“He’s AMAZING!” Harry yells. “AMAZING!”
He hugs his new soft toy tighter than he hugged any of us this morning.
“Thanks, Cass. I love him! He’s the best present in the world!”
Waiting the few weeks’ delivery on an overpriced stuffed giraffe toy was definitely worth it. I’d pay it ten times over to see Harry this besotted.
Harry is wrong on one thing, though, and I know it the moment Ant steps forward and pulls something out from his pocket. Another envelope. A big one.
The plush giraffe isn’t going to be the best present in the world this morning, because there’s no way that’s a simple birthday card that Ant is handing over. I guess I’m coming to read his mind like he’s coming to read mine.
“Here’s another little gift for you,” he tells my nephew with a smile.
Sarah looks at me with a what’s that expression on her face, but I give her the tiniest shrug, because I don’t know. I guess maybe it’s another trip to the safari park. Maybe a private giraffe experience with one of the park keepers or something, since Ant is so generous.
Harry’s face says more than words ever could when he opens the card and pulls out what looks like a brochure along with it. Ant lets us all in on the picture as Harry stares at the pages.
“I’ve reserved the three of you a place in Kenya. A week-long wild giraffe safari, followed up by a week-long stay in a specialist giraffe hotel with its own herd of giraffes in the garden.”
“Rothschild’s Manor?” Dave asks, with a look of absolute shock on his face.
Ant nods. “Yeah, that’s the one. Looks like it will be quite something. I couldn’t resist.”
Dave’s so shocked that he goes pale. “Yeah, we’ve seen it on Harry’s video playlist about ten thousand times. The giraffes come up to the windows while you’re eating breakfast in the morning and hang out with you all day long.”
Harry is silent. I look over and find he’s still staring at the pictures on the brochure, and his breaths are shallow, tears in his eyes.
“You alright, little guy?” I ask, and he nods at me.
“Yeah, I just… I can’t believe I’m going to Rothschild’s Manor. Like on the videos.”
Everyone else in the room is quiet, too. Mum has her hand to her chest and Dad has an arm wrapped around her shoulders, and it’s no surprise, since a giraffe safari holiday with flights, and a specialist stay in a giraffe house like that must cost thousands.
Sarah’s switching glances between me and Harry, trying to believe it herself and I’m so proud and blown away by Ant’s generosity that I could break down and cry.
Harry breaks down into happy tears before I do, putting the brochure down on the arm of the chair and rushing up to Ant to hug his legs.
“Thank you,” he says between tears. “I can’t believe I’m going to be in a house with giraffes!”
That’s it for Sarah, she turns away as she sucks in tears herself, and Dave’s with her as she tries to digest it. Harry’s back to the brochure, staring at it as Ant turns to my sister and brother-in-law.
“I hope it’s ok,” he says. “I’ve booked it for the summer holidays to make sure it doesn’t interfere with Harry’s school time, but if timing is an issue I can always reschedule it.”
Sarah and Dave both spin to face him, both so emotional they can barely speak. It’s Sarah who grins the brightest, and it’s her that dashes over for a hug next, throwing herself into Ant’s arms like he’s a lord – because he is one.
“Thank you,” Sarah says to him. “This means so much. You can’t even imagine.”
Dave steps up after her to give Ant a mega handshake, and his eyes are so genuine in thanks that it gives me a tickle in my stomach.
“Thanks, mate. I don’t even know what to say.”
Mum and Dad are next to step in with the thank you hugs, and I watch on in a haze of adoration. This is the man who loves me. Who wants to be with me.
I’m a million times luckier than Harry.
Everyone turns their attention to my amazing nephew as he talks through the videos he watches, but my eyes are on Ant’s and his are on me.
“Thank you,” I mouth to him, and his smile assures me he knows how much I mean it.
It takes a good few minutes of everyone pulling themselves together before Mum goes into the kitchen, returning with Harry’s birthday cake, complete with seven glowing candles on the top.
We sing the happy birthday song, and cheer and whistle as he blows out the candles. It’s heaven. Absolute pure heaven.
I’m expecting a barrage of Ant’s the best thing in the world from both Mum and Sarah when we head back through to the kitchen for plates and drinks – AKA a few moments of girl time – but they are way quieter than I imagined. Mum’s eyes are still tearful, and Sarah is still on the verge of choking up, and that silence says so much more than gushes of OMGs ever could.