Prompt: Super Bowl Sunday
Characters: Emily, Derek and family (What Makes a Family universe)
Words: 310
Emily never thought she would be throwing a Super Bowl party, but that was before she had a sixteen-year-old, who loved the sport. Suddenly, it didn't matter that she didn't know the first thing about football, or even who was playing. All that mattered was that this was a way to give Derek something special. Something he didn't ask for, but would enjoy, just the same.
She brought the idea up to Dave, who was already deep into preparations for a party of his own. There was talk of seven-layer dip and chicken wings. Other food that Emily would never have prepared on a normal day, but the Super Bowl was important to Derek, so it became important to her.
So while Derek and Dave were whooping and cheering in the Rossi's living room, Emily and Carolyn cleaned and tried to have quiet conversations. It was pretty impossible, though, as the house was milling with people. Not only guests of Dave and Carolyn's but also 21-year-old Penelope, who was helping in the kitchen, 11-year-old Aaron and 8-year-old Spencer, who were downstairs playing on the Rossi's pool table and 14-year-old JJ, whom Emily would have never guessed to be a football fan. But she was out there with the guys, just as invested in the outcome of the game as they were.
At the end of the night, Derek sought Emily out. "Hey. Thank you. This was really cool," he said honestly.
"You're welcome. By the way, did you know JJ was interested in football?"
"No, but there's a lot you still don't know about us," Derek pointed out.
And it was true. Twenty-two months since they had become a family, and there were still so many mysteries about her kids. Emily couldn't wait to find out more about them. It was one of her favorite things about being a mom.
