A New Day
Chapter 9: A New Day
“This is good. Really good.”
Tawan looked down at the social media reports that Meena had provided to show the trends they had predicted for a surging comeback of a particular style from a few decades ago. The information allowed them to write about particular colors, specific cuts in style, unknown stylists, and what brands were leading the conversations.
She flipped a few papers, a highlighter twirling between her fingers as she concentrated on correlating the information to an idea in her head. The team felt a lot of pressure to get this pitch right, but having a solid foundation to build on beforehand alleviated the stress they felt from the last pitch that started from nothing.
“I have some small designer contacts that we can reach out to for interviews,” Meena said, pointing to a section on a document. “Some have boutiques so they can really provide some insight on what they are seeing people looking for when shopping.”
“That’s good. Maybe we can even ask to interview some of their customers,” Tawan said, nodding as she scanned another document.
“I’ll get some of our people on it now then,” Meena smiled and grabbed a folder.
“Thanks,” Tawan smiled back and sat at her desk. “I’m going to ask Dao to buy everyone lunch for all the hard work they did this week. We’re about 90% done with the pitch, so I am sending everyone home early tomorrow to start their weekend. I can make the finishing touches at home.”
“You sure?” Meena asked, a little concerned. “I know you wanted to spend some more time with the kids. I can finish the presentation.”
“No, you’ve worked hard enough calling everyone you know to help us so last minute,” Tawan reminded.
“It’s my job, Tawan,” Meena laughed and pointed the folder at her. “I will finish the presentation then send it to you for final review. How about that?”
Tawan contemplated her offer, trying to not show how much she wanted to take her up on it. She had made considerable efforts to split her time between work and home, but she really wanted to pick the twins up from school a little early tomorrow to spend time with them uninterrupted to start her first weekend alone with them in a while.
Meena could see her gears turning, so she leaned against the doorway and waited for her to turn her attention back to her. She did not care what her boss said, she was going to make an executive decision if she had to.
The twins activities kept Tawan busy the last few days, running between Star’s karate practice and Sammy’s guitar lessons yesterday evening. Thankfully, there was a, albeit tight, window of about 30 minutes between Tawan practically throwing Star over her shoulder to race to Sammy whom her dad was with until she could arrive. There was also still the birthday party she had to take Sammy to on Saturday.
Her and Ira’s parents always told them that they were more than happy to help them with the kids because they adored their grandchildren, but Tawan was on a mission to get everything right by herself while Ira was away.
Ira had been gone for only a few days and though Tawan knew her wife was magical in how she cared for their family, she realized she was really Superwoman in how she managed to juggle everything. Though she recognized that she was attempting to fill her shoes while working her full-time job, Tawan knew that still paled into comparison in all that Ira still managed to achieve in also going back to work and still taking care of a home and her. She always did everything for them so thanklessly, never missing a beat and appearing out of thin air as if she foresaw her need to be needed.
Tawan did not know how or what, but she was going to make sure to show her appreciation for all that her wife did, and she would make it a consistent thing, as well. Now the thought of Ira made her sigh out loud, missing her only because she wanted to hold her.
“Well?” Meena pressed.
“Dammit,” Tawan groaned and they both laughed. "I feel bad, though.”
“I’m not the one with six year old twins,” Meena replied and pushed off the door. “I have more than enough free time as a single, childless woman. I only have to worry about Sushi. Or maybe I should say he only has to worry about me. So enjoy your alone time with your kids and let me handle the other stuff.”
“Won’t Sushi get jealous you’re ignoring him?” Tawan chuckled.
“Not if I give him some treats,” Meena smirked.
“Fat cat,” Tawan mumbled to herself, amused.
“Hey!” Meena said and walked up to her desk. “Don’t call my son fat…..he’s husky.”
Both women burst out laughing and Meena turned to head back out of the office.
“Either way, I am completing the presentation. Even if I have to steal that USB from you,” Meena said, pointing her eyes at her laptop.
“Okay, okay,” Tawan relented, raising her hands. “You can have it tomorrow. Let me work on it a little more until then.”
“Cool,” Meena smiled, turning to exit. “I’ll let Dao know about lunch for today. I have a few requests.”
