Birthday Celebrations

The Daughter I Never Had Chapter 5

A/N: Chapter 5 of Cousins & Chapter 4 of Holiday Memories from Mrs. Pugh's perspective.

As I promised Grace we planned a special girls night out for Annie's birthday just the three of us. Oliver stayed home with Molly. Grace was in awe that Annie was turning 15. It really had seemed like only yesterday when she first arrived at the mansion.

We got in the Duisenberg around 5:15 to make the 15 minute drive to Queens to pick up Annie's cousin Isabella. She's Oliver's niece and is one of the most polite girls I've ever met. She's Molly's age and like Grace I wish they both went to the same school so Molly would have someone her age in her class. All the children in her class are a little older than her.

"Hello Isabella." Grace greeted her niece.

"Hi Aunt Grace, Thanks for inviting me to dinner for Annie's birthday."

Grace smiled. "You're welcome sweetheart. We're so happy you could come."

Isabella regarded me shyly. "Hello Mrs. Pugh."

I smiled at her to ease her nervousness. "You can call me Helen if you want dear."

"Okay."

Annie chatted excited with her cousin excitedly throughout the car ride.

"Isabella, how is school going?" Grace asked once we'd sat down at our table and ordered our drinks.

"Fine, Aunt Grace. Thanks for asking. I really like all my classes… especially art. How does Molly like school?"

Grace smiled "She had a rough adjustment to the middle school but she's doing better now. I really wish you girls went to the same school. Molly is so shy and she has trouble making friends."

"I won't mind introducing her to some of my friends sometime. I think she'd really like them a lot."

Grace reached across the table and squeezed her niece's hand. " Thank you Isabella, that would mean so much to Molly."

"Don't worry about it Aunt Grace."

Grace smiled at me.

Later that night as we were on our way home from dropping Isabella off I asked Annie what her favorite part of the evening was.

Annie smiled at Grace and I. "I just enjoyed spending time with you guys and Isabella. This should be a tradition of ours from now on."

Grace nodded. "It definitely will be my darling."

I pulled Grace and Annie into a warm hug. "I love you both so very much." I whispered.

"We love you too Mama." Grace said kissing me on the cheek.

Three weeks later it was time to celebrate Molly's 11th birthday. Annie had orchestrated a surprise party for her and I could Grace was happy about it. "Mama it's so great that Annie is planning this party for Molly."

I smiled. "They have a special relationship don't they?"

Grace nodded. "Yes, very special and very unique. They've been really close to each other since living in the orphanage and I think their bond had only grown stronger since Oliver and I adopted Molly in January."

Molly's birthday dinner started at 6:00 on November 23rd. Annie, Molly and their cousins ate dinner and caught up with each other on how school was going. Once dinner was complete it was time for the surprise party to begin

Annie called over to her little sister. Her cousins joined her by the kitchen door.

"Molly, come here we have a surprise for you!"

Molly looked at her sister curiously. "Really a surprise… what is it?"

Grace grinned at her younger daughter. "Sweetheart, if she told you it wouldn't be a surprise. Just follow your sister and cousins and you'll see."

The five girls walked down the long hallway to the movie room. Kathryn leading the way, followed by Isabella and Margaret. Annie followed behind them covering Molly's eyes.

"Annie, what are you doing? I can't see! "Molly said anxiously.

"I'll uncover your eyes when we get to the movie room." Annie said.

Once they got to the movie room Annie uncovered her sister's eyes.

Molly's mouth fell open in utter shock. The room was decorated with balloons, streamers and a banner that said Happy 11th Birthday Molly."

"Annie, did you do this for me?" Molly asked looking at her sister.

"We all did." Annie said indicating her cousins were in on the plan too.

"Yeah Molly we wanted to do something special for you for your birthday." Isabella said.

Grace and I followed behind minutes later with the dessert and the plates, cups and lemonade. We put them on a table in the back of the movie room. After putting everything down Grace picked her younger daughter up.

"So what do you think of this party your sister planned for you?" Grace asked.

"Mommy, it's so great! But what are we going to do?"

Annie smiled at her sister. "After we have chocolate chip cookies and ice cream sundaes we're going to watch movies and you can pick whatever movies you want to watch."

"Wow, really? Thanks Annie what a fun party!"

Grace kissed her daughter's forehead. "Happy 11th Birthday baby girl. I love you so much."

Molly returned her mother's kiss. "I love you too Mommy. Let's eat dessert now!"

After we had dessert Grace and I went for a walk on the terrace.

"Well, that party was certainly a smashing success wasn't it?" I asked

Grace smiled. "Yes, it certainly was. I had never seen Molly so happy. She is lucky to have such a wonderful big sister like Annie."

"Annie truly is a wonderful girl."

Grace nodded again. "She certainly is."

I took Grace's hand and squeezed it tightly. "They have a wonderful mother you know,"

Grace returned my squeeze but didn't say anything.

"I love you so very much Grace."

I felt Grace's embrace tighten around me.

"I love you too Mama." She whispered

A year later it was Annie's sweet 16. Oliver and Grace decided to throw Annie a costume party for her birthday since it was so close to Halloween. We prepared her birthday dinner together. Grace was silent most of the time.

"What's on your mind darling?"

Grace sighed, her eyes were misty. "I just can't believe Annie is turning 16 today. In a year and a half she'll be graduating high school. I'm going to miss her so much."

I patted her arm. "Cherish the next couple years as much as you can. You're so close with Annie and I've seen how special she is to you."

Grace nodded. "Definitely. I am also so happy she and Molly are so close with all their cousins."

I smiled "It's wonderful how close-knit this family is. They've been so welcoming to my grandchildren too."

Grace squeezed my hand. "I'm so happy that I feel like I'm part of your family now Mama. It means so much to me."

I kissed her forehead. "You're so special to me Grace. I love you."

Grace returned my kiss placing hers on my cheek. "I love you too Mama."