Chapter 13

1 year, 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days

"Photograph"- Nickelback

Amanda (POV)

I slung my purse over my shoulder and grabbed the box, wrapped in blue and green stripped wrapping paper, off the table in the hall way.

"Amanda!" My mom called poking her head in the hall. "Where are you going?"

"Over to Kyle's, its Brice's birthday today." I reminded her.

"Amanda, you know I don't approve of that boy. And now that he has a child-"

I cut her off "Mom, we've been over this. Kyle adopted Brice because Kyle was all Brice had."

She didn't say anything she just folded her arms across her chest.

"You should give Kyle the benefit of the doubt, not many 18 year old guys would take on that kind of responsibility."

"Amanda how many times has that boy hurt you? Yet you continue to welcome him back with open arms." She huffed.

I sighed this would be so much easier if she knew the truth I thought.

"I'm not going to do this again Mom, Kyle has explained himself to me and I accept that. He shouldn't have to explain himself to you, when I already have been over this with you." I told her keeping my voice calm.

I turned to the door. "I'll be back for dinner." I said over my shoulder as I left the house.

Kyle (POV)

"Hey Birthday Boy!" I called to Brice as I made my way into the kitchen with an arm full of groceries. "Helping Grandma make a cake?"

"Daddy!" I ruffled his hair; his cheeks were covered in flower.

"Did you get all the stuff for the party?" Nicole asked poking around in the bags.

"Yes I did."

"How many kids from day care are coming to the party again?" She questioned.

"Well there's; Jared, Kevin, Hailey, and Hannah."

"Okay, everyone should be here at 3, so why don't you go get him cleaned up?" Nicole suggested.

"Alright, come on Buddy," I said scooping him up with one arm, and carrying him up stairs.

He was starting to put a few sentences together and as we walked he was babbling on about today.

I got him all cleaned up and took him out back where Lori, Declan, and Josh were setting up.

"Wow, it looks great you guys thank you." I thanked them, looking around at all the decorations they had set up. There were balloons, streamers, and over the door hung a banner that said 'Happy Birthday'.

"No big deal," Josh said his voice high pitched from inhaling helium.

"Josh that's for the balloons not for you!" Lori scolded, slapping him on the back of his head.

"Ow," He whined his voice still affected from the helium.

"Hey Birthday Boy!" Declan cheered taking Brice from my hands.

"Would you keep an eye on him I've got to go take care of his pre-"

"Not a problem, it's all covered!" Lori cut me off not wanting me to finish my sentence.

I walked back into the house through the kitchen sliding door.

"Stephen! That's for the cake not you!" Nicole scolded, hitting Stephen's hand with her wooden spoon.

"I was only tasting," I could hear him come up with an excuse as I left the kitchen and headed to my room.

I found the present I had been working on with the help of Lori, Nicole, and Amanda and I attempted to wrap it.

"Hey Kyle," I turned and saw Amanda making her way to me.

"Hey!" I mumbled through a kiss.

"Uhm…" she started glancing down at my attempt to wrap a gift. "Need some help?" she giggled.

"I thought I did pretty well." I joked.

"Here it helps if you don't have so much paper." She said, undoing my mess.

A little after three Brice's friends from day care started to arrive. Everyone had migrated to the back yard and the kids ran around playing a game they had made up.

Lori was going around taking pictures of everything.

I glance over everyone to the end of the drive way and saw Peter walking up.

"Peter!" I called extending my hand. "I'm glad you could make it!"

"I am too! Thank you for having me." He shook my hand.

"Well there's plenty of food just go ahead and help yourself." I told him leading him to the deck where the adults seemed to gather.

After a while Nicole tapped me on my shoulder. "How about we do cake?"

"Okay, let me just go get Brice and the rest of the kids." I told her.

I found Brice playing with his friends.

"Hey buddy," I said kneeling beside him.

"Daddy!" he cheered.

"You want cake?" I asked knowing the answer already.

"Yeah!" His eye's lit up.

I held his hand and gathered the other kids around the table that had been set up on the deck.

I knelt down next to Brice where he sat at the head of the table. Nicole brought a chocolate cake with a giant one candle on it out and led everyone in singing 'happy birthday'. Amanda stood behind me with her hands gently placed on my shoulders. Lori was snapping pictures every second.

"Make a wish Brice." I told him, just like the Tragers had told me the day Lori shared her birthday with me.

He giggled and blew out his candle.

"Yay!" everyone cheered and clapped.

After we ate cake Brice opened the gifts from his friends and shortly after that they left. It was just family now so we went inside to the living room and watched as Brice opened his gifts from the family.

He sat on my lap and Nicole handed him a present wrapped in red wrapping paper.

"Okay Buddy this is from Grandma and Grandpa." I told him as Amanda and I helped him open the present.

It was a teddy bear and a new green knit blanket that Nicole had made for him.

"Can you say thank you Brice?" Amanda reminded him.

"Thank you!" he giggled and went on to his next gift.

Lori gave him a toy guitar, Declan gave him a basketball, Josh gave him a toy fire truck, and Amanda had given him a framed picture of the three of us.

"This is from Gretchen and me." Peter said, and Brice a small box.

It was a necklace with a pendent on it.

"Just something to remember us by," Peter said.

"Thank you, Peter." I said for Brice this time.

Now came my turn to give him his present.

"Brice, this is from Daddy." I told him and helped him un-wrap it.

It was a photo album that started from the time he became apart of my life until now. I flipped through it and let him look at all the photos.

"Me?" He asked pointing to the picture of him when he was 4 months old sleeping in his crib.

"Yeah buddy, that's you." I laughed.

He played with his new toys for a while then Amanda and I put him to bed.

"Peter thank you for coming, it meant a lot." I told him as he slipped his coat on.

"You're welcome Kyle; you've done a wonderful job with him." He said, then reached into his coat pocket and pulled out two envelopes and handed them to me.

"The first one is from me, its nothing really I just wanted to start a college fund for him in his name."

"Peter I can't-" He cut me off.

"Nonsense Kyle I wont take no for an answer." He paused. "The second letter is from Gretchen, you can give it to him when you feel the time is right. Gretchen just wants him to know that she loves and cares for him."

"Peter… Thank you," was all I could think of saying.

"Not a problem, my boy!" He said then left.

"Hey I should head out too," Amanda said. "My Mom is leaving on a business trip tomorrow, so this is the last night we have together before we leave for New Hampshire."

"Four more days," I whispered in her ear as I gave her a hug and a kiss goodnight.

"Can't wait!" she grinned.

"Me either," I said leaning down and kissing her again. "I love you."

"I love you too!" she said disappearing into the night.

AN: So I hoped you liked it I wanted to bring Mrs. Bloom's view into the story. Someone mentioned to me that I hadn't done that yet and I thought I would do that before I have them move to New Hampshire. I'm not too happy with the end of this chapter but whatever. Please comment and tell me what you think!