"I have ten apples and Lina has twenty apples. If I give my friend two apples and then I give my other friend three apples. How many apples do I have left?"
"Five apples."
"Correct! Miss Leony Jimenez.."
You looked through the math trivia cards and smiled: "
Okay so, that's it for today."
"Are you sure we can't work on a few more?"
Your daughter asked, hopefully.
"Leo, I know you're worried that you won't be ready for the Mathematics-Bee but you will. We've practiced everyday for two months."
"I just really want to win."
She said, glancing down at her hands, Leony had made it her main-priority to win her 3rd grade math contest.
Everyday after little-league soccer practice she got home and if you were home from work early you would quiz her.
In the morning, when Raul drove her and her older brother RJ to school, RJ would quiz her.
She was determined, and both yourself and Raul were incredibly happy.
"You will, even if you don't we will all be so, so proud of you. How about we call dad and ask him if he can bring us ice cream after he picks up your brother from practice."
"Sounds great Mommy."
You smiled and she helped you clean up the flashcards.
Leony smiled and asked:
"Were you good at math when you were in school mommy?"
"In all honesty I hated it but I tried my hardest and worked through it."
You pressed a kiss to her forehead and grabbed your phone, dialing Raul's number.
.....
"Mi Amor!! We're home!!!"
"In the living room!!"
You called back as you braided your little one's hair, you were watching cartoons together.
Raul walked in with RJ by his side, they had trays with ice cream on them.
You finished and tied her hair
. Raul lifted her up and she hugged his shoulders.
"Hey mija how was school today?"
"Great pa-."
RJ placed the ice cream on the kitchen counter and took a seat next to you on the couch.
"What's up Madre?"
He asked, as you fixed her hair.
"Nothing. How was soccer?"
"I scored. But we tied 1-1."
You wrapped your arms around your thirteen year old and muttered:
"It'll be better next time. At least you didn't score for the opposing team."
"Mom! It was one time!"
" C'mon let's go celebrate that goal with ice cream."
The kids made their way over to the kitchen, you and Raul stayed back & he wrapped both arms around your waist, pressing his head to the top of your head.
You giggled and pressed your back against his chest.
"¿Como Estas Mi Reyna?"
(How are you doing, my queen?)
"Cansada, y tu? Cómo fue la práctica de usted?"
"Duro, creo que ya es tiempo de tomar un descanso, no?"
"Tu carrera. Tu decisión Raúl.
Te apoyare como sea."
"No, mejor me quedo un poco más. Y luego tomaré un descanso largó. "
"Why?"
"I want to spend the summer laid in bed with you in Cancun, while the kids are hanging out and I want to have dinner with you by the beach."
"That sounds like fun."
"You can take a break from the firm and I promise to make up for all the times I fell asleep right before we could..."
Leony walked in and handed me my cup of ice cream.
"Thank you mija. Can you get papi's ice cream for him please?"
"Yes Mami."
"-Do the nasty."
He said as you took a spoonful of ice cream in your mouth.
You smiled and looked up at him.
"Okay, that sounds like fun.... I still can't believe you remembered."
"What?"
"You still remember what my favorite ice cream is."
"Of course, the first week we dated, you told me you loved vanilla ice cream. I was so into you, I was two seconds away from buying you a factory."
He said as he took a spoonful of his treat, he took a seat on the couch and you settled onto his lap.
"Okay that sounds like a lie but okay." You said with a giggle.
"I'm not lying. I swear. If you want me to I could still buy it for you."
"I'm good, just make sure we always have some in the freezer."
"Whatever you want mi amor."
...
"Are you going to be able to make it this Friday?"
You asked as you slipped your hair into a pony tail. Raul was laying in bed, scrolling through twitter.
"What time?"
"5 o'clock."
"Practice ends at 4:30."
"Raul, amor you have to make it. Leony's counting on you making it. It would crush her if you were late baby."
"I know, I'll try."
You curled up next to him and he wrapped an arm around you.
"You're a great person."
He uttered as he pressed a kiss to your hair.
"What makes you say that?"
"Well you work at a law firm five days a week, you still manage to help Leony with her math, tutor RJ in Spanish and you still manage to get home and ask me how my day was."
"It's a lot but, it's worth it. You do a lot as well. You take the kids to school, train for hours, pick up the kids, help RJ in soccer and try to watch Leony in ballet."
"That's nothing compared to what you do nena."
Raul leaned in and pressed a kiss to your lips, his hands slipping into your hair.
"I appreciate all you do for us and our family amor. Don't forget that."
He uttered as he pulled away from you.
"If you wanted some head baby you could've asked..."
You said with a giggle.
Raul chuckled:
"I'm being serious amor."
"I know you are. I'm happy that you "
You slipped your fingers through his hair and said: "I love you..."
