The Way We Were

The Way We Matchmake

"Mommy, do you think they'll come?" Mally worried.

Marcy looked up at him as she tied his shoe. "I think you should be happy with whomever comes. It's a celebration of you and Sissy."

Mally pouted. "Yes, Mommy."

"Go get your crown."

He went to get his crown and brought back his twin's tiara.

Marcy took his crown and Mal took Mickey's tiara. The parents topped their eldest children's heads with the extraordinate headpieces. "Go see Tia Maddie and see if she'll play with you while we get everything ready."

"Yes, Mommy." The twins left.

Mal turned to his wife. "He really likes this girl, doesn't he?"

"Yep." Marcy worried about him. It wouldn't do for him to get so attached to someone so far away.

"I know you don't want any girl around your baby but-" He wrapped his arms around her.

"That's not it." That wasn't just it. "He's five. What does he know about love?"

"I was younger than that when I knew I loved you."

She looked up at him. "Mal,-"

"Baby, we have to let them grow up." He held her tightly and put his forehead to hers.

"You weren't like that when you realized Raj liked Mickey."

His brows drew together but he made himself calm down. "That's different."

"How?"

"She's my little girl."

"Baby, we have to let them grow up." She deepened her voice.

He gave her a flat look.

She gave him a look back.

He huffed. "Fine. I'll stop interfering in Mickey's love life and you stop interfering in Mally's."

"Deal." She lied.

"Deal." He lied back.

W.W.W.

Mally pulled on his mother. "Mommy! They're here!"

Marcy was relieved. She was sick of her eldest son wearing a hole in the grass, driving himself crazy. "Let's go welcome them."

He pulled her over and they stopped in front of the daddy-daughter duo. "Hi, Ida. Hi, Mr. Thom."

"Hello, Mally! Hello, Mrs. Chang!" Ida waved from her father's arms.

"Hello, Ida. Hello, Thom." Marcy searched his eyes for his emotional state.

Thom gulped. "Hello, Mally. Hello, Mrs. Chang."

Marcy pouted mentally. "Ida? The children are playing over there. Would you like Mally to take you to them and introduce you or would you like Mally to take you to get food or something to drink?"

Ida thought about it. "I'm thirsty."

"Go on." Marcy urged as Thom set Ida on her feet.

Mally took the younger toddler's hand and took her to get something to drink.

Thom watched Marcy watch the kids but was unprepared for her to speak. "I think we should set up some sort of visitation."

Though he had a heavy accent, Thom was fluent in English but he didn't understand that. "Visitation?"

"For the children." She turned back and her dark green eyes bore into him. "They just found each other. They should remain friends."

He couldn't help but to think she was talking about them. "What sort of visitation?"