Tawan chuckled as she watched her work best friend head out. One of the reasons they hit it off so well when they first met was that Meena had an appetite like hers, so they would try out new restaurants and cafes. Sometimes Ira would even join them if she was in the area, and it allowed for her wife and potential business partner to meet and get to know each other well.
Unbeknownst to Tawan, Ira would talk to Meena about their business idea a lot over the last year. Even more so after she went back to work and started making some serious money. She was serious about Tawan doing her own thing, so she was always hoping that Meena was serious about the business adventure so that she could plan for it since Tawan was always so busy.
Ira was not only touched at how dedicated Meena was to the idea, but also at how much she really wanted to do this with her wife. Meena had confessed that she looked up to Tawan, who was only a few years older than her, because of how kind she was when she started with the magazine. Tawan moved up the corporate ladder at a rate faster than the average employee, and Meena recognized this and asked Tawan to mentor her months into her new job.
Tawan did not even hesitate to say yes, and soon they had formed a close bond that eventually saw them sitting at the top together. Meena truly had Tawan’s back and Tawan always had Meena's best interests at heart. So Meena was more than happy to share with Ira a few months ago that she had her half of the investment ready to go when Tawan was ready.
Tawan grabbed her cell phone off her desk to text her parents back to accept their dinner offer from this morning for her and the kids at their home tonight. Her mom had promised to make her favorite meal if she and the kids could make it, and Tawan only took until now to answer because she had a meeting.
She missed when she had time to be at home more because her and her family would rotate Sunday dinner at the grandparents houses. It was a way to not forget to spend time with family, and especially as they got older and a few had retired.
There was a missed call from Ira and Tawan hissed a curse as she quickly checked her wrist watch. It was almost noon here so it meant that it was early morning in Paris for Ira. She stood as she quickly sent her response to her parents to close her office door before returning her wife's call.
Along with the time difference, Ira was busy for most of the time since she arrived, almost immediately being swept away to makeup, hair, and fittings for rehearsals since she left at the very last minute to spend time with her family.
“What are you doing up so early?” Tawan asked, smiling as she sat at her desk again.
“I couldn’t sleep. Time difference,” Ira said, sounding very tired. “I don’t think I’ve slept more than 12 hours since I got here.”
“Babe,” Tawan groaned and rubbed her temple. “You need to try to sleep more or you’ll trip or something when you walk in a few days. You better be eating, too. Please tell me you are. I’ll call Mali if I have to.”
“Don’t worry so much, darling,” Ira chuckled. “Mali is going to make it hard for me to fit in these clothes if she brings me one more chocolate croissant.”
Tawan laughed, hearing her slight irritation. “Then I’ll ask her to make sure you get some sleep,” she retorted.
“Today is a short fitting and rehearsal so I plan on going back to the hotel to sleep,” Ira assured her.
“You better,” Tawan mumbled. “How’s everything else? Have you been sightseeing or anything?”
Ira began to talk about the time in between since they last spoke on the phone when she first arrived in Paris. They had been texting, but Tawan was so busy adjusting to being a single mom on top of her trying to be the most attentive one. On top of that, Ira was immediately whisked away to meet the team and then head to dinner with them. She and Mali also spent some time at a bar catching up with their university classmate who was very excited to see someone from home.
“What do you think I should bring the kids back as a gift?” Ira asked.
“Hmmm,” Tawan mused, lips pursed in thought. “I don’t know. Maybe a little Eiffel Tower or something French-y? Actually, Sammy might like an art book or something artsy. He’s been playing on his easel again.”
“Really?” Ira asked, a mix of excitement and pride. “I was hoping he would get back into it after his class trip to the museum a few weeks ago.”
“Yeah, I walked into their room to grab them for dinner last night and he was painting,” Tawan informed, smiling as she thought about it. “Star said he was sulking so she asked him for a drawing to put by her desk.”
“Honestly, what would we do without her?” Ira half joked, a proud smile in her voice.
“I don’t know,” Tawan chuckled and thought about her little girl. “She is the best. If not for her, I would’ve been so lost these last few days. Yesterday she helped me make dinner after watching me run around the kitchen trying to do that and prepare their lunches for today. She’s like a mini you.”
They both laughed, Ira imaging the scenario and Tawan reminiscing about it. She was not incapable of making dinner - it was actually her favorite meal to prepare for her family on the weekends as it gave her the opportunity to utilize her grill. It was trying to juggle both dinner and the kids school lunches that tripped her up because she was so busy in the mornings making them breakfast, getting them ready, and dressing herself for work.
