Chapter 36

A few months later…

At nearly eight months pregnant, Sabrina had stopped worrying about her little girl coming too early. She knew she could have her at any time and she would be okay. Without the constant fear hanging over her head, Sabrina was able to just enjoy being pregnant. And even though she was experiencing just how uncomfortable pregnancy could become, she still loved every minute of it.

"Wow, Emma you look great! You're going to be the most beautiful ballerina on the stage. Are you guys ready to go?" Sabrina said when she entered the living room.

"Thanks Sabrina! I'm ready!"

"All right. Go get your coat and we'll head out," Sabrina said as she struggled to put her own jacket on.

"Here, let me help you with that," Patrick said coming over and taking Sabrina's coat from her.

"Thank you. I'm getting so big even the simple things are getting difficult."

"Maybe, but you still look amazing," Patrick said kissing her.

"I'm ready!" Emma said coming back into the room.

"All right, let's go," Patrick said leading the way.

….

Before the trio headed to Emma's dance recital they had an important stop to make first, the cemetery.

Sabrina was the first to reach Gabriel's grave and as she always did, she kissed her fingers and then placed them on top of the headstone letting them linger for a few seconds. "Hi my sweet Gabriel," Sabrina said as Emma and Patrick approached.

"Hi Gabriel!" Emma said. "Sabrina?"

"Yeah Babe?"

"Where should we put these?" Emma asked pointing to the handful of balloons she had brought.

"Here, we can attach them right here," Patrick said taking them from Emma. "Hi Gabriel," Patrick said as he tied the balloons down. "Happy Birthday," he said in little more than a whisper.

"It's hard to believe that it's already been a year since you entered our lives. Somehow it doesn't seem like it's been that long. Happy Birthday my sweet boy." Sabrina said, wiping the tears from her eyes as Patrick stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

"Happy Birthday Gabriel!" Emma said excitedly. "I hope you like the balloons. I always love getting balloons on my birthday, so I wanted to be sure you got some too. Daddy?"

"Yes, Sweetheart?"

"Can we sing Happy Birthday to Gabriel?"

"Well…" Patrick said hesitantly, not sure if singing to Gabriel was appropriate.

"Of course we can, Emma. Why don't you start and Daddy and I will join in," Sabrina said. After all, they were there to celebrate Gabriel's life, regardless of how short it was.

"Okay. Ready?"

"Ready," Patrick said.

"Happy Birthday to you," Emma sang.

"Happy Birthday to you," Patrick and Sabrina sang joining Emma. "Happy Birthday, dear Gabriel. Happy Birthday to you."

"Well Gabriel, I know we all wish we could spend more time with you, but we have to get over to the MetroCourt for your big sister's dance recital," Patrick said.

"I hope you have a good birthday in heaven!" Emma said.

"Goodbye my sweet boy. Happy Birthday! We love you!" Sabrina said once again kissing her fingers and placing them on the headstone. Looking back as they walked to the car, she blew a kiss to her baby boy.

…..

When they arrived at the MetroCourt for Emma's dance recital they were greeted by Emma's entourage. "Hi Mommy! Grandma! Uncle Duke! Hi Uncle Mac and Aunt Felicia!" Emma said excited to see everyone who had come out to see her. "Hi Cameron!" Emma said taking off to see her friends and leaving her apparently less exciting family behind.

"Mac, thanks for coming again this year. I see you brought the video camera again," Patrick said shaking his hand.

"Of course. Wouldn't miss it for the world!"

"Sabrina!" Felix called out as he entered the lobby.

"Felix! Hi!" Sabrina said greeting Felix with a hug.

"We aren't too late, are we?"

"No, not at all. We were just about to head in. Hi Ryan, I can't believe Felix talked you into coming to this," Sabrina said giving Felix's boyfriend a hug.

"Hi Sabrina. Glad to be here, Emma is a doll!"

"Yeah, she is pretty special." Sabrina said distantly as she placed her hand on her belly.

"She's the best," Felix said smiling. "Bri. Hey, you okay?"

"What? Oh yeah, I'm fine."

"Will you give us a minute?" Felix asked looking at Ryan who just nodded his head. Grabbing Sabrina's hand he pulled her aside to some of the couches. "Okay girl, it's just you and me. What's up?"

"Felix, I'm fine. Really."

"Bri, I know today is Gabriel's birthday. Here you are at Emma's dance recital, I'm sure it's bringing back a lot of difficult memories for you. But there are a lot of people who loved that little boy and who love his mother. I hope you know that you're not alone."

"Yeah, I know. It's hard though. I still miss him every day."

"I'm sure you do, I'm sure you always will. And no one expects anything different,"

"Thanks, Fe. I'm lucky to have you as my friend," Sabrina said as Felix hugged her.

"Everything okay?" Patrick asked walking over to Sabrina and Felix.

"Yeah, everything's okay," Sabrina said feeling better.

"Good. Hi Felix, how are you?"

"Good, thanks." Felix said helping Sabrina up from the couch.

"All right, we better go to our seats." Patrick said taking Sabrina's hand and giving it a tight squeeze.

"I can't wait," Sabrina said with a smile squeezing Patrick's hand back.

"Are you okay?" Patrick whispered as they walked to the ballroom.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Being here is just bringing back a lot of memories from last year. I keep thinking about coming to Emma's recital last year and how happy we all were on the way home and then how everything changed in an instant."

"I know what you mean. I keep thinking about last year too. Are you sure you're okay? Maybe it wasn't a good idea to go to the cemetery right before coming here."

"I wanted to honor Gabriel by celebrating his birthday. I'm okay, let's go enjoy Emma's recital."

"Okay, if you're sure. I love you."

"I love you too," Sabrina said before Patrick kissed her right as the lights began to dim.

…

"Emma, you were fantastic!" Sabrina said as Emma returned from backstage.

"Thanks Sabrina!" Emma said giving her a hug.

"I agree! You were awesome! Even better than last year!" Patrick said hugging his daughter. "Do you think we should go to the restaurant to get some ice cream to celebrate?"

"Definitely!" Emma answered. "Can everyone come?"

"Sure, the more the merrier," Patrick said pulling Sabrina close to him and then kissing the top of her head. He knew it was a difficult day for them and thought a little more distraction couldn't hurt.

….

Everyone headed over to the restaurant to celebrate Emma's successful dance performance. Sabrina was grateful for Patrick's suggestion to head over to the restaurant to have some ice cream; it was the perfect way to keep her mind off everything that happened last year.

"Excuse me!" Robin said trying to get everyone's attention. "I just want to say how proud of Emma I am," Robin said once everyone quieted down. "She was absolutely fantastic on stage today and I am so proud of the person she is! To Emma!" Robin said raising a spoonful of ice cream.

"To Emma!" Everyone echoed raising their own spoons.

"And although I know Patrick and Sabrina are trying to make tonight all about Emma, we all know that today is very special for another reason. And so, since we are all together I think it is only right that we acknowledge that as well. Happy Birthday Gabriel," Robin said raising her glass.

"Happy Birthday Gabriel!" The table chorused raising their glasses.

"Robin, thank you for that," Patrick said, as he looked over at Sabrina who was wiping a tear from her eye. "I can't begin to tell each and everyone one of you how much your love and support has meant to Sabrina and I over the last year. This past year has been very difficult for us and each of you has made it a little bit better and easier."

"Patrick's right, we couldn't have made it through this year without each of you. Thank you all so much for loving us and for loving our son, especially today. We love you all," Sabrina said squeezing Patrick's hand truly grateful for everything she had in her life.