It's the night before the play, and a very terrified & extremely nervous Thomas is unable to fall asleep every time he attempts to lay down and close his eyes. The daunting thought of messing up his lines in front of everyone, especially his mom, jolts up from a deep sleep. He then gets out of bed & blots to his dad's room down the hall, unable to fall asleep.'' Hey bud, what are you doing up?'' asks Liam as he comes from his bathroom connected to his and Zoey's closet. Thomas then looks up at him,'' can you help me rehearse my lines for tomorrow's night's show?'' asks Thomas, afraid that everyone is going to laugh at him; every time he closes his eyes, he sees himself on that stage and is '' but why not mommy'' as he messes up meaning to say Santa when the audience starts to laugh which makes Thomas turn ten shades of red of embarrassment.''Bud, you are going to be okay, now let's get you back to bed' 'says Liam picking up his little boy in his muscular arms. Happy that he can still pick him up since he knows in a few more years, he won't have the opportunity to do that, so he takes every moment that he can now.'' No my bed, can I please sleep with you?'' asks Thomas giving him the puppy dog eyes, scared that he will have his awful nightmare again.''Why, what's the matter? Are you scared of something?'' asks Liam, concerned about what's bothering his precious baby boy right now.
Tom nods,'' I'm too scared to sleep alone. Can I please sleep with you, daddy?'' asks Thomas using his secret weapon, the puppy dog eyes once again knowing that Liam won't say no to that. Liam then looks into those little brown eyes thinking, how can I say no to that and that there won't be as many more times like this when he is asking to sleep in his bed.''How can I say no to that face? Yes, you can sleep in here tonight, ''says Liam placing him down on the bed. Thomas scurries his way to his mommy's side of the bed. Liam then looks over and sees his son in his wife's spot, which bothers him. The more he thinks about it's almost as his wife is sleeping on the side of him,'' is something wrong, daddy?'' asks Thomas curiously, seeing the expression on his dad's face when he went over to his mommy's side of the bed.
'' Everything's fine, bud, and actually, it's better than fine. It's fantastic & I haven't felt this way in a very long time ''says Liam, actually smiling and not hiding how he is genuinely feeling. For once around Thomas on his true feelings of expression.'' Okay, so is Hazel coming to my play tomorrow night?'' asks Thomas curiously since his dad never did say if she was coming or not? Or if she received the invitation from his grandma?
''Yes, she is most definitely coming ''responds Liam smiling for once and is not avoiding talking about her around Thomas but is not explaining why that is. Wanting to keep some things still private, he is not keeping Hazel away from Tom, but he is still. Beholding the truth in his feelings for her? In his personal private life, Liam doesn't share with his son as a parent. Not every secret of a parent is meant to be unfolded from a child's perspective is intended to be shared. He learned that growing up over the years, Jeremiah ''Jeremy'' & Avery have also kept things from him for his sake & protection. For instance, hiding his acceptance to Flordia State Univerity, his dream school, made him choose his backup school, Castleton University, with it being close to home.
''Awesome, I like Hazel, daddy. She is nice ''says Thomas, growing very fond of having another female influencer around that reminds him of his mom. Who knows, she might even like it here, seeing that you can tell that seeing that she already likes his daddy. I'm sure that everyone assumes that a nine-year-old wouldn't pick up on something like that at his age. Although most eight-year old's don't experience what he went through in the last year.
'' I'm glad that you do, yes she is, ''says Liam thinking more things about her privately in his head. For instance, she is beautiful, bright, has the most beautiful eyes, and he might be overthinking this. Still, he is thinking about possibly making them more than a possible something and maybe more a relationship. Although why would Hazel from the big city be interested in someone from a small town? I mean, yes, she did agree to waiting and moving at a small pace, although how long is she willing to wait for him? What happens after she leaves Peppermint? I mean, he doesn't even have her number or anything? All Liam knows is that she lives in Brooklyn, New York; you know how many people are in Brooklyn 2,504,700? If he is going to make his move, it needs to be before she lives; no, actually, tonight will be the night he will move forward with Hazel.
The following morning, as the two Brown men were off to the Candy Cane Cafe for breakfast before school and work, this isn't a usual morning thing. However, tonight being Thomas's big night as the head elf in tonight's performance of Santa's coming to Peppermint. This is something that Zoey & Liam started doing right after they got engaged to celebrate big moments at the family's restaurant.'' Good morning aunt Holly. Can I have some hot chocolate, please? '' asks Thomas, eyes open wide. Knowing that his auntie won't be able to say no, he won't even have to use his puppy dog eyes.
''I don't see why not, considering that tonight is a special occasion. Would you like crushed-up candy canes? To go with the mini marshmallows topped with the whipped cream? ''asks Holly to her nephew..''Yes, please ''says Thomas with his mouth-watering thinking about it.'' That can be your treat tonight after the play; I'll have a coffee and an orange juice for the both of us ''says Liam.
''But dad, it's a special day, ''says Thomas, pouting wanting it this morning. Instead of later on tonight, to him it does not harm.''No that's too much sugar, and if you want chocolate chip pancakes. Then no Peppermint Hot Chocolate for you than ''tells Liam. Assuming that his wife was the soft one and gave in willingness to these kinds of things when he was at work. Or away on business, ''please daddy ?'' begs Thomas continuing to use his secret weapon, the famous puppy dog eyes, once again to get what he wants.
''Later on tonight, you can,'' says Liam, not letting his little boy's puppy dog eyes work this time. Before, when Tom was younger, he easily would give him little things like this. However, sometimes it is okay to say no every once and a while. Plus, that is too much sugar; he will be bouncing around the classroom like a bouncy ball. ''Fine, but can I have blueberry pancakes instead?'' asks Thomas since those were Zoey's favorite along with anything else blueberry, especially a Blueberry glazed donut.''Yes, you may & you are so much like your mom. Can we have a kids' stack of Blueberry pancakes & then? I will have an Egg White Omelet with Mushrooms and Spinach please ''tells Liam their order to his baby sister Holly.
''Coming right up, ''says Holly writing their order down and heading to the kitchen to place it on the ticket rack.
Many hours have passed, and time has finally come. All of the students are backstage, rows of seats are filling up. As Liam is sitting down their reserved aisle when he sees Hazel coming towards him. ''Hey, you made it''says Liam smiling, seeing Hazel approach him, having all of those crazy feelings again. Similar to the ones he had for Zoey, although this time it's different.'' Of course, I am,I wouldn't have missed it plus you sent over the ticket ''replies Hazel happy to be here.
'I know I just hadn't heard from you, so I wasn't sure ''says Liam, as he sees Thomas's teacher approach him.
''Mr. Brown, we can't find Thomas''says his teacher telling the news right before the show starts.''What do you mean you can't find him?'' asks Liam confused and now worried plus terrified.