Ryan was home for Thanksgiving, and as part of Operation Make The Most Out of Having My Entire Family Together for a Few Days, the four of us went out to dinner early Saturday evening.
After we put in our drink orders, I got up to wash my hands. On my way to the washroom, I passed a mom and two kids at a table near the back of the restaurant. The kids were a boy and a girl, probably about 8 and 12. The mom appeared to be in her late 30s. I noticed that she wasn't wearing a wedding ring. I wondered if she was divorced, and this was part of her weekend with the kids.
The boy was holding a Nintendo DS up, furiously smashing the buttons. The girl was wearing headphones, and watching something on a device that was either an iPod or iPhone. The woman, who I assumed was their mother, looked sad and resigned. My heart ached for them all, as I passed them.
When I got back to our table, I put my arm around Nolan and hugged him.
"What was that for?" He said.
"For coming out to dinner with us, and actually being here. It really means a lot to me that we're actually together, and not just sitting at the same table."
"Uhhh, okay," he said.
I kissed the top of his head. "I love you."
"Okay, Wil," he said, not unkindly, "I love you too."
He and Ryan shared one of those "Wil's being sentimental again" looks that I've seen so often over the last decade or so.
Nolan stage whispered to Ryan, "He is so weird."
I looked over at Ryan. "I'm so glad you're home."
"Me too."
Anne and I shared one of those "we sure do have an awesome family" looks that we've shared so often over the last decade or so.
