Page 101 of Almost Paradise

“Drake,” I whisper, “it’s beautiful.”

“Not as beautiful as you.” He spins me around to face him. “Happy birthday, Mrs. Paradise.”

I fan my face to keep the tears at bay. “Happy birthday, Mr. Paradise. Let me give you your present now.” I take both of his hands in mine. “I’m going to give my notice at work and come back to Paradise Construction if they have a spot for me in HR.”

“Trust me, there will be a job for you. And I love my present. Thank you.” He leans down and gives me a peck. “But you did buy me something right because that’s kind of a cheap gift.” I swat his chest and he pretends to be hurt.

“Yes, you big baby, but it’s downstairs. Let’s go.”

“Yeah, let’s go. Things are, um, interesting downstairs,” he tells me.

“What happened?”

“You’ll see. Come on.” After I put on my new stilettos, and he takes my hand, he leads me downstairs.

“Oh, you’re kidding me,” I whisper to Drake when we get to the bottom of the steps, and I see the scene before me. My family is on one side of the room, and Drake’s is on the opposite side. My dad is holding Carter in his arms while holding Kyle’s hand. I know that’s to keep them from running to the other side of the room to Drake’s family.

Audrey is standing in front with her arms crossed. Each time Carter turns his head to talk to someone on the other side of the room, my father turns his head away from them.

Ray shrugs when he sees me, but he’s firmly on the side of the room with our family. Mom stands next to Dad and holds Mason’s hand.

Kyle waves at Wyatt and Langley. Langley waves back and says, “I like your bow tie.”

“Grandma made me wear it. She says it makes me look handsome,” Kyle says, grinning from ear to ear.

“Uncle Wyatt, what do you think of Batman versus Superman?” Mason asks.

“I like Piderman,” Carter interjects.

“Mason, be quiet,” my dad says.

“Why can’t we have fun?” Mason asks, clearly agitated with my father. “I thought this was a party. “Dad, can we go—” My father cuts him off before Ray can answer.

“Your dad’s not in charge. I am,” Dad says.

“Dad, these are my kids,” Ray responds.

“You can be quiet too, Ray,” Dad says, totally dismissing my brother.

“Oh, boy,” I whisper. Dad will pull the grandpa card often, but it’s usually to keep the boys from a punishment from me or Ray. “Let me handle this.”

I let go of Drake’s hand and approach my family. I reach for Carter, but Dad moves him away from me.

“Daddy,” I begin, “I want my birthday hug.” It’s our tradition each year. “And tradition dictates that the birthday hug is between me, you, and Mom. Not Carter.” I manage to grab Carter from him and put him down. He runs across the room. Kyle and Mason also manage to break free and follow. Carter goes right to Langley, and Kyle and Mason start chatting with Wyatt. Drake’s mom takes Carter from Langley and hugs him, but only for a moment because Hannah takes him from her.

To distract my dad, I open my arms, and my parents and I do a group hug like we do every year on my birthday. They both kiss my cheeks.

“Happy birthday, my baby,” my dad says. “You get more beautiful every year. Your mother and I wish you nothing but happiness, love, and success.” We hug again, and even though my dad says the same thing each year, my eyes still fill with unshed tears.

We break the hug, and Drake snakes an arm around my waist. The four of us stand there while my parents look from him to me.

“You look good, Nia,” my dad says. “I’ve been so worried about you and Carter.” He looks directly at Drake when he says that. I look up at my husband, and to his credit, he doesn’t flinch under my dad’s intense gaze.

“We’ve all been worried,” Audrey throws in.

“Dad, I just saw you two days ago, and we talked on the phone yesterday and this morning on FaceTime.” I look into his eyes and raise my eyebrows, urging him to remember the conversations I’ve had with him all week. If my father thought for a second that Carter and I were in any type of danger, he would have come charging over here weeks ago. “And Audrey, you were with me today at the spa,” I remind her.

Audrey shrugs and flips her hair.

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