Happy Mother's Day!

I wasn't going to write anything, but it felt wrong to not write something for this day. So, I just threw this one together.

"Psst, kids… come here…" Rex whispered to his kids who were playing video games in the living room.

"What's up dad?" Rafael asked out loud.

"Shhh." Rex put a finger to his mouth and motioned them to come over.

Violeta and Rafael looked at each other before shrugging and pausing their game.

Hopping off the couch, they walked over to their dad who immediately grabbed their arm and pulled them into the kitchen.

"Dad?" Violeta was a little concerned.

"Shhh." He shushed them again. "Tomorrow's Mother's Day."

"Yeah, that's why we made cards at school." Rafael said.

"Right, and I want to surprise your mother tomorrow." Rex told him.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Violeta asked.

"Of course, it's a good idea." Rex said.

"The hot air balloon trip?" Violeta reminded him.

"That downburst was a fluke." Rex said dismissively.

"And the zoo." Violeta continued.

"How was I supposed to know that gorillas don't have a sense of humor?" Rex defended himself. "I mean Bobo's not that cranky."

"Uncle Bobo's usually cranky to us." Rafael interrupted.

"And the race track." Violeta was not deterred.

"Never mind all that. Mom's going to love this surprise." Rex said with assurance. "But I'm going to need your help."

The kids looked at each other again.

"What do you want us to do?" Violeta asked suspiciously.

"It's easy. I need her out of the house tomorrow. I know you have a dance class tomorrow morning Violeta but I need you to keep her out of the house until the afternoon." He said to her.

"I guess I can do that." Violeta said slowly.

"What am I going to do, dad?" Rafael asked.

"You're going to help me." Rex said. "It'll be great! Your mother will be so surprised!"

"I hope it's not a surprise like those hamsters." Violeta commented.

"I didn't know they were territorial." Rex said. "But don't worry about it, sweetie. Daddy, will take care of everything."

"That's what I was afraid of." She muttered.

"What's that?" Rex asked.

"Nothing, dad. I'll keep mom out till noon." She agreed.

"Awesome." Rex rubbed his hands together.

0o0

"Mom, can we go to the mall after dance class?" Violeta asked as Circe pulled into the dance school's parking lot.

"The mall? Why?" Circe asked.

"I need to get some supplies for school." She lied smoothly.

"Oh, I guess so." Circe agreed.

"Thanks, mom! You're the best!" She said.

"Hmm, I wish you father thought that." Circe said under his breath.

"What mom?" Violeta asked.

"Nothing, nothing. The breakfast you and Rafael made me this morning was very sweet." She said changing the subject.

"You deserve it mom. Happy Mother's Day." Violeta said.

"Thank you, sweetie." She gave her daughter a half hug as they pulled into the parking lot.

0o0

"Ok, they're gone." Rex said peeing out the window.

"So, what are we going to do now?" Rafael asked.

"Help me move the couch." Rex told his son.

"Um, ok, dad." Rafael grabbed one end of the couch.

Rex picked up the other side. They picked it up and both pulled at the same time.

"No, no. Come towards me." Rex ordered. Rafael pushed and his father stumbled backwards. "Not so fast. Move it to the left… no the other left… we're moving it against the wall… watch out for the end table…"

There was a crash.

"Oops." Rafael said as he looked at the broken lamp on the floor.

"Ok, ok… Don't worry about it. We'll clean it up later." Rex said.

"Come on, there's more to do." He said. "Look out for the dog!"

Scamp yipped as Rafael accidently backed into his dog.

"Sorry, boy." Rafael said apologetically.

The doorbell rang.

"Great, it's here!" Rex said giddily.

"What's here?" Rafael asked.

Rex opened the door.

"Mr. Salazar?" The man at the door asked.

"That's me." He acknowledged.

"Sign here." He handed him a tablet.

Rex signed the tablet.

"Where do you want it?" He asked as he took back the tablet.

"Right there." Rex pointed to where the couch used to be.

Rafael watched in amazement as two burly men started bringing in furniture.

"Uh dad? What's all this?" Rafael asked.

"Don't worry, son." Rex said. "I'm just renting it for the day."

"You know what, dad?" Rafael realized what his dad got.

"What, son?"

"I think mom will like this. You did good." Rafael said.

"Thanks. I thought so." Rex beamed.

"There's no hamsters anywhere, right?"

0o0

Violeta and Circe drove up their driveway.

"What do you want for lunch?" She asked as they got out of the car.

"I'm sure dad is taking care of that." Violeta said.

"Well, maybe…" Circe said uncertainly.

When she reached the door, it swung open before she could even pull out her keys.

"Mom, mom!" Rafael grabbed her arm excitedly.

It took Circe a minute before her brain registered what was in her living room.

"Quewha?" She gaped.

"Surprise!" Rex said beaming.

"Wow, dad. You bough a movie theater?" Violeta asked.

"Rented." Rafael corrected. Rex elbowed him lightly.

Inside the living room were 4 theater chairs, large screen, and a projector.

Circe walked in rather stunned. "You did this Rex?"

"Who else would have done this?" Rex asked with a grin. "Come on, have a seat."

Circe allowed her children to lead her to a seat.

"Look, mom! It has a massage function." Rafael hit a button and immediately Circe could feel rotators start moving behind her.

She gave a sigh as she felt her tense muscles loosen.

Rafael hopped into the chair next to her and hit the massage button as well. Violeta took the other next to her mother.

Rex brought out giant buckets of popcorn and soda. Dimming the lights, he started the projector.

"What are we watching?" Circe asked. When she looked up, she gasped.

On screen was their old home movies of Violeta and Rafael.

"Hey! That's me!" Rafael squealed as he shoved a mouthful of popcorn.

Circe looked over at Rex who looked very proud of himself. She smiled.

"Thank you, Rex." Circe said. "This is amazing."

"I know. You're welcome." He grinned.

Circe leaned back and enjoyed the massage. Rex had earned the right to be cocky.

"Dad thinks you're the best too." She heard Violeta say quietly to her.

Circe looked at her daughter in surprised that she had heard her earlier. "You know what, dad's pretty cool himself." She told her daughter.

"Sometimes." Violeta agreed.

"Did I hear someone talking about me?" Rex looked up from his chair.

Circe laughed. "Of course you did. You did good."

"Love you." He said as he leaned back into his chair.

"Love you too." Circe replied.

"Yuck, mushy stuff." Violeta gagged.

"Happy Mother's Day!" Rafael said to his mom.

It was a happy Mother's Day. Circe thought. And she was a lucky mother.

It's been literally one year since that fateful day my husband fell off his bike and broke his arms. Two surgeries later he's doing better. Meanwhile we've also discovered he has a heart issue. Hopefully, it can be easily taken care of. It's been a long year with the pandemic and accidents. I hope you are all doing well. And if you're not please know that things will get better. They always do. Take it one day at a time.

Happy Mother's Day, all!