"Charlie!" shouted Nicole after a long day at work. She glanced into the kitchen to find Charlie, Alyssa, age 13, and Cody, age 11, all in the kitchen cooking dinner. Well, Charlie and Alyssa were cooking dinner; Cody was playing his video game system at the island.
"Hey honey," said Charlie kissing her, "Cody Austin, put the game down and set the table for dinner."
"Hey Mom," said Alyssa hugging her.
"Hey sweetheart," said Nicole hugging her and then looked around. Alyssa's twin sister, Hannah, was nowhere in sight, "Um, Alyssa, where's your sister."
"Upstairs in our room," Alyssa replied.
"What why?" asked Nicole now turning to Charlie.
Charlie sighed, "Teenage drama."
"Boy drama," said Alyssa.
"She won't talk to anyone but you," said Charlie.
"First crush huh?" asked Nicole.
"I guess," said Charlie, "Could you please talk to her?"
Nicole nodded and headed upstairs to find the door to the twins' room closed. She knocked on the door, "Hannah?"
"What?" asked Hannah from the other side.
"Mom told me you're upset can we talk?" asked Nicole. Nicole heard footsteps and then the door opened, Hannah appearing in front of her. Whenever Nicole looked at Hannah or Alyssa, she swore she was always looking at a younger version of Charlie.
Hannah moved aside and let Nicole into the room, "You won't understand."
"Believe it or not, I was your age once, I can relate," said Nicole sitting down on Alyssa's bed while Hannah sat down on hers, "Now what's wrong."
"It's this guy I really like," said Hannah, "I want him to like me, but I don't know how to get a guy to like me."
"Hannah, honey, what made you think we wouldn't understand?" asked Nicole sympathetically.
Hannah shrugged her shoulders, "Because you and Mom don't romantically like guys."
Nicole looked at her daughter skeptically, "Hannah, I know I might not be the prime example of a boy chaser, but I've been with your mother for fifteen years now. And it works the same way trying to get girls to like you as it is trying to get guys to like you. Probably a little more difficult."
"Well, how did you meet Mom? And how did you get her to like you?" asked Hannah.
Nicole laughed embarrassed, "Believe it or not, singing at a karaoke bar."
"You?" asked Hannah in shock. Man, she looked like Charlie when she had that expression on her face.
"Yes, me," chuckled Nicole, "I lost a bet with some girls in my platoon and I had to sing. And then your mother bought me a drink. And the rest is history."
"Mom must really love you," smirked Hannah.
"I don't know how much of it was love or sympathy," said Nicole honestly, "But the point is, talk to this boy, at least establish a friendship, and then when you get to know each other see where things go from there."
Hannah nodded, "Why didn't I think of that?"
"Because you were frustrated," said Nicole, "Believe me, it'll be long journey before you get to the person you're going to marry."
Hannah smiled, "Thanks Mom. I love you."
"I love you too," said Nicole kissing her daughter on the top of her head.
"Niki! Hannah! Dinner!" shouted Charlie.
"Coming Mom!" shouted Hannah back. She turned back again and ran over to Nicole, "Thank you again Mom."
"You're welcome again," chuckled Nicole, "But we can't keep your mother and siblings waiting."
Hannah nodded and bounced her way down the stairs. Nicole laughed and shook her head in amusement as she followed her daughter to the rest of her family.
Hope you enjoyed this story!