Birthday Girl
A day before his daughter's birthday party Eric had spoken to his father and learned that Marisol had come to their house and thrown a fit regarding the day. Her problem being that her ex was going to be there and the fact her niece was so enthralled with him bothered her. After all, she said "if" she decided to come to the party, "if" she had the time in her day, it was "unfair" to her that "he" be there.
"Horatio loves Chloe, Mari and she loves him back," Pavel told his daughter. "And he knows her, unlike you, he took the time to actually establish a relationship with her. Chloe knows your name and that's you're her daddy's sister but you're no aunt to her. Horatio is so much more family to her than you. He has every right to celebrate the day with us and he's welcome. If this is going to be your attitude, don't come to the party."
Frankly Eric and Calleigh didn't want Marisol at their child's party and Pavel knew what he had said to his spoiled daughter would keep her from the party. Even as her parents Pavel and Chlordina knew what their daughter was like and were often ashamed of how he conducted herself, like when she pretended to be someone she wasn't to get Horatio Caine to marry her. They were deeply ashamed that how apparent it was that a grown woman like Marisol was jealous of an innocent little girl. They had no idea how she got to be that way; their other children weren't like that at all and they had treated all their children the same.
Chloe enjoyed her "birfday" party. Her birthday present from mommy and daddy was something she had her eye for months; a Power Wheels Ford Mustang. They were even able to find one with purple seats and a set of purple stripes on the hood, accompanied by a purple helmet. Purple was Chloe's favorite color.
Along with her grandparents, two cousins Jose and Diego, her aunt Rachel, Rachel's husband Carlos, her aunt Paloma, her son Elijah and fiancé Gil, Alexx came and bought her daughter and son who were eight and eleven. Even Frank, Ryan, Speed and Natalia came. Of course uncle Horatio was there. It was a family party, none of her friends from daycare were there. Chloe had visited the center a week prior to her birthday. Her parents thought it would good for her to see some of her little friends. Plus once a month the staff had a birthday party for any of the children who had a birthday that month; Calleigh bought Chloe in for the party she shared with two other little girls.
Everyone seemed to enjoy the family party. When all the guests arrived Chloe's parents knew they made a good decision, deciding to have the party at Eric's parents' home. Their home and property were much bigger, better for a birthday party with children and adults. Even the adults enjoyed the pinata. None of the kids could break the candy-filled creation on the first try but on his second try Diego broke it, sending all the children diving to the floor for candy.
Horatio stayed at the Delkos' for a little while longer after everyone left. Chloe was already starting to fall asleep on the sofa. She was hugging the build-your-own-teddy-bear that Horatio had given her as a birthday present. He had helped her put the stuffing in the toy that had a pale blue Cinderella costume after the other kids left.