Chapter 105 The Birthday Crashers
“It’s my birthday, and I want to die,” Byron groaned as he struggled out of bed in the morning.
Emily was horrified for a moment. “Don’t say that!”
“Oh, sorry, I don’t mean literally,” he corrected, “I promised I would tell you if I ever felt suicidal again.”
“And you haven’t?” she asked tensely.
“Not yet. I just don’t want to celebrate growing older.”
Emily got up too and searched her dresser for some clothes fit for the occasion. She wanted nothing too dressy, but something casual yet fun. She chose a flouncy yellow blouse with a white skirt.
“We don’t have to celebrate much,” she said. “Maybe just have a nice dinner, watch a movie.”
But their plans were derailed when the doorbell rang that afternoon and Sylvia showed up with a big strawberry cake.
Emily regretted not making an escape plan since Byron clearly didn’t want his birthday to be a big deal, but now it was too late. Byron was very sweet, though.
“Thanks for coming over, mom,” he said, “and for giving birth to me in the first place.” He gave her a hug.
Sylvia looked touched, which was pretty unexpected. “I won’t stay long,” she said, “I know you don’t like big birthday parties. But I had to see you.”
Half an hour later, the doorbell rang again. It was Teddy, dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and blue jeans with a wrapped gift box in his hands.
“I hope you don’t mind if I stop by for some brief birthday wishes?” he said.
“Come in,” Byron said flatly.
He obviously didn’t want to be rude but was not too thrilled to see his father.
“Sylvia, what an unexpected pleasure,” Teddy said, greeting his former wife.
“Ted,” Sylvia said, giving him the slightest nod. She looked like she tolerated him only slightly better than Byron did.
“I got you something that might amuse you,” Teddy said, handing the gift box over to Byron.
“Thanks...” Byron looked reluctant to look inside.
When he unwrapped the package, inside was a shiny new model of a tractor, accurate down to the last detail.
“I used to be obsessed with tractors as a kid,” Byron said, turning to Emily. He was smiling, but she thought she caught a poignant look in his eye. Emily guessed it was probably a hobby he had enjoyed sharing with his father, until Teddy disappeared from his life.
“You’re a little late giving me this,” Byron remarked, “I know some people say ‘better late than never’, but sometimes it’s ‘better never than late’.”
Teddy sighed heavily. “I see you’re still angry at me... I always wanted to be there for you. But your mom didn’t want me in your life anymore after the divorce, and she was right. I was too unstable, and my drinking was out of control. It’s better that you grew up without a bad influence like me in your life.”
He got up to leave, and Byron didn’t stop him. Emily went to see him to the door. It was just too sad, seeing it end like this.
“Please don’t give up,” she said as he was about to walk away.
“I can’t make him accept me back into his life,” Teddy said.
“Maybe you can come to Fashion Week with me,” Emily suggested. She didn’t even know why she said it, but it was too late to take it back. “I have an extra ticket.”
“Thank you, my dear,” Teddy replied, “You obviously care about Byron a lot, and you want this to work, but it may be too late.”
Sylvia decided to leave soon after, seeing that the mood was ruined. “Do try to forgive him, Byron,” she said before departing, “If not for his sake, then for yours.”
Emily and Byron were left alone, and even the chef left after preparing a feast of delicious food. Byron barely touched any of it. He had not been too keen on his birthday, but now he seemed completely distraught.
“I can’t believe him,” he complained, “coming here on my birthday in his Hawaiian shirt.”
“Would it make a difference if he wore any other kind of shirt?” Emily asked.
“No, he would still be a jerk,” Byron grumbled. “All he did was remind me what a crappy father he was, how I sat alone in my room waiting for him to spend just a little bit of time with me. But he was too busy drinking or making stupid inventions.”
Emily was almost afraid to say anything, but she had to try. “He wants to spend time with you now...”
“But for how long?” Byron asked. “Until he’s bored with me again and goes on to his next project?”
“But what if he’s really changed, and you’re not willing to take the chance?”
“I don’t trust him,” Byron said, getting up and pacing the room nervously. “God, I hate him!”
“The fact that you feel so strongly means that you love him too,” Emily said. She got up and held Byron in her embrace, trying to calm him.
“I don’t want to feel this way,” he whispered.
Suddenly, she noticed tears were flowing from his eyes. She tried to kiss them away, and soon her lips found his, replacing sorrow with sweetness and affection.
“You shouldn’t cry on your birthday,” she said.
She squeezed his body as hard as she could, and soon his arms wrapped around her, and he was kissing her back with more and more scorching desire.
They lay down on the couch, passion taking over, and all feelings of grief forgotten for the moment.
