Family Day
Chapter 16: Family Day
“Maybe Star will retire us early.”
Tawan’s signature belly laugh permeated the space around them as they watched the twins kick their soccer ball around at the park.
Ira was seated against her favorite tree holding Tawan around her shoulders as she rested between her legs with the back of her head against her chest. They had just finished their movie and were killing time at the park until they went out for an early dinner. The twins managed to get their mothers to play with them for a while before they tapped out and had to sit down to rest.
Now, they had spent the last 20 minutes talking to each other about random things from observing those around them to a random story from Paris to something their kids did that week with Tawan. Ira would lean over to talk quietly with her as if someone was listening, and Tawan would lean her ear closer to her mouth as if she was learning a secret. They looked like high school sweethearts or college lovebirds with the way Ira contently held Tawan around her neck from behind and Tawan had her arms draped over her thighs to hold her under them.
“Or Sammy when he becomes an engineer or artist or something,” Tawan mused, smiling as she looked at him.
They both thought about the art books that Ira had brought from the Louvre for him and the Paris Saint-Germain women's player soccer jersey she brought for Star. The twins were so excited when she gave them their presents, practically pulling her down to them for hugs and kisses as they praised her choices for them.
“We’re set for life from the both of them then,” Ira nodded and gently squeezed her neck.
Ira put her nose in the top of Tawan’s head and inhaled her scent as her wife talked about having to change plans for tomorrow since they were already doing everything they were supposed to do then now. Since they were both tired, they opted to stay home with their children and spend quality time there rather than going out. They would still go out for Sunday dinner at Ira’s parents house since they had already originally planned to when she got back.
Unfortunately, at the thought of the next day being Monday, Tawan groaned out loud.
“Talk to me, baby,” Ira said gently as she pressed her cheek to her head.
“No,” Tawan said, practically growling it. “We are having a great time together and I don’t want to ruin it. Besides, that's why I called in.”
“Darling,” Ira coaxed and kissed her head. “Either way it’s coming. Talk to me. I want to hear more about this 'consultant'.”
Tawan’s brow furrowed and her bottom lip pouted some at the thought of work. She knew that Ira only wanted to be the supportive wife that she always is, but they were having such a fun day and especially because she skipped work.
Ira leaned over some to look at her and giggled before reaching over to grab her face with her thumb and pointer finger. Tawan tried not to smile, but a little laugh escaped her when Ira squeezed her cheeks and made kissy sounds before dropping her hold. She playfully huffed at her always knowing how to weasel her way into her to extract what was bothering her.
“Baby, we’re having fun,” Tawan complained some and pointed to their kids. “We don’t have to talk about that.”
“We don’t have to talk about it,” Ira agreed patiently and kissed her head again. “I want you to talk about it.”
Tawan’s brow now furrowed in confusion, her eyes blinking some. “What does that even mean?” She asked, slow to understand.
“I don’t know,” Ira chuckled, shrugging and resting her cheek on her head again. “You think about it.”
Tawan now had an eyebrow raised as her brain still analyzed what she had said and her heart told her to release some of her burdens to her life partner. Ira just patiently waited, committed to her promise to let Tawan do things when she was ready because she knew she would always find her way back. As Tawan debated on bringing work into one of her precious life moments and a new memory, she felt relief at the thought of sharing or just letting it off her chest.
With that, she slowly started talking about how challenging next week would be.
“I forgot to tell you, but to welcome her Tek is having a party at his house next weekend and we have to go,” Tawan informed her.
“Whatever you need,” Ira promised and squeezed her comfortingly.
“Trust me, I don’t want to do it,” Tawan scowled, making her laugh.
“So, who is this consultant lady?” Ira asked again as she rested her cheek back on her head. “You haven’t said much about her except she seems nice.”
Tawan hummed in thought. “Not much to really report since I only got to know her for a bit at lunch on Wednesday and then yesterday she was busy getting acquainted with the team,” she told her.
“And you learned nothing about her at lunch?” Ira asked with a small chuckle.
