"Alright. Everybody got their backpacks?" Stef asked, her hands on her hips as she surveilled her family. Lena stood to her left, a blanket rolled and tucked under one arm and a lantern dangling by her side. The three kids, standing at attention in a line before her, nodded, tugging at the straps that hung over their shoulders. Smiles were plastered on each of their faces and they were practically vibrating with excitement. "And everyone's been bug sprayed?" They all nodded again. "And no one needs to go to the bathroom?" Their heads shook in unison. "Good." Satisfied, Stef nodded as she slung what was normally their beach bag over her shoulder. It was currently filled with various items they would need for the evening. She held another lantern in her left hand. "Everybody follow me. Watch your step as it gets dark. We've got just a little bit of a walk."
Stef made a sharp turn to the right and led the way. Ushered ahead by Lena, the kids followed their mom as Lena took up the rear behind them. Not a single complaint was uttered during the trek. They were on the outskirts of their favorite campground, though they weren't camping. It had taken enough convincing to get Lena to agree to just a couple of hours.
"No. It's a school night, Stef."
"I know, but Lena, this isn't something you get to see every day. They can miss one day of school."
Lena shook her head. "The twins are just starting to catch up. They're not missing school unless they're sick. We can watch it from here."
"It's not the same. You can barely see the sky out here. C'mon, Lena," Stef pleaded. When Lena had already started shaking her head, Stef changed tactics. "It'll be educational. We can teach them about stars and planets. My dad showed me how to find a bunch of constellations when we used to camp. They'll love that." Lena's lips had begun to purse, a sign of her weakening resolve. Stef took a step closer and took hold of her hands. Her voice grew softer as she tilted Lena her most imploring look. "Please, love. My favorite memories as a kid were going camping with my dad and falling asleep while stargazing. I want that for them, too."
Lena tilted her chin down and fought to hold back a smile. Stef's mouth twitched with hope at the corners and finally Lena's smile broke through.
"Okay," she relented with reluctance.
Glee spread across Stef's face.
"We are not staying over night."
"Okay! That's fine!" Stef rushed to agree before planting a kiss on Lena's lips. "We'll just go for a few hours."
"As soon as they start getting tired, we're coming home." Lena's tone left no room for argument and Stef didn't even try.
"Absolutely! Of course!" Stef kissed her again, this time wrapping her arms around her waist and pulling her in close. "Thank you," she whispered.
"You're welcome," Lena said against her lips. "Now go tell them before I change my mind."
Stef kissed the corner of her mouth, flashed her a giddy smile, and swept out of the room in search of their children.
The sky was a murky purple, dusk settling down into night as they reached the grassy spot.
"Is this it?" Brandon asked when Stef stopped to look up at the sky.
"Yep. This is it."
"Yes!" Brandon clapped his hands together as Jesús whooped. Mariana looked up at the sky with her hand at her brow as though shielding herself from the sunless sky.
"I don't see anything 'cept regular stars."
"That's because it hasn't started yet, sweets." Stef smiled at her as the little girl's lips formed a silent oh.
"Mariana, why don't you help me spread out the blanket." Lena started unrolling the large red plaid blanket. She and Mariana set to work while Stef ordered the boys to get water bottles out for everyone and to pick the snack of their choice. Stef unpacked the beach bag, setting out another lighter weight blanket, three sets of binoculars, and two flashlights on the far edge of the blanket beside the pile of water bottles. The boys were already perched in the center and Brandon immediately snatched up a pair of binoculars. Jesús followed suit.
"I think mine are broken. I can't see anything."
"You gotta take off the caps, dummy!"
A reprimand was on the tip of Stef's tongue but the boys were both giggling while Brandon showed Jesús how to take them off so Stef shook her head and held her tongue.
"Teddy grahams, baby?" Stef offered the snack bag of cookies to Mariana who took them without hesitation. They were her favorite. "Lena, want anything love?"
Lena shook her head as she sat down on the blanket just behind the boys. Mariana climbed into her lap and Lena wrapped her arms around her middle, resting her chin on her shoulder so they were cheek to cheek.
