Bloom's birthday was an oddly warm December day. The temperature was fifty degrees and the weather had been clear. so Daphne decided to take Bloom out to the playground. She bundled Bloom up in a snowsuit, mittens, and a hat. Fifty degrees may have been warm for winter, but it was still winter. Not good weather for only a diaper and shirt.
Their time at the playground turned out to be short-lived when a rainstorm unexpectedly rolled in. All the parents rushed to get their kids home. Daphne rushed, holding Bloom tightly in her arms to try to shield her as best she could from the rain, desperately not wanting her to get sick, but the storm seemed to get worse with every minute. The wind picked up so strongly that Daphne struggled to see where she was going. Bloom was wailing at the top of her lungs and was miserable.
Daphne was about to cry with her when she felt someone tug on her arm.
"Miss, come in my shop! Bring your baby in here!"
Daphne did not know the brunette woman addressing her, but nevertheless, she listened and came inside without question. The woman quickly shut and locked the door behind her. Daphne shivered, cold and soaking wet. The woman who invited her inside draped a towel around her and gave her another to wrap Bloom in, which she gratefully accepted.
"T-Thank you."
"You're welcome. Have a seat." The woman pointed to a small table with a chair on each side. Daphne gladly took the woman up on her generosity. "This weather is dangerous. Are you alright?"
"We're fine now."
"That's good. I'm Vanessa. Glad you're okay."
"My name is Daphne." She then felt a bit embarrassed. "I can't imagine what you must think of me, having a baby out in a storm like this."
Vanessa shook her head. "No, it's not your fault. It was sudden. If I knew a storm was coming, I would've kept my shop closed today. I saw you out there. You looked like the wind was going to knock you over."
Bloom had calmed down a lot by now. Daphne dried off Bloom's coat with the extra towel and unwrapped Bloom. "Sorry, Bloom." Bloom yawned and curled up against Daphne. A second later, she was fast asleep like nothing happened.
"I think that means no hard feelings," Vanessa giggled quietly, not wanting to wake her. "Your daughter is very cute."
"Oh, she's-" Daphne stopped herself before she finished, realizing what she was about to say. "-a year old. Today is her birthday."
"Awww, that's lovely! Shame the weather ruined your day. You're welcome to stay until the storm passes."
"You're too kind. Thank you so much."
Within an hour, the rainstorm slowed from a heavy downpour to a gentle drizzle. Vanessa offered to walk Daphne home, an offer Daphne refused until Vanessa assured her she wouldn't be taken out of her way. The temperature was still around fifty degrees, and without the wind, the weather almost felt nice. Bloom hadn't blinked an eye since falling asleep in the shop.
Daphne's home was a thirty-minute walk from Vanessa's shop. After being caught in the storm, Daphne had never felt so relieved to see that building.
"Feel free to drop by any time!" Vanessa called as they parted ways.
"I will!"
Inside, Daphne undressed Bloom, being careful not to wake her up. Even if Bloom was too young to care, she felt bad her birthday had been ruined. It was her first birthday, after all. Then again, maybe it was Daphne who needed Bloom's first birthday to be special...
"Dragon's Chri-!" She stopped herself short of swearing. She wished she could stop pitying herself about Domino. Of course, that was easier said than done. She didn't exactly have anyone to talk with about her situation.
She redressed Bloom in a light pair of pajamas and rested in bed. She momentarily considered putting Bloom in her crib, but decided she needed a hug right now, so she laid Bloom on her chest instead. She watched Bloom's light breathing and, somehow, it put her mind at ease.
She remembered what Vanessa said in the shop. "Your daughter is very cute." To Daphne, it was kind of funny her blue-eyed, redheaded sister was thought to be her daughter. Then again, she didn't resemble their parents any more than Bloom resembled her. Where in the realms did she get blonde hair? Maybe from the same place Bloom got her blue eyes. She didn't exactly study genetics on Domino or Earth.
It was a random topic to come to mind, but at least, she was laughing now. Quietly, of course, so as not to wake Bloom.