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"And when's your birthday?" he asks.
"I don't celebrate mine," I reply.
"But when is it?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"I could always look it up."
"Go do that," I suggest.
When he doesn't say anything after that, I shoot him an incredulous look. "Are you sulking?"
"No."
But his tone betrays him.
"It's already passed," I inform him. "Now, wave at Riya. She's looking at you."
The bear lifts his hand, waving at our daughter.
I look at Adam. "I hope you have some balloons for her."
When the bear turns to look at me, I smile innocently. "Your daughter loves them. You'd better run, Mr. Bear. Or Riya will be very, very sad."
He doesn't move for a few seconds, and I know he's debating whether I'm being serious or not. Ultimately, he gets to his feet and hurries away. Watching him attempt to run in the bear suit makes me laugh.
This isn't the worst way to spend a morning.
****
Riya has the time of her life at the amusement park with Adam carrying her around on his shoulders. She's exhausted when weget back, and after putting her down for a nap, I deal with some office work. It's evening when I hear the knock on the door. I open it to see Maya and Tony standing there. It feels awkward to see them, but I know that despite everything, they did stand by me. So, I smile at them.
"Riya is sleeping."
"I brought decorations," Maya says hesitantly, showing me the bags in her arms. "Thought we could deck the apartment. She'll love it."
"She will."
I let them in, and we get to blowing balloons and hanging up banners and confetti. Somewhere amongst all that, everything feels normal again, and I let my anger fade away. They were here for me in my worst times, so I'll let this go. After all, this is between Adam and me.
Tony is hanging up the last balloons when Adam shows up with a large cake box and huge boxes that can only be presents.
"I ordered fried chicken, french fries, and pizza and just a lot of junk food," he confesses. "You said I could get carried away."
"I did," I agree, eying the massive cake box. "I just didn't realize what I was getting myself into. What's in there?"
"You can open it."
It's a princess castle cake, and even Maya's eyes glitter in excitement. "Let me go wake Riya up! Please!"
"Tony, she'll fall over her own feet," I point out. "You go with her."
As the couple goes to fetch Riya, I help Adam set the gifts and the food on the table. "How are we supposed to finish all this?"
"Don't worry," he reassures me.
Riya has had lovely birthdays, but this one she'll probably remember forever. She tears open the wrapping paper covering her presents. I got her a small plastic cooking range since she loves playing pretend cook. Tony had bought her a puzzle 'that was good for her developing brain,' and Maya knitted her a pretty little cape. Adam got her an entire collection of dolls, including a doll house, a small tow car she could drive in the apartment, a large stuffed bear, and some cartoon collections. Shifter children develop faster than human children, so these are all age-appropriate gifts, but Riya just clings to the teddy bear, which is the same size as her, and drags it around the room.
