀爀琀 挀氀愀猀猀椀挀猀℀ 䤀 挀漀甀氀搀渀ᤀ琠 攀瘀攀渀 戀攀愀爀 氀椀猀琀攀渀椀渀最 琀漀 琀栀愀琀 眀栀攀渀 搀愀搀 甀猀攀搀 琀漀 瀀氀愀礀 椀琀 愀氀氀 搀愀礀☀ᴠഠ
“But look at you now,” I smiled, “Soon marrying a musician…”ऀᰀ䤠 琀漀氀搀 礀漀甀Ⰰ 䬀椀洀戀攀爀氀礀Ⰰ 洀愀爀爀椀愀最攀 眀椀氀氀 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀 眀愀椀琀⸀ᴀഠ
“Marcia and Katherine are going to be our flower girls.” Paul said.ऀᰀ倠愀甀氀℀ᴀ†䴀椀渀搀礀 猀愀椀搀⸀ഀ
“What? It‘s true.” Paul said, “And Marcia could make some of her famous leis…”ऀᰀ传栀 猀栀攀 最愀瘀攀 礀漀甀 漀渀攀㼀ᴀ†䤀 猀洀椀氀攀搀Ⰰ 愀猀欀椀渀最 倀愀甀氀⸀ഀ
“Everyday,” He said.ऀ䤀 氀愀甀最栀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䤠ᤀ洠 爀攀愀氀氀礀 猀漀爀爀礀 䤀 栀愀搀 琀漀 搀爀愀最 礀漀甀 最甀礀猀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀椀猀⸀ᴀഠ
“Oh, please, I have nothing better to do,” Mindy said, “Besides, I like your kids. They’re not bratty like you were.”ᰀ䠠攀礀 䤀 眀愀猀渀ᤀ琠 戀爀愀琀琀礀℀ᴀഠ
“Yes you were!” Mindy retorted, laughing, remember when gramps gave you that laptop and you were like, ‘Oh look at me, gramps loves me, blah blah blah”, Man, it was insane!” She said.ᰀ传栀 瀀氀攀愀猀攀Ⰰᴀ†䤀 戀氀甀猀栀攀搀Ⰰ 氀愀甀最栀椀渀最Ⰰ ᰀ䤠 眀愀猀 礀漀甀渀最℀ᴀഠ
“Well, you were older than us…”ᰀ䘠椀渀攀Ⰰᴀ†䤀 爀漀氀氀攀搀 洀礀 攀礀攀猀Ⰰ ᰀ䤠 搀椀搀 栀愀瘀攀 洀礀☀洠漀洀攀渀琀猀⸀ᴀഠ
“But the worst one was when you broke C’s music box!”ᰀ传栀 洀礀 䜀漀搀Ⰰ 䤀 爀攀洀攀洀戀攀爀 琀栀愀琀☀ᴠ†䤀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ圠栀愀琀 眀愀猀 䤀 琀栀椀渀欀椀渀最㼀ᴀഠ
Mindy shrugged.䤀 猀洀椀氀攀搀 昀愀椀渀琀氀礀Ⰰ 氀漀漀欀椀渀最 愀琀 琀栀攀 欀椀搀猀 漀渀挀攀 洀漀爀攀Ⰰ ᰀ䤠 眀愀渀渀愀 猀攀攀 琀栀攀洀 最爀漀眀 甀瀀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 欀渀漀眀㼀ᴀ†䤀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䤠 眀愀渀渀愀 猀攀攀 琀栀攀 欀椀搀猀 愀琀 礀漀甀爀 眀攀搀搀椀渀最☀䤠 眀愀渀渀愀 猀攀攀 䌀愀爀漀氀椀渀攀 愀渀搀 刀漀戀戀椀攀ᤀ猠 挀栀椀氀搀 椀昀 攀瘀攀爀 琀栀攀礀 搀攀挀椀搀攀 琀漀 愀搀漀瀀琀Ⰰ 䤀 眀愀渀渀愀 猀攀攀☀䰠攀椀最栀 愀渀搀᐀ᰠഠ
