The Birthday
‘Your birthdays are important. A sweet boy like you was born. It’s enough to celebrate.’ Those words kept chanting in Xavier’s head as he stared at his profile on his computer, the date of his birth staring back at him in bold.
It was his fucking birthday today!
When has it been since he last celebrated his birthday? Since he last had acknowledged his birthdays? Perhaps before his mother’s death? He couldn’t think of a time after those times that he remembered his birthday.
And fuck Margaret for sending him a birthday wish just this morning to remind him that he was a year older. He didn’t care, he didn’t want to know.
Leaning back on his office chair, he stared at the birthday wish on his phone, one from Margaret for the first time in years. He was only reading it now even though she’d send the whole thing even before he woke up. He shook his head at the wishes and tossed his phone away, his fist clenching so hard. He didn’t desire to have birthdays. Not when there was one bad thing or the other that always happened to him whenever he remembered his birthday.
Sighing, Xavier turned off his computer and stared at his wall clock. It was now five pm, the time he promised to be home to his wife. He was sure that she knew nothing about his birthday and he wanted it to be kept that way. His wife knew how to go out of her way to make people happy.
“Mr. Romano,” a knock on his door followed by a call broke him from his thighs. He muttered a light ‘come in’ and his secretary strode into the office, a bouquet of lilies in her hands. “I bought the flowers that you requested.”
“Good job. Place it on my table.”
Sonia placed the flower on her table, her eyes on it as if wishing that it belonged to her instead.
Anything else?”
“You’re dismissed.”
Reluctantly, she glared and began to make her way out of the office but not without glaring at the picture of Elaine on Xavier’s desk. Once Sonia was out of sight, he rose from his chair, grabbed the bouquet, and began to make his way out of the office and the company.
As he got into the waiting Rolls Royce in front of the building, his phone vibrated in his pocket and he fished it out only to come in contact with a text from Margaret that caused his eyes to roll.
Margaret: Not even a thank you? Didn’t my little brother agree to a truce? I’m disappointed.
He leaned against the headrest of the car and typed out a reply.
Xavier: Where did you get my digits from? Stop texting.
She replied almost immediately.
Margaret: Don’t be a sucker and celebrate your birthday. You’re not going to die.
Xavier: I’m blocking you if you don’t stop texting me. Fucking annoying.
Margaret: Fine, I’m not texting anymore. You think too highly of yourself.
He didn’t reply to the text and slipped the phone back into his pocket. In no time, the car arrived at the private garage of his mansion and he stepped out, making his way to the main door, his fingers around the flowers. He needed to make it up to his wife for the date that was ruined the previous day. Getting flowers was a bonus. The main deal was the romantic dinner that he planned to prepare and the cozy romantic bath.
Just them both.
But as the door of the house automatically opened for him, he immediately noticed that something was wrong. The lights for one refused to turn on in his presence and the darkness was a lot more unusual.
His protective mode quickly got activated, his heartbeat immediately increasing at the thought of something happening to his wife.
Before he could get his phone out again, the light suddenly was turned on followed by squeals of excitement.
“Happy birthday!!!!!!”
He froze. With wide eyes, he looked everywhere in shock, his eyes skimming across the room, at the people in his living room. It was no wonder his mother didn’t wish him a happy birthday for the first time in years. He thought that she had forgotten and didn’t think deeply into it. But it seemed she’d been preparing a surprise for him.
From his mother, his gaze averted to his grandmother, Beth, Rigel, and then to his wife whose lips were stretched into a smile. He chuckled. Fuck, she was good at surprises, wasn’t she. He loved her to death.
“I see you still bought flowers for your wife even if it’s your birthday,” Mrs Romano teased at the sight of the flower in his hand.
As Elaine stepped up to him, he opened his arms to take her in, letting her body press against his in a tight hug and the delicious scent of her orchid perfume caused him to lean in further.
“You both have to pull away for us to have this birthday celebration. You’re going to spend the whole day in each other’s arms.”
Finally, they pulled away from each other and Xavier handed her the flowers with a slight peck on her cheek that made her face burn bright red. She grabbed his hand and began to lead him further into the house, to the dining setting that she’d made together with her mother-in-law.
“The fuck, babe? When did you have time to prepare all of these? We were together all throughout the night.”
“Does it matter how. You didn’t think I’d forget your birthday did you?”
He turned to his mother who walked behind them. “You know that I don’t celebrate my birthdays.”
“And you know that you have to celebrate this. You have to leave the past and embrace the new. We also brought some gifts for you. You should see them later.”
“Mother.”
“Margaret too. She sent a gift. Let the past be in the past and you must embrace this. Celebrate your birthdays with your wife and vice versa.”
“I agree with mother. That’s why we decided to have dinner as a small celebration.” She wrapped her hand tighter around her husband’s arms and pulled him to the chair. “I also heard from a reliable source that you signed a new deal at work. This can be a double celebration, right?”
“A reliable source.” He raised a brow. “Don’t tell me you’re keeping tabs on me.”
“I’m not, of course. I heard it accidentally,” she lied. And no, she wasn’t spying on him or anything, it was just Rigel that she’d asked to keep Sonia at arms length and watch if the girl had ulterior motives. She trusted her husband but not the woman.
“I’m going to act like I buy that lie.”
“Just sit already.”
He pulled out the chairs for the both of them and only after she took her seat did he sit beside her and everyone did the same. He stared at the large cake in the middle of the table with the two fire sticks on it. At that moment, he felt a flash of memory in his head.
The last time that he blew a cake candle, he was only just ten. Yet the memory was so livid in his head and if he thought further, he would remember all that happened that day.
“Do I blow out the candles now?” Perhaps he was a bit excited to blow out the candle and cut the cake.
“Not going to call me to join you blow out candles?” Rigel joked from the side.
“Nah. Not sharing my wishes.”
“You believe in that? Who would have thought that Xavier Romano believes in such things? Eiya then, make your wish.”
“You’re supposed to blow after dinner but since the cake is calling your name,” Mr Romano stood and settled the knife carefully. At the end call of Romano, you should blow out your candles and cut the cake.”
“Fucking childish.” He chuckled. Who would’ve thought that celebrating his birthday with his family would cause him to be so nervous? He was a Romano for fucks sake. The things that Elaine made him do. He never thought that he would ever blow a childish cake candle ever again and have a birthday dinner with family.
She should’ve done so sooner!
****
[A/N]
Dearest gentle readers, your author here. I do hope that you’re enjoying this story. If you are, I’d love to give a notice that this book is coming to an end soon. Please keep unlocking as the end is near.
Love,
Suxi!
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