Chapter 104
One month later on May 24th, Mariah graduated high school. The whole family was there to see her graduate. But then four days later on May 28th, it was Mariah's eighteenth birthday and Colby's fifty-fifth birthday. And on the morning of that day, Mercedes woke her husband up early to wish him a happy birthday.
"You know you have been the first to wish me a happy birthday for twenty-five years now," Colby commented.
"Twenty-five?" Mercedes questioned. "I thought it was twenty-four?"
"Well, when I returned from my knee injury and it was my birthday about a week later, you were the first one to wish me a happy birthday. You were the first text message I got."
"Awe, you're counting before we were even together."
"Yep, 2016 to 2041 is twenty-five years."
"And you're fifty-five years old tonight," Mercedes said.
"I am," Colby replied.
"And you're still hot and sexy as hell."
"Thank you, baby. You are as well too."
Mercedes smiled. She leaned over and kissed her husband passionately on the lips. "Happy birthday, baby."
"Thank you. And waking up to you every year has been great. Minus 2016, though."
"Well, I got to wake you to you in 2017 for my birthday. My twenty-fifth birthday."
"Plus, a baby inside you."
"I know," Mercedes replied with a bright smile. "Our Evie. Or as Trevor likes to call her: Evie Eve."
"His Evie, Eve," Colby commented.
"Yep. But I was also pregnant with Evelyn for your thirty-first birthday."
"You sure were. You were pregnant with all our kids for certain birthdays. However, one of those babies was born on my birthday."
"Yes, our sweet, Mariah."
"That was one of the best birthday presents you could give me," Colby commented.
"I'm glad," Mercedes said.
"I remember that birthday, because it was one of the best birthdays ever."
Mercedes smiled.
It was May 27, 2023 when Mercedes had gone into labor with Mariah, her fourth pregnancy. Mercedes went into labor in the late afternoon, early evening and Mariah was born at 12:05 am on May 28th, Colby's thirty-seventh birthday.
Mercedes remembered the moment Colby held their fourth born child and third daughter. Colby cried a little.
"You are just so beautiful," Colby said as he held Mariah. "You are as beautiful as your mom and your big sisters."
"She looks like you," Mercedes replied.
"Then she's definitely beautiful. I am a beautiful man."
The couple laughed.
"Thank you, Mercedes," Colby said. "She is the best birthday present I could ever receive."
"You're welcome, baby," Mercedes said. "And happy birthday!"
"Thank you."
Colby got up from his seat. He walked over to his wife as she laid in her hospital bed. He kissed her passionately. "I love you so much!" He said.
"I love you too, Colby! And I love this baby girl!"
"Take her," Colby said. "I want to take a picture of you two."
"Okay."
Colby handed their newborn daughter over to Mercedes. She gently held her. She kissed the top of her head.
"All right, smile, beautiful," Colby said, holding his phone up. Mercedes looked at him, smiling brightly. She heard the camera snap.
"One of the greatest days of my life, baby," Colby said.
"What is another great day of your life?" Mercedes asked.
"Everyday since the day I came back from my knee injury in 2016. Even when I wasn't with you because of your attack."
Mercedes smiled. "Same here."
"All I could think about was you after I knew what happen, Mercedes. Just wondering how you felt and wondering if you were thinking of me."
"I was, Colby. I was thinking how much I wanted to be with you. I knew I could trust you. I have since the day I met you. I was just so scared!" Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, baby," Colby said, wiping them away. "I'm making you cry."
"I don't care. You're the greatest thing to happen to me, Colby. I love you so much!"
"I love you too and you know how much."
"I do, because I love you just as much," Mercedes said. "I know with every kiss. I know with every hug and with every time you hold me."
Colby leaned forward and kissed his wife.
"Wake up, wake up!" Katianna said as she started jumping up and down on her sister's bed.
Mariah groaned. "Leave me alone!"
Katianna laughed. She sat down on the bed. "Happy Eighteenth, little sis," She said.
"Thanks," Mariah yawned, sitting up.
"I know it's early, but I was wondering if you wanted to go for a run or a walk?"
"How early is it?" Mariah yawned again.
"About 8:30."
Mariah groaned.
