She left it in a spot she knew I’d look as soon as I got home.
It stared back at me and a smile took over my face. I quickly opened it and saw the hand written note. I knew exactly who it was from. I was instantly warmed by her thoughtfulness and the lovely surprise after a long work week. I clutched and embraced it in delight as I was filled with happiness.
I yelled to Francine upstairs,”FRRRRAAANNNNCIIIIINNNNNNEEEEE”
“Yes momma!” I love when she calls me momma…. makes my heart melt
“Come here peanut!”
“In a second I’m putting my cupcakes in the oven!”
Thump…thump…thump…at the bottom of the stairs our eyes meet and we were lit up by each other’s smiles.
” I saw that note,” I say grabbing her hand and pulling her in to squeeze her close and kiss her cheek
“Uh huh.”
“Thank you! It was sooooo sweet!” I say this time embracing her cheek to cheek and adding another kiss.
“You’re welcome momma,” she answers with a straight face
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she answers.
“Francine what is it?”
“Nothing……” she answers again.
This time with a fake smile. She looks at me. This time hers shouting do you get it momma. Do you know what I need? I paused and stared at her searching her eyes for the answer. The card she wrote flashed in my head.
“You really miss momma don’t you! Has it been hard on you, daddy taking you to practice this season and mom taking Olivia to swimming? We don’t get much time together these days do we?!”
“No!” she bursts confirming my words.
“Mom will be home all weekend! We can spend tons of time together.”
Saturday afternoon came around and my 7 week old nephew was coming over to spend a couple hours with us while my sister and her husband went to a surprise party. Olivia complained of a sore throat and stomach ache. I texted my sister and told her it was probably best if we came to her being that Olivia was not feeling good. With the ok from my sister I spoke with my husband explaining what happen the night before with Francine and the note.
“Francinnnnnneeeeeee!!!!!!!!”
“Yes momma?!”
“Do you want to come help take care of Callan tonight, just you and me. ”
“Suuuuure!!”
That night at my sisters it was all about her… and a lot about my nephew too… she picked her favorite dinner, we all snuggled and watched Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (one of her favorite movies) and High School Musical (another favorite) were the movies of choice. We snacked on popcorn and played Monopoly. She smiled and giggled and we laughed together in between moments of being a smidge jealous of the time had to spend on my nephew and her buying up all her favorite avenues and street and collected her rent.
At the end of the night as my nephew tried to see if he could out last both of us, Francine laid on the couch snuggling up with me as I fed him. I smiled and gazed into my nephews eyes and took moments to rub Fracine’s back as her eyes opened and closed fighting off sleep. Just as I thought she had finally surrendered to the sand man I looked down to see her staring at me. She looked up and just stared at me and smiled.
“What?!” I giggled as I stared back at her.
“You’re really good at that momma,” answered sweetly.
I smiled at her kissing her forehead her and tucking her in again as my heart melted.
“Thank you sweetie. I try,” and I kissed her good night one more time.