The Little Unexpected Things

A Look Ahead

Ella's P.O.V

I should've known that the silence was too good to be true. In fact, anyone can tell you that once silence falls in the house, it is a loud warning that trouble is underway. Which is why, I left my room in search for the little trouble makers I call my children, only to find them playing on the dirt. I want to cry when I see their outfits I had picked out for them for today covered in mud.

"Guys, are you serious?" They look up at me with mischievous smiles on their faces. I just had to give birth to the exact replicas as my brothers. My damn luck. "Everyone will be here in less than an hour and you guys are already dirty!"

"But Mommy, it's mudpies!" Hunter shows me his hand covered in dirt.

"Yeah, no kidding. Up you go, guys. I have to shower you again and find you a different outfit for dinner."

Hunter and Embry get up from the mud. I have to wipe them down the best I can with a rag and take off their shoes before letting them back in the house. Sam is in the kitchen already dressed up when we walk back inside.

"Straight to the bathroom, do not touch anything in the house until you're both spotless, am I clear?"

"Yes, Mommy," they say in unison. 

"Babe, have you seen-oh shit, what happened?" His eyes widen at the sight of his dirty children. He's trying not to laugh and I swear, the moment he does, I'll have the children tackle him.

"Mudpies happened," I say. "I turn my back for two minutes."

Sam chuckles. "Alright, boys. Off to the bathroom."

Because of all the mud on their skin and clothes, Hunter and Embry have to waddle away to the bathroom. It's a funny sight, but I can't have the luxury to laugh and let them think it's okay what they did. Ugh, children.

"Relax, you're acting like it's the end of the world." Sam walks up to me and kisses me. "It's going to be okay."

"It's my first year hosting Thanksgiving, it is the end of the world," I say. "Every other year, Mom has handled it and now... I can't even get the boys ready and everyone will be here in less than a hour."

"Hey, the food is ready, the table is set and the boys... Well, they're just a little setback." He kisses me one more time. "Don't worry about it, okay? I'm going to get the boys ready and you go finish getting prettied up, okay?"

I pout. "Okay."

"And stop pouting." He pulls away and plays with my curly hair. "I like your hair, by the way."

"Thanks. It's my dad's."

Sam rolls his blue eyes. "Why do you do it?"

I laugh. Whatever Sam compliments that I have from my dad, I waste no time in reminding him. It makes him feel like he's complementing my dad and it weirds him out, it's so funny to see.

In reality, I have no idea why I'm stressing so much about Thanksgiving dinner. My mother isn't Aunt Alice, a perfectionist psychopath. Actually, quite the opposite. But as simple as my parents are, they have made every Thanksgiving memorable ever since I was eight years old, shortly after my brother's started walking and talking. They decided that since we were all forced by the laws of nature to gather with our families for events such as Christmas and New Year's Eve, that we have one holiday to ourselves. That holiday being Thanksgiving. I can see remember the tone Aunt Alice's face took when Mom told her, she had lots of trouble understanding that when my parents wanted to keep something theirs... Theirs... Well, they would.

I open my make-up cabinet and smile at the picture I have of the day my parents got married. It's just the three of us at some Las Vegas wedding chapel, a spontaneous wedding for a spontaneous couple. Dad is carrying me in his arms and with his free one, he is hugging Mom by the waist and we're all huddled together. I kiss the tip of my finger and place it over my mom and my dad. My two heros.