Tawan was once again reminded of how thankless of a role her wife assumed in taking care of them and their household.
Star was adamant about fulfilling her promise to Ira about helping Tawan while she was gone. To Tawan’s part, she mostly just needed help with small things, things that her children should know as they grew older and became more independent. Helping in the kitchen, doing laundry, cleaning up around the house were all basic skills that both Ira and Tawan wanted them to take some responsibility for.
The only difference right now is that they were getting a bit of crash course with Tawan leading the household chores.
Tawan watched amused, hands on her hips after wiping them on her kitchen apron, Star giggle behind her hand from the living room as she watched her retrace her steps on where she had put the spatula she was cooking with. Star walked into the kitchen, straight to the refrigerator, opened it, then pulled the spatula from beside some fruit. She showed it to Tawan, who slowly reached for it and nodded with pursed lips at how forgetful she had been.
She looked down at her daughter, who’s eyes sparkled with amusement, and they both burst into laughter. Star hugged Tawan’s legs, trying to comfort and calm her nerves, then pulled away to ask her if she could help.
“You’re still her favorite,” Ira giggled.
“Oh, please,” Tawan snorted and rolled her eyes.
“It’s not a bad thing,” Ira laughed. “She just wants to be like you so much that it’s scary how much she starts to look like you. Have you seen the way she stands on the field waiting for the ball to come back her way at her games? Or when she has a break during karate? She looks just like you when you’re at the gym or the punching bag.”
Tawan smiled to herself, thinking about how true that was and why she had not noticed it until now. Star liked to accompany her to the gym a few times a week when possible and especially for her weekly kickboxing lessons. Tawan would always entertain her request by letting her tag along, and it soon became a ritual of sorts for them.
With her being at work so much the last year, these small moments with her children were precious and tokens she would keep on her for a pick me up. With Star now in karate, it was a way for them to bond and Tawan was more than happy to encourage her daughter’s new interest because it would also teach her self-defense.
Ira also liked the idea of Star taking karate lessons because when she was younger, she had a bully in school who picked on her for being shy and quiet. She had just started her first year of school and she kept to herself for most of the beginning of the year as she was not used to so many kids her age being an only child.
Her bully was bigger and a year older, notorious for being mean to the smaller children. When Ira brought her new stuffed doll to show some new friends she had made, her bully knocked it out of her hand into the mud after school when she showed it to them. Her new friends were also victims of the bully, so they all bonded rather quickly.
As she picked her white plushie out of the mud, Ira’s rage had reached its peak, so she turned and swiftly punched the girl in the chest. The bully was knocked back on her butt and she looked up at Ira in shock while all the kids jaws immediately dropped with wide eyes. Ira suddenly realized what she just did and dropped her fist to her side with a big gulp and eyes brimming with angry tears.
She thought for sure the girl was going to kill her, but, instead, she started bawling and pointing at her complaining about her chest hurting. All the kids looked to Ira and started grinning in elation for the girl who carried the muddy, white plushie who had defeated their terror.
“Also like you, no one messes with her,” Ira mused in thought. “But I do hate that she should know how to fight because she is a girl rather than just to enjoy the sport.”
“Yeah,” Tawan agreed. “Lucky for us she wanted to do it before we even thought about it.”
“She loves looking at our pictures, so of course when she saw your karate pictures it was only a matter of time before she wanted to copy her favorite person,” Ira stated knowingly.
“Oh, you think so?” Tawan said off handedly, blushing with pride.
“I know so and you do, too, if you stop being so modest,” Ira said dismissively, amused.
“Well, if she has your left hook then we really don’t have to worry about her,” Tawan chuckled knowingly.
“Hey!” Ira exclaimed, trying to hide her amusement. “That girl was a bully! If I was as tall as I am now for my age then, then she would have never messed with me.”
“True, but you still have a mean south paw,” Tawan insisted, rubbing her arm in memory.
“OMG, Tawan!” Ira laughed. “I told you not to sneak up on me when I am concentrating on something.”
“Well, I definitely learned that lesson the hard way,” Tawan laughed.
They both laughed at the memory of Tawan getting punched in her right arm by Ira when she, forgetting her wife was super zoned in and focusing on super gluing one of Sammy’s toys he had broken, walked up to her to ask what was for dinner.
