Dainty and Dauntless

MY DAINTY AND DAUNTLESS

ETHAN:

Mother hugged me tight today. I often received her hugs on merit but today I hadn't done anything to earn one, let alone a sentimental kind. She had just put down the phone after ending a call that made her sound horrified.

"What?!"
That had been the only thing she mentioned for the one minute she held the phone to her ear.
This time, there were no smiles or playful pinches to my cheeks, she held me and stayed silent. Her silence possessed me too and I only managed to lift a hand to her back. She finally let go and smiled sheepishly, and remembered to pinch my cheek before she urged me to head out to play once more. I smiled back and ran back outside. She was fine. She didn't have water coming out of her eyes and neither did I see the two lines that appear on her forehead whenever she's scolding me. Mummy was happy. Like I said, mother even made her favorite meals for supper. It was a shame that I didn't help with washing the vegetables. I also missed watching her stir using the stirring stick. It had been too late when the smell of the deliciousness hit my nose and I almost twisted my neck trying to peek through the kitchen window. Betrayal was mapped on my face as I approached the boiling pot on the stove.

"Mom! You cooked without me?"
I startled her and she chuckled, rubbing her palms on her apron.

"I'm sorry baby. I wanted to have this time alone," mother looked sorry and I believed she was, but I thought I was her assistant chef.
"Hey, what about this? You can help me cook for your party"

I gasped, "wait, that's— really mommy?"

"Yes! I need you chef. Can I count on you then?"

I love this beautiful woman, I thought to myself. "Sure, whatever you need"
I hoped my big smile was as bright as I expected it to be. Hers was ten times what I wished mine was at the moment. I gave her a peck on her cheek and she hugged me again.

"Alright, let's get you washed up," she untied the yellow apron and held out her hand after putting it away.

I pulled her hand to my nose and sniffed it, taking in all the ingredients she had used. "Ahhh, the mushrooms," I sighed.

We both giggled.

Later that evening, dad honked as he pulled up in the driveway and I squealed to alert mother, as always, then proceeded to run to the door.
The tall man who had the same hairline as I had stepped out of the white Honda, his smile widened enough to show the tooth gap at the corner of his mouth.

"There's my man," he said and lifted me up.
I hugged him and welcomed him back home. When he set me down, I ran to the other side of the car and opened the door to pick out his bag.
Mother finally came out and hugged her husband who landed a peck on her lips. She smiled and told him to proceed to get inside while she fetched the things in the car.

"It's fine, Millie. I don't have anything with me today"

"Oh," mother's voice was low and hesitant. "I'll get your bag then"

"I've got it, mom," I said, sounding almost suffocated.
Mother ran to me while dad laughed, "C'mon dear, you know you can't carry your dad's bag all by yourself"

"I-have-to-try!" I was out of breath and almost seated on the floor when mother picked it up.

"I'll help," she held the bag and waited for me to get back on my feet.