Chapter 14: Birthday Party For Baby Ava

Anastasia's POV
Aaron Blacks rather shocking, I had to close my gawking mouth hoping that he has not hit his head yesterday while playing a noble knight. If not tell me why on earth is he doing, kneeling in front of the bouncing pool, helping Ibrahim fish while not minding the twin girl Zara and Maya using ribbons and clips, messing with those perfect hair which has this finishing curls at the edges that makes his scream 'I am a playoff '.
"Good Morning Miss Anastasia" came Ava's baby sing png voice when she spotted me making their father raise his head, looking at me which felt like he was checking my soul out. The goosebumps and chills I am getting through my tummy.
"Hey Ava, how are you?" I asked bending down to peck both chubby cheeks before she dragged my hands to a table towards the end of the room filled with kids and their make parents or guardians.
"You have something to show me?"
"Yes, Daddy me and cake for you!" She said excitedly. I smiled following her to get the hang of her excitement.
She ran and showed me a small looking cake box. I opened it and saw a plain white cake with a caricature drawing of a brunette dancing. She looks duo at me excitedly grinning from ear to ears.
"Is this for me?" I asked deeply blushing and smiling at the same time. She nodded a big yes making her hair bounce. I picked her up and twirl her making her laugh loud catching the attention of some parents around.
"Thank you, Ava, I love it" She hugged me back before coming down and running excitedly to go play with the clown. I used the tip of my finger to take a lick of the cake turning in time to make eye contact with Aaron.
"Thank you" I mounted and he nodded back, almost smiling and that was the first time my sleeping butterflies which have permanent residence in my heart threatened to explode with a happy dance.
"Parents, attention. It's now time for the shooting game!" The headteacher announces over the microphone.
"Can all parents kindly move towards the shooting stand and try to win this for their ward" I decided to fill in for Ibrahim fully aware that he has no one to stand in for him. Besides, I need something to keep me busy and focused rather than hanging around stealing glances at Mr Aaron who was playing with the kids. He had to be a prude though, playing with kids without smiling.
"Miss Anastasia, please make us win the football " shouted Ibrahim
"Okay, okay! I got it!" I said, still going ahead and missing my target for the second time.
"Miss Anastasia, you have very bad eyesight" Mr Aaron had to ruin whatever civil feelings I was warming up towards him by saying this in front of the other parents.
I bute my lips, trying had to concentrate and prove him wrong in the presence of everyone and this is my third and last chance. I rested, cracking my head before aiming the toy stimulation gun when I felt his hard body behind mine.
He is all out for me to fail, how am I supposed to focus with this hunk of temptation solidly behind me "Just relax and...bum!" His hands felt rather gentle over mine and I had to recoil back into his chest when he shot the gun hiring the target in the precise spot.
"That was good," I said swallowing and coughed awkwardly and at that moment it felt like it was just Mr Aaron and me. After locking eyes for what seems like an eternity. He removed his hands from my waist and stepped back making me wonder how his hands got there and yet felt bittersweet that his warmth is gone.
"Thank you, Miss Anastasia!" Ibrahim said jumping around with his football. And I found myself mouthing thank you to Mr Arrogant Hot guy for the second time in just an hour. An angel must have been born today, who would have ever thought.
I took a break from the little party going on, wanting to clear my head when I found myself walking down towards the administrative office, carefully looking back to make sure that she is tucked away being occupied with the parents and their kids.
Thank goodness the door was open making it easy for me to go into the office and checked out the cabinet containing information about the kids in Jennifer's kindergarten, class. Ava's file was not hard to find since her name starts with an "A".
Suddenly interested in her and why her father is willing to go all the way to get her a trusted home teacher. It's more strange that he wants me for the job, I am hardly a teacher. I dance around with kids.
The file was not containing much information other than her name, date of birth and health status with emergency numbers to call. Also her allergies, no place indicating whether she has a mother or not.
" Strange" I went through the file again reliving that next week is her birthday! Heard a sound down the hall and I quickly kept the file as neatly as I found it before running back to join the ongoing Father and Child school party.
I spotted Ibrahim playing bounce happily with his new ball, my eyes scanned the room before it landed on Ava playing with building blocks. Her Father sitting hot too far reading from a magazine looking like a Greek god statue ignoring the subtle smile the other female teachers are throwing at him.
"Hey, Ava" I drew a sofa ball chair, sitting beside her.
"Yes Miss" she answered her attention still on her halfway block castle.
"You know my birthday happens to be at an awkward time. It's either the exams period or the time I am taking care of my sick mother and the birthday, my dog got missing. I envy those who get to enjoy their birthdays" she just shook her head still playing. Of course, what was I thinking? Saying all these to a kid.
"What will you like for your birthday?" I tried asking and she suddenly shook her head, her hands asking and destroying the blocks from scratch.
"Are you okay?" Before I could hug her. She has already had tears streaming down her cheeks. It was scary, I have never seen Ava react so deeply to just a simple question.
"Is she okay, we were just talking about her birthday and then in a blink of. She is all teary " I frantically explained to Mr Aaron who just gave me a hand to calm down while he should Ava stop crying and by the time he finished cradling her, she was fast asleep.
"Let me help you with Ava," I said collecting the sleeping cute girl from him and sitting with her in my arms.
"It's not your fault, don't feel bad" I can't stop feeling bad, I gulped.
"Last two years something terrible happened at her birthday which is responsible for the post-traumatic stress disorder that makes her act like this sometimes. That's why I am sceptical about who I allow getting close to her. And in two years, I have never seen her get comfortable with anyone close but you. "
"Awww"
"Just in case you were wondering and Ava happens to be my world. I will do anything to see her happy and enjoy her childhood" Mr Aaron finished with so much love in his eyes while he was talking about his daughter and I am suddenly overwhelmed by the desire to help him out with his daughter. Mr Aaron is not a stereotypical cold headed but yet in all ways an alpha male.
"Well since her birthday is a major trigger. We will organise an amazing birthday experience for her that will rule out the notion of whatever is making her feel like that" I said without asking much questions knowing that if Mr Aaron wants to tell me everything, he will so I won't push it. Ava's happiness comes first.
He was quiet for a while before he replied " You mean we, like you and me together?" He asked sounding surprised and I had to chuckle out kind at that facial expression.
"It's a deal Mr Aaron Blacks, clear your Saturday schedule because you and I have a birthday party to plan," I said in a business-like tone which made him smile for the first time and I was almost shocked at how cute and sexy he can look at the same time. But then Mr hot guy over here never cease to amaze me.
Took Ava to his extensive lookin