Beck visibly relaxed. “Yes, please.”
“Daddy, I’m so excited to play with my new bears. Thank you again,” Beck squealed and kissed my cheek as I locked in his seatbelt. “How long until we get to Mom and Dad’s?”
“About an hour, Bunny, not too long at all.” There I’d give him my gift, plus Mom outdid herself and had far too much fun shopping for her new son. She’d also baked him a birthday cake.
As soon as we pulled up to their house, Mom ran outside and Beck nearly hung himself with the seatbelt trying to get to her.
“Calm down, birthday boy.” I unclicked it and he hopped out. There was no way he would’ve waited for me to come around and get him. That boy was wound up tighter than a clock.
“Hi Mom, yes, I’m here too. You know, the son you gave birth to,” I teased her as she squeezed the breath out of Beck.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know but you’re not the birthday boy. Happy birthday, sweetie,” she kissed his reddening cheeks.
“Thanks, Mom.” Jealous? Not in the least. They both knew I was teasing and loved how bonded they’d become. I grabbed our bags, then his new bears, dropped them off in our room, and met them in the kitchen.
“Are you two hungry?” Mom asked. “Your dad is in town running a few errands. I can whip something up or we can ask him to bring lunch back for us.”
“Subs, Daddy?”
“Subs the birthday boy says, so subs it is. Let me know what you want, Mom, and I’ll text dad.” As soon as she did, I fired off the message then went into our room to retrieve Beck’s birthdaygifts. Dad was near the sub shop so it wouldn’t be long before he got home.
“Who’s that for, Daddy?” My wide-eyed boy asked as I sat the bag on the table.
“Hmm, how many birthday boys are here today?”
“Me?” he pointed to himself.
“Yes, you, silly boy,” mom replied as she sat the gifts they got him beside mine. “As soon as Nick gets home we’ll eat, then you can open your presents, and we’ll have cake.”
“You got me a birthday cake?” Oh no, the tears were coming on. “Thank you.”
Beck wolfed down his sub so fast I feared he’d vomit. Thankfully, he didn’t, but his eyes never left those prezzies.
“Son, I don’t think he can wait much longer. Looks a bit on the ready to explode side,” Dad teased him.
“You two, quit razzing Beck and give him his gifts.” Mom slid her bag in front of him. “Happy birthday, Beck.”
“Thanks, Mom.” He did his best to calmly pull the tissue paper from the bag but the moment he spotted the first present, all bets were off, and the rest of it flew in every direction. “OMG! Look Daddy, it’s a bunny terrarium. It’s gonna be so cute when we build it.”
“Yes, it is, Bunny. What else is in there?”
“A Lego bunny! I don’t have any Lego’s. This is my first set. Oh my gosh, how did you find a bunny stuffie with my name on his ear?”
“We found someone to make it for you,” Mom replied. “I think you’ve got one more hiding in there.”
He leaned over and I feared he’d fall inside the oversized gift bag. “Daddy, it’s a new Peter Cottontail tea set, and it comes in its own picnic basket,” Beck hugged it to his chest. “I love it so much. I love everything. Thanks, Mom and Dad.”
“You’re very welcome. Now, let’s see what your Daddy got you.” Mom slid my gift bag in front of him, and he dug in with as much vigor as he had the first.
“A bunny shaped garden stone craft kit. I can’t wait to get home and make all this fun stuff. A squishy bunny night light. I’ll put that beside Goldie’s tank, so she doesn’t get scared at night.” My kindhearted boy got me right in the feels every time. “New swim trunks and a top for the beach. Ooohhh, look at the cute vacation clothes,” he held them up for everyone to see. “And water sandals.”
“Those will be much better than your flippies or sneakers in the sand,” I told him. “Should be one more gift in there.”
He pulled out the last box and turned it over, then looked at me, then back at the box. “Daddy, this is too much.”
“Silly boy, no it’s not.”
“Daddy.” I should’ve expected this given the argument I’d got when I bought him a new iPhone. But the one he had at the time was old and kept overheating and shutting off.