Tawan then heard someone speaking in the background followed by her wife responding she would be done in a few minutes. She told her she would call her later, but Ira told her that she did not want her to leave just yet. Though it had only been a few days, it felt like a whirlwind for her as she was busy from the time her foot touched Paris until the most present moment.
Ira was thankful to be so busy, but she was unprepared for how busy she would be taking on this work.
“I’ll call you when you guys get back from dinner with you parents. I want to FaceTime the kids before they go to bed,” Ira said.
“Of course. Can’t wait to see your face,” Tawan told her, smiling.
“I can’t wait to see yours, too,” Ira agreed, kissing sounds sounding over the receiver. “I love you. Have a good rest of your day at work.”
“Love you more. Get some rest, please,” Tawan said and mimicked her kisses.
They both hung up the phone and Tawan stood from her desk, an extra pep in her step as she headed out of her office.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
“Mommy’s calling!” Tawan called to their children.
Tawan heard their small bare feet running down the hall, and she smiled as she sat back into the corner of the couch. Sammy jumped into her lap, making her grunt before moving him to her left side and pulling him close. He anxiously waited for these moments and settled into his spot, his eyes never leaving the phone Tawan was moving around as she made room for them. She patted the spot on her right side and Star, who was more calm out of the two, jumped on the couch and crawled over to her.
“My babies!” Ira cheered, a giant grin almost taking over her face.
“Mommy!” The twins cheered back scooting their faces closer to the screen.
Tawan stifled a giggle as she tried to hold and maneuver the phone to where they were more visible for her wife. It did not matter because neither side of the phone cared as the twins’ squished together heads immediately started talking about their day, sometimes talking on top of each other, and Ira expertly listened and commented when prompted. Tawan did not even bother speaking much, only inserting a few comments when needed, and mostly sat back in her spot smiling peacefully at the loves of her life enjoying each other’s company.
“Where’s Momma?” Ira sounded.
The twins looked back to her and she sat up to show her face.
“What’s up, baby?” Tawan asked, smiling lovingly.
“Just wanted to see your face,” Ira smiled back the same, eyes disappearing and her gums showing.
“Mommy?” Sammy asked and put his face back center. “Can I show you my drawing?”
“Of course, darling,” Ira said.
Sammy hopped off the couch and ran full speed to his room, the most energy Tawan had seen from him the last few days. As Tawan looked off to where he ran, Star sighed as the end of the day caught up to her, so she hugged Tawan’s arm to rest her head there as she told Ira about karate practice.
Sammy came running back and climbed back up to his spot, settling in his seat before turning his art piece around for his mother to see. Ira’s face lit up and she grinned widely as she clapped and praised his watercolor painting of their backyard.
Tawan was smiling down at him, as well, already having seen it but still proud nevertheless. She enjoyed this side of him, the way he concentrated on bringing to life whatever was in his mind or caught his eye. He had a love for art that she really appreciated because it was not just in painting but also in music.
Tawan had not played the guitar since college when she would do some live music events with friends on weekends to earn a little cash rather than always depending on her parents. Sammy had found her old guitar in its case in their garage when he was helping her clean and he expressed interest. Tawan told him he could have it, and before she knew it, he was asking for lessons which touched her heart as she reminisced about her days with it.
“Mommy, where are you?” Star asked, squinting her eyes at the screen.
“I’m at a party,” Ira answered, the background changing as she moved. “Well, its more of a late brunch. It’s to launch the show, so think of it as a way for everyone to celebrate the new clothing line I will be modeling for in a few days.”
“Ohhh,” Star said, resting her head back on Tawan’s arm.
“How many more days until we see you again?” Sammy asked, putting his face back front and center of the camera.
Tawan chuckled and placed her hand on top of his head to move him back some. He asked this question every time they spoke to Ira, and his mothers would always hide their amusement by biting their bottom lip at almost the same time. Star would roll her eyes then settle them on him, waiting for him to look back at her so she could mouth to him to stop. He would frown and make a sound that was both defeated and miffed before crossing his arms over his chest.
Tawan and Ira would struggle to not laugh every single time.
“Sammy, leave Mommy alone,” Star ordered, rolling her eyes.
“I forgot!” He lied. When Ira was not being asked, Tawan was being bombarded with the question.
