𝙼𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝐹𝑜𝓇 𝒶 𝙼𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝

𝓑𝓸𝓷𝓾𝓼 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓞𝓷𝓮

⭒°ˑ˚。﹒∙♡☼⭒°ˑ˚。﹒∙

I don't know why I thought a family picnic would be a good idea. Maybe I was getting soft, or maybe the thought of spending an afternoon in the park with Rosaline, Alessio, and Hazel sounded like a great escape from the chaos of our usual life. But here we are, and let me tell you, it's turning into a full-on disaster.

It all started because I had this idea — and when I have ideas, they tend to be big, bold, and... well, I guess, a bit overambitious. "Let's do a picnic," I said, like it was the simplest thing in the world. A picnic. Rosaline didn't even blink. "That sounds nice," she said, and suddenly, she was on the phone with the caterers, picking out food, and planning the perfect afternoon.

Of course, things didn't exactly go according to plan. First of all, there's the issue of Hazel's stroller. I'm convinced this stroller was designed by a madman who wanted to make sure that every parent on Earth would have their patience tested. It's the size of a small car, and with each step, I swear I feel like I'm pushing a tank. But, fine, I'm a dad, I can handle it.

Then, there's Alessio. That kid is practically made of energy, but when I need him to help out, he's too busy with the most random things. When we got to the park, I asked him to make sure Hazel doesn't roll into the river or, I don't know, eat dirt. What does he do? Immediately runs off to chase a squirrel. "Alessio!" I yell after him. "Where the hell are you going?" He looks back at me and shouts, "I'm making friends with it!" I rub my temples.

Rosaline, of course, is taking everything in stride. She looks beautiful as usual, holding Hazel in her arms and trying to make the picnic setup look as charming as possible. But her smile? It's more like a nervous grin. She's thinking about the food, the kids, the blankets... the works. I can see it in her eyes. She's wondering when everything's going to go sideways. It's a gift we both share. Knowing things are going to spiral, just waiting for it to happen.

Sure enough, it starts the moment I open the picnic basket. I proudly pull out a sandwich, only to have a gust of wind blow the entire thing out of my hand and into the lap of a passing stranger. "You've got to be kidding me," I mutter, trying not to laugh. The stranger just stares at the sandwich in their lap, looking completely confused. Rosaline chuckles, and I know she's trying to hold it in. "Don't you dare," I warn her, but of course, she's already laughing.

By now, Alessio has wandered off again, and Hazel's begun her new favorite game: "Let's throw everything out of the stroller." This includes but is not limited to, blankets, snacks, and anything remotely important. So, I'm knee-deep in blankets while Rosaline's dealing with the squirrel-chasing maniac that is our son. It's a beautiful disaster, really.

Then, to top it off, Rosaline insists we play a game of "who can find the best stick in the park." She's got that competitive edge when it comes to everything, including finding sticks. Of course, it starts as a lighthearted game... until Alessio trips over a stick, falls into a puddle, and suddenly, it's an all-out war over who's going to make the kid stop crying. Rosaline's there, calming him down, and I'm over here trying to stop myself from laughing at the situation. It's like watching a slow-motion car crash.

Eventually, after much chaos, we all settle down. Alessio is back to being a normal, squirrel-loving kid, Hazel's fallen asleep in her stroller finally, and Rosaline and I are sitting across from each other, covered in a light dusting of crumbs, with her teasing me about my inability to pack a sandwich properly.

I look at her, laughing, and for a moment, everything feels perfect. Sure, the picnic wasn't how I imagined, but the fact that we're all together, messy and chaotic, makes it worth it. Family is about moments like this. The laughter, the messes, the simple, unexpected moments that make it all so much better.

"Next time," I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm, "let's just get takeout and have a picnic in the living room."

Rosaline raises an eyebrow, looking at me like I'm the one who needs a nap. "Takeout, huh? You sure you can't handle another sandwich disaster?"

I shake my head, laughing. "I'll leave it to you, my expert in making sure nothing goes according to plan."

And in that moment, I realize that I wouldn't have it any other way.

⭒°ˑ˚。﹒∙♡☼⭒°ˑ˚。﹒∙