We both laugh and rush down the stairs to head out when the doorbell rings catching us off-guard.
Julian looks at me curiously, and I open the door to be met with a courier. He hands the package to Julian, signing for it and saying thank you. Baffled, he opens the brown box, and underneath the bubble wrap is a plaque.
I read the words, and the moment it sinks in, I turn to look at Julian with the widest smile waiting for his reaction.
His book is officially a number one New York Times Best Seller.
The gold writing confirms what I always knew, Julian is talented and is now taking the world by storm.
Almost dropping the plaque, he wraps his arms around my waist as I jump up to hug him tight.
“You did it, baby!” I couldn’t have been any prouder than this moment to be in love with this intelligent and kindhearted man.
“We’re celebrating tonight. Nothing big, don’t want Andy to be too tired for his birthday party tomorrow,” he adds.
“You know…” I say with a devilish grin, “… we do have a spare minute to celebrate on our own.”
“I only need fifteen seconds.” He smirks, lifting and moving me toward the staircase where he places me on all fours and takes me from me behind.
Planning a child’s birthday is one of life’s greatest pleasures.
I know that one day Andy will grow up and parties will be a thing of the past, my excuse for lavishing him with ridiculous gifts and over-the-top decorations.
Andy is going through a huge Spiderman phase, so it makes sense to decorate the house with his favorite superhero. Outside on the patio are plenty of red and blue balloons, positioned around the tables decorated with Spiderman plates and cups. Across the roofline hangs cobwebs with tiny black plastic spiders trapped inside them.
Julian is busy dressing Andy, so I can finish the final touches when he races out of the house dressed as Spiderman, of course. His cute tiny face is hidden by the mask, and his excitement is demonstrated by the karate moves he keeps doing. I kneel and ask him for a hug at which he informs me that superheroes don’t hug their moms.
Great, it’s starting already.
That dampens my mood, and Julian picks up on it straight away.
“Hey, Spiderman, I bet your muscles are super strong and that you can squash this lady?”
Andy nods, and he runs back squeezing me really tight. I take advantage of it and hug him so hard before he runs into the backyard chasing Ash and Blaze. Julian comes up from behind and embraces me. I allow myself a moment to rest in his arms. Birthdays are an emotional time—a day that marks my little boy growing up. It feels like only yesterday, he came into the world, and time just continues to fly by.
My parents are the first to arrive, carrying way too many gifts. My mom busies herself in the kitchen, organizing platters and snacks for the guests. I’m not surprised my dad has pulled Julian aside. Much to my surprise, they organized a trip to South America together during a luncheon they both attended the other day. Julian postponed his trip to Morocco with everything that went on with Andy, yet was desperate to visit a small town which has been wiped out by floods a year ago. My dad is equally as keen to provide some medical assistance as their hospital was demolished. Both of them are extremely passionate, and occasionally, I’ll sit down to listen to their plans, enthralled in how much is involved and what it does for the town people.
“The flights are booked, so next Thursday, we’ll be leaving,” my dad tells me.
It’s selfish of me to sulk, so instead, I busy myself with my mom who deep-down knows how much I’ll struggle. “Only two weeks, Adriana. Just think of how Daddy and Julian are helping those families, okay?”
The squeal of Amelia followed by an unsteady Ava invades the kitchen. Amelia is long gone, jumping like a frog on crack on the bouncing castle outside. Ava is stopped by my mom. I love this little girl so much. She has a calm and quiet nature, flying under the radar largely due to her sister’s energetic personality. Charlie enters the room, but her face looks livid, and without saying hello, she dumps a baby bag on the ground and storms off outside.
What was that about?
Lex walks into the kitchen but does not follow Charlie outside. His face looks softer, not at all like Charlie’s. These two are worse than Nikki and Rocky at times. I pray Julian and I will not end up being that type of couple.
“What going on with Charlie?” I prod.
“She’s pissed off at me.”
“What’s new?” I say flatly.
“I got her pregnant again.”
I almost drop the jug I’m holding onto. “Lex? Are you for real?”
He gives me a weak smile, even in his state of shock.