Lucy breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that her daughters—and the cake—were still intact, even though Edith had been balancing on the edge of the fountain with it. After gathering Edith and Agnes, the team managed to pick up some balloons and decorations for Gru's Father's Day party without Lucy having to make another trip to the bathroom.
Now they were in the lab, where Lucy and the girls, as well as the few minions who'd generously volunteered to stay behind and help, were scattering streamers and tying balloons.
Only, several of them had gotten distracted, per usual. Tom the minion bopped a balloon back and forth in an intense competition between himself, Edith, and Otto. Edith, with impeccable aim, hurdled the balloon as hard as she could in the opposite direction, hoping to get Otto out once and for all.
"Noo!"
Determined not to lose, Otto frantically scrambled up the ladder they'd used to hang the banner. Unfortunately, it was unstable. Otto toppled to the ground, taking the banner with him. The small minion rolled away unharmed like a beach ball, but the same couldn't be said for the banner.
"Ugh, Otto! That is the third time you've knocked down this banner!"
The three girls, and even several minions, blinked up at Lucy.
This was, decidedly, not her best moment. They couldn't ever remember seeing her become irritated over something so trivial before.
Lucy began striding toward the ladder, but Margo made a beeline for it first. "I've got it!" She quickly volunteered, tilting the ladder back upright and dragging the banner up.
Just as she was making triply sure the banner was secure, Tom bellowed, "Boss!"
Lucy, who'd resumed rushing around last minute to replace a few tattered streamers after Margo had climbed the ladder, plastered on a smile and waited.
The churning in her stomach had returned.
Forgetting their bewilderment at Lucy, the girls wore real smiles and surrounded her, excited to show their father the fruits of that day's labor.
"HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, GRU!"
Lucy instantly cheered up when she saw the mix of shock and surprise on Gru's face as he and the minions trailed in. She watched as his eyes darted all around and then landed on her and their daughters.
Gru ran straight into their arms.
He stooped down and hugged his daughters, kissing each of their heads. Then Gru looked up at Lucy, delight glimmering in his eyes. "Hey, all this for me? You planned all of this for me?"
Lucy nodded. "Gru, this was the least we could do."
Gru shook his head. "No…you girls have already given me everything."
To Gru's surprise, Lucy teared up. Gru kissed her head and folded his arms around her. Lucy leaned her head on his shoulder and folded her arms around him in return. Still embracing, they dropped to their knees and let their daughters join. It seemed to the five of them that they were the only people in the room, though they were surrounded by minions.
Agnes, finally disbanding the family hug, handed Gru a handmade card.
Smiling broadly, Gru took it and opened it. Inside was a beautiful picture that Agnes had drawn. Herself, her sisters, and her father reading Sleepy Kittens together.
He lifted her up and hugged her tightly. "I love it."
Edith held up hers. When Gru opened his card, he instantly recognized that Edith had copied a photo infamous in their family…the rollercoaster photo. His face broke into a smile. She was quite the little artist.
"Edith, this is amazing."
"Thanks. There's a little bit more."
"I see that." Edith had written a small note inside next to her picture.
I know at first you adopted us for your evil plan—I think that's kind of cool anyway—but now you're the BEST DAD in the WHOLE WORLD. Thanks for wanting me when nobody else did.
~ Edith
P.S. Thanks for taking us to Super Silly Fun Land that time, and for getting us more stuff afterwards even though MARGO lied and said we'd never ask for anything else ever again. And thanks for teaching me how to use the freeze ray. Sorry that it backfired on you. I'm gonna stop now because your eyeballs are probably gonna fall out soon from all that reading, but I love you.
"Edith—that wasn't too much at all. It was perfect." Gru said, proud of his middle daughter.
Edith studied her boots, but she was beaming. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Edith reached her arms out for a hug.
"Softie," commented Margo.
"Am not!" countered Edith, sticking out her tongue at Margo to prove it.
"Are too."
"All right, all right," said Gru. "Margo's turn."
Margo held up her card for her father to see. "I hope you like it."
"I am sure that I will." Gru replied. He opened it up. Margo couldn't really draw like Edith, so she had decorated her card with a few doodles of flowers.
But what struck Gru was the words.
Dear Gru,
First of all, I'd like to wish the world's best dad a happy Father's Day. You definitely deserve this party (we'd have given you much more if we could!). We wanted to make you as happy as you make all of us. Be sure to thank Lucy for this, she worked hard to make it special!
The day when I found out Edith, Agnes, and I were getting adopted, I was beyond happy. I packed my suitcase as soon as I heard the news and rushed down to the lobby of Miss Hattie's. And then I saw you.
I'll be honest, I kind of thought that all my dreams went out the window. When you took us back here, I wanted to burst into tears when I saw the house. I had to make everything seem okay for Edith and Agnes, but I knew I couldn't trust you.
Then we began to become family. The big and scary house (ha!) began to become my home. I was forming a bond with you, and you started becoming my friend. And then, just when I started considering you my dad, you decided to give us up.
