"Can you forgive me for not being there for your birthday this year?" Indie asked me over the phone.
"Well, you can't help it."
"I feel awful. If it wasn't for this test, I would have come down to see you."
"I know." I tried to sound sad but felt guilty for being happy that Seth was going to celebrate my birthday this year which would be better than Indie taking pity on me and flying all the way just to keep me company.
Maybe I was a little upset that my family had blown me off but what they didn't make up for it, Seth did.
"Are you sure you don't want me to buy you that plane ticket? We could fly to Disney Paris."
"Tempting, but no. "
"Maybe I could rent a hot stripper to make your birthday extra special?"
"I'm sure my housekeeper is wayyyy hotter than anyone you hire so don't bother."
There was silence on the other end.
"Is this housekeeper the same hockey player from school that you have a crush on?"
Oopsie!
Sometimes I wish I could buy a new mouth so I could replace the one I already have which runs on its own accord without my permission.
"Emily, just spit it out."
"Well, technically, yes."
"I don't know if I should be surprised or horrified."
"Don't be anything."
"I'm a little of both, but that's a twist I never saw coming."
"Can you not judge me?" I rolled my eyes.
"The boy drama is resolved then?"
I laughed, "you can say that."
"You sound very cheerful and I'm happy you're finally getting out of your little bubble and moving forward, even if it's courtesy of said hot housekeeper."
"Indie!"
"I'm serious."
"I miss you," I said, trying to divert the topic to a Seth-free zone.
"Yeah, me too. Thought you would be sad and lonely this year again but at least someone else is doing my job to cheer you up."
"When are you visiting?"
"Soon."
"I hope soon is very soon because if not, I'm going to come there and stuff you in a suitcase and ship your ass here."
"I'll give you my word. Soon. I can't wait to give you trouble and play pranks like I used to."
Indie was a prank specialist, and you could never dodge the carefully arranged plans.
There was some chatter in the background, "listen, Em, I gotta go babe. Talk later tonight?”
“Sure. Love you.”
There was a low chuckle on the other end, “love you, too, and happy birthday once again. Eat an extra piece of cake for me."
*~*
I know Seth had plans to do some decoration in the living area and make dinner this evening, and that was mostly the reason I was sent on my way out when I had absolutely nowhere to be. He thought he was very sneaky when he bought the packet of balloons and a confetti shooter, he just had very bad hiding skills.
It wasn't really a surprise if I knew there was going to be a surprise. I mean, what was the freakin point?
I could have helped him with the decorations if he had let me stay.
I drove around town, killed some time at the mall, and even talked to Ruth when she called to wish me a happy birthday. She mentioned how she hated that she couldn't be with me this time and asked me how my dad was doing. I didn't bother to tell her that dad wasn't celebrating it with me either. That would make the guilt trip even worse.
A little after seven, I drove back home.
I parked the car in my usual parking spot and got out of it. The house was dark, no lights turned on and I wondered if he was dumb enough to think I wouldn't realize what he planned.
My birthday outfit was a sexy burgundy-colored dress that was V-neck with spaghetti straps and the length came just above my knees. I liked how it highlighted my curves but also managed to make me look a little thinner. I matched those with a pair of wrap-around stilettos.
Seth was going to fall over his feet when he saw me. I couldn’t see his reaction.
I turned the knob and walked inside only to be surprised by a loud “Happy Birthday, Emily” cheer and the sudden confetti sprinkling all the place. What I never expected in a million years was to find my dad and Cale standing in front of me.
Seth stood behind them in the foyer.
Was this his surprise? Did he arrange for Dad and Cale to come for my birthday out of pity for me? If that was the case, I was going to be so mad.
“Wow.” Dad said, “That is not my daughter.”
I smiled, “You told me you won’t be able to make it.”
“I lied.” He said coming forward to hug me. “I wanted to surprise you.”
“well, consider me shook.” I hugged him back, enjoying the warmth of my dad’s arms in what felt like years. I was a kid when I frequently hugged him before, now that rarely ever happened.
“Happy Birthday, Emily,” Cale called out to me.
“Thanks.”
“You look beautiful.” Dad complimented me, and I knew it was genuine. He said the next thing in Spanish. “Your mom is looking at you from heaven and she must be so proud of the woman you’re becoming.”
I didn’t say anything to that.
A custom-made pink cake with a crown on it was kept at the center of the table with the number eighteen in glitter on top of it.
After I cut the cake, we sat down at the table for dinner. That was usually tradition after mom’s death, Dad would visit on our birthdays, we would eat and go to bed. I wanted to break through that for years and I thought maybe this time it would be different. I was wrong.
Seth appeared from the kitchen carrying a casserole with a smile on his face. He wore a military green jacket over black jeans, ripped on the knees, and a matching t-shirt underneath. His hair was floppy like he’d just woken up from bed and forgot to run a comb through it. The green jacket did a great job at bringing the color in his eyes. He looked like my date, not a housekeeper.
