The morning sunlight shone through the house window. Rays of golden yellow radiated through the curtains, reaching it way towards Milani. The sweet smell of freshly cooked vegetables and meat filled the surrounding air. Nearly knocking her out with the appetizing smell, it was Monday evening and Milani had just wrapped up cooking dinner. Cooking was like a coping mechanism for Milani, whenever she felt stressed she would cook till her heart gave out. "Mommy it's not thanksgiving why is there so much food?" Milani turned around to the sound and found her son standing at the entrance confused. "I'm just nervous honey," she ruffled her son's hair and grinned. "Where's your sister?" Milani asked. "She found a dog outside our driveway and decided to play dress up with Snuffles and the dog," Romeo responded to his mother. "That little rascal," Milani declared as she ran outside.
Milani groaned as she glanced at the image of Snuffles and another dog playing in the backyard with tiny dresses on. "Alana rosemary kekoa, what are you doing playing in the mud after I just showered you?" Her daughter stared at her mother with an innocent smile, Milani could tell Alana was trying to cute her way out of trouble. She's just like her father, Milani thought as she facepalmed herself. "Come on, get inside we have to get you cleaned up before the guest arrive." Milani was tired and in a hurry. She only had a few minutes until Caesar would show up and Alana was all muddy. Milani warmed some water and carried a towel back to the bathroom to bathe her mischievous daughter. "Mommy you haven't told us who's coming today, oh my gosh is it Uncle Mason and Auntie Jasmine?" She jumped up and down in the bathtub. Milani's chuckle was soft as she pulled her daughter gently towards her. "No, it's a surprise, you'll find out if you be a good girl." Warping her in a towel, Milani picked out a set of clothing for her daughter. "This should do it," she announced as she dressed her little girl.
I should probably cook another batch of cookies, Milani thought to herself as her and her daughter walked down the hall. The front doorbell interrupted Milani's thoughts before she could act upon them. She felt a rush of panic when she walked towards the door. "Okay kids stay behind mommy," she stated before opening the door. "Hey..." Caesar said. Milani noticed a bouquet in his hands. It was her two favorite types of flowers, a mixture of cherry blossoms and tulips. "You remembered?" Milani whispered peering in his eyes. "How could I forget?" He told her with a smile.
Flashback
"Babe what are you doing in the garden?" Caesar asked Milani. "Nothing just admiring these lovely flowers," she replied blushing as she laid under the cherry blossom tree. Caesar and Milani has been dating for a few months and the sound of him calling her babe still left her blushing. Milani loved nature, she had always craved to grow her own garden but the conditions in which she lived never allowed her to have that dream. So instead she would spend hours under the cherry blossom tree in Caesars backyard. "Why don't you look at me with such love as you do with these flowers," Caesar teased his girlfriend. "Oh shut up," Milani giggled. "Isn't nature so beautiful Caesar, look at the tulips. I wish I could have such beautiful tulips and this cherry blossom tree all to myself." Caesar smiled at his girlfriend and pulled her in closer to him. "If that's the case then I'll buy every single tulip and cherry blossom tree in the world for you." He gave her a passionate kiss, unable to resist her beauty.
Present day
Milani held the bouquet in her hands, inhaling the sweet smell of tulips and cherry blossoms. "I told this to you years ago, and you still remembered." The wind blew against Caesar's hair as a smile grew in his face, and for a second there Milani felt weak to her knees.
There was a slight flutter in Milani's heart, it was as if she was a teenage girl again and Caesar was her knight in shining armor again. Caesar cleared his throat as Milani smiled down at the flowers. "I figured I should find every way possible to apologize to you and them," he commented glancing behind Milani as two small figures clung behind their mother. "Romeo, Alana this is Caesar, our guest for today." Milani shifted aside the door and allowed Caesar to step inside the house, instantly he noticed the two kids behind her. Caesar kneeled down in front of them and smiled, a sincere smile one that lightened up his whole face, one that was genuine.
"Hi, I'm Caesar it's nice to meet you two," he stated, a tremble visible in his voice. The two children glanced shyly at the guy in front of them. After a few seconds Alana reached out to Caesar and held his hand. "Hi mister, I'm Alana and this is my twin Romeo." Unlike Alana, Romeo said nothing, he was analyzing Caesar before he could greet him. "You're not talkative," Caesar chuckled as he looked at Romeo's blank face. "Just like your mother." What Caesar said was true, Romeo was more like me than his father, Milani thought, with a smile on her face. "Anyway, dinner will be ready in just a few moments, would you like something to drink Caesar, maybe some beer?" Walking into the kitchen Milani opened her fridge, searching for some beer. "I'll just have some water," said Caesar.
Milani nodded, although confused, remembering that Caesar used to love drinking beer. "One water, here you go." The woman handed the man his glass of water then walked over to the stove. After a few minutes Milani called her children to the kitchen to help her out with setting the dinner table. "Here let me help," Caesar suggested picking up plates of food. The woman shook her head and smiled at him. "No, it's fine you're the guest you shouldn't have to help with setting up the table," Caesar shook his head and picked up the plates. "I insist it's the least I could do for you." Milani sighed giving in. They all walked into the dining room and set up the table. "Mhm this taste so good Milani, you're still such a talented cook after all these years." He complimented, closing his eyes to savor the taste of his dish. Milani thanked Caesar for the compliment then glanced at her children. "Alana you know it's weird to stare at guest without saying anything," her daughter looked startled for a moment, and then composed herself. "Sorry momma, not to be rude but who is this man."
Milani and Caesar locked eyes, both speculating whether it was the right moment to tell the children about who the guest was. Caesar gave the woman in front of him a smile then nodded, it seemed as though he read her mind and agreed with whatever she was thinking. "This is one of mommy's old friend," the mother announced to her two curious children. Romeo looked up at his mother then smiled "Oh kind of like Uncle Brian mommy?"
Romeo's face lit up after he said Brian's name. It had merely been a few days since they'd known each other but the two boys hit it off as if they'd known each other since forever. Brian treated Romeo as if he was his own son, and the relationship they had was so cute to Milani. "Well, kind of like Uncle Brian but a little more special." The way Caesar was looking at Milani meant that he wanted to ask her a question on what Romeo was talking about. "We'll be right back," Milani told her children as she led Caesar to the living room. "Uncle Brian?" A perplexed look grew on the man's face as he waited for the woman in front of him to answer his question. "You remember Brian from high school?" Realization crossed Caesar's face. "When did he get discharged out of the military?" He stared at her with a questioning expression.
"A few days ago that's what he told me. We met when I was at the grocery store buying food for dinner." Answered Milani in a soft tone. "Oh, okay but anyway when do you think you'll tell them I'm their dad?" Milani shrugged, not knowing what to say. "I don't know yet, but it too early to tell them. They're just not ready yet." Milani claimed as they walked slowly back to the dining room.
The two adults filled the room with laughter after they came back from their chat and began making jokes with the children. Caesar smiled at the sounds of the children's voices and laughter, it was a new found happiness inside of him that he didn't want to ever let go.
"It's getting late, I have to go back to work tomorrow morning, this was a very nice dinner, and I had an excellent time tonight." Caesar grinned at Milani and the children as they left the dining room to outside. He bent over and shook the hands of the two kids before telling them it was nice meeting them. "Good night," he told the three most important people of his life as of today before driving off in his car.
"Mommy can Caesar come over again tomorrow? He was so nice and smelled good," Alana begged her mother as her brother nodded in agreement. "Haha anything for my little darlings." Milani said bending over and kissing the top of both her children's heads. "Alright bedtime," the mother yawned picking up her two children as she led them to their bedroom.