“Mine’s the blue one,” Jack says.
“I can’t wait to see it.”
Instead of volunteering his toothbrush color, Levi asks, “You like my mommy?”
I smile because thinking of her always makes me smile. “I do like her. A lot.”
“She’s your best friend?” Jack asks.
“She’s a special friend, yes.”
“Because you fix her car?” Levi asks.
“I fixed her car because I care about her, and people should help the people they care about.”
“I help Mommy,” Jack says.
“Me too,” Levi says.
“You two help her a lot,” I say. “That makes her proud of you.”
“Because she loves us,” Levi says.
“We’re her favorite boys,” Jack says, nodding along with his brother.
“You are. Now, who’s going to show me where the applesauce is?”
“I am!” Levi says, running out of the room ahead of me and Jack.
“This way,” Jack says, sticking his hand out.
I take his hand and we walk down the hallway toward the kitchen.
I’m under no delusion that parenting would always be this fun or easy. I know how much Angie pours into being a mom. I’ve seen my friends who have kids of all ages. And I’m a novelty to the twins right now.
Still, as I hold Jack’s hand, walking into the kitchen, the thought crosses my mind that I could get used to this.
The boys eat their applesauce, then they pull out a stool so they can reach the sink to rinse their bowls. After their teeth are brushed and they’ve used the restroom, they walk me through their bedtime routine, explaining each step.
“Now you read this book to us.” and “You have to do all the voices.”
We sing the itsy bitsy spider song and then I tuck them into their beds.
“You have to turn on that night-light,” Levi tells me.
“That keeps monsters out of our room,” Jack explains with an earnest face.
“Out of the whole house,” Levi adds.
I smile and turn on the light.
“Goodnight, boys,” I say, turning around in the doorway and looking at both of them tucked into their twin beds.
Levi yawns. “G’night, Mister EJ.”
Jack yawns too. “Thank you for the LEGOs.”
“You’re welcome,” I say, and then I step into the hallway, pulling the door mostly shut behind me until it rests on the jamb.
