Chapter 7 #2
She nods quickly, taking one in each hand with the kind of seriousness usually reserved for handling explosives.
“I won’t drop them.”
“Please don’t,” I say with a laugh.
Bella grabs the stack of paper plates and the lighter from beside the sink while I reach into the drawer for the candle. A big pink number one. For a second, just holding it in my hand makes something tighten in my chest.
One.
My girls are one year old. It feels impossible. Like I blinked and the tiny newborns Mason and Johnny wouldn’t let anyone touch are suddenly babbling and crawling and making messes and laughing at everything.
I press my lips together and gently push the candle down into the center of the big cake. Bella notices the way I pause and her expression softens.
“You okay?”
I nod, even though my throat feels a little tight.
“Yeah.” I smile, though it comes out a little wobbly. “I just can’t believe they’re already one.”
Bella steps closer and squeezes my arm.
“That’s because you blinked.”
Sarah looks between us, confused.
“What?”
Bella smiles.
“It means kids grow too fast.”
Sarah wrinkles her nose. “That sounds terrible.”
I laugh.
“It kind of is.”
Then I take a breath, pick up the cake stand carefully, and nod toward the back door.
“Alright. Let’s do this.”
The second we step outside, the yard seems to shift. Conversations quiet. Heads turn. A chorus of whistles and teasing starts up immediately from the brothers crowded near the tables.
“Finally!”
“About damn time!”
“I thought we were never getting cake!”
“Shut up,” I call back automatically, trying not to laugh as I carry the cake toward the table where the girls are waiting.
Mason is standing beside the high chairs with Johnny perched at his side, one hand wrapped around Mason’s fingers while he bounces excitedly on his toes.
“Cake’s here!” Johnny announces to absolutely no one who hadn’t already noticed.
“Thank you, baby,” I tell him, setting the big cake down carefully in the middle of the table.
Sarah places the two small smash cakes on the tray beside me while Bella hands me the lighter. The backyard has gone almost still now, everyone gathering close.
Brothers.
Old ladies.
Kids weaving through the adults to get closer.
The late afternoon sun filters through the trees, casting warm gold over the yard and making the balloons tied to the chairs bob gently in the breeze.
I strike the lighter and hold the flame to the candle.
The wick catches. A tiny bright flame flickers to life.
For a second, all I can do is stare at it.
One year.
One year of midnight feedings and lullabies and teething and baby powder disasters and tiny hands grabbing at my shirt and sleepy baby snuggles and all the little moments I never want to forget.
I lift the cake again, carrying it the last few steps before placing it directly in front of the girls. Maddy’s eyes go wide. Madison immediately starts bouncing in her seat. And then, as if on cue, everyone starts singing.
“Happy birthday to you…”
The deep rough voices of bikers mix with the softer voices of women and the loud, half-shouted enthusiasm of children. It’s messy and off-key and absolutely perfect.
The girls squeal instantly.
Madison starts clapping, her whole body wriggling with excitement as she stares at the flickering candle like it might be the most fascinating thing she’s ever seen.
Maddy lets out a delighted shriek and pounds both palms against her high chair tray, making the little bow on her dress bounce.
“Happy birthday to you…”
Johnny sings louder than everyone else. Completely off-key. Completely committed. He’s practically yelling the words, beaming at his sisters like this might be the best day of his life too.
By the time everyone reaches the last line, both girls are laughing and squealing so hard they’re nearly vibrating in their seats.
“…Happy birthday Maddy and Madison…”
Mason steps up behind me, one hand settling against my lower back, warm and steady. The final line is louder than the rest.
“…Happy birthday to you!”
The singing stops. Everyone cheers. The candle flickers. And before I can even lean down, Johnny darts forward, takes a huge dramatic breath—and blows it out himself.
The flame vanishes instantly. For one single heartbeat, the yard goes silent. Then both girls burst into tears. Not little sniffly tears. Full-on, devastated, betrayed screams.
Maddy’s face crumples first, her mouth opening wide as a wail tears out of her. Madison follows half a second later, looking equally horrified by the sudden disappearance of the glowing thing they’d been so fascinated by.
The entire backyard erupts in laughter. I press my lips together to keep from laughing too because, God, they look so offended.
Johnny spins around, eyes wide.
“What? I helped!”
Mason laughs outright behind me.
“You sure did, buddy.”
“I didn’t mean to make them cry!”
Bella is already stepping forward, still laughing as she reaches for one of the little smash cakes.
“It’s okay,” she tells him. “We’ve got a fix for that.”
Sarah grabs the other one, and together they move in front of the girls.