FULL CIRCLE
Chapter 52
By the time everybody had finished eating Mikayla was jumping up and down trying to get at the presents on the table. Rachelle laughed and said, "I think the birthday girl is beginning to get a little bitimpatient. Don't forget that after she's finished, we're having pink cake and punch."
Miles had moved to where he could watch the gift opening, curious to see if she liked the present from him. Somehow he had the feeling that it wouldn't be the last one he'd be getting for her. Looking around, he could see his father standing off to one side with a camera ready to take pictures.
Rachelle looked over the piled up gifts and quickly spotted the one she knew was from Miles. Handing Mikayla the bag, she opened up the card and spoke softly, "Smiles," giving a look to his general direction.
Mikayla quickly pulled out the bunny and squealed in delight as she hugged it. Then clutching it in one arm, she tore across the yard to where Miles was seated and scrambled up in his lap. "Tank you," she said, hugging him.
"Glad you like it, Kid," he said, returning the hug a little awkwardly as he had suddenly realized that he was the center of everyone's attention. She slid off his lap and ran back to open the
rest of her presents.
Soon all the presents were opened and lying amidst the discarded boxes and bags, wrapping paper and ribbons. Rachelle reached for the biggest and brightest pink bow on the table. "Kayla, you have one more present yet," she said softly.
"Where?" the little girl asked excitedly.
"Over here," her mother replied. She slowly moved behind where Miles was sitting and without warning stuck it right on top of his head.
"What?" Miles exclaimed as he felt rather than saw his sister climbing up on his lap again. He had one hand reaching out to her and the other to get rid of that ridiculous bow when he saw his
father aiming the camera. The words "He wouldn't dare," flashed through Miles' mind just as the shutter clicked.
John McCabe had seen Rachelle sneaking up on Miles and when she planted that ridiculous bow on his son's head, he just could not resist the photo opportunity. But then twenty-four hours earlier, he could not have imagined Miles being at Mikayla's birthday party.
Mikayla had Miles by the hand and was trying to get him to go with
her to the cake table. Looking at everybody around her, she
announced, "He's my best birthday present!"
Rachelle caught up to her husband and laughed softly at Miles' embarrassed expression. John McCabe just shook his head and commented, "She certainly is her mother's child."
"Our little Princess. I'm glad he decided to stay for the party, John, although I'm afraid I must apologize about the bow. But with Kayla talking about her 'present'. Well, I just couldn't resist,"
she replied and hurried to the table before Mikayla could spill the punch.