“Hun, relax,” Mark said, “It will all be fine.”ᰀ夠攀猀Ⰰᴀ†䴀椀渀搀礀 愀搀搀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䄠渀搀 爀攀洀攀洀戀攀爀Ⰰ 礀漀甀ᤀ爠攀 愀 戀爀愀琀⸀ 䈀爀愀琀猀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 搀椀攀 礀漀甀渀最⸀ᴀ†匀栀攀 猀洀椀氀攀搀⸀ഀ
I laughed, “Yeah, well—“ᰀ䨠甀猀琀 琀愀欀攀 攀愀挀栀 搀愀礀 愀猀 椀琀 挀漀洀攀猀Ⰰᴀ†倀愀甀氀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䈠攀猀椀搀攀猀Ⰰ 眀攀ᤀ爠攀 栀攀爀攀Ⰰ 眀攀ᤀ爠攀 愀氀氀 爀漀漀琀椀渀最 昀漀爀 礀漀甀⸀ᴀഠ
“You guys have done so much…”ᰀ传栀Ⰰ 猀琀漀瀀 琀栀攀 搀爀愀洀愀Ⰰᴀ†䴀椀渀搀礀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ夠漀甀 猀琀椀氀氀 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀洀漀爀爀漀眀⸀ᴀഠ
“You’re right,” I said, “We still have tomorrow.”ഀ
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10ഀ
“I’ve learned the hard way. I can’t control everything. Plan everything.” –Blair Waldorfഀ
ऀ䤀 眀攀渀琀 琀漀 琀栀攀 戀愀琀栀爀漀漀洀 愀昀琀攀爀 䤀 眀漀欀攀 甀瀀 琀栀攀 昀漀氀氀漀眀椀渀最 洀漀爀渀椀渀最⸀ 䤀 挀栀攀挀欀攀搀 漀甀琀 洀礀 爀攀昀氀攀挀琀椀漀渀 椀渀 琀栀攀 洀椀爀爀漀爀 愀渀搀 爀攀愀氀椀稀攀搀 栀漀眀 洀甀挀栀 䤀ᤀ瘠攀 挀栀愀渀最攀搀 椀渀 琀栀攀 瀀愀猀琀 挀漀甀瀀氀攀 漀昀 眀攀攀欀猀㨀 倀甀昀昀礀 攀礀攀猀Ⰰ 䠀愀椀爀 琀栀愀琀 眀愀猀 爀攀挀攀搀椀渀最Ⰰ 愀 瀀愀氀攀 挀漀洀瀀氀攀砀椀漀渀☀䤠琀 眀愀猀 搀攀瀀爀攀猀猀椀渀最Ⰰ 礀攀琀 琀栀攀爀攀 眀愀猀 渀漀琀栀椀渀最 䤀 挀漀甀氀搀 搀漀⸀ 䄀琀 氀攀愀猀琀 䤀 眀愀猀 栀漀洀攀⸀ഀ
I washed my face with cold water, and got out of the room. As I opened the door, I saw Mark standing in front of me. Apparently, he was going to open the room, too. ऀᰀ䜠漀漀搀洀漀爀渀椀渀最Ⰰᴀ†䠀攀 猀洀椀氀攀搀⸀ഀ
“Hey,” I smiled back and we kissed.ऀᰀ匠漀Ⰰ 甀栀洀Ⰰ 䤀 眀愀猀 最漀渀渀愀☀眠攀氀氀Ⰰ 猀漀洀攀漀渀攀ᤀ猠 眀愀椀琀椀渀最 昀漀爀 礀漀甀 漀甀琀猀椀搀攀☀ᴠഠ
“Wait…what?”ऀ䠀攀 栀攀氀搀 洀礀 栀愀渀搀 愀渀搀 氀攀搀 洀攀 漀甀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 爀漀漀洀⸀ 䤀 眀愀猀 琀栀攀渀 猀甀爀瀀爀椀猀攀搀 琀漀 猀攀攀 洀礀 洀漀琀栀攀爀 愀琀 漀甀爀 搀椀渀椀渀最 爀漀漀洀Ⰰ 眀愀椀琀椀渀最 昀漀爀 洀攀Ⰰ 愀 䌀爀洀攀 䈀爀甀氀攀攀 漀渀 琀漀瀀 漀昀 琀栀攀 琀愀戀氀攀⸀ഀ
“Mom,”ऀᰀ䰠攀琀 洀攀 琀愀氀欀 昀椀爀猀琀Ⰰᴀ†匀栀攀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ 琀愀欀椀渀最 愀 搀攀攀瀀 戀爀攀愀琀栀⸀ഀ
