The Baby Scandal
Page 16
“I didn’t get a picture of the cake yet! Hold off for just a moment.”
I laughed. “I swear, Mom, I never knew you were so interested in photography or I would have suggested it ages ago.”
“There was nothing to take pictures of before,” she said haughtily as she snapped a picture of my face. “Now I’m thinking I might make a career out of it.”
I raised my eyebrows at her.
“Oh don’t look at me like that. I’m not too old to do new things, you know. My neighbor Vic just enrolled in college. He’s a sixty-three-year-old freshman. If he can start something new, why can’t I?”
“You absolutely can,” I said as I hugged her. “Let me know if I can help you at all. If you need me to get another babysitter or—”
“Absolutely not! Unless Beatrice wants a turn some night or other. You can’t get rid of me that easy, girl.”
I laughed, thrilled at her energy. Every day she came alive a little bit more. I didn’t worry about her at all anymore. She was healthier, happier, and filled with purpose. If I’d known what it would do to her, I would have had a billionaire’s baby ages ago.
“What’s so funny?” she asked me sharply.
“Nothing. I just love you, is all.”
“Love you too, kiddo. Let’s get this cake out there before Adriana falls asleep sitting up.”
Adriana’s eyes were big as saucers as I set the two-tiered sparkly pink cake in front of her. She started bouncing in her seat and waving her little fists in the air, trying desperately to grow just enough to reach the icing.
I laughed as I lit the candle. “Everybody ready? One, two, three!”
We sang to her out of sync and slightly off-key, but she didn’t seem to mind. She clapped along and made singing noises until she heard her own name, then she laughed and curled her little hands onto her cheeks.
“Okay, sweetie, blow the candle out!” I mimed it for her.
She caught on immediately and blew as hard as she could, which wasn’t quite hard enough. David ducked around behind her to surreptitiously assist, and she squealed with glee when the candle went out.
The rest of the party was a blur with sticky pink sugar covering her face and hands. Adriana was beginning to fall asleep in her highchair by the time everybody was finished, and I gave David a meaningful look.
He caught on immediately, and addressed the group at large.
“Thank you for coming, everyone. You’ve given Adriana a brilliant first birthday. Grace needs to put her to bed now, but we are so happy that you could share this special day with us.”
I smiled gratefully at him before I carried my daughter upstairs and peeled the sticky, happy Adriana out of her dress. A warm bath and fresh pajamas later, she was thoroughly exhausted.
David joined me upstairs as soon as our parents left. Adriana smiled sleepily at him as he kissed her cheek and rubbed her head. “Happy birthday, baby girl,” he said affectionately.
“Dada,” she said, nuzzling her head against his arm. “Mama.”
I thought my heart would burst with love. I snuggled her against me as David wrapped his arms around us both. I kissed her cheek then tilted my head up to kiss him.
“Yes,” I said followed by a sigh. “This is it. This is the family life I dreamed about.”
“I’m so glad it turned out this way, Grace. I couldn’t imagine being happier.”
“Neither could I. What about you, Adriana? Are you happy?”
Adriana gave me a big, drool-soaked kiss and immediately fell asleep on my shoulder. I rubbed her back and laughed, floating on air and utterly content. I had a home to remodel, an exciting career, a handsome best friend and lover, and my baby girl. Everything I ever wanted and never dared to hope for was right here.
I laid Adriana down in her crib and twisted the music box on her mobile. As the first notes of Fools Rush In tinkled into the air, David caught me around my waist.
“Dance with me?”
“Forever and ever, David.”
His blue eyes crinkled at the corners. He kissed me, then swept me away on a gentle waltz in the middle of the nursery.
Life really couldn’t be any better, and I couldn’t wait to see where it decided to take me. As long as David and Adriana were with me, I would go anywhere.
The End
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