Page 111 of No Merciful Corruption

“Are we late for the cake cutting?” Mauricio says, announcing his arrival. “I heard it was tres leches.”

Karina cuts him a look as she enters the room with a stack of plates in hand, the blunt ends of her thick hair swishing over her shoulders. “Is that all you came here for?”

“Well obviously,” Mauricio replies. “It certainly wasn’t because I care it’s his birthday.”

“Shut up, Mauricio,” Beni comes up from behind him and playfully knocks into his shoulder. Mauricio’s ankle twists and he grabs the nearby credenza to steady himself as Beni barrels into the room with a large white box in hand. He approaches Dahlia who’s tying balloons to the backs of the dining room chairs. “Dahlia, querida, the cake you requested.”

“Beni, stop flirting with my wife.” I say.

Dahlia smiles and takes the box from his hands then kisses the top of his head. “My hero.”

Beni turns and gives me a smug smile.

“Benito.” I warn.

“He’s jealous of our love, Dee,” He follows her around the dining room and watches as she sets the box down on the opposite end of the table. “He wants to get between us.”

“Ya lo sé, papito, no le hagas caso.” She squeezes his face affectionately. “Go get me a knife so I can open this.”

I pick up a knife from one of the serving trays Doña Ana sets down and Beni spins on the balls of his feet, heading in my direction. I extend the knife, blade out, and he trips over himself to avoid plunging the pointed end into his chest.

“Alex!” Dahlia chastises. “Play nice.”

“I am playing nice.” I thrust the knife forward and Beni jumps back. “Here.”

Beni seeks refuge behind Lettie as she passes by. “Hey!” she whines in protest.

“He’s jealous because I’m the only pretty one here.” Beni dodges my pursuit by using Lettie as a shield. “Even his grandmother used to say so. ‘Ay, ese Beni, que lindo está⁠—’”

Dahlia walks over and takes the knife from my hand. “I’d like to cut the cake today, please.”

She turns around and I smack her backside as she walks away. Dahlia yelps and Diego lifts a hand to cover Allegra’s eyes.

“Do you mind?” he says. “My child’s innocence doesn’t need to be compromised.”

Dimitrio enters the room holding up a box of candles. “Are we really going to count out thirty-two of these? We’ll be here until the next birthday.”

Karina comes up from behind him and snatches the box. “Give me that. I sent you to the store to buy a three and a two not individual candles!”

“They didn’t have a three and a two, just a four and a two.”

“I wouldn’t mind being twenty-four,” Diego muses aloud.

“Or forty-two.” Lettie plops down into the chair next to him, leaving Beni unprotected. “You look old enough.”

He lifts a hand to his chest. “Why do you wound me?”

Beni’s phone rings and he digs it out of his pocket. After glancing at the screen he decides to take the call in another room. On his way out, I extend my leg and he trips over my foot. I bite back a smile and look over to find Dahlia shaking her head, having witnessed the whole thing.

Once the cake box is open and dismantled, Dahlia helps Doña Ana set out a number of plates and forks while Karina uses the candles to teach Allegra how to count in English and Spanish. For as long as I can remember, a cake cutting has always been tradition in our family. No matter where we were, the time of year, or the day of the week, our parents always made sure to cut us a cake on the morning of our birthdays. Sugar in lieu of breakfast is a sacred Narvaez tradition and one Allegra loves.

Parties are reserved for the evenings or weekends but Diego’s never been one to enjoy the celebration of his birth. In fact, until his daughter was born, he actively hated it—especially after our father died. Allegra has given new meaning to the day and now he celebrates more for her sake than his own. Later, we’ll go to Abuelo’s for a more formal dinner.

Lettie pulls out the family album from the bottom cupboard of the China closet. We started a new one when Allegra was born and have been collecting photos in it ever since. Photos from every holiday, birthday, and special occasion over the last few years fills the pages. The most recent addition is from this spring during Dahlia’s hooding ceremony. We’ll have to add a wedding photo and a photo from her birthday last month sometime soon. How she managed to plan a wedding and successfully complete her doctorate within the span of a few months is incomprehensible to me. She’s nothing short of a miracle; determined and with a work ethic I have always deeply admired.

“Has anyone seen Dad’s camera?” Lettie asks aloud.

Everyone stops to take a look around and I wonder briefly if it’s in my office when Mauricio holds it up and brings it over.