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Since moving to New York City, Esme was only looking forward to one thing: snow. She and her mother missed the first snowfall because of a “warm and sunny” family vacation– disappointed was an understatement–, so with chatter about a flurry storm covering the tristate, she was determined to be part of this time’s snowing. Her tired eyes drooped as they watched the weatherman heed the warning for the slick roads between certain hours. Kelly pulled her wife and child closer until they all drifted into a deep sleep.
When Esme awoke, blearily she watched the specks of snow melt away against the window. Her little feet carried her as fast as they could while she ran to her mothers; she took a mental note to argue with them about not letting her sleep with them again. She jumped and poked at their ribs and faces, squealing gleefully about the happenings of the weather. “It’s snowin’! It’s snowin’!” She chanted, striving for newer volumes after each statement. Somewhere between a huff and a groan, Alex flung the child on her back to get them ready for the brisk morning. The nightstand clock read 5:32. Kelly turned further into her pillow, knowing her wife had just bought her a good 15 minutes.
Esme’s rendition of the entire Encanto soundtrack filled the bathroom. Alex tucked her daughter’s braids into her hat with her eyes still swollen from exhaustion. “It’s not a lot of snow, baby, you do know that, right?” The weather reached nearly 60 degrees last week; there was no way the state could produce the amount of snow for a fun snow day.
Esme didn’t care. She’s never seen snow and was extremely determined to catch a flurry or two in her mouth. The 6-year-old knew how to play her cards. She took notes from her aunt Kara with the pouty lip, Aunt Lena with negotiations, and Nia with the vocabulary. It worked out pretty well if she said so herself.
Kelly handed her wife a thermos of coffee with a glance, saying, “That’s your kid.” Alex rolled her eyes and flicked her hand under her chin. The couple had picked up ASL not too long ago in hopes of swearing less around their new edition. It was a tough habit to break for Danvers. Don’t worry, she’s reformed.
Esme bounced on the tips of her toes, finishing her version of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” at the top of her lungs. The louder she sang, the faster her moms got ready– another trick she learned not too long ago, she used constantly. Alex covered her mouth and dragged her mini-me out the door of the building. Her chubby cheeks grew three shades darker as the cold air grazed her face.
Squealing, she ran up and down the sidewalk. Her moms wrapped themselves in each other, sipping on their respective coffee and tea. “It’s snowin’!” Esme laughed. The moms reminded her to be mindful of their sleeping neighbors. They watched her jump into puddle after puddle after puddle, splashing away in the slush happily. Alex handed her wife her thermos to join in on the fun.
“I’m married to a child,” Kelly shook her head, amused. “Good morning,” she greeted a few stray early risers. Strangers dodged the game of tag that had commenced between mother and daughter. Lips pressed in a tight, thin line, the redhead gave a firm nod every time she nearly crashed into someone new.
They remained outside for a while longer. The flurry of the storm slowly increased to a blizzard. Mid-March, and it was snowing in the streets of New York City.
Snowing.
In March.
Alex was over it. Esme was loving it, spinning and twirling in her boots. And Kelly? Well, she just needed a nap. Seeing their daughter filled with such joy made freezing their butts off in the early morning more than worth it. Kelly let out a sigh of relief when Esme finally decided that she had had enough.
In their warm apartment, the family chose to make French Toast and eggs for breakfast. A cozy day full of movies and snacks was just what they needed. The moms relinquished all movie decisions to their freshly bathed and fully stuffed little love.
Around the early afternoon, she had dozed off under Kelly’s chin. Her strawberry-scented shampoo wiped away the week’s stress almost instantly. Alex watched them silently; her heart soared when Esme hummed contentedly in her sleep. Kelly slowly matched her gaze, “What?” She flushed under her wife’s stare.
“Nothin’,” A smile crept up on her cheeks. “I love you, s’all.” She shrugged.
Kelly squinted her eyes suspiciously, “I love you more, I think…”
Alex gaped, “You think?” She parroted. “You’re lucky Ez is sleeping, or I would fight you.”
She thought about it for a moment, “No, I don’t think you would.” Kelly was right, of course.