YOU'RE ALL MINE - ch 22

YOU’RE ALL MINE - ch 22

(the magic of Midnight)

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Midnight was almost tempted to tell Mia to close her eyes as she began driving down the long road to her house. “What was I thinking?” he said to herself. “That’s like asking her to aim her car toward the cliff and keep driving until she hits the river.”

“Midnight, what are you mumbling about?” She pared a quick glance in the rearview mirror to look at her cat’s face.

“Oh, nothing, mo chailin daor (my dear girl). Just thinking.”

“Hmm,” Mia said then added, “Then you should mumble quieter because I am NOT going to drive with my eyes closed.”

“Ooops, you heard that?”

“Midnight, you are mo eolach (my familiar).”

Mia parked her car aside the garage just like her father had asked and became curious when Midnight held back as she walked to the back door. Her feline was always ready to rush in and see what treat might be waiting for her. “Midnight, are you alright?”

“Mia, I’m fine. Just enjoying the air. Let’s go inside.” But the cat still held back a bit. As Mia began walking from the mud room to the kitchen, she stopped abruptly.

“Francis! What are you doing here?”

The boy smiled shyly and answered, “Mia, I have two reasons. I know it isn’t Sunday, but I found myself with a bit of time and hoped you’d show me your garden and the second, well..” He looked at Mia’s mother and with a twinkle in her eye, nodded. “Mia, I’d like you to go with me to my graduation dance.”

Mia was stunned. She never told anyone she’d had a secret crush on Francis since the first day he almost ran her over with his bicycle.

Anticipating that Francis could hear her, Midnight kept quiet. Her feline wisdom as a familiar had her realize that Francis was a bit shy. Seeing the probability of a date for Mia, Midnight didn’t want to spoil anything.

Before Mia could answer, there was a loud knock on the front door and an accompanying shout, “DELIVERY!”

Morena walked to the door and upon opening it, saw a boy about Mia’s age holding a very large bouquet of assorted flowers, who said, “Delivery for Mia Diehl.”

He handed Morena the flowers, then quickly jumped back into an extremely old, dilapidated truck that looked like it might not make it down the street.

“Mia,” Morena said, “these are for you.” She handed her daughter the flowers and turned to retrieve a vase from the utility closet.

“Mom, why would anyone send me flowers? It isn’t my birthday.” Her mother suggested, “See if there’s a card.”

Mia began unwrapping the tissue paper and saw a small card peeking out from the middle of the bouquet. She stood there, card in hand, her mouth a bit slack, and her eyes opened a bit wider in shock and amusement.

“Well, Mia, don’t keep us in suspense. Who sent you this lovely bouquet?”

“Mom, the card says, ‘Mia, I would be most proud to have you go with me to my senior dance. The dance begins at 7PM on the third Friday of this month. I can pick you up at 6:30. Anticipating your answer is yes. Tim Dwyer.’ Mom, I have no idea who Tim Dwyer is and honestly, if this is his way of asking me for a date? Well, he can keep his left-handed invitation. He’d be PROUD? Does he think I’m someone to show off to build his ego?”

She looked at Francis and asked, “Francis, is your invitation still open?” He smiled and replied, “Mia, I would be honored if you’d to with me. “

Before Mia answered him, she looked at her mother and said, “Mom, THIS is the kind of invitation I would accept. Francis came here, in person, to ask me. He didn’t send me flowers with what seems to be an expected acceptance.” She looked at Francis and replied, “Francis, nothing would please me more than to be your date for your dance. Should I assume it’s the same date and time as Tim’s?”

Francis blushed and acknowledged it was the same class dance. Then Mia asked, “Francis, I need to know. Did you come here to ask permission from my mom to ask me for a date?”

His blush deepened and, and he shyly said it was. Mia thought that he looked as if he might want to crawl under the table.

Her smile grew and walking closer to where he was standing, she reached out and grasped his hands, then standing on her toes, reached up and kissed his cheek. “Francis, thank you for being the kind of boy I always dreamed would be my first date.”

They turned as Morena grunted, and she said, “I really hate to break up this sweet conversation, but Francis, you need to get back to work and Mia? Why don’t you walk Francis out to his bike? You can give him a proper thank you kiss without having your mother hovering over you.”

Mia giggled and Francis’ face color deepened.

They walked outside and Midnight began to screech, “I knew it! I knew he’d ask her. Am I psychic or what?” The silly cat started strutting around the yard, while she sang, “First, a boy and a girl meet each other, then they sit down to talk for a while..” then she hummed the rest.

Mia knew that song. It was the song her parents chose as their wedding song. She turned and looked at her familiar and said, “Midnight, will you just shut up!” She could have sworn she heard the cat chuckle.

Francis kissed Mia on the cheek and said, “Mia, I’ll call you in a day or two, if it’s okay with you.”

She agreed and he jumped on his bike and sped away. As she walked towards her front door, she laughed to herself, “I never did get to show him my garden!”