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Somehow, by some magic force, both Angela and Wesley managed to get New Year’s Eve off. Angela had braced herself for a hectic shift, especially with it being one of the busiest days of the year. But, in a turn of pure luck, the universe had conspired in their favor—no last-minute emergencies, no overtime requests. It was just verging into midday, and the entire Evers family was gearing up for a day of celebration.
Angela knew that she and Wesley could be going out somewhere fancy—a glitzy rooftop bar, endless champagne, and sparkles galore. But there was nothing she wanted more than to spend the night with her family. She looked around the kitchen, where she was finishing up the last of the appetizers, and smiled. This was her kind of celebration—surrounded by loved ones, in the place where everything felt just right.
They’d invited some close friends over—Nyla and James with Leah, Tim and Lucy with their contagious energy, Grey and Luna, who were always up for a good time, and even Celina planned to stop by. It wasn’t a huge crowd, but it was perfect.
“Momma! I wan help!” Jack exclaimed, his small voice filled with excitement as he ran over to Angela, who was carefully laying out various appetizers on sheet trays to bake.
Angela couldn’t help but laugh—a deep, delighted sound that bubbled up from her chest. She loved moments like this when Jack’s enthusiasm was so pure and infectious. Her eyes sparkled as she scooped him up, feeling the comforting weight of him against her hip. The boy was growing bigger each day, and it seemed like she couldn’t hold him like this for much longer.
She pressed a quick kiss to his soft hairline. “Okay, Jack. We’re going to lay each one in a line, just like Momma is doing. Got it?” she asked, looking down at him with a playful grin.
Jack’s brow furrowed in concentration as he looked at the tray in her hands. His little face scrunched up, trying to wrap his four-year-old brain around the instructions. He blinked, then gave a nod. “Gots it, Momma!”
Angela chuckled, her heart swelling as Jack shot her a grin that mirrored her own—bright and wide, a little lopsided with missing teeth. His excitement was so contagious she couldn’t help but giggle as he wriggled in her arms, eager to get started.
“Okay then, let's make this tray perfect!” Angela said with mock seriousness as she set him down on the floor just in front of the kitchen counter. She handed him a piece of pastry and pointed to the tray beside her. “Just like this—one, two, three…” she counted aloud, lining up a few more before glancing back to make sure he was following her lead.
Jack bent over, his little hands trying to place the pastry just so, though his attempt was less about precision and more about his determination to match his mom’s movements. Now and then, he glanced up at her for approval, his face lighting up when she nodded in encouragement.
"Look, Momma!" he exclaimed, holding up his piece with both hands, proud of his creation. “I did it!”
They worked side by side, Jack growing more focused with each piece he laid down, and Angela felt a quiet peace settle over her. The chaos of the holiday prep was always there, but it felt more manageable when she had moments like these with her kids.
With one last glance at the tray, Angela ruffled his messy hair. “You know what?” she said softly. “You just might be better at this than me.”
Jack looked up at her, his eyes shining with pride. “I’m big now, Momma. I can do it!” he declared, his voice full of certainty.
She soaked in the moment, her heart nearly bursting from her chest. Wesley, who had slipped in unannounced, smiled at the pair while holding their two-year-old. “There you guys are,” he smiled, bouncing Mija in her arms. “James just texted they’re on their way.”
Angela nodded, “Sounds good. Jack was a great helper, so I am almost done here.”
Their friends slowly started to trickle in, the house filling with the warmth of familiar faces and the sound of excited greetings. Hugs were exchanged like a ritual, laughter mingling with the soft hum of conversation. Wesley and Angela moved in sync, ensuring that the food was perfectly stocked, the drinks were cold, and the music was blasting just loud enough to fill the space without drowning out the chatter.
Angela couldn’t help but think of how lucky they were. With their busy lives, nights like this were rare. But tonight was different. It was all about tradition, connection, and making memories. And for the kids, it was a night of boundless energy and excitement—at least, until the plan was executed.
Angela was in the kitchen, topping off her glass of wine, when Wesley appeared in the doorway. He shot her a mischievous grin, and without missing a beat, he crossed the room, his arms wrapping around her waist.
