AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Brian, celebrating our anniversary every month is a bit, let’s say unconventional.”
Laughter erupts from behind me before his strong arms wrap around my belly, pressing us together.
“More often then?”
He teases before starting to plant kisses down my neck. I caress his cheek to stop him and turn around.
“Less. Way less—” Another kiss interrupts me. “Once a year.”
We enjoy one more kiss before I have to pull away, sensing his erection.
“Our guests will be here soon,” I remind him and straighten my shirt.
Originally, I planned to dress up for the occasion but once we knew how many kids we would be hosting, I knew that it would have to be jeans.
Brian looks over my shoulder at the kitchen table and then to the right, at the long table the caterers had brought. There’s a bit of everything there, from hamburgers and fries to pizzas and full meal courses.
Despite my intention to cook everything myself, he was adamant. There was no reason to spend days in the kitchen to feed all our guests.
“I think we are ready for the feast,” he beams. “But in the meantime—” I don’t let him finish his sentence.
“Daniel will be home in less than thirty minutes and I’m not greeting guests looking completely disheveled at our son’s birthday party.”
Brian grins at my words.
When I first moved in with them, I was scared of how Daniel would react to the situation, but the sweet boy was thrilled that we were going to be a family. A few months ago, he started calling me Mom, and I’ve called him my son ever since. The bliss I feel every time I hear those words cannot be described.
“Fair enough.”
He looks around the living room, scanning the place for something to do. There are balloons in every corner of the house along with a big crate of toys for Daniel and his friends to play with during the party. A collage of his drawings hangs on the wall alongside the crate so that everyone can admire them.
“Do you need any help?” he asks.
When I shake my head, he grabs my hands and brings them to his mouth, kissing my knuckles one by one before stopping to admire the ring on my finger. The sapphire stones crown the diamond in the middle and glimmer as the sunlight reflects on them.
“Six more months,” he whispers, sending a shiver down my spine.
Our upcoming wedding won’t change much in our relationship, but I like the fact that it seals our union properly. It’s like one chapter is closing once and for all, and a new one is just beginning.
“Go get ready,” I tell him. He looks down at his black suit and raises an eyebrow. “You are not handling twenty-three kids wearing that.”
Brian chuckles but doesn’t protest. He goes to our room to change while I check on the last-minute details. I want everything to be perfect for our first birthday altogether.
Daniel arrives shortly after, together with Andrew and his family—they offered to pick him up today—and starts jumping up and down when he sees his drawings on the wall.
Rita hands me a big, heavy box with green and silver wrapping. “I hope all those are paints,” she whispers as she motions to the gifts on the kitchen table. “Or they’ll just be left behind in their boxes.”
“Don’t worry, most of them are,” I assure her, and we both burst out laughing. Her twin girls run after Daniel to the crate of toys and start to pull everything out.
“It has begun,” Andrew announces with a loud and heavy voice, mimicking a cartoon character the kids love.
Rose and Dennis arrive next, followed by Mary with Sophie and her daughter. Robert is the last of the family to arrive but in between and till much later, our doorbell does not stop ringing. The kids’ loud voices fill our house, and I can’t help but admire Brian’s calmness and readiness to join in any game.
Daniel blows out his seven candles a little before 9 PM and as soon as the cake is finished, all our guests head home, leaving the three of us to end the night together.
“Happy birthday, my love,” I tell Daniel again and hold him tightly, kissing both of his plump cheeks.
“Thank you, Mommy.” Daniel wraps his little hands around me and rests his head on my shoulder. There’s a soft sigh and I feel his chest fall, peaceful at last.