“It smells wonderful.” Dad passed the compliment, looking up at Seth as he served us portions of the food.
“I hope you like it…sir.” He proceeded to bring more food to the table.
“Your mother tells me you’re a better cook than she is.”
Seth laughed, “She’s being modest. I learned to cook from her.”
“Seth makes the best lasagna I’ve ever had.” I chimed in, grinning up at him.
He blushed which mostly never happened. “You say that because you’ve never tasted my parmesan-crusted chicken before.”
“Mr. Monroe you have to rectify that particular problem. I don’t understand why I’ve been kept waiting to eat your specialty for so long.”
“Maybe because you like eating the same thing, Ms. Vásquez?”
“You can’t blame me for this. It’s your duty to feed the lady of the house.”
His sultry gaze swept over my body in a slow subtle way, and I knew that he appreciated the dress that I was wearing, which I’d wanted him to see. “What else would you like me to feed you, ma’am?”
I giggled.
“Looks like the two of you are getting along really well.” Dad’s voice cut through our conversation, or more like our flirting.
It was my turn to freeze. Seth might have turned into a stone. Dad has to miss the innuendo. We’d been so caught up staring at each other and flirting that I forgot Dad and my brother were still seated at the table.
“We get along okay. Seth takes Spanish with me too. He’s also talented in hockey. Dad, you have to watch one of his games when you’re in town next time. He’s like a god on ice. I won’t be surprised if Seth becomes the next Sidney Crosby.”
Dad nodded. “That’s great.”
I tried to detect if there was anything he’d caught from our lustful stares but it seemed like he wasn’t reading too much into this. Cale was quiet as he ate his food, taking turns to look at Seth and me. I had a burning suspicion that Cale had caught on some vibe between us.
I wanted Seth to sit at the table with us. “Seth, why don’t you—”
“What are your plans for the future, Seth?”
“Hockey is everything to me,” Seth responded I loved how his eyes would light up every time he talked about his passion for the game. Seth lived and breathed hockey. “I plan to play hockey even during college and if I’m lucky enough to be drafted by a team, I want to be a professional NHL player and win the Stanley Cup.”
“What’s your position?”
“Forward. I play Center.”
“Looks like you’ve made up your mind.” Dad looked impressed, “It’s always good to have an end goal in mind, that way it’s easier to stay focused on what you want in life.” His eyes flicked towards Cale.
“If you want to say something to me just fucking say it outright. Don’t go around talking in circles and giving me glares.” Cale snapped, scarfing down a large portion of the lasagna.
“I have nothing to say to you, Cale.”
“Of course, you don’t have anything to say to me. Why the fuck are you even here again? I mean, why do you bother when you don’t give a shit about your kids?”
Dad regarded him with his signature cold stare. It was the calm before the storm. Seth stood at the entrance, his face stoic, playing the perfect house staff, minding his own business. He might as well have blended into the house like a piece of furniture.
“I give a shit about you and that’s exactly the reason I gave you the ten grand that you still owe me.”
“That’s the money mom left for me!”
“It was left for you so you could spend it on your future, not spend it on…on…whatever that you’re doing.”
“You don’t even know what’s going on in my life because you don’t bother asking. Why do you think you have any right to lecture me on what I want to spend my money on? Isn’t that hypocrisy, dad? You don’t even care about Emily! She’s been living here alone in this house with a guy…and you’re not bothered, you won’t look at her because she reminds you too much of mom! So, if you want to call me a good-for-nothing, maybe it’s time you reflected on yourself and notice what a coward you really are.”
A smack landed straight in Cale’s face from across the table. It resonated through the house.
Cale being Cale stared straight at our father, a smirk stretching over his lips. “You can hit me all you want if that makes you feel better, but that doesn’t change god’s truth.”
“Get out of my house!”
“I’m leaving anyway.” Cale stood up, and downed the remaining wine in his glass, looking at Seth once before walking over to me. He kissed my head and slipped a small wrapped box into my hands. “It’s your gift.”
I watched him walk out of the dining area. My vision started to blur.
My birthday dinner was ruined. All thanks to my brother.
I was usually numb to the fights and the arguments in the house but sometimes, it was hard. They only needed to get along for a few hours and they wouldn’t even do that much. My mood was deflated like a hot-air balloon that had crashed on a mountain.
The doorbell rang in sync with Cale opening the door to leave.
Who could have come now?
“What’s up buddy?” I heard Cale’s voice before the door shut behind him.
If there wasn’t enough drama already, Carson walked through the foyer with a bouquet of pink roses in one hand and a bottle of Moet and Chandon Champagne in the other.
He gave me a huge smile, unaware of the drama that had just unfolded.
“Happy Birthday, Emily.”