While last of the sunlight faded beneath the horizon, their eyes had adjusted to the moonlight. Still, Stef turned on the two lanterns to their lowest settings and placed them at a distance behind them. Then she settled cross-legged beside Lena, their shoulders touching.
"When's it gonna start?" Jesús asked as he looked up at the stars through the wrong side of the binoculars.
"We should start seeing them anytime." Stef nudged him with her foot. "You know, those work a lot better if you turn them around."
"I know," he said simply but continued on as he was. Stef looked at Lena and they both laughed at his silliness.
"Are we really gonna see lotsa shooting stars?" Mariana asked.
"Mhmm." Lena nodded.
Mariana looked up at her. "Can we wish on all of them?"
Lena smiled down at her, her dark eyes sparkling in the moonlight. "Sure you can."
Mariana's face was bright with wonder.
"What are you going to wish for?" Stef asked her.
"She can't tell you, mom!" Brandon turned back to her, indignant at her obliviousness. "Or it won't come true!"
Stef put her hands up. "Okay! Sorry!" She snorted and rolled her eyes.
"I'm gonna wish for a new scooter!" Jesús announced.
"Well now it's never gonna come true!" Brandon told him. When Jesús just shrugged his shoulder, Brandon scoffed and shook his head in disbelief.
Stef picked up the last pair of binoculars and looked up at the stars. Even without them, they could see so much more out here than they ever could at home. While they waited, she pointed out Orion's Belt, leaning over to let Mariana look down the length of her arm as she pointed when the little girl couldn't find it. She showed them the Big and Little Dippers and a couple other constellations. Then the kids started finding their own shapes in the stars and Stef leaned against Lena's shoulder, her arm settling around her hips.
"I saw one!" Brandon shouted. "Right there!" He waved his arm, pointing toward the sky. "Moms, did you see it?"
The other kids were suddenly on alert. The whole family turned their eyes up to the sky. A bubble of anticipation enclosed around them as they all held their breath. Just when Stef could feel the antsy energy coming from Jesús, ready to burst the moment, a silver streak flew across the sky. The kids all gasped as they watched it's tail disappear.
"That was so cool!" Jesús exclaimed as he gazed up through his binoculars — the right way this time.
"It's so beautiful." Mariana spoke with wistful enchantment.
"C'mere boys. Let's lay down." Stef waved them over and they clambered over, joining Mariana who was already settling in between Stef and Lena. She tossed the lighter blanket over the top of them all and Lena helped spread it out before they all nestled down to stare at the glittering sky.
Another light streaked across the sky then faded and the children all tried to point it out at the same time. Then another, followed by two more just moments later. As they rolled across the sky one after another, a hush fell over them. The meteor shower was in full swing and they were all swept up in the magic and wonder of the universe.
By the time the number of meteors slowed to a trickle, the sound of slow breathing came in a chorus from the three little stargazers. Stef turned onto her side and caught Lena's eye, smiling at her in the dark. As if reading each other's minds, they carefully dislodged themselves from around their children and stood up.
They worked with easy efficiency. Packing everything back into bags and backpacks as silently as possible. When everything was packed but the blankets, before they had to start rousing the children, Stef caught Lena's hand and led her a little bit away.
"Thank you." She squeezed Lena's hand as she guided her in against her.
"I'm glad we came." Lena curled her arms around Stef's neck.
"Me, too." And she really was. She had gotten to share something with her kids that had been so important to her growing up. Something that made her feel like she belonged in the universe — that proved that her existence, however small, mattered. She hoped they knew how much they mattered, too.
Stef looked into the eyes of the women she loved most in the world, who loved her in spite of every one of her flaws. She never understood why but she didn't dwell on it now. She just took her face in her hands and kissed Lena with gentle lips because it was the only way she knew how to show her how much she mattered. They kept the embrace light, relishing in the romance of kissing beneath the falling stars.
"What did you wish for?" Lena asked when they stood with their eyes closed and foreheads touching.
"I didn't," Stef admitted.
"Really? Not for anything?" Lena pulled back to look at her.
Stef shook her head, a grin pulling her lips to one side. "I didn't need to. All of my wishes have already come true."