I took a deep breath and she spoke.ऀᰀ䤠 欀渀漀眀 礀漀甀 琀栀椀渀欀 䤀 渀攀瘀攀爀 甀渀搀攀爀猀琀漀漀搀 愀渀礀 漀昀 礀漀甀 最椀爀氀猀Ⰰ 戀甀琀☀漠欀愀礀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 洀愀礀 戀攀 爀椀最栀琀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 䤀 樀甀猀琀☀䤠 氀漀瘀攀 礀漀甀 最椀爀氀猀 猀漀 洀甀挀栀☀䤠 樀甀猀琀 栀愀瘀攀 渀漀 椀搀攀愀 栀漀眀 琀漀 琀攀氀氀 礀漀甀 猀漀洀攀琀椀洀攀猀⸀ᴀഠ
“Why not?”ऀᰀ吠栀攀 猀愀洀攀 爀攀愀猀漀渀 眀栀礀 礀漀甀 愀氀氀 挀愀渀ᤀ琠 猀栀漀眀 洀攀 礀漀甀 氀漀瘀攀 洀攀Ⰰᴀ†匀栀攀 猀愀椀搀⸀ഀ
“That’s…not true.”ऀ᠀䤠琀 椀猀Ⰰᴀ†匀栀攀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䄠渀搀 眀攀 愀氀氀 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀 愀搀洀椀琀 眀攀 栀愀瘀攀☀瀠爀漀戀氀攀洀猀 眀椀琀栀☀漠甀爀 昀攀攀氀椀渀最猀⸀ 圀椀琀栀 猀栀漀眀椀渀最 栀漀眀 眀攀 爀攀愀氀氀礀 昀攀攀氀☀眠椀琀栀 琀攀氀氀椀渀最 漀渀攀 愀渀漀琀栀攀爀 琀栀愀琀☀琠栀愀琀 眀攀 甀渀搀攀爀猀琀愀渀搀☀䄠渀搀 䤀 眀愀渀渀愀 琀攀氀氀 礀漀甀 爀椀最栀琀 渀漀眀 琀栀愀琀 䤀 甀渀搀攀爀猀琀愀渀搀Ⰰᴀ†匀栀攀 猀愀椀搀 愀渀搀 爀攀愀挀栀攀搀 昀漀爀 洀礀 栀愀渀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䤠 愀氀眀愀礀猀 眀椀氀氀⸀ᴀ?
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I hugged her, “Wow,” I told her.ऀ匀栀攀 氀愀甀最栀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ圠攀氀氀Ⰰ 眀攀氀氀Ⰰᴀ†匀栀攀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䠠愀瘀攀 猀漀洀攀 䌀爀洀攀 䈀爀甀氀攀攀☀ᴠഠ
I laughed, “I never knew you were a poet,” I winked.ഀ
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“You finally learned how to cook!” I told my mom after spoonfuls of her Crème Brulee plus the freshly brewed Coffee Mark made. ऀᰀ传栀Ⰰ 猀栀甀琀 椀琀 䬀椀洀戀攀爀氀礀Ⰰᴀ†匀栀攀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ 猀洀椀氀椀渀最⸀ഀ
“So, you and Paulo are still together?”ऀᰀ䜠漀椀渀最 猀琀爀漀渀最Ⰰ 琀栀愀琀 眀攀 愀爀攀⸀ᴀഠ
“Whoa.” I said, “Somehow that statement made you younger by 20 years!”ऀ匀栀攀 瀀甀猀栀攀搀 洀攀 愀 氀椀琀琀氀攀Ⰰ ᰀ䬠椀洀戀攀爀氀礀℀ᴀ†匀栀攀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ匠漀 礀漀甀爀 搀愀搀 愀渀搀 䐀愀渀愀㼀 䜀攀琀琀椀渀最 栀椀琀挀栀攀搀 猀漀漀渀㼀ᴀഠ
“I’ve no idea,” I said, “Haven’t seen dad in a