“No you didn’t, liar,” Star shot back.
“Hey, hey,” Tawan stepped in, raising her hand between them. “Don’t call your brother a liar. And I already told you at dinner with Maa and Papa that Mommy would be back next Saturday.”
“You guys know better. Be nice to each other,” Ira agreed, a stern look on her face.
“Sorry,” they both said, Star grumbling some and Sammy mumbling.
“If you’re not being good for Momma then I can’t bring you back a present,” Ira reminded them.
“Sorry, Mommy,” Star said, perking up some.
“I’m sorry, Mommy,” Sammy chimed in, looking at her with upset eyes.
Tawan wanted to avoid having to console him all night in the event he burst into tears being reprimanded by Ira, so she put her arm around him shoulders to shake him then hug him. He looked up to her and she smiled down to him, giving him a wink, and he slowly smiled back. Ira smiled, glad to know that her wife was ever the professional at crisis management and prevention.
Sammy was definitely her son when it came to being tune with his emotions and unafraid to express them while Star was more like Tawan where you had to chip away at her to get to the gold.
“It’s getting late there,” Ira told them and waited until they looked back to her. “You guys need to get ready for bed. I’ll call you tomorrow and we can talk a little longer on the phone. Okay?”
The twins both nodded and Ira smiled as she told them that she loved them and to be good. They blew kisses to each other then Tawan told them that she would come tuck them in when she got off the phone in a few minutes. Star blew Ira one last kiss before hopping off the couch to run to her room to get ready for bed, and Sammy waved and told her he loved her very much before blowing her the biggest kiss he could.
Tawan watched him walk around the couch and disappear down the hall before turning her attention back to her wife.
“He can never get enough of you,” Tawan said as she turned back and smirked at her.
“I can’t get enough of him either,” Ira agreed, making them both laugh.
“Are you having fun?” Tawan asked, settling back into the corner of the couch.
“Actually, yes,” she responded, her eyes looking off to the side. “I made some new friends. They’re really nice and they have been so helpful showing this old woman how the kids are doing things now.”
“You’re not even 30, Ira,” Tawan laughed. “Besides, you always got positive feedback on your previous work, so if anything you should be showing them a thing or two.”
“Maybe,” Ira mused, lips pursed in amusement and thought. “Anyways, I’m really excited to work with them.”
“Where’s Mali?” Tawan asked.
“Somewhere selling me off to the highest bidder,” Ira giggled and looked back to her. “She has not stopped talking to people and getting contact information since we arrived.”
“Hmm,” Tawan hummed, trying to not laugh at her next words. “At that rate I will get to retire early and make you my Sugar Momma.”
“That’s my mission,” Ira smirked devilishly, making them both laugh.
They talked about plans for the weekend, Ira preparing to walk on Saturday and Tawan looking to relax with the kids and have Sunday dinner with her parents again. Though Ira would technically be done with work this weekend, she had a few post work events and parties to attend to next week. That is where Mali was most anxious when it came to work because there would be a lot of high powered, luxury, big name brands looking to connect and reconnect with each other.
This would be the perfect setting for her to promote her best client because Ira was already getting looks and whispers at events.
“I have to go,” Ira said, looking at someone off camera to smile and raise a finger with a nod of acknowledgment.
“We’ll talk to you tomorrow, my love,” Tawan promised as she looked back to her.
“I don’t know how much I will be able to talk this weekend, but I’ll call you as soon as I can,” Ira told her, wearing a sad and little smile.
“It’s okay. We understand,” Tawan informed her, smiling reassuringly. “You just focus on your work and giving your best so you can hurry back to us.”
Ira smiled softly and kissed her lips at her. “I love you,” she told her.
“I love you more,” Tawan reciprocated. “Have fun and break a leg.”
Ira smiled to her thankfully, letting a moment pass between them as they stared at each other, then waved to her before ending the call. Tawan dropped her phone into her lap and smiled in thought, very happy to see Ira look so vibrant and lively in an environment she knew she had missed. She was glad she had encouraged her to go back to work and chase that high that she had not tasted since they became parents. She sent up a prayer asking that her wife did good and kept her confidence as the big day approached that would not only change her life, but their family’s.
With that, Tawan stood and headed down the hall to kiss the small loves of their live’s heads and tuck them in.