Emmet came home from work early that day, wanting to surprise his wife and three children. He came home, however, to an empty house. Not even Sammy, the McCarty's Labrador retriever was there to greet him. He loosened his tie as he sank onto the couch. Suddenly, he realized it was Tuesday- soccer practice day for the twins. Leaning over the armrest, he picked up the TV remote and began channel surfing, pausing briefly to watch an interview of a rising movie star from Seattle.
Not too long after, he heard the garage door open. Emmet turned off the TV and opened the door, watching his entire family climb out of the Vanquish. Sammy bolted into the house and greeted his master and best friend, tongue sticking out and tail wagging.
The girls came in next. "Hi, Daddy," they sang.
"Hello, my little princesses!" Emmet cooed, swinging Kat around in the air before doing the same with Karol.
His wife was the last to walk out, balancing a sleeping Ethan on her hip while trying to carry the girls' soccer bags at the same time. Emmet rushed to her side, taking Ethan from her. She smiled up at him before gently kissing him on the cheek. Emmet locked the door to his beloved car and followed Rose into the house.
Later that night, after dinner had been put away, and the dished had been washed, and the children put to bed, Emmet and Rose sat on the couch, watching reruns of I Love Lucy. Rose suddenly pulled away from her husband's shoulder and looked at him worriedly.
"Emmet," she began. "We need to talk."
"Sure thing, Rose. What's the matter," he asked, imagining the worst possible situations.
"When I was pregnant with the girls we talked about how we were going to be the cool parents, remember? And our house was going to be the place where all their friends want to come. I still want that, I really do. But Em, you have to understand, with three kids and a dog and PTA meetings and field trip carpools and soccer games and play dates and birthday parties and everything else…Oh God, how do I say this. I mean it's not that…well…it's sort of…" Rose huffed, grabbed her husband's face, and looked him square in the eyes. "Emmet, we need a minivan."