He pulled away. “Get showered and ready. The others have a surprise for you downstairs. I can promise you it is nothing lavish and that you will enjoy it.”
“Ai ai, captain.” I said, saluting him as I got out of the bed and headed for the bathroom.
His chuckle followed me.
I did everything as slowly as possible hoping to avoid the torture that no doubt waited downstairs.
What on earth could they have planned? I gulped. It was probably best not to guess.
But finally I ran out of reasons to stay in my room and I headed downstairs.
I heard a lot of commotion coming from the kitchen so I headed that way. I was shocked at what I found.
The whole family, Jonathon, Patrick, Diana, Amelia, Mason, Danny, and Joseph stood at the kitchen island surrounded by a breakfast fit for a king. Or I guess in my case a Queen.
“You guys,” I began touched. “This means a lot to me.” I finished.
Here I was living in a house full of vampires that didn’t eat human food and they had taken the time to cook me breakfast on my birthday. It was a touching gesture.
“We thought we would surprise you. Just because we’re vampires doesn’t mean we can’t cook,” Amelia said coming over and hugging me. She was cold and hard but the hug still felt like a mother’s embrace. She kissed me on the cheek and said, “Happy Birthday.”
“Happy Birthday,” they all said, Joseph came over with a stack of pancakes with eighteen candles in them. Jonathon stopped him and a spark of purple-blue fire sprouted from his index finger and he lit them.
I looked around at them. All of them smiling at me. They were my family. I had never felt so loved before… not even from my parents and my brothers. I wasn’t saying that my real family didn’t love me only that this… the way the Pulmer’s felt towards me… it was a different kind of love. I even felt it from Danny and Mason even though Mason still loved to pick on me. But I was getting used to his playful banter and now I usually joined right in with him.
They began to sing happy birthday to me in Italian, “Buon compleanno a te, buon compleanno a te, buon compleanno cara Kylie, buon compleanno a te.” They finished.
“Blow out the candles,” said Diana.
“Make a wish,” said Jonathon.
And I did.
They all clapped and Joseph took out the candles from the pancakes.
“Thanks you guys. It really means a lot to me that you would do this.”
“We’re just so happy to have you in our family,” said Patrick hugging me. Just like with Amelia he was cold and hard but his hug felt like a father’s hug.
I smiled at all of them. They were all so kind to me. They all treated me like family and it meant so much to me. Here I am turning eighteen and my mom isn’t here, my dad is dead, and my brothers are away. The Pulmer’s are the only family I have.
“I better sit down and dig in. I don’t know how you guys think I’m going to eat all this food,” I said jokingly.
“Don’t worry we’ll help you,” said Danny and Mason in unison, doing that freaky twin thing.
“Unlike these losers we’re part human and can eat food,” Mason said picking up a pancake and stuffing the whole thing in his mouth.
“That’s gross,” I said as he smiled showing me a half chewed pancake. I smacked him on the shoulder and said, “You’re such a boy.”
Ever since Selena kidnapped me I had become closer with all the Pulmers but the most improved relationship was between me and Mason. He and I had developed a brother and sister relationship. We joked and laughed all the time. I felt like I had one of my own brothers back.
I ate as much of the breakfast as I could; I didn’t want to offend anyone. Danny and Mason ate most of it which helped. I was amazed at how delicious it all was.
“This is absolutely delicious, you guys,” I said taking the last bite of my meal. We were all seated at the dining room table; it was the only table that would seat us all.
“I’m glad you like it dear. We’re all a little rusty with cooking,” said Amelia.
I stood up to gather the dirty dishes to wash.