West Coast Winter

Hallmark

It was Saturday morning and Nina was up early just as I thought she would be. She came into my room before dawn saying as she leapt onto my bed,"Wake up Mom! It's time to play! Call Henry's dad please."
"Nina, mama needs her coffee. Just give me a minute", I say groaning into my pillow.
"Ok... one", Nina says perched on her knees next to me.
"That's one second, not one minute. Count to sixty", I say as I sit up and slide out of bed.
Nina counts rapidly as I throw a red buffalo check throw blanket around my shoulders and shuffle into the kitchen. Nina is skipping down the hall behind me in her Elsa nightgown.
"Mom, can I go outside now?", Nina asks pulling on my blanket.
"Nina, the sun is barely coming up. You're not dressed for playing and you haven't even had breakfast yet. Calm down. Henry and his dad are probably still asleep. You know, like normal people?", I say to her as I pour the water into the coffee pot and set it.
"Go get dressed and I'll make you eggs and bacon", I say to Nina as I open the refrigerator and take out the ingredients.
"Ok, mom!", Nina says as she runs down the hall.
I've started the bacon and Nina comes back down the hall dressed in her blue leggings and grey multi colored stitch marled sweater. She actually did a good job of dressing herself. While the bacon cooks, I undo her braid. Her long blonde curls reach below her back.
I make our eggs and serve her. I pour coffee for my mother and take it to her room.
I settle on the couch with my coffee and watch the news as Nina eats her breakfast at the table. I'm trying to calm my nerves as I realize that I'll most likely see Charlie today. I put cartoons on for Nina.
Nina asks, "What are you gonna do today mom?"
"I'm gonna put up the Christmas lights", I answer her and take a sip of coffee from my Ben Solo coffee mug.
"Yay!! Can you put up all blue lights, mom?", Nina asks excitedly.
"I already bought them", I say with a smile over my shoulder at her.
Nina runs around from the table to the couch and launches herself onto me.
"I love you mama", Nina says with her arms thrown around me. Her little green eyes look up at me and I swear there has never been a more lovely creature to have ever existed. My mom walks into the living room with her own throw blanket and settles on the couch.
"Ok. I need to get in the shower and get dressed if you're gonna have company today Nina", I say as I stand, stretch, and make my way to the bathroom.
I grab a sweater and jeans. I get into the shower and I'm only half thinking about Charlie. I throughly scrub and take extra care to shave my legs. I'm wearing jeans, but somehow just the idea that I'm smooth, moisturized, and smell amazing just makes me feel that much more confident. I finish up my shower and step out. I lotion and body spray my entire body. I oil my curls and put on my navy blue sweater and light wash skinny jeans. I feel dorky for wearing red Nike shoes with this outfit, but I have to hang Christmas lights in the mud with a ladder. Better safe than sorry. I put on a light layer of make up. Light on the blush and eyeshadow. Just enough to make me look youthful and fresh.
I walk into the living room and say, "Ok. It's eight o'clock. It's a good time for you to head out and play. Don't go to Henry's house though. Just do your own thing and if he notices you're outside, he'll come to you. I'll be working on the lights. Grab your helmet if you're gonna be on your bike."
Nina grabs her helmet and I grab the blue Christmas lights and a hammer. We head outside in the 60 degree weather. I hate California in the fall. It's no where near cold enough for the end of November.
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"Dad! Nina is outside! Can I go?", Henry asks while I'm on a FaceTime call with one of my actors.
I look up from my phone and say, "Give me a minute Henry. I'm almost done.... Sorry, you were saying..." , I say to my lead actor.
I get up from my table and look out the front window. I see Jaclyn dragging a ladder over to the front of her house. I'm half listening to Greg as he talks about trying to not reach for the emotion in a heavy scene while I admire this woman. I notice her ladder is a little wobbly. I wrap up the conversation with Greg and tell him I'm sure it will be great. I'm never dismissive with my actors, but I can't help it. I'm drawn to her and I promised Henry he could play with Nina today, so it's a win, win.
"Henry, get your bike and helmet. You don't want to keep Nina waiting. It's never polite to keep a lady waiting", I say to Henry as my eyes are locked in on Jaclyn.
"Nina is not a lady, Dad. She's a little girl", Henry says to me.
"She is a lady in training. You are a gentleman. You will learn to act appropriately", I say to Henry.
Jaclyn has a navy blue sweater and jeans on. We're pretty much wearing the same thing. I wonder if she'll think that's weird. My jeans are dark and hers are light wash. The light color makes  her curves stand out even more. I wonder how she is today as I take one last look out the window before Henry and I head out. I step out the front door as Henry comes from the side gate with his bike. He goes to get onto his bike at the top of the slope of our green yard and I barely catch him before he takes off.
"No! No, no, no. You'll roll right into the street and break something", I say as I pull him off.
"Wait until we get to the street. Cars roll through here all the time. You need to be careful Henry", I say warning him.
We walk down to the street and cross to Jaclyn's house.
Nina is extra bubbly this morning as she runs up to Henry and engulfs him in a hug.
"Good morning Henry!",Nina says greeting him.
"Good morning Nina!", replies Henry matching Nina's enthusiasm.