Chapter 15 Worst Birthday Ever
WORST BIRTHDAY EVER
I arrived back at Adonis, mad, frustrated, and ready to crawl into bed and hide under a duvet for the rest of the night. Unfortunately, other plans had been made for me.
Despite my furious mood, Leon was waiting with a beaming smile as I stepped out of the car.
“Miss Heaton! So pleased to see you! A little sooner than we expected,” He exchanged a quick, nervous nod with the driver, who was clearly in on whatever was going on, “But please, this way.”
I narrowed my eyes back at Leon suspiciously, wondering what was going on, but he just waved his hand to follow him. My insides creaked in annoyance. Whatever it is, just get it over with, so I can be alone.
We crossed the sunny terrace, past the pool, and into the restaurant. As we entered, my heart nearly jumped out of my chest.
“SURPRISE!”
A group of people dressed in brightly-colored garlands jumped out from behind the tables and the bar, raising glasses of cocktails into the air. I stared back at them with an assortment of astonishment, confusion, and anger.
Turning to Leon for an answer to all this, he smiled at me so widely and happily that it made me feel sick as I realized what this was. My worst nightmare. I didn’t want to rip away the excitement splattered across his face, but please God, Leon, not this.
“Miss Lucy, we wanted to help you celebrate your birthday! Oh, there’s a cake too! Come, come!”
Leon took my hand, pulling me reluctantly behind him and through the small crowd of assembled and grinning staff members and guests, until we reached what looked exactly like a wedding cake.
Except, the happy couple on top had instead been replaced with a Lego brick lady.
Next to her, in poorly iced lettering, was written the word, “Loosy”.
“Okay. Hit the music!” Leon suddenly cried out, and I winced as ‘Celebration’ came blaring out of the speakers.
This can’t be happening, please don’t be happening.
Leon took each of my hands and began jerking from side to side, hopping manically from one foot to the other as I tried to slip away from his hands.
“I think I need a drink!” I yelped over the music before pulling myself away.
Relieved to be separated from the enthusiastic gyrating that was now taking place, I asked the barman for a tequila and let the fake smile fall from my face. Not this, please, not today.
Leon came bouncing over again, shaking his hands and hips to the music in a style of dad-dancing that made him look entirely ridiculous. He stopped dancing and frowned when he saw my placid expression.
“It is your birthday, right? When you checked in, your passport said so.”
I nodded at him.
“The staff and I really wanted to try and make your stay a little more special. You don’t want to enjoy it?”
I had not enjoyed my birthday for the past four years, but how could Leon possibly know what this day meant to me now?
I threw back the shot in front of me and signalled for another.
“It’s not just my birthday, Leon,” I put my head down on the bar and spoke to him in groans out of the side of my mouth. “This was also my wedding day.”
Leon looked down at my ringless finger and gave me a rueful smile.
“I see. So it’s also your anniversary, but not a happy one?”
“Correct.” I groaned harder, sinking my head further into the bar.
When I lifted my head back up, Leon was frantically signalling behind me at someone to stop.
I turned to see a confused group of mariachi singers standing behind me, wearing large black sombreros with white pom-pom balls hanging all around the rim.
One of the players smiled and hopefully shook a brightly painted maraca at me.
The others glared uncomfortably at him, and he hung his head in disappointment when I only scowled back at him.
“I’m so sorry about this,” Leon said regretfully. “I thought it would be a good idea. I mean, who doesn’t feel happy when a mariachi band plays?”
It was the last thing I wanted. I didn’t want to feel happy. It was the anniversary of my failure to make my proper adult relationship work. I can’t even claim to have been slighted and cheated. It was all my own work, and every birthday was another reminder of it. I groaned again.
“Just let them play Leon. It can’t make it any worse.”
Leon nodded to the group, and the band’s smiles returned as they cheerfully struck up, while I put my head back down on the bar, the sound of accordion, guitars, maracas, and vibrant singing surrounding me.
As soon as Leon had left my side for a moment, and everyone seemed distracted by the band, cake, and cocktails, I finally slipped away and headed back to my room.
“Happy birthday, Queen!”
“Thanks, Han. It’s been one, that’s for sure.”
“So, you doing anything fun today?”
“Well, I guess Randy skipped town without a word. And the hotel manager seems to have made it his personal mission to make me have a good time. They threw a surprise party for me, can you believe that?”
“Oh God. I mean, I don’t love that for you.”
“It’s still going on downstairs. I feel so lame for not making the effort, but I just… I just can’t, y’know? This day hurts so much.”
“When you getting back, Saturday?”
“I was, but I’m leaving tomorrow. I really can’t do this.”
“Okay, girls’ night out. On me.”
“No strippers, Han.”
“Hmm, no more than one stripper and we got a deal.”
The next morning, Leon came out to see me as I pushed my luggage into the car waiting outside.
“I’m truly sorry, Miss Lucy.” He said, genuinely apologetic.
“It’s not you, Leon. Thank you for trying, really.”
He looked at me with such sadness that I felt terrible for not being more appreciative.
“Just one last thing,” He said. “A late Birthday present.”
He held out his hand, and in it was a small tin heart with flames surrounding it.
“It’s a milagro, a small miracle. Something to bring you luck. In Mexico, we sometimes believe this one can help heal a heart that is broken.”
I took it and gave him a warm hug, touched by his kindness. Then I climbed into the car and headed for the airport…