Chapter 3 the life of the Collins family
Hayley's birthday
Hayley woke up the next morning with Jake's arm draped over her waist. She gently detached herself and went to the bathroom. There on the bathroom counter was a card addressed to her. She took the card and walked back into her room to see Jake awake and sitting up against the head board reading a comic. When she walked closer to their bed he looked up and smiled. "Happy Birthday!" he said as she climbed back onto the bed and into his arms. "Thank You. Now what's in the card?" Hayley asked examining the card. "You'll have to see but you have to open it downstairs when everyone is at the table." Jake said. Just then Annabelle came running into their room and onto their bed. "Good morning Daddy! Happy Birthday Mommy!" she said as she gave Hayley a big hug. "Thank you sweetie." Hayley said returning the hug. "Annabelle, can you please go wake up Andrew and go downstairs. We'll be right there." Jake told his daughter. "Okay Daddy" she said and then rushed out of their room. The next thing they heard was a scream and a yell. "That's our girl. Strong lungs" Hayley said laughing. "Yep. Now, we have to get up and go downstairs." Jake said getting ready to get up. "Nope. Not until I get a birthday kiss" Hayley said grabbing his arm. "Yes. I almost forgot" Jake said as he knelt down on the bed and kissed hayley. "That's better" Hayley said getting out of bed.
Downstairs with Annabelle, Andrew and Hayley
Andrew and Annabelle were already sitting at the counter when Hayley came downstairs. Jake however was no where to be found. "Where's your father, kids?" Hayley asked walking behind the counter. The two kids looked at each other and Andrew said, "He had to go get something. We're supposed to make you some breakfast. How's cereal, mom?" Knowing that cereal was the only breakfast food a 9 and 4 year olds kids were capable of making hayley didn't mind.
After Hayley had eaten her cereal and the kids had eaten theirs, there were three knocks on the door. "Mommy, you need to put this around your head so you can't see" Annabelle said as she handed Hayley a blind fold. Hayley obeyed this and put it on. "Okay dad, come on in" Andrew said. Hayley hear the door open close and then a bark came. Hayley undid the blind fold to see a cute little lab sitting on the floor. "Oh my goodness!" she exclaimed. The two kids ran up to the dog and began to pet him while Hayley went over the Jake and gave him a big kiss. "Thank you" Hayley whispered into Jake's ear. "Anything for the birthday girl! Besides you've always wanted a dog." Jake said gesturing to the leash in his hand. The kids looked up and their parents and asked, "What's his name?" Jake looked at Hayley who thought a bit and then said, "I like the name Ben." "Well then Ben it is." Jake said pulling Hayley closer.
Later that day around 3
Hayley was petting Ben in her bedroom when she walked over to her jewelry box and looked at a necklace.
Flashback
When Hayley was opening her birthday presents that night of her sixteenth birthday she came across and small box with no card. She opened it to see a necklace placed inside. She recognized the necklace because it was her grandmother's. Hayley had worn it before but then a monster ate it. She remembered she was devastated about it. She looked on the box but the person didn't write their name. Hayley thought for a second and then knew who gave it to her.
The next day at school Hayley got to Troop Headquarters early because it was her day to check the monstrosity cells. About halfway through the job she heard the elevator close. She walked out to see Jake standing there looking wet because it was raining. "Hey Hayley, I didn't know you were here." he said looking surprised. "Yeah, it's my day to check on the cells." Hayley said lifting the clipboard that was almost like and attendance. "So how was the rest of your birthday?" Jake said trying to make conversation. "It was okay. I opened my presents." Hayley said slightly looking at Jake. "Oh any good ones?" Jake asked. "Well there was one but there wasn't a name on it so I can't say thank you for it." Hayley said trying to make him admit he gave it to her. "Well what was it?" Jake said. "It was my grandmother's necklace that got swallowed by a monster." Hayley said looking square at him. "Okay you caught me. I gave you the necklace" Jake said looking at her. "I knew it." Hayley said in triumph. She had finally got him to admit it. "Well it was a very sweet thing of you to do." Hayley said stepping closer. "Well I knew that it would make you happy so I somehow got it out of that monster." Jake said as he stepped about an inch away from her face. "Well now that you admit that you gave it to me I can thank you" Hayley said. Her warm breath on Jake's face. "How will you thank me?" Jake said looking slightly confused. "Like this" and then Hayley gave Jake a kiss.
End of flashback
Standing there looking at the very first gift Jake had gave her and then glancing over at Ben, who was laying on his back with his belly up, Hayley knew that every one of her birthdays was going to be special.
*another chapter done! Hope you guys are enjoying this series. I think in the next chapter I'll focus more on the kids instead of Hayley. REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! 5 more reviews for the next chapter*