Mother's Day Surprise
It was Kate's first Mother's Day at the loft, and Romey had been buzzing with excitement all week. That morning, Kate woke to the faint smell of coffee and the sound of hushed voices just outside the bedroom. Moments later, the door creaked open. Rick tiptoed in first, his exaggerated caution making the tray wobble precariously. Behind him, Romey followed, practically vibrating with excitement. Rick and Romey entered, carefully balancing a tray with flowers, pancakes, and her favorite mug filled with steaming coffee.
"Happy Mother's Day, Mommy!" Romey shouted, running to her with a handmade card in hand.
Romey crawled into bed and handed Kate his card. Her heart swelled as she opened the card. Inside was a crayon drawing of the two of them holding hands under a rainbow, with an angel woman in the sky above them, her brown hair flowing. In neat block letters, he'd written, "To the best mommy in the whole world. You make every day sunny. I love you!"
Kate's eyes lingered on the angel in the drawing. Romey noticed and said softly, "That's Grandma. She's our guardian angel."
Tears welled in her eyes as she traced the drawing with her fingers. Kate hugged him tightly, her tears spilling over. "I love it, sweetheart. It's the best gift ever."
Rick stepped forward, holding a small velvet box. "Not to be outdone by our little artist here," he said with a grin, handing her the box.
Kate opened it to reveal a delicate silver necklace with a tiny charm shaped like a book. Her initials were engraved on the cover, and inside was a miniature photo of Romey and Rick.
"Rick," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. Her fingers brushed over the engraving as her lips trembled. "It's beautiful. Thank you."
He leaned down, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "You deserve to be celebrated, Kate. My mom always said Mother's Day was special because it reminded her how much she was loved. I called Mother today to wish her Happy Mother's Day. We plan to celebrate when she gets back from LA with Alexis."
After breakfast, the three of them drove to the cemetery to visit Kate's mother's grave. Romey carried a small bouquet of white lilies, Kate's mom's favorite, and carefully placed them at the headstone.
Romey wandered off for a few minutes, his small feet crunching softly on the gravel as he examined other headstones. The different names and dates piqued his curiosity.
Kate squeezed Rick's hand, tears streaming down her face. She knelt beside Rick, brushing her fingers over the engraved name. The coolness of the stone seemed to anchor her as she whispered, "Happy Mother's Day, Mom. I wish you could see us. I think you'd be proud." Her voice cracked, the weight of the moment overwhelming her.
Rick placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, and the two of them sat quietly for a few moments, the only sound the gentle rustle of the trees. Though bittersweet, the moment was filled with love and connection.
After a short while, Romey returned to Kate and Rick, his gaze serious. Carefully, he knelt beside the grave again and said, "Thank you, Grandma, for showing Mommy how to be the best mom any kid could ask for. I hope you like the flowers." He placed his small hand on the headstone, his expression thoughtful beyond his years. Kate knelt beside Romey, wrapping her arms around him tightly. "She'd be so proud of you, sweetheart," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "And I know she's watching over us."
As they left the cemetery, Kate looked over at Rick and Romey, her heart full. "Thank you both for today. I'll never forget it."
"We won't either," Rick said, smiling as Romey grabbed both their hands. Together, they walked into the bright, sunny afternoon, a family bound by love and cherished memories.
Together, they decided to take a scenic walk along a nearby nature trail, the warm spring breeze carrying the scent of blooming flowers. As they strolled along the trail, Romey stopped occasionally to pick up small rocks or point out birds. Rick glanced at Kate, curiosity shining in his eyes. "Kate, what was the day Romey was born like? I'd love to hear about it."
Kate turned to him with a thoughtful smile. Ahe reached out her hand, "Romey, baby. Come here and listen to the story about the day you were born and made me a mommy. It was a sunny morning, and Lanie was there with me in the delivery room. She tried to keep me distracted by telling jokes, but at one point, she made me laugh so hard that the nurse told her to stop."
Romey giggled, his fingers squeezing Kate's hand. "What did she say, Mommy?"
Kate chuckled. "She said, 'Kate if you can chase down perps in heels, you can handle this without breaking a sweat.'"
Rick laughed, picturing the scene. "Sounds like Lanie."
Kate's expression softened as she continued. "But the moment I held you for the first time, Romey, everything else just melted away. You were so tiny, but I could already see your strength and your sweet little personality."
Romey's eyes widened. "Was I really that small?"
"You were," Kate said, stroking his hair. "And I knew in that moment my life had changed forever."
Rick squeezed her hand, his voice gentle. "Thank you for sharing that, Kate."
Romey beamed. "I'm glad I'm here. I love you, Mommy."
Kate hugged him tightly. "I love you too, sweetheart."
After the story, Rick suggested a stop at Romey's favorite ice cream parlor. Romey's face lit up, and soon, they were seated at a small outdoor table, each with a towering sundae. Kate laughed as Romey eagerly piled extra sprinkles onto his ice cream, some of them landing on the table instead. Rick leaned over, sneakily taking a bite of Kate's sundae, earning a mock glare.
"Best idea ever, Rick," Romey declared between bites of his sundae.
Rick grinned. "You know, Romey, I think you and I make a pretty great team when it comes to making Mommy smile."
"Right!" Romey said, his face smeared with chocolate.
Kate smiled, watching her two boys share a moment of pure joy. 'This is what happiness looks like,' she thought, her heart full. "This is perfect," she said softly, leaning back in her chair. "Thank you for making today so special."
Rick reached for her hand across the table. "We're just getting started. Family days like this? They're the best gifts of all."
After a few minutes, Rick reached into his pocket and pulled out a few dollars. "Hey, Romey," he said, sliding the bills across the table, "why don't you go try your luck at the claw machine over there?"
Romey's eyes lit up. "Really? Thanks, Rick!" He grabbed the money and dashed toward the brightly lit machine across from their table.
As Romey focused on maneuvering the claw, Rick turned back to Kate, his expression soft and contemplative. "Kate," he began, his voice low, "have you ever thought about having more children?"
Kate blinked, caught off guard by the question. "More children?" she repeated, her expression shifting as she processed his words.
Rick nodded, his gaze steady. "I mean, I love our family, but I wonder what it would be like to have a little brother or sister for him and Alexis—to grow our family."
Kate smiled faintly, her eyes drifting toward Romey, who was laughing as he guided the claw to pick up a stuffed animal. "I've thought about it," she admitted softly. "I wasn't sure where you stood on the matter. But seeing Romey and Alexis and how much joy they bring us... it's something I want."
Rick's smile widened. "Well, it doesn't have to be today or tomorrow. Just something to plan down the road when we feel the time is right."
Kate reached across the table, taking his hand in hers. "Thank you for bringing it up. I honestly don't want to wait too long."
Rick chuckled, nodding with a self-deprecating smile. "Yeah, a quicker timeframe works for me. Let's face it, I'm not getting any younger."
Kate laughed softly, squeezing his hand before leaning forward to press a tender kiss to his lips. The moment lingered, warm and full of unspoken promises.
At that moment, Romey came bounding back to the table, holding up his prize triumphantly. "Look! I got a unicorn!" he exclaimed, his excitement infectious.
Rick laughed, pulling Romey into a playful hug. "Nice work, buddy! You're a pro."
Kate leaned back, watching her boys with a full heart. Whatever the future held, she knew one thing for certain: their family, just as it was, was perfect—and perhaps there was room for even more love to grow.