Chapter 8
1523 Words
{VICTORIA}
NOW it was the morning of the 18th day of July.
When I arrived in the kitchen, I was surprised by what I saw. There were lots of food on our dining table. In the middle of it was a three-tiered cake with a caption that said, "Happy 27th birthday, Victoria."
"Surprise!" Daddy and Demi said at the same time. They both looked happy. Daddy was carrying my child in his arms.
"Happy birthday, my only daughter!" Dad greeted me and kissed me on the forehead.
Daddy put down Demi, and she hugged my thighs. "Happy birthday, Mommy!" she greeted me too.
"Thanks, Dad and Demi," I said with a smile.
The three of us sat down to have breakfast. But before we could start, some unexpected guests arrived. It was my two brothers.
"If it weren't for your cat, we wouldn't have been delayed," Lion complained to Edward.
"What's your problem?" Edward asked Lion, laughing.
They didn't notice us because they were busy arguing.
Lion pointed to the small cat in Edward's arms. "That cat is my problem! Are you running a charity for cats? It's like you're building a cat orphanage. They do nothing but steal my food every night," Lion ranted. He was pointing out the other cats that Edward was petting back at our home in New Orleans.
Instead of getting annoyed, Edward just laughed.
I noticed that Demi had gotten off her chair. She ran towards her two uncles. Edward sweetly smiled at my daughter. He even showed her the kitten he was carrying, and Demi happily petted its head. The cat said 'meow' and it didn't look afraid to Demi. The cat's eyes were closed and it seemed to be enjoying how Demi stroked its furry head.
"Demi, why don't you give Uncle Lion a kiss to lighten his mood? It's early morning, and he's grumpier than a woman on her period," Edward teased Lion.
Demi approached Lion, stretching her arms as a sign that she wanted to be carried by him. Lion had no choice but to pick up my child. I was happy just watching them. And then Demi kissed my older brother on his cheeks.
"Don't be angry, Uncle handsome!" Demi playfully teased him, making the three of us burst into laughter. Only Lion's face became more wrinkled with annoyance. But we all knew that he wasn't seriously mad at us. That's just how he is.
After some brief chit-chat, we all started eating breakfast together. I was happy that we were complete on my birthday. It made my whole day complete. I was also glad that my two brothers, despite having their own lives in New Orleans, still made the effort to visit us here despite the long distance.
AFTER taking a long shower, I changed into a purple maxi dress. I also put on a pair of rubber shoes. As a mother, I find it most comfortable to wear rubber shoes so I can keep up with my daughter's playful nature.
As usual, I wore my big round earrings. I applied light makeup on my face. Then, I grabbed my designer sling bag that was sitting on the side of my bed and slung it over my right shoulder.
I took one last look at myself in the mirror before finally leaving my room. When I reached the living room, Demi greeted me with a hug.
She was wearing a little red dress that made it seem like it was her birthday. Her hair was tied up in side-by-side ponytails, and she had on a pair of flat sandals. My daughter looked incredibly beautiful.
"What's the plan for today?" Lion asked us, looking serious. He was staring at the two of us intently.
Daddy was sitting on the couch, sandwiched between my two brothers. They were watching action movies on our flat-screen TV.
I shrugged my shoulders at Lion. I didn't know how to answer him. Demi had requested that we go to Verona on my birthday. She had been telling me about it since last week, and she really wanted to go there.
Now, Dad and my two brothers also wanted to come along, but Demi didn't want them to join us. It was strange, but I let my daughter have her way. She said she wanted some quality time just for us, mother and daughter.
Lion was giving me suspicious looks regarding our plans. Even I felt that there was something more to Demi's invitation. But I tried to push those thoughts out of my mind. I didn't want to speculate because I didn't want to get my hopes up. It would only hurt me. I shouldn't think that Jackson arranged this and that Demi was involved. That was literally impossible!
"Just let them be. Stay here with me and Dad, and we would watch something together. Mind your own business!" Edward scolded Lion, as if he were the older one here.
Then Edward looked at us. "Take care, sis!" he said to us.
"Alright, we're off!" I said goodbye to them.
It was midday, and although the sun was shining brightly, there was a cool breeze in the air. This was the climate in Italy that I loved. The air here smelled of nature, not the pollution from cars and dirt. The only things that made the surroundings dirty were the fallen leaves, not trash like plastics.
Demi and I boarded the bus. It was also her special request to me. She wanted to experience commuting. Whatever she wanted, as long as I could do it, I would fulfill it just to make her happy.
It was almost a 15-minute ride to Verona. When we got off the bus, we were greeted by a scene where countless pigeons flocked in the middle of the place. This was my first time coming here. I had only seen this place in movies and magazines.
I had wanted to visit this place for a long time, but I had been so occupied with my life here in Italy these past few years that I never had a chance to come to this place that I had been longing for since I was a child.
Suddenly, the pigeons flew away, making way for the man whom I didn't expect to see here. He had a big smile on his face and was holding a bouquet of different kinds of flowers. He was dressed simply in blue shorts, a white polo shirt, rubber shoes, and blue sunglasses. He looked so simple, yet he was more handsome than the male celebrities I had seen on TV.
As he finally approached us, I couldn't help but smile. This would be the first time I would openly acknowledge my happiness in his presence.
"Happy Birthday, Victoria!" he greeted me as he handed me the bouquet.
I admired it. It was beautiful.
"Thank you!" I thanked him sincerely.
I looked at Demi, who was now holding Jackson's hand tightly. Then I looked up at Jackson.
"So, this whole thing was planned?" I asked the two of them, even though I already knew the answer.
Jackson and Demi exchanged glances and smiled at each other. Demi even covered her mouth to hide her laughter.
"Did you like it?" Instead of answering, Jackson asked me.
"I loved it," I told him, looking deeply into his eyes.
His mouth dropped open in surprise at what he heard from me. I couldn't help but laugh at his shocked reaction. I couldn't blame him. It was probably the first time I had been sweet to him. 'Heck, I'm not being sweet to him! Maybe I mean good?'
"We have somewhere to go," Jackson told me.
Demi stood between us, holding both of our hands. I could see that Demi was really happy to have Jackson by our side.
Jackson led the way, and I simply followed along with them.
"Jackson?" I called his name. He looked at me.
"Yes?" he asked me, his voice so gentle.
"Do you still want to be my boyfriend and be Demi's father?" I asked him.
I immediately looked away and bit my lip to hold back the smile that wanted to escape my lips.
"Of course!" he quickly replied.
I felt Demi looking up at me. I just gave her a wide smile. Then I turned to face Jackson again.
"Then you can now start being my boyfriend and being Demi's future father," I said to him, causing his eyes to widen.
"Demi, did you hear what your Mommy said?" Jackson asked my daughter. I felt a bit embarrassed.
Demi nodded at him.
"She said she loves you too," Demi whispered loudly to Jackson, which made the two of us laugh.
"Silly!" Jackson said as he messed up Demi's hair.
Jackson walked closer to me, and for the first time, I felt his embrace. It was so comforting to be held in Jackson's arms, so why did I delay everything?
"It feels like I was the one celebrating a birthday today. You don't know how happy you've made me right now," he whispered to me lovingly.
- Writer