This broke my heart and my trust. But when Vector kidnapped us, you didn't let anything get in your way in getting back to us. You let go of the moon, but you promised me you'd never let me go again. I realized I meant more to you than the literal MOON. Then I knew I could trust you with my whole heart, and I still do.
You're not what I expected. You're so much better. You're my dad, and you're my hero.
I love you,
Margo
As Gru reached the end of her message, Margo saw something that she had never seen before, something she'd thought she'd never see.
A tear trickled down Gru's cheek.
He knelt on the ground with Margo's card in his lap. Lucy, who'd been silent throughout the reading of the cards, rubbed his back gently as his shoulders heaved.
Margo studied him with worry in her eyes. Had she been too honest? Did she say something wrong?
But then Gru lifted his face and looked at his oldest daughter. His eyes were red-rimmed, but Margo saw joy shining in them. He took her hands after swiping at his eyes. "I love you so much."
"I love you too, Dad." Margo leaned into his shoulder.
Gru smiled and hugged back as a final tear slipped down his cheek and into Margo's hair.
"Gru," Agnes asked, "Aren't you gonna enjoy your party?"
"Of course!" her father cried, lifting her into the air and kissing her cheek.
Gru and his three daughters were so jubilant that they almost didn't notice Lucy herself had started weeping. Gru, who'd been heading toward the dance floor with the girls, abruptly stopped in his tracks and turned around when he realized Lucy wasn't at their side. Her crumpled face suggested she was not crying out of joy as he had been.
"Lucy? Oh, honey, what's wrong?"
Lucy couldn't move except to bury her face in her hands. When she made no reply, Gru walked over and put his arms around her. The girls looked on, exchanging worried glances.
"I don't want to ruin anything," she finally choked out.
"Ruin? What do you mean, ruin?" Gru gestured toward the decorations. "This is perfect, Lucy."
"No, no, not the party, I—,"
An image of his wife's face as he'd read the girls' cards floated into Gru's mind. Half wistful, half sorrowful. Especially when he'd wrapped the girls in a giant bear hug. "Oh, Lucy. You're not talking about our family, are you?"
Lucy blinked and studied her husband's concerned gaze. Did he know? "Our family?" she croaked.
"You know how much the girls and I love having you as part of our family, don't you?"
The girls rapidly nodded in agreement.
Lucy should have breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't know. But the breath of relief didn't come.
She knew the weight wouldn't lift until she told him.
...But not yet. Not just yet.
Lucy swallowed. "I do. I'm sorry—I just got caught up in how perfect you all looked together, reading those cards…and I couldn't help but think about what it was like for you guys before me."
It was only a half-lie.
"We love you, Lucy!" said Agnes tenderly.
"We do," said Gru. "You didn't ruin anything. You make us even happier."
Agnes giggled and clung to Lucy's leg. Surprised, Lucy found herself laughing, too. Since both of their laughs were contagious, soon everyone began to laugh and simply enjoy being together, celebrating the man who'd stolen their hearts.
The girls pulled Gru back onto the dance floor. This time, Gru made sure to tug Lucy along with him. As Lucy swayed to the rhythm, she watched how Gru whirled the girls around on the dance floor. How any time one of the girls opened their eyes to smile up at him, his eyes softened and crinkled at the corners.
It was time.
Striding over to the table full of treats, Lucy called, "Hey! Hey, guys, does anyone want some cake?" She tilted it toward them proudly.
Gru and the girls stopped dancing, but before they had the chance to respond, a sea of minions yelped, "OOH! OOH!"
"NO!" Lucy tried to shoo them away in a panic, but before she could flee the scene, the minions flung themselves at her. She lost her balance, sending the cake flying. In an almost cartoonish manner, the cake flipped upside down midair and splatted on the ground just in front of Gru's feet.
Just one look at it, and the tears sprung to Lucy's eyes again.
"Guys!" Gru exclaimed angrily, balling his fists and looming over his minions. "What did I tell you about storming Lucy and the girls for food?" He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Twice in one day."
When Gru finally looked up again, massaging his temples, he noticed Lucy's eyes still transfixed on the smashed cake. "Aw, Lucy, it's okay. They'll eat it off the ground, and let's be honest here, the girls and I probably will, too."
Lucy discreetly swiped at her eyes, hoping Gru hadn't noticed the new round of freshly pooling tears. "I just…I really wanted you to see what was written on it," she ventured without thinking. As soon as it slipped out, Lucy bit her cheek.
I surely shouldn't tell him right now anymore!
Fortunately for Lucy, all that dancing had put Gru in such an unusually happy mood that the gravity of what happened went by undetected. "Honey, I don't need some writing on a cake to know that you guys love me." Gru grinned.
One of the corners of Lucy's mouth turned up. Still smiling, Gru handed Lucy a fork. Together they scooped up the remnants of the cake that didn't touch the ground onto plates for themselves, Margo, Edith, and Agnes.
The minions ate right off the floor.