"Daddy?" Grace asked curiously standing on the stool watching as Mike lifted a chocolate cake out of its box.
"yes pumpkin?" Mike smiled placing several candles in to the cake
"Do old people still have Birthday cakes?" She asked
"of course," Mike grinned. "it's not your Birthday without cake and you can't turn your new age without blowing out the candles."
"Oh well I didn't think you would want the numbers getting any bigger. Daddy" she smiled a sweet angelic butter wouldn't melt smile.
"oi cheeky" Mike grinned "go and get your cards" he said shaking his head at his daughter's cheek
Running over to her toybox in the living room she began throwing her toys all over the place pulling out a card and a box.
Racing back in to the kitchen she jumped up on the stool
"i hope you are going to tidy those toys up?" Mike frowned looking at the mess Grace had just made. He was amazed at the lengths she had gone to just to hide a birthday card, considering Kate had only been home just over 12 hours.
"I will." Grace smiled "can I carry the tray" she asked hopefully
"No Squirt" Nicole said as she placed the coffee pot on the tray "you will just drop it"
"No, I won't" Grace wailed stamping her foot. "it's not fair" she moaned, "why does Nicole get to carry the tray?"
"you just carry your bag, and that way you can give mummy a big hug okay" Mike smiled. Hoping that would stop the girls from arguing
"Fine" Grace sighed.
Stretching out Kate woke realising the space next to her was cold and empty. Looking over at the alarm-clock she could see it was actually still quite early and she was still exhausted from the previous day and getting back from patrol. Pulling the blanket around her she tried to get back to sleep. It wasn't how she has imagined her birthday but there wasn't much they could do until the restrictions of traveling inter-state had been lifted.
The bliss of the peace and quiet, lasted all of 5 minutes before the door crashed open. Pushing herself up on the pillows as Chris and Grace dived on to the bed.
"Hey" she smiled as both of the children snuggled up under the covers next to Kate.
"Happy Birthday mummy" Grace said shoving her card right up her nose
"thank you sweet" Kate said taking it from her placing it on the bed.
"Happy Birthday Kate" Mike smiled holding the cake in front of her with the candles lit. "Make a wish" he smiled
Closing her eyes, she blew out the candles.
"So, what did you wish for mummy?" Grace asked.
"well if I tell you it won't come true will it. Will it" she said pulling Grace in kissing the top of her head.
"Happy birthday Mum" Nicole said holding the tray out.
"thank you" Kate smiled holding her arm out. "do I get a birthday cuddle" she smiled
"Fine" Nicole sighed as Kate pulled her on to the bed and in to a hug.
Looking over at the tray Nicole had put on the side she could smell the coffee brewing in the pot. Even the smell was enough to wake her up. She could also see her favourite breakfast. Smashed avo on whole-wheat toast with a poached egg. Tucking in she smiled it was done to perfection.
"Mummy!" Grace called sharply picking up her card brandishing it front of Kate's face.
"okay missy" Kate sighed moving the tray to the side, she had finished anyway.
Opening the envelope, she pulled out a card which was blue with a mommy fish and a baby fish and it said have a swimmingly good birthday mum.
"to mummy happy birthday, you are the best mummy I ever had love grace" she read out what Grace had written in the card. she missed the bottom bit where Grace has written 'PS your favourite daughter'
"thank you sweet" Kate smiled kissing the top of Graces head.
"And I got you this" Grace shoved a box in to Kates hands.
"thank you" Kate said unwrapping the box. She lifted the lid revealing a butterfly keyring that said best mum on. "it's beautiful, now I won't lose my keys" she smiled as mike re-entered the room
"go on" he smiled handing Chris a envelope and bag
"happy birthday mummy" he said handing Kate both things at once.
"thank you, Chris," Kate smiled taking them off him. Opening the card, it was Mikes handwriting but he had had a go at writing some things. opening the bag, she lifted out a teddy holding a daisy. "aww that's sweet. Did you choose this" She asked as Chris nodded.
"well thank you" she smiled wrapping Chris in her arms trying to give him a kiss despite him squirming. sliding off the bed he ran off out of the room. picking up her coffee she finished what was left in the cup as Nicole handed her a bag.
"happy birthday mum" she smiled handing her a bag.
Opening the bag Kate lifted out a necklace attached to a piece of cardboard. It was a rose quartz heart on a black rope chain.
"its beautiful, thank you Nicole" Kate smiled placing it round her neck pulling the cord.
"Right" Mike smiled "I think we should let mummy enjoy the rest of a lie-in and you need to tidy away those toys" Mike smiled turning to Grace
"okay daddy" Grace said bouncing to the end of the bed jumping off. Pausing she turned "Daddy you didn't give mummy your present or card" she said
"that's because I am going to give it to her later madam. Now toys away" he said lifting up the cake off the table
Once everyone had left Kate sighed looking at the cards on the bedside cabinet from her children. Dispite being in lockdown this was going to be a birthday she wasn't going to forget she was sure of that. She just hoped it would be rememberable for the right reasons
so the conversation about "old people" and cake came from my neighbours little girls. they made my mum a cake for her birthday last week because they didn't want her to not have one being in lockdown but apparently asked her mum if "old people still had birthday cakes" anyway next chapter will be part 2 of the birthday. hope you enjoy and let me know what you think. xx