“Only a little,” Tawan replied, teasing her a bit. “Her name is Lai and she went to the same university as us and graduated a few years after me.”
“Oh, really?” Ira said and picked her head up.
“Yeah,” her wife responded. “I don’t remember her, but it is a big school.”
Ira hummed in agreement. “True,” she said and rested her cheek back on her head.
“Uhh, where was I?” Tawan asked herself then clicked her tongue in remembrance. “Ah, yeah. Um, she worked for the last ten years consulting various newspapers, publishers, magazines, and stuff in New York and London. Seems to come from a nice family with money because we talked about how impeccable her fashion taste was and she said she had always been like this since she was a kid.”
“Hmm, interesting,” Ira mused mostly to herself.
“What?” Tawan asked lazily as she was getting more relaxed in their position.
“You thinking someone has a better fashion sense than you especially someone with a similar style as you based on what you said on the phone that day,” Ira teased and got a gentle smack to her thighs.
“I never said that,” Tawan guffawed and playfully pinched her thigh.
“I’m kidding,” Ira giggled, pulling her back and pressing her nose to her ear. “No one looks as good as you do in a suit.”
Tawan pursed her lips knowingly and nodded like truer words had never been spoken. She switched the subject to the presentation since she did not have a chance to show it to Ira as she had already been in Paris. Ira listened attentively, nodding and commenting when appropriate, wishing she had been there to see when she finished it but making a mental note to make her show her. She loved when Tawan would use her as the test audience for her presentations.
“This is the first time in a long time that I have felt like we could really make our mark with this issue launch,” Tawan finished, reaching up to hold her forearms.
“I never doubted you,” Ira told her and kissed the side of her head.
“Thanks, my love,” she smiled and kissed her forearm.
Ira nuzzled her nose into the side of her head, closing her eyes to fully embrace and enjoy their moment of peace. Tawan’s eyes flickered up at a bird flying over them and she smiled as she took in the innocence of the nature around them. She could not remember the last time she had been out to the park with her family and she was quickly learning why Ira would consistently do this with the twins when they were younger.
Tawan smiled as the twins started running towards them.
“Momma! Can we get ice cream?” Star asked as she plopped between Tawan’s legs.
“Ice cream, huh?” Tawan said and hugged her close.
“After you eat dinner,” Ira answered and held her hand out to Sammy.
“Mommy, can we come back here tomorrow?” Sammy asked as he sat beside her.
“Hmm,” Ira hummed and removed some grass from his head. “Maybe. Momma and Mommy are really tired from work, so we planned on spending the day with you two tomorrow at home.”
“Movie day?” Star asked excitedly and turned some to look up at her.
“And game day!” Sammy piped in and grabbed Ira’s hand.
“What snacks?” Tawan posed to them.
“Noodles, sushi, grilled pork, ice cream,” Star listed off her fingers.
“Chicken, rice, fruit, soda,” Sammy continued, playing with Ira’s fingers.
Ira groaned and Tawan’s hearty laugh escaped her as their children continued listing off random foods for another one of their family days tomorrow. Ira immediately stepped in and laid out a menu selection that would include some junk food and mostly nutritional food, but that mixed well together. Tawan was mostly excited for the grilled pork and noodles, so she was glad Star loved the same foods as she did.
They would bond over savory dishes to eat when they went out whereas Ira and Sammy had more of the sweet tooth.
“Okay,” Ira announced to them. “We have dinner reservations in an hour so if you want to play a little longer then now is the time.”
Star and Sammy did not say anything else. They got up from their spots and ran back over to their soccer ball to play for as long of a time as they had right now. Both of their mothers smiled at them as they watched them silently for a few minutes.
Tawan could take a nap right then and there, but she wanted to soak up as much of this nice day as she could. Ira was holding her closer around her neck for a hug and pressing her nose into the back of her head as she watched the twins.
“How did we get so lucky…,” Ira said quietly to herself.
Tawan, hearing her, opened one eye. “I ask myself the same question every day,” she yawned.
Ira smiled into her hair then pressed a kiss to it. She would not trade anything for this life.