"Hey," he murmured, pulling her close as he leaned down to kiss her. Angela could feel the warmth of him seep into her, the sense of safety she always felt in his arms. With a smile, she allowed herself to relax into the moment, forgetting about the party for just a second.
The kiss deepened, and suddenly, she was pressed up against the sink, the cold ceramic a sharp contrast to the heat building between them. Wesley's hands moved slowly, almost lazily, as if they were teenagers again, sneaking around when no one was watching. It was a kiss that was full of all the years they'd shared, the familiarity, the comfort, but also that spark that had never quite faded.
When they finally pulled away, Wesley’s breath was heavy, his eyes glinting with that playful look she loved so much.
“Had to steal a few minutes,” he said, his voice low and teasing. “In case we don’t survive the kids' energy. Lucy is already riling them up”
Angela chuckled, shaking her head fondly as she caught her breath. “Oh, we’ll survive. We’ve got the snack table and lots of alcohol.” She shot him a knowing smile. “And of course she is," she continued. "She better know payback is coming when it's their kids in a few years.”
Wesley laughed, his grip tightening on her waist. “You would do that,” he said with mock disbelief, though the affection in his voice was unmistakable. He pulled her in for one more quick kiss, his lips brushing against hers before he stepped back, still holding her close.
"I'm starting to think we might be in bed before the kids tonight," he said, his voice half-serious, half-teasing.
Angela raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eye. “Not with that attitude!” she teased, nudging him with her shoulder as she leaned into him.
Wesley smirked, raising an eyebrow in a way that always made her smile. “Alright, challenge accepted. But for real,” he added, his tone shifting slightly to something a little more grounded, “we are sticking to the plan, right? Early bedtime, no fuss?”
"Yes, we’re sticking to the plan," she said, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "The kids will be asleep by eight, and we’ll toast to the new year properly —even if it’s four hours early."
Wesley grinned, his hand gently squeezing her waist as he pulled her back in for a soft kiss. “I like the sound of that,” he murmured, pressing a final kiss to her lips before pulling away.
They stood there for a moment, just enjoying the quiet intimacy amidst the buzz of the party before the voices of their friends and children grew louder in the next room. Wesley smiled, a warmth settling over him as he looked at Angela, his family, their friends, and everything that made this moment so perfect.
“Alright,” he said, with a last squeeze of her waist. “Let’s survive this night together.”
Angela smiled back at him, her heart full. “We’ve got this. And if we don’t, at least we have plenty of wine.”
With one last chuckle, they stepped into the living room, joining their friends and children, ready to ring in the early new year with laughter, chaos, and the kind of love that made everything worth it.
As eight o'clock neared, the energy in the house hit a fever pitch. Angela stood in the living room, a quiet smile tugging at her lips as she watched the scene unfold. Party hats were perched atop heads—some crooked, some perfectly placed—and noise makers were handed out like treasures. The colorful streamers from earlier fluttered around the room as excited voices filled the air. A fake countdown blared from the TV, the excitement mounting with every passing second, even though they all knew the ball wouldn’t actually drop for another four hours.
Jack was practically vibrating with excitement, his tiny body bouncing around like a firecracker. His little hands gripped his noisemaker, and he let out a series of joyful, high-pitched toots as if he were somehow playing a grand symphony with just that simple sound.
Mija was less sure of what was going on, but that didn’t stop her from feeding off the energy of her older brother and the adults around her. She held her own noise maker, shaking it enthusiastically with a look of pure joy. Her chubby cheeks flushed from the excitement, and her big eyes were glued to the adults, trying to make sense of the magic happening in the room.
Angela's heart swelled as she looked around the room. Wesley was standing beside her, his arm wrapped around her waist in that comforting, familiar way. He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head as the countdown clock flashed “1:00” on the screen. They had their two children, their friends—who had become family—gathered around them, and it felt like the world had slowed down just for a moment. It wasn’t about the grandeur of the night but about being here, in this space, with the people who mattered most.
