Chapter 38 Hope #2
The day goes on, and we almost sell out of everything on our table.
Surprisingly, a lot of people visit our stall, but they don’t engage with us much.
Later, Marie finds out that the reason why people kept coming was the blueberry muffins, which sold out in no time.
After that, the lemon bars and chocolate chip cookies followed close behind.
By the time the sky becomes a beautiful canvas of sunset hues, we’re tired and hungry. I lean onto Heath who wraps his arm around my waist and holds me up. His jacket is missing from his shoulders and is on mine as it keeps me warm.
Marie is leaning against Sebastian, who supports her — her back resting against his chest.
The third-place trophy sits between the four of us.
“I’m so exhausted,” Marie complains.
“It’s okay. You can rest as soon as I get you home,” Sebastian kisses her head.
“I don’t think I’d be able to walk to my room.”
“I’d carry you.”
“Piggy back ride.”
“I know. You hate the other.”
I look at Marie in question.
She chuckles. “You heard him right. I hate it when he lifts me in his arms. I like the piggy back ride because I get to hug him and talk to him super quietly.”
“You are anything but quiet, baby.” Sebastian sets his chin on her head. “But I love you anyway.”
“I love you too.”
Heath grumbles from behind me. “Please go home and get a room, Blondie.”
Marie groans. “I’m way too tired to have sex right now.”
“Then go to sleep.”
“I will.”
“Just fall asleep right here.”
“No, I want to talk about today.” A grin appears on her face. “It was so fun.”
Sebastian nods. “It was. I thought we’d make no sales but people still came to our stall.”
I look up at Heath and smile at him.
He catches me looking at him and leans a little in my direction. In a quiet voice he says, “What?”
“You did great today.”
He stares at me for a moment. “You did great, too.”
I shake my head. “It was all you.”
“I don’t think so.” He tucks a few strands of my hair behind my ear. “When it got busier, you were packing those orders and even talked to people — which you hate. But I knew you could do it.”
I smile. “I felt safe because you were near me.”
“No, you just found the courage to face one of yours fears.”
That makes me stop and think about what he just said.
Strength always comes from within and somehow I was able to find it in me today.
I wonder if there is more of it in me.
“Hope, you said your birthday is in November.” Marie asks.
“Uh, yes,” I mutter.
Heath arches an eyebrow at me. “You didn’t tell me.”
I soften my gaze. “It never came up. Also, I don’t celebrate my birthday.”
Before he can speak, Marie jumps in. “We will celebrate your birthday this year.”
“For once, I agree with Blondie,” Heath speaks.
I can’t believe it’s November already and my birthday is next week. I was going to let that day pass but Marie remembers little things. I told her about it one time and looks like she’s been counting down days.
“I will make sure it is fun,” Marie chirps.
I frown. “You don’t have to do anything, Marie. It’s fine. I don’t want to burden — ”
“It’s happening!” She interrupts me.
“But — ”
“No buts.”
With a defeated smile, I nod and she grins. Sebastian steals her attention as he asks her about something. I’m too distracted by the hand rubbing circles on the side of my stomach to listen to their conversation.
“You didn’t want to celebrate your birthday, that’s why you didn’t tell me,” Heath says in a curt tone.
My stomach twists as I slowly face him and find him already looking at me with a sharp look.
“I… It’s not. I just…”
“I wish you had told me,” he grumbles.
A pang of pain hits me, and I straighten up, fully facing him.
“No, it’s not like that. I just… I’ve never celebrated my birthday because buying me presents and cake seemed like too much for my parents and growing up I wanted to do everything to not burden them in any way.
Maybe before, when I was very young, it used to feel like a special day to me, but once things started getting rough at home, it just became an ordinary day for me.
My mother would wish me and that was it.
My dad didn’t really remember. I’d spend my day at school and reading books.
There was nothing different for me to think of it as anything but special. ”
Heath cups my face. “It is a special day, Rose. Because it is your day.”
“My day?”
He caresses my cheeks with the pads of his thumbs. “Yes. It belongs to you.”
I’ve never thought of my birthday as anything other than a normal day. I didn’t get presents or blow out a candle to make a wish. Nothing ever happened, and before I knew it, the clock would turn twelve and it was the next day.
“It’s fine, really.” I find myself saying those words.
He stares at me for a long moment. “No, it’s not. This year and every year after, we’re going to celebrate your birthday and you’re going to have an amazing time and get a lot of presents and a big fucking chocolate cake.”
“What are you talking about?” Tears prick the back of my eyes.
“You’re going to have a special day, Rose because you’re special to me.”
I want to look away from him, because the way he gazes at me with such an intense stare makes it hard for my heart to not bleed from pain. It’s like he’s cut open a wound I never knew was there.
Bringing his face closer to me, he aligns our gazes. “I’m going to give you the best birthday present and the most delicious chocolate cake.”
A few tears slip down my cheeks and he gently wipes them away. I sniffle as I say, “You don’t have to.”
“I want to.”
I open my mouth to argue with him, that he doesn’t need to give me anything. Having him in my life is enough. It’s the best birthday present for me. But he silences me with a kiss that touches my soul.
Butterflies wake up in my stomach, and the tightness unfurls.
I press my hands against his chest and he groans.
“Get a room, guys!” Marie teases with a giggle.
I quickly break the kiss and push Heath back.
“Make sure to use protection,” Sebastian adds.
“Fuck off,” Heath grits out.
Both of them burst out laughing and I can’t help but smile.
“Don’t listen to them. They’re idiots,” he tells me, wiping away any traces of my tears. “It’ll happen whenever you’re ready.”
I give him a grateful smile and he wraps me up in his arms like I’m the most precious thing to him.