I finally close the door on all of our guests at midnight. Kookie left at eleven to drive Emmie and Noel home so they can be with their parents on Christmas morning. The Kims enjoyed our party so much that they are the last to leave. Did I mention that Lyric’s last name is Kim? Just like a certain someone on the other side of the world with a matching boxy grin.
Candice leans towards me as her eyes take in Lyric and Janna hiding in the far corner of our dining room as he hugs her goodbye. “If they were older, I’d think you and I would be hearing wedding bells soon,” his mother whispers into my ear with a twinkle in her eye.
I smile as my eyes connect with hers. “Indeed. They do seem prodigiously fond of each other.”
“Lyric,” she calls. “You will be home by twelve thirty, won’t you?”
He glances at his mother. “Of course, Mom,” he responds good-naturedly.
“That’s my sweet son,” she comments softly as her eyes meet mine again. “Ann, we must get together some time soon. When the kids are at school. I’ve only Chord to keep me company these days.” She pouts as she glances at the sleeping boy nestled up against her heart.
“At least you have one,” I murmur sadly as my eyes stray towards the door of my double A’s. Both of whom are sound asleep in their beds now. Despite our company.
Song is carrying their slumbering Cadence in his arms. “Candice, come. We need to get the little ones home.” He glances at me. “Thank you for a wonderful night. Dinner was delicious.” He pauses a moment before adding, “Especially the herring,” with a twinkle in his eye.
I reflect that he and his wife are two peas in a pod.
“Song!” she rebukes him in a hushed whisper. “Really! After all the work she did to make us a home-cooked meal, and all you can remark upon is a jar of creamed herring.” She meets my eyes again. “Everything was delicious. Except the herring. I can’t vote on it because I didn’t try it.”
“You’re not missing anything,” I murmur quietly.
“Mom!” Kookie scoffs. “That’s not true!”
“Hush. If no one likes it, you and your father get more,” I remind him.
“Oh, yeah.” He unleashes that boyish grin on us.
Candice looks stunned for a moment. Then she glances at me. “How are two mothers supposed to survive the stampede of girls that’s surely headed our way with two sons as handsome as my Lyric and your Kookie?”
Momentarily, I think of the thirty million girls who are madly in love with Jungkook in my other universe. At least, I don’t have to deal with them. I glance at her husband for a moment as I think of mine. I shrug my shoulders.
“Our mothers-in-law survived it, right?”
Candice’s lips curve into a quick smile that spreads all the way across her face. She looks at her handsome husband. “True enough,” she mutters as his eyes meet hers again. Something sweet passes between them before she turns back towards me. “We must be going. Thanks for letting my son move in,” she murmurs teasingly.
I chuckle. “It’s the least I can do. Thanks for loaning him out to us.”
Her eyes traverse the room to land on her eldest once more. “I’m not so sure that I’m loaning him to you. I think this may be a permanent situation.” A thoughtful expression is now blanketing her face. Her eyes careen into mine. “Lyric has never been this serious about a girl before. Not in his whole life.”
“Well,” I remark blithely, “I hope not. He is, after all, only seventeen.”
“For a few more days,” she mumbles as an expression of sadness crosses her features. “My baby boy is going to be an adult in less than a week! Where did the years go?”
“When you find out, let me know, and I’ll go with you to get them back,” I assert.
Her gaze collides with mine, and her smile is back. “It’s a deal. Have a good night, Ann. Thanks again.”
Then the Kims are gone. With one exception. The tall, dark, handsome, sweet one lurking in a corner with my beautiful daughter. At least, it’s a corner of my dining room and not one of the bedrooms in my house. Still, I cross the room towards them.
“All right, you two lovebirds. Janna, off to bed with you! Lyric, off to your house with you. How on earth is Santa Claus supposed to come while you two are still whispering to each other? It’s already Christmas!”
“Mom, you know that we know Santa Claus isn’t real,” Janna whiningly rebukes me.
Lyric’s face goes blank. With wide eyes, he asks in a tremulous voice, “He’s not?”
“Lyric, that was a stellar performance. Perhaps you should audition for the spring play,” I suggest.
He grins. “I wouldn’t want to steal the lead from Kookie.”
“Steal the lead?” I hear my eldest son’s voice sounding in disbelief behind me. “That’s impossible! You’re welcome to try. I could use a break from acting.”
I turn around to greet my son, who has just stepped into the house.
“Really?” Lyric responds. “Good to know. I just might try out then.” He glances down at his girlfriend. “Especially if Nana gets the leading girl’s role.”
She frowns up at him. “Lyric, you know I don’t act.”
“That is not true,” I reply. “False modesty does no one any good, Nana. We all know you’re a brilliant actress. You have been since you were tiny.” I can still see her doing an amazing Darby impression after watching the Winnie the Pooh cartoon that she couldn’t get enough of back then.
Janna blatantly ignores my reference to her award-worthy performance as a three-year-old. She sighs. “I’ll think about it too.” Her eyes spear Lyric’s. “But only if you try out.”
I can tell that she really wants the role if Lyric gets the lead male role.
“All right. We’ll talk about it later. I better head home. Mom wants me there by twelve thirty.”
“Lyric,” I warn him, “take your time. Drive slowly. Don’t rush just to meet your curfew. Be safe.”
“Yes, Mom,” he teases me with a flash of his boxy grin.
“Go on, son!” I shoo him towards the door.
He shoots a longing glance at my daughter, and I decide this is an excellent time for him to leave. “We’ll see you tomorrow night,” I whisper to him as I close the door behind him.
And witness one more eyeful of that gorgeous grin.