"I love you too chaparra."
"No don't start with the nickname again."
"Sorry, I know you hate it but. I love it."
Friday afternoon:
"Leony Jimenez, you look so beautiful."
You said as you glanced down at her: a black knee-high dress and her dark hair in a bun.
"Where's daddy at mom?"
"He's on his way sweetie."
She nodded and glanced up at the stage set up with podiums and chairs.
The Jimenez family got front-row seats, Raul had gotten out early from training and went to pick up RJ but they were running a bit late.
"Can the students please take their places?"
Leony looked up at you and you kissed her cheek.
"Mi niña hermosa, we're going to be so proud no matter what. Just do your best."
She smiled and stepped up to the stage.
You grabbed your phone and texted him:
❤Esposo Hermoso💞
-Raul, it's starting babe😐
You tucked your phone away and tried to concentrate.
The first few questions asked were multiplication questions, Leony made it through the first round with ease but she seemed a little unfocused.
Just as you were about to call Raul, you heard a familiar voice whisper:
"Excuse me. Excuse me. Coming through. Sorry."
Raul took a seat next to you and RJ sat on the other side.
They both wore jeans, Raul wore a white dress shirt and RJ wore a black one.
You fixed RJ's hair and he sighed, Raul looked up over at you and you caught him up on your daughter's score.
Raul placed a hand on your bare knee, you were wearing a white tunic dress.
Raul glanced at the stage, looking at Leony.
Once she caught sight of her daddy and her big brother, she lit up like a candle. She smiled and waved at them.
Raul waved back and gave her a thumbs up. RJ smiled proudly and called out: "Yeah Go Jimenez!"
....
"I'm so proud of you baby."
You said as she came ran into your arms. A shiny 1st place medal around her neck and a trophy. She pulled away and glanced around: "Where's RJ and daddy?"
"They went to go get the car, c'mon we'll meet them in the parking lot. You did an amazing job honey we're so proud!"
You made your way out and Leony gasps in excitement.
Raul was holding balloons that said Congratulations! & Great Job! On them. RJ handed her a teddy bear and gave her a hug,
"Great job champ."
Raul lifted her up and said happily: "Mi Bebe! I'm so proud."
You snapped a photo and smiled, getting a little emotional.
It was great seeing how happy she was about her accomplishment. Raul gave her a kiss on the cheek and set her down.
"Victory dinner at tio your favorite place nena."
"Tio Gio and Tio Jona's!!??"
She exclaimed.
"Yes."
You wrapped your arms around her and she smiled.
"Thank you for the help mami."
"You're very welcome baby girl."
Before you got into the car, you had someone take a family picture. The kids moved aside and RJ took a Selfie with Leony while you got a picture with Raul.
"Let's get going, before traffic picks up."
Leony hugged her bear happily as RJ posted the Selfie with her on Instagram.
@RAJimenez
👧💞💪Great Job hermanita. I love you lots & I'm so proud. 🏆Being a #Champion runs in the family. #LeonyLaCampeona
@Y/I/N
Great job my love!😭💞👧
Mi niña Hermosa🏆💥👊💯
@RaulAlonsoJimenez9
Gran trabajo Leo, eres increíble mi niña💞👧💥🔝❤🏆💪
"Are you upset that I was late?"
"No. You made it and that's what matters."
You said as you slipped Raul's jacket on.
The kids were hanging out with their Tio Jona, looking at their wall of pictures. Raul had called and asked him to reserve a spot for Leony's victory dinner at the Dos Santos restaurant Cantina 10.
"Hey, Y/n do you mind if we take a picture of Leo and put her on the wall."
"Go for it. Isn't RJ already up there?"
"I am?"
"Look, your Tio Jonathan put a picture of your first goal next to his."
RJ grinned and said: "Thanks Tio."
"It's better than a Balon d' oro right?"
Raul scoffed and said:
"He's going to win at least 6 of those."
Jonathan chuckled and said:
"You better remember who put you in their hall first eh."
Jonathan snapped a picture of Leony holding her medal and trophy with his camera and showed her: "Do you like it nena or do you want me to retake it?"
"That's fine. Thank you Tio."
"Congrats campeona!"
Raul pressed a kiss to your hair as you scrolled through Instagram.
"I'm going to post the picture of us, beware of the sappy love message that will make you cry."
Raul chuckled and said:
"Bring it."
@Y/I/N
My Love❤@raulalonsojimenez9
Blessed with the best💞
"No me hico llorar. Pero gracias mi vida. I love you." He said with a smile as he glanced at you, putting his phone away.
"I love you, us, our family, what we've become.."
You said as you squeezed his hand.
"Thank God my pull out game was week those two weeks."
You covered your mouth, holding back your laughter.
"Raul stooooop.."
"Sorry amor."
