“No, silly. But we can have ice cream.” Everly winks and gestures to three smoothies lined up on the counter. “Don’t worry, yours has that protein powder you use. They’re healthy.”
I glance at an assortment of bowls and ingredients there, too. “Looks like you guys were up early.”
“We had to make preparations for a feast fit for a king, including a special birthday cake.”
“You didn’t have to go through the trouble, Buttercup.”
“You deserve a cake. You deserve more.”
“I’m not a huge fan of my birthday.”
She shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Then think of it as yourUnbirthday instead. Like in Alice in Wonderland, it can be any day, so we picked today, which happens to be the day you were born. But next year it can be some other day.”
I give my head a little shake. “I can’t quite follow you down that rabbit hole, but okay. I’ll play along.”
“I should ask, did you have any special birthday traditions growing up?”
“Day out fishing with Dad. Typically, Mom cooked the usual meat and potatoes kinds of meals, but on our birthdays, we could have anything we wanted.”
Everly rubs her hands together. “Ooh. What was it? I love special birthday meals. Heidi did something similar and would have cookies for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.” I notice she doesn’t mention her father celebrating her birthday.
“Mine was macaroni and cheese and Bran loved pizza rolls.”
She inclines her head. “Did you share a birthday?”
“No, but it’s hard not to think about him today. No matter where we were or what we were doing, we always made it a point to do something together to celebrate.” Sadness pits my voice. “I wish he weren’t the one who lost his life.” The words spill from me, ugly but true.
“Grey, don’t think that way. I’m not sure if it’s my place to say this, but we have our new set of rules.” She swallows as if moving past trepidation. “Bran went into military duty knowing the risks. Although I never met him, from what you’ve said, I canpromise he would not want you to give your life up for him. He gave his for you. For our country. For freedom.”
My jaw trembles and my muscles hum with energy. I want to bolt or break something. The vulnerability is too raw. Bran was invincible, or so I thought, so where does that leave me?
Everly rests her hand on my forearm, instantly calming the furor inside.
“It’s okay to be upset or confused about how you feel. Speaking from experience, you have to let it pass through you. If you bottle it up?—”
Sonny runs between us, calling, “Hulk smash!”
Our gazes meet, both of us wide-eyed. “Where did you learn that?” she asks.
“Mathias.” Sonny lumbers around with his arms wide and his pudgy little hands in fists, chanting, “Hulk smash, Hulk smash.”
I grunt. “Elsie’s fiancé.”
“The one with the stinky feet?”
We stifle laughter, and I say, “Let me handle this.”
A strong sense of affection for Sonny and protection of his innocence replaces the tumult of emotions I felt. It’s like they drop from my mind and erase like chalk off a blackboard.
As I chase after Sonny and then say, “Hulk tickle,” I can’t help but laugh it all away.
Everly joins in and soon we’re in a family tickle and hug pile. I whisper, “Thank you. Thank you for diffusing the bomb that is my heart and mind.”
We spend the afternoon swimming and floating around in the lake. I plan to get a boat for next season and once more, think about the future and how ours will look.
For dinner, we have macaroni and cheese pizza rolls. Everly and Sonny sing a robust rendition of the happy birthday song, and I blow out my candles.
“Forty of them? Really?” From time to time, I think about how I’m a bit older than Everly and if the age gap will work in the long term. What if she wants someone younger? More fun like she is and less moody?
