The Sweetest Moment

Eventually, the laughter died down.

Mostly.

Dad was still standing in the window.

Mom was still apparently sending updates via text message.

And neither Jack nor I seemed particularly interested in ending the evening.

Again.

This was becoming a problem.

A very nice problem.

Finally, Jack looked at the clock.

"We should probably call it a night."

I sighed dramatically.

"I suppose."

He laughed.

"That sounded painful."

"It was."

"I'm honored."

I smiled.

For a moment, neither of us moved.

Then we both climbed out of the car.

The night air felt cool and comfortable.

The neighborhood was quiet.

Most of the houses were dark.

Most people had long since gone to bed.

Unfortunately, my father wasn't most people.

As we walked toward the front porch, I glanced toward the window.

Sure enough.

Dad was still there.

Watching.

Jack noticed.

Then shook his head.

"That's incredible."

"You have no idea."

"I kind of love it."

I pointed at him.

"Don't encourage him."

Too late.

The front porch light cast a warm glow across the steps.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

The evening had been wonderful.

The kind of evening neither person wanted to end.

But eventually every date reaches that moment.

The goodbye.

We stopped near the front door.

For a second, neither of us seemed to know what to say.

Then I smiled.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"Everything."

He smiled back.

"Dinner?"

"Yes."

"The karaoke bar?"

"Definitely."

"My mother embarrassing me?"

I laughed.

"Especially that."

Jack shook his head.

"She's never going to let me live this down."

"Nope."

"Wonderful."

We both laughed.

The comfortable silence returned.

The kind I had started looking forward to.

Because silence with Jack never felt awkward.

It felt easy.

Natural.

For a few moments we simply stood there.

Neither rushing.

Neither forcing anything.

Just enjoying the last few minutes together.

Then Jack stepped a little closer.

Not dramatically.

Just enough.

I could see the softness in his expression.

The same look he'd had when he called to check on me after the move.

The same look he'd had when he listened while I talked about Chris.

The same look he'd had all week.

Kind.

Patient.

Genuine.

My heart did that annoying little flutter again.

The one I was beginning to blame entirely on him.

Jack smiled.

"I had a really good time tonight."

I nodded.

"So did I."

"A lot of fun."

"Definitely."

For a second, neither of us moved.

Then he leaned in and gently kissed my cheek.

Simple.

Sweet.

Nothing rushed.

Nothing dramatic.

Just a soft kiss that somehow meant more because there was no pressure behind it.

For a brief moment, I felt completely stunned.

Not because I didn't want him to.

Because it caught me off guard.

In the best possible way.

When he pulled back, he looked slightly nervous.

Which immediately made me smile.

Jack nervous?

That was new.

I laughed softly.

"What?"

He shook his head.

"Nothing."

"Liar."

He smiled.

"Maybe."

I could feel the warmth in my cheeks.

And based on the grin spreading across his face, he knew it.

Unfortunately.

"You're blushing."

"I am not."

"You absolutely are."

I pointed toward the driveway.

"You should leave."

That made him laugh.

"That's fair."

For a moment we simply stood there smiling at one another.

Neither saying anything.

Neither needing to.

Then Jack took a step backward.

"I'll call you tomorrow."

I smiled.

"I know you will."

"Probably several times."

I laughed.

"Definitely several times."

He nodded.

"Goodnight, Lela."

His voice was soft.

Gentle.

The kind of goodnight that stays with you long after the person leaves.

"Goodnight, Jack."

Reluctantly, he turned and headed toward his car.

I stood on the porch watching him.

The same way I'd watched him drive away after our first date.

The same feeling settling into my chest.

Only stronger now.

As he reached his car door, he looked back.

Waved.

I waved back.

Then he climbed inside and pulled away from the curb.

The headlights disappeared down the street.

Only then did I turn toward the front door.

The second I opened it, I knew I was in trouble.

Mom was sitting on the couch.

Waiting.

Dad was standing beside the window.

Still.

Watching.

Both turned toward me simultaneously.

The smiles on their faces were impossible to miss.

"Oh no."

Dad grinned.

"Oh yes."

I immediately started laughing.

Because somehow I already knew.

There was absolutely no chance I was getting out of this conversation.

None whatsoever.

The second the front door closed behind me, both of my parents turned toward me.

Simultaneously.

Like they had rehearsed it.

I immediately pointed at them.

"No."

Dad grinned.

"Oh yes."

Mom smiled into her tea.

"You were out late."

I looked at the clock.

Then immediately regretted it.

Almost midnight.

"Wow."

Dad folded his arms.

"Must have been a terrible date."

I rolled my eyes.

"It was awful."

"Really?"

"Absolutely."

Mom nodded.

"That explains the smile."

Traitor.

Both of them were traitors.

I dropped my purse on the table.

"You're impossible."

Dad looked proud of himself.

"I know."

For a moment I considered heading upstairs.

Running for my life.

Unfortunately, my mother spoke first.

"Sit."

There it was.

The mom voice.

The voice that wasn't really a request.

I sighed dramatically.

Then sat down.

Dad immediately took the chair across from me.

Mom settled onto the couch.

Apparently we were conducting a formal interview.

Wonderful.

Dad pointed.

"What happened?"

I laughed.

