Victoria's Birthday
1492 Words
"Did you stick your hands in my strawberry doughnut with sugar on top?" I ask the little gray-eyed boy, sure he's been dodging me for the past two minutes.
Asher, my four-year-old son, approaches with his hands behind his back and his lips stained with sugar.
"Yes, Mommy," he replies. "I saw it in the kitchen a while ago, but then I didn't see it anymore."
"Come here, little thief."
Asher starts running, laughing. I quickly catch up to him and lift him up in my arms. I give him a kiss on the cheek, and just as I'm about to put him down, my gaze drifts to the living room of my apartment. It's filled with people, balloons, and a big strawberry cake on the table, surrounded by everyone.
"Surprise!" they all shout in unison.
A smile involuntarily spreads across my face.
"Happy birthday to the sexiest mom in the world!" Nancy exclaims, running over to hug me. She then gives Asher a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for bringing her here. You're very smart."
"So you knew, huh?"
Asher nods, happily. I smile at his childlike innocence, which also reflects his intelligence and cunning.
"Thank you all so much for coming," I say, setting Asher down.
As I do, he runs over to my parents, who are walking toward us with a small box in their hands.
"Congratulations, darling. I can't believe you were just graduating from college yesterday, and today you already have a precious child and many years."
"Don't exaggerate, Mom. I have a child, but not many years."
We both start laughing, when I notice a tear rolling down my mother's cheek. I gently wipe it away and then give her a tight hug.
"I love you so much, Mom. And I appreciate more than you can imagine all the support you've given me since the divorce."
"And I'll keep giving it to you. After all, you're my greatest treasure."
We pull apart, and wanting to thank my father too, I hug him tightly. He returns the hug. We stand like that for a couple of seconds until I feel Asher wanting to get down. After laughing about how restless he is, my father looks at me with concern.
"Are you sure you don't want to compete again? I know we always ask you, but riding was your passion, and I don't want you to give it up because of Asher. We can help you with him, you know."
"Thanks, Dad, but after I competed when Asher turned one, I found myself thinking about him before the race, not how difficult the circuit was."
"So you decided to quit."
I nod, and in the distance, I see Asher playing with one of his little neighbors, six-year-old Lily.
"Maybe I wasn't planning on it, but now that he's here, I want to give him the best treatment possible, and the equestrian seasons barely allow me to talk to him, so I've decided to quit altogether."
My father smiles sadly.
"I understand."
"But don't worry about me. Asher and I are fine. Working as a secretary wasn't my dream, but I have a good salary and can take Asher to work when there's no preschool."
"But it's not your dream."
"Don't worry. I'm about to get a promotion. I'm fine."
"But..."
"Mom, I'm fine. Really."
My father sighs, runs his hands through his hair, and then hands me the box he's been holding for a while.
"Then at least accept this as a birthday present."
I take the blue box with a thin white ribbon adorning it, and wondering what it could be, I open it. I'm surprised to find the keys to a car inside.
"I know you said you didn't want us to support you because you wanted to do everything on your own, but your mother and I thought it would be more convenient for you to have a car."
I look up and see my parents hesitantly. They don't know what I'll do, and that's why he said that earlier. I've always liked taking care of my own things, so much so that I gave back to my parents all the money they invested in me when I started competing. But this time it was a little more complicated. When I had Asher, I needed a lot of help, but still, I worked for the little apartment we live in and got a job where I started as a secretary because the King's Choice executives wanted to test how good I was at my job since I graduated and never worked in it.
"I... I don't know what to say."
"We would appreciate a thank you, Dad and Mom. This time I won't work double to pay you back for a gift you gave me."
I can't help but laugh, remembering that's how I paid back Ace, my horse.
"Thank you very much," I murmur, hugging them both. When I let go, they push me toward Asher.
"Now go take a ride. We'll pick up here."
"But all of you came to see me."
"In fact, no," Nancy interrupts me. "I came to see my precious baby," she says, squeezing Asher's cheeks.
"Okay, okay, I get it," I say, heading to the cake table and cutting a slice for Asher and one for me.
"Take Asher to the park; the weather's nice today."
"I can't," I say, pointing to my clothes.
Nancy finally lets go of the poor little boy and focuses her attention on me.
"Don't tell me you also have to work today. It's Sunday, and it's your birthday!"
"But a very important client is coming today. Besides, my boss promised to give me Friday off, so it's no problem."
She huffs. "I hate that guy."
I look around for Asher and find him by the door, holding my purse in his hand. I suppose it's heavy because his little hands are gripping it tightly.
"Asher, you're staying home today."
"No, I want to go with you."
I shake my head and point to his grandparents. He doesn't even look at them, even though they're calling him.
"Asher, don't be stubborn."
"Please, it's your birthday."
I look at my parents. They eventually give in, although I'd prefer him to stay.
"Fine, but say goodbye and apologize."
He smiles, revealing a smile chillingly similar to Levi Ledger's, the one who broke my heart years ago.
"I'm sorry, Grandpa. I'm sorry, Grandma. I'm going with Mom."
While my parents shower him with kisses and say goodbye, I take the key my parents gave me from its box and put it in my purse. After saying goodbye and grabbing Asher's car seat, I go down with him hand in hand in the elevator to the first floor.
It's not so difficult to find a minivan with a giant bow on the roof, so I remove it, adjust Asher's car seat in place, and start the engine.
"Mama."
I hear Asher calling me. I glance in the rearview mirror. He's looking out onto the street, absorbed in what he sees.
"I love you."
I smile, overlooking a big billboard where I think I saw someone I know. Ignoring that, I look back at Asher, who is now looking at me.
"I love you too, my prince."
I end up parking a block away from the office, remembering that since I don't have a car yet, I don't have a parking permit. As I get out, I take Asher's hand and walk him to the daycare, where I give him a kiss on the forehead before leaving.
"See you at six."
"See you at six," he repeats.
I walk away from the daycare and take the elevator, where by chance I run into my boss, Mr. Donatello.
"Victoria, I'm glad you're here."
"Mr. Donatello, how are you? I came because you called me."
"I know, don't worry, I have a million things on my mind but I haven't forgotten everything yet."
I smile, but I'm surprised to see that instead of going up to the conference room, he's on the first floor.
"And the important client?"
"At the daycare. He has a very stubborn daughter who doesn't want to let him go, so we'll talk to him down here today. I'm entrusting this to you."
"To me?" I'm surprised.
"Yes, this is the golden opportunity that will catapult you to the top. Don't disappoint me."
I nod, pleased. I knew he would give me a chance, but this is more than I expected. Ready to give it my all, I walk with Mr. Donatello back to the daycare, but there's no one there, not even Asher.
"Where's Asher?" I ask the person in charge of the area. She simply points behind me.
I look over my shoulder, and indeed I see Asher, but it's who's holding his hand that scares me.
"Mommy, look, this man looks like me."
- Writer
