Chapter 8
eight
Tristyn
Happy birthday, Mama.” Henry lays into me, and I place a kiss on top of his head.
When I was younger, I always hated my birthday.
My family showed their true colors when I told them I was pregnant with Henry, but they weren’t great parents before that.
I had two older brothers who were my parents’ pride and joy.
They couldn’t do anything wrong in my parents’ eyes, but what I did was never good enough.
I was lucky if I got a card on my birthday, but once Henry was born, once I started my little family, my birthdays finally started to mean something again.
Now, every year, Vince and Henry bring me somewhere to eat, and we celebrate. It’s small, and to most people, probably isn’t much, but to me, it’s everything.
“Thank you, baby.”
We’re back at the Greystone diner, and I have a feeling it’s going to become our new hangout. It’s never busy, so I don’t feel guilty sitting and hanging out for a few hours, and the people are really nice here.
And by people, I mean the only waitress I ever see, the one who was here the first time we came in. I’m sure other people work here, but it seems she’s here most afternoons.
“Can I get you guys anything else?” Maia sets down our drink refills.
“Milkshakes,” Vince says, although there’s no question in his tone, his eyes find mine as if he’s asking if that’s a good plan. However, since he brought it up, there’s no way Henry is letting us leave here without getting milkshakes.
“Obviously.”
“Perfect. I’ll do a cookies n’ cream milkshake, the little dude will do the candy explosion, and the birthday girl will do a strawberry banana milkshake, because she’s disgusting.”
I kick Vince under the table, and his upper body drops as he bends down to grab his shin. Maia laughs.
“I’ll have those right out for you.” She turns to me. “Happy birthday.”
I give her a tight smile and watch as she walks away.
I kick Vince again.
“Ow! What the hell was that one for?”
“You owe the swear jar one dollar, Uncle Vince.” Henry holds out his hand because the swear jar is just Henry’s piggy bank that’s sitting on his dresser at home.
I don’t remember how it started, all I know is Vince must swear around Henry quite often because that piggy bank is filled to the brim, and I know he’s not getting the money from me.
Vince slaps a dollar into Henry’s hand.
“For starters, you know I hate when you tell people it’s my birthday.” I lean forward. “It makes me feel like I’m begging for attention. And, strawberry banana milkshakes are delicious, it’s not my fault you have no taste.”
“The banana takes over the whole milkshake; you can’t taste anything other than the banana.” Vince leans forward. “It’s the same way with bananas in smoothies; it’s too overpowering.”
“Strawberry and banana are the perfect combination.”
“I don’t know if you’re the best judge of character when it comes to perfect combinations.”
I kick him again.
“Fuck!”
“What does he mean by that, Momma?” Henry glances at me. “And that’s a five-dollar fine, Uncle Vince.”
“Nothing, baby.” I pull Henry into me and glare at Vince. “We will talk about that little comment later.”
“Your milkshakes.” Maia places each milkshake in front of their rightful owner and takes a step back. “Anything else I can get you guys right now?”
“Just the check, whenever you get a chance.”
She grabs the only bill in her apron and places it on the table.
“You guys have a great day.” She smiles at me. “And happy birthday.”
Vince grabs the check as Maia walks away.
“Oh, um, there’s a mistake, you didn’t charge us for the milkshakes!” He leans over the back of the booth.
“No mistake. See you guys next time.”
“I like her.”
Vince pulls out some cash from his wallet and places it on top of the table over the bill. It’s definitely way more than necessary, even if she had charged us for the milkshakes.
“You guys ready?” Vince stands, shoving his wallet back into his pocket. “It’s movie time.”
“Ooo, I wanna watch—”
“No can-do, little man, it’s your mom’s birthday, which means it’s her pick. You can pick next week.”
Vince ruffles Henry’s hair.
“That’s not fair! Mom promised me we could watch The Mighty Ducks.”
“The hockey movie?”
“Yup. I want my boy to be prepared if he’s going to play hockey.”
“Really?” Henry’s eyes get wide. I don’t think I fully decided until right now that I was going to let him play.
I learned last night that we were approved for a partial scholarship, so I don’t have to cover the full amount. Even though it’s not ideal, I figured out how to swing it.
And seeing the look on Henry’s face right now is all the proof I need to know I’m making the right decision.