"I'm just asking," Katianna said. "You can go back to sleep and I'll go by myself."
"No, I'll go," Mariah replied. "I just need a few minutes to wake up."
"Well, meet me down-stairs in ten."
Katianna got up from the bed and headed back to her own room, which was Evelyn's old room. Mariah nodded her head. She threw the covers off herself and stood up.
Ten minutes later, the two sisters headed out to take a walk for a morning workout. Katianna sent a text to Mercedes letting her know they were going for that walk.
"So how does it feel to be a high school graduate now?" Katianna asked.
"I love it," Mariah said. "I'm very excited to start college in the fall."
"I'm so proud of you for going to be a nurse. You'll be great at it."
"Thank you. I'm proud of you too, Kati. I can't wait for when you are the NXT Women's Champion someday."
"Well, thank you."
"How about a race?" Mariah asked.
"You sure you want to lose on your birthday?" Katianna asked.
"Challenge accepted, Katianna!"
Katianna laughed. She stopped walked. Mariah did too. "On your mark, get set, go!"
The two sisters took off running.
As the two ran, they tried to trip each other or knock the other one down. But Mariah realized it wasn't a good idea, because Katianna might actually trip or fall and get hurt. Then she might not be able to wrestle for a little bit and Mariah didn't want to do that to her older sister.
"Okay, okay, no more of this," Mariah said as she stopped.
"Why?" Katianna asked.
"I don't want you to actually trip and get hurt. Then you might not be able to wrestle."
"Well, shit! Good call!"
Mariah laughed. "Was your plan to trip me or for me to fall?"
"Maybe," Katianna replied, harassing her little sister.
"Gee, thanks, Kati and on my birthday."
"Okay, let's have a fair race. Around the block once and back to the house. The first one to the front door is the winner."
"You're on," Mariah said.
"Okay," Katianna said. "For real this time. On your mark, get set, go."
The two sisters took off running. They both held nothing back and didn't try tripping each other. They both let out their inner-competitor. The inner-competitor that was one half Mercedes and one-half Colby. They ran around the block and to the front door of the house. They were both neck and neck the whole time.
The two laughed as they both hit their hands on the front door.
"Tie," Mariah said, catching her breath from running.
"That's a first in a long time," Katianna said, catching her breath too.
Mariah nodded her head.
The front door opened suddenly. It was Mercedes.
"Oh, hi, girls," Mercedes said.
"Hi, Mom," Katianna said.
"Hi," Mariah said. "It was just us pounding on the door."
"Why?" Mercedes said.
"We were racing."
"Oh, okay. Happy birthday by the way."
"Thank you."
"Well, come inside. I'm getting ready to make breakfast."
"Yay!" Katianna exclaimed.
"What are you making?" Mariah asked.
"Pancakes, eggs, bacon, hash browns and fruit," Mercedes replied.
"Yay!"
Mercedes laughed as both her daughters came into the house.
Colby was coming down-stairs as his two daughters were coming inside the house. "That was a short walk," He said.
"It was a run race more so," Mariah said.
"Well, I hope you won. Happy Birthday, sweetheart."
"Thank you. And Happy Birthday to you too, Daddy."
Colby hugged her. He didn't care if she was really sweaty or slightly sweaty. He never minded sweaty hugs from anyone. He was used to them, especially Mercedes and the kids.
"No, it was a tie."
"Oh, that's no fun," Mercedes said.
"Not to me," Katianna said.
"Or even me," Mariah said.
"All right," Mercedes said. "I have to get breakfast started."
"I'll help you. I'm just going to go check in on my boyfriend first," Katianna said.
"I'll see you in the kitchen then."
Colby chuckled as his wife headed into the kitchen and Katianna headed up-stairs. He looked at Mariah with a smile, though. Mariah smiled back, holding her arms open. Colby chuckled again. He happily wrapped his arms around her, hugging her. He loved hugging and holding all his girls.
"I love you, Mariah," He said.
"I love you too, Dad," Mariah replied.
"You're the greatest birthday present I ever got from your mom," Colby said, pulling back from their hug.
"Well, I have the best birthday every year, because I share it with you."
Colby smiled and kissed her cheek. As well as giving her one more hug.