Ashley
The truth was that sometimes, she could not take a day off on mothers' day to spend some quality time with Ashley and Henry. She would make up for it though, and she was already wishing her work to be over to pick them up and go to the cinema. They would of course end up at the ice-cream parlor after the movie. Henry would go for a chocolate cone – he was always the easiest one of the three – while the little blond would stare at the bar, unable to choose between caramel and raspberry. Helen would cave in and buy her both, adding a scoop of mint for herself.
But it was only seven in the morning, on a Sunday, and she was making her way to her office to prepare for a big meeting on an empty stomach.
The smell of tea felt like heaven when it reached her nostrils. She closed the door behind her and plopped down in her armchair, sighing. And then she noticed.
On her breakfast tray, next to her china teacup and her brioche, were a vase filled with freshly cut daisies from the garden, and a card.
Drawing was obviously not Ashley's forte – this child had no patience whatsoever – but her rendition of Helen was made plainly recognizable by the out-of-proportion gun in the stick-figure was holding. Just in case, she had gone so far as to draw arrows to identify the three characters: "Mom", "Ashley" and "Henry" were written in her still very chaotic handwriting. The little girl had drawn herself quite taller than Henry, as if she had added him in a corner, as an afterthought… She was in that phase: slightly jealous of anyone who dared to get close to her own mother.
Helen did nothing to fight back a snort, and sipping her tea, she opened the card.
The handwriting was Henry's, but the words just had to be Ashley's, and she had no trouble picturing the six year old tyrant dictating to the young boy.
My Mom
My mom is a superhero,
She can cure any boo boo.
She is smart and pretty,
She is very handy,
She has the best stories.
She likes to run and use her gun,
She can kick your butt but she can't make buns.
My mom is a doctor and a monster-sitter
But don't use the word monster if you don't want to cross her
We love you Mom,
Ashley and Henry
That was strangely adorable, she decided amidst a burst of laughter.
The door opened on cue and Ashley came in running, hidden behind a giant bouquet of carnations.
"Did you like our card Mommy?!" She shrilled.
Helen smiled when she saw Henry's sleepy face coming through the door. He was not an early riser, and there was no doubt in her mind that her daughter had dragged him out of bed. Poor boy, he really was a dear, following her everywhere, obeying her every whim, as if they were two fingers of the same hand.
"I love it sweetie" she said, kissing her soundly on the cheek, "what's with the flowers?" she asked, taking them from Ashley's troublesome hands, fearing for the safety of the gorgeous carnations. They were a symbol of longevity, she realized. James, for sure.
"They are from Uncle James. Henry said he can't read his card." Her daughter declared, pointing to the small card attached to the protective paper.
"I don't know how you can decipher his handwriting." Henry explained, shrugging.
A mischievous smile lit up Helen's face.
"Decades of training." She answered, tucking James letter in her breast-pocket, right against her heart, to be read later.
Once the note was safely hidden from the eyes of the world, she opened her arms wide with a fond smile.
"Come here." She asked, beckoning the kids to give her a hug.
Ashley's little arms instantaneously wrapped themselves around her neck, suffocating her just a little bit, and Henry joined them, both gluing their cheeks to Helen's.
"Happy mother's day, doc." Henry muttered in her ear, making her hug him tighter against her chest.
"Thank you, both of you" Helen answered, her heart filled with gratefulness at how lucky she was with these two darlings, loved and cared for.
"I made a card in school too, but it's stupid," Ashley confessed, patting her mother's face none too gently, "it says your food is tasty."
Helen made a face.
"Utter nonsense." She agreed.