Yes Ma'am

Bonding with the Parents

Thea

The house was quiet. My younger brother Jax was off playing baseball with our cousin Henry and I was here at home, working on some schoolwork before I went out to the barn.

I hear laughing coming from the living room and I peek around the wall to see my parents curled up on the couch together, enjoying each other's company.

Then I see the looks they're sending one another and I smile. They love each other so much. They look at each other like no other love could exist for them, like they are one in the same. Soulmates, one might say.

After a while, I go back to my homework at the kitchen counter. Then I noticed when I'm done that the laughter has gone and mom joins me in the kitchen.

"Hey mom." I greet.

"Hey love," she replies. "done with your homework?"

"Yeah, I just finished it before you came in."

She nods and the room goes back to being quiet. I watch as she practically floats around the room, cleaning as she goes.

"Mom?"

"Yes Thea?"

"When was the moment you realized you liked Dad?"

She's hesitant at first. "Why do you want to know?"

I shrug. "Just curious."

Mom smiles. "It was homecoming, sophomore year. I got stood up and he came over and spent the rest of the dance with me. We didn't even know each other all that well yet before, but that all changed after that night."

"You started spending more time together?"

"Yeah." Mom smiles fondly.

"Thanks for telling me. I'm gonna go see if Dad needs any help."

"Be safe! Love you!" Mom calls.

"Love you too! And don't worry, l will!" I call back and head off to the barn in search of my father.

——————

It doesn't take that long to find him. Mom and I like to joke that he's more at home with the horses than anywhere else.

"Dad?" I call.

"Hey Thea, what's up?"

"I finished my homework and was wondering if you needed any help."

"Always."

He hands me a brush and we spend the next few minutes brushing the horses. And just like with mom, the room is quiet as we work.

"Daddy?"

"Hm?"

"What made you fall in love with mom?"

He looks almost stunned for a second. "Why do you want to know, kiddo?" He says finally.

"I was just curious. I asked mom the same thing. Did you fall in love because she was pretty or was it something more?"

He smiles and gets this far off look in his eyes. "I knew I loved her the moment we had our first kiss. It took me a while to actually say it, but I got the courage eventually."

"And the rest is history?"

Dad laughs and grins at me. "Yeah, the rest is history."

"Do you think I'll ever fall in love like you and mom?"

"You're still young, Thea. But in time, I know you will."

Dad spends the next few minutes explaining what I should look out for and I listen intently.

"...you're not dating until you're at least thirty though."

"Daddddd." I whine.

"I'm kidding, little love." He laughs. "I do worry though. I guess it comes with being a parent."

"I know how to take care of myself. You and mom taught me well."

He gives me a soft smile. "What did your mother say when you asked her?"

"Ask her yourself." I say with a cheeky smile.

Dad rolls his eyes and ruffles my hair. "Love you, kiddo."

"Love you too, dad."