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The afternoon proves to be quite intriguing.  Mostly, because Emmie and her little brother, Noel, arrive before we head to the tree farm.  And she and Kookie are back to dancing around each other.  Unexpectedly – for me, anyway – Lyric also arrives.  Which definitely upsets the apple cart.   Because now Janna’s attention is all riveted on her boyfriend – no, it isn’t official yet, but the way these two look at each other makes it pretty obvious how the land lies – and poor Emmie is left to her own devices.  Which, of course, mostly involve staring at Kookie until he glances her way.  

I watch as her head pivots with lightning speed to avoid eye contact with my precious son.  I sigh.

These two!  At this rate, Kookie will be thirty before I get any grandchildren from their union!  But then I remember the beautiful bracelet he created for her this morning, and my heart melts again.  If Emmie doesn’t end up marrying my son, I will be shocked.  

Yes, I know they’re only sixteen.  But I don’t think that matters one whit.  I’ve seen the way they look at each other.  Which is why Kookie will not be inviting her back to his bedroom any time during the next decade!

Lyric politely turns towards me.  “Mrs. Franklin, may I drive Nana to the tree farm?”

“Um, sure,” I respond with finesse.

My husband always drives his own car to the tree farm so we can stow our Christmas tree in the back.  Most of the kids end up riding with me.

Today, Everett rides with his daddy and invites his best friend, Noel, along for the ride.  Which leaves me with my younger twins and Kookie and Emmie.  And only one front seat.  I’m realizing how awkward this ride is going to be when Lyric turns back towards me and offers Jungkook and Emmie a ride too.  My son politely refuses.  I watch as Emmie’s face falls.  

She’s quick to respond, “That’s okay.  I’ll ride with Mrs. Franklin.”

So the five of us head for my van.

I decide to make this ride a little more interesting.  “Kookie, can you take these bags out and set them on the passenger seat up front?  You don’t mind riding in the middle today, do you?”

He shoots me a knowing look.  I grin at him innocently.  He glances at Emmie and disturbs her gazing at him longingly.  

He smiles at her, but as he turns his face back towards me, his beautiful grin surfaces, and he replies, “Sure, Mom!”

I stifle a chuckle.  If these two aren’t officially a couple by New Year’s, I’ll be astonished.  

A few moments later, the twins pile into the back of the van.  Kookie waves Emmie into the vehicle before climbing in after her.  They sit down in the two captain’s chairs in the middle of my van. And once again studiously avoid eye contact with each other.

But I’m still finding it interesting that they both chose to ride with me.  At least, they’re under my watchful eyes and not stuck sitting next to each other in the back of Lyric’s little car.  I put my own eyes on the driveway and back the van out of my garage before heading for the tree farm.  Occasionally, I glance in my rearview mirror to see how things are progressing between the two silent teenagers.  Kookie is still hiding behind his ridiculously long bangs.  And Emmie is still casting surreptitious glances his way every so often.  I suppress a smile and drive on.

A few minutes later, we arrive at the tree farm.  We all jump out of the van, find my husband, and head for the little stand where we pay.  Then the kids and I wander over to wait for the next hayrack in front of the big barn housing a Christmas decoration store.  

A couple of minutes later, a tractor towing a hay rig pulls up in front of us.  We all pile on to the hay rack.  I note with interest that Kookie lifts first Abner and then Alastair up onto the frame of the hay rig as Everett pulls himself up onto it.  Then Kookie turns towards Emmie.

“Do you need some help?”

Emmie glances up at him in surprise before dumbly nodding her head.  Kookie reaches out and grabs her around the waist and lifts her up with ease onto the hay rack.  She smiles down at him.  

“Thanks, Kookie,” she murmurs quietly.

I notice his eyes lingering on his old green hoodie.  Her coat is unzipped revealing that she still hasn’t lost her love of his old garment.  Kookie smiles faintly as his eyes brush over his beloved sweatshirt.  Clothing the girl whom he has come to love.

Then he swings himself up next to her.  I notice that his hand brushes hers on the floor of that old hay rack.  Neither of their hands budge.  In fact, his hand is pressed up against hers for the duration of the ride out to the field of trees.  Emmie is so happy that she’s beaming the whole way.  And Kookie never takes his eyes off her face.

Amazingly, Janna doesn’t even notice.  She’s too enraptured by her own guy.  She and Lyric are boldly holding hands.  She’s grinning to beat the band.  And a happy smile is cloaking his own countenance in joy.  

Suddenly, Janna says something that makes Lyric chuckle.  Kookie guffaws, and Emmie giggles.  For just a moment, I think of poor Melody and wonder if someday she might find a boy who can make her laugh too.  I hope so.

Mostly, I’m simply amazed that my children are this old.  We’ve grown from a troop of seven to a group of ten.  And now both of my oldest children have a significant other.  One of these days, there will be some grandchildren piled up next to me on this little yearly jaunt.

“Mahhhhhm!” I can just hear Janna rebuking me for my thoughts.  “Slow down!  I’m not having kids any time soon.  And neither is Kookie!  We’ve got to make it through college first.  We’re not even done with high school yet!”

And, of course, she’d be right.  Still, a mother can dream….