Thank you for the birthday wishes, I did have a great day. But now I'm gonna have to ask for another huge favour. Today, a little girl who was visiting one of the houses in my street was hit by a car. Not once, but twice. The little girl, only four years old, is in critical condition in the hospital. So, pray for her? Please? A kid like that shouldn't have to be put through something like that.
Rhyleigh xoxox
"Julie, what are you doing?" Dave asked sleepily, rolling over in their bed, days later, to find Julie on the floor, up to her elbows in wrapping paper.
"Its Ruby's birthday", she said simply, peeling off a length of tape and pressing it against the pink flowery paper. "I didn't get her presents, but the kids took care of that for her. She's a lucky girl, that one".
"I can't believe I forgot my own daughter's birthday", Dave moaned. "I'm a terrible father!"
"you've been sick, darling, Ruby's over the moon that you made it home to see her turn four!" Julie smiled at him. "The kids are coming over this morning, and Rach's bringing the cake".
Dave's eyes bulged. "Rachel made the cake? Rachel can't bake! Who put Rachel in charge of making Ruby's birthday cake?"
"I know she can't bake- she knows that too. That's why she asked Grace to make it". Julie's eyes gleamed, as she pushed the final present aside. "Grace has been too good to us, these past few weeks. She's been looking after Ruby when the kids and Dad and Chel can't- Ruby adores her, and Alex".
"They're coming today, right?"
"They'll be here".
"Hey Mum!" Ben called. "We're here! Where's the birthday girl?"
"Where did you hide her?" Melissa played along.
"Ben!" Ruby shrieked, running towards her older brother. "I wasn't even hiding!"
When Dave looked at her questioningly, Julie simply smiled. "She's been watching TV, I said she couldn't have her present until you were awake and everyone was here".
Dave just couldn't believe how much he had missed, in his family. The weeks had flown by, and before he knew it, his little girl was turning four. When he left for the hospital, Ruby was a baby of three. But a lot could change in a few weeks.
Change could happen in a split second.
"Happy birthday, Ruby!" Dave presented his daughter with a pink wrapped present, making the little girl beam in delight.
"Thanks, Daddy!" Ruby grinned hugely, from her position in Carbo's lap. she had always adored her older siblings (both official and unofficial), but the time her father had spent in hospital had given her the chance to grow closer to them- a lot closer than she had anticipated.
Dave simply smiled, leaning against the lounge. He didn't want to admit it, but he was starting to feel slightly green. He knew, however, that if he mentioned it to anyone, they would have him in the back of an ambulance before he could blink.
"I love it, Daddy!" Ruby threw her arms around her father, and Dave felt the world start to spin. Jake yanked the little girl off the lounge just in time, as the whole world went blank; the last thing Dave heard being his daughter's scream.