"You sound like a detective."

"Answer the question."

I shook my head.

"No."

Mom smiled.

"How was dinner?"

"Good."

Dad frowned.

"Good?"

I nodded.

"Good."

"That's all we get?"

"Yep."

Mom laughed.

"We raised her too well."

Dad looked disappointed.

For about three seconds.

Then his expression changed.

The look.

The one that meant he'd figured something out.

Uh-oh.

"What?"

He smiled.

"Nothing."

"Dad."

He leaned back.

"Did he finally kiss you?"

I nearly choked.

"DAD!"

Mom burst out laughing.

The tea nearly came out her nose.

Dad pointed triumphantly.

"There it is."

I covered my face.

"Oh my God."

The man looked entirely too pleased with himself.

Mom was laughing so hard she couldn't speak.

"Dad!"

"What?"

"You can't ask that."

"Sure I can."

"No."

"I just did."

I groaned.

The worst part?

He wasn't wrong.

Not technically.

I could still feel the warmth from Jack's kiss on my cheek.

The memory instantly made me smile.

Unfortunately both parents noticed.

Immediately.

Dad slapped the table.

"There it is."

"Oh my God."

Mom pointed.

"She's smiling again."

I stood up.

"I'm going to bed."

Dad laughed.

"No you're not."

"Watch me."

I started toward the stairs.

Then stopped.

Because something occurred to me.

I turned around.

"Dad?"

"What?"

"How long were you standing in the window?"

Mom started laughing before he even answered.

That's never a good sign.

Dad looked suspiciously innocent.

"Not long."

"Liar."

"A little while."

I folded my arms.

"How long?"

Mom couldn't stop smiling.

Finally Dad sighed.

"Maybe twenty minutes."

I stared.

"Twenty minutes?"

He shrugged.

"I was making sure you got home safely."

Mom nearly fell off the couch laughing.

"Paul."

"What?"

"You were spying."

"I was observing."

I pointed at him.

"You're ridiculous."

"Maybe."

The smile never left his face.

For a few moments, the room became quiet.

Comfortable quiet.

The kind that only exists between family members who genuinely enjoy being around one another.

Eventually Mom spoke.

"You seem happy."

The room immediately changed.

Just slightly.

Not serious.

Not heavy.

Honest.

I looked down.

Then smiled.

"Yeah."

Mom nodded.

A small nod.

Like she'd already known.

Dad looked at me.

Really looked at me.

Then smiled too.

And suddenly I realized something.

Neither of them cared about the date.

Not really.

They cared about me.

The smile.

The laughter.

The way I'd walked through the door.

For years they'd watched me slowly become someone who worried all the time.

Someone who carried too much.

Someone who forgot how to enjoy life.

Tonight they were seeing something different.

The daughter they remembered.

The daughter who laughed too loudly.

The daughter who teased people.

The daughter who smiled without realizing it.

Dad finally broke the silence.

"You know what I like about him?"

I looked up.

"What?"

"He listens."

The answer surprised me.

Because it wasn't what I expected.

Not his job.

Not his personality.

Not anything superficial.

Just that.

He listens.

I nodded slowly.

"He does."

Dad smiled.

"That's rare."

Mom looked over.

"Your father is right."

I laughed.

"Mark this date on the calendar."

Dad pointed.

"Very funny."

For several moments, nobody spoke.

Then Dad stood.

Stretched.

And yawned.

"I'm going to bed."

Mom looked shocked.

"You're tired?"

"It has been a long day."

I laughed.

"The carbon monoxide detector nearly gave you a heart attack."

Dad pointed toward Mom.

"It gave her a heart attack."

Mom threw a pillow at him.

He laughed and headed toward the stairs.

Halfway there, he stopped.

Turned around.

And looked at me.

"Saturday should be fun."

I smiled.

"The game?"

He nodded.

"The game."

Then a grin appeared.

"And I can't wait to meet the poor guys Jack brings."

I started laughing.

Of course.

Of course my father was already planning introductions.

Dad disappeared upstairs.

Mom stood shortly afterward.

Then kissed the top of my head.

The same way she had done when I was a little girl.

"Goodnight, sweetheart."

"Goodnight, Mom."

She smiled.

Then headed upstairs too.

A few moments later, I was alone.

The house had become quiet.

The clock ticked softly.

Everything felt peaceful.

I looked around the living room.

At the familiar furniture.

The family photographs.

The memories.

Then I thought about the last week.

Moving home.

The talk with Sarah.

John leaving for California.

Dinner with Jack.

Meeting Diane and Wayne.

The baseball game coming up.

Everything.

My entire life had changed in a matter of days.

And somehow, for the first time in years, change didn't feel frightening.

It felt exciting.

I smiled to myself.

Then headed upstairs.

As I climbed into bed, my phone buzzed.

One new message.

Jack.

I immediately smiled.

"Made it home."

A few seconds later another message appeared.

"And for the record..."

I laughed.

Then opened it.

"You looked beautiful tonight."

I stared at the screen.

Unable to stop smiling.

Then typed back.

"You sing pretty well."

The response came almost instantly.

"Pretty well?"

I burst out laughing.

Then turned off the lamp.

Curled beneath the blankets.

And for the first time in a very long time, I fell asleep smiling.