The room went quiet for a brief moment, all eyes on the TV as the countdown clock clicked down to thirty seconds. Then, as if on cue, the noise makers grew louder, the energy surged, and everyone gathered closer, all holding their breath for the magic of the moment.
“Ten… nine… eight…” The countdown on the screen echoed, each number louder than the last as their laughter filled the space.
Jack and Mija bounced in place, their giggles contagious as they counted along, even if they didn’t fully understand why. Wesley’s hand found Angela’s as the final seconds ticked away.
“Five… four… three…” Angela could feel Wesley’s fingers tightening gently around hers, the familiar touch of someone who had weathered so much together.
“Two… one!” the countdown blared.
And with that, the room erupted in a chorus of cheers, noisemakers blaring, hands clapping, and the kids squealing in delight. Wesley pulled Angela into a quick, joyful kiss, laughing against her lips as the noise and love of the room surrounded them.
“Happy New Year!” they all shouted, their voices rising in unison, and Angela couldn’t help but laugh along with them, her heart overflowing.
Angela scooped up Jack, her arms instinctively wrapping around his little body as he snuggled against her, his face buried in her shoulder. Wesley did the same with Mija, who yawned sleepily, her tiny hands clutching the collar of his shirt as she nestled her head into his chest. Together, the parents pulled their two little ones into a tight family hug, their hearts full as they shared a moment of pure, unspoken love.
For a few seconds, they simply stood there, letting the warmth of the moment wash over them. The house was still buzzing with laughter and chatter, but here, in the middle of the chaos, there was only this—Angela’s soft breath mingling with Wesley’s, the weight of their kids in their arms, and the shared peace of being together. It was the kind of moment that was timeless, like a photograph frozen in time, where everything else seemed to blur, and all that mattered was this love, this family.
The high of excitement from the countdown was starting to crash on the toddlers. Jack, who had been bouncing off the walls just moments ago, now leaned heavily into Angela, his small hand fisted into the fabric of her shirt.
“Happy New Year, my babies,” Angela whispered, her voice soft and filled with warmth as she brushed a hand through Jack’s hair. She looked down at Mija, whose sleepy eyes were already beginning to drift shut.
Jack stirred in her arms, his little voice barely above a whisper. “Hap Nee Yea, Momma an Dadda,” he said, his words slurring as sleep crept in, but there was still so much love in his voice.
Wesley kissed the top of Mija's head as she, too, began to slump against him, her tiny body going limp as the soft weight of sleep overtook her. “Happy New Year, princess,” he murmured, his voice thick with affection as he tightened his arms around both kids.
“See, we’re the best parents,” Angela chuckled softly. “Our plan worked perfectly.” She winked as she leaned over, kissing Wesley gently.
“The best,” he nodded with a twinkle in his eye. “Let’s go get them to bed, and then we can celebrate down here with the adults.”
The family quietly slipped down the hall, moving in unison to bring their kids to bed. They paused outside Jack’s room first, and Angela carefully leaned over to plant a soft kiss on his forehead, whispering, "Sweet dreams, my love," before tucking him into his bed. Wesley followed suit with Mija once they were in her room, pressing a kiss to her delicate head.
With the kids tucked in, they made their way back down the hall to where their friends gathered. They passed through the living room, still full of life and laughter, and Angela grabbed their glasses of wine from the counter. The bottles had been open for hours, but neither of them had really had the chance to enjoy the evening yet. They clinked their glasses together in a quiet toast, just the two of them, before settling into the warmth of their circle of friends.
The TV was already on, a lively stream of the real New Year’s countdown flashing on the screen. Angela and Wesley found their spots on the couch, sinking into the cushions as they joined their friends in the familiar chatter that always seemed to fill the air during these gatherings. Nyla, James, Tim, Lucy, Grey, and Luna—everyone was here, their faces glowing with the same relaxed joy that Angela felt in her bones. There was no rush, no hurry—just the comfort of being together.
Angela smiled, lifting her glass. "To family," she said softly, her voice warm and full of meaning, a rare showing for the whole group to see. "No matter where life takes us, it's always about the people we choose to surround ourselves with. And I couldn't ask for a better group than this."