Beautiful Joy

Prologue

"Happy Birthday, 'My Joy,' make a wish," Mom said, her voice brimming with excitement. She had orchestrated a backyard barbecue for my 14th birthday, transforming our humble backyard into a vibrant celebration. Family and friends surrounded me, adorned with colorful party hats and beaming with wide smiles.

Despite telling Mom that I wasn't keen on having a big party this year, I wasn't surprised by her gesture. Mom has always had a flair for turning any occasion into a grand celebration. I recall the 'First Lost Tooth Ice Cream Party' and the 'You're a Woman: Period Party.' It's her unique way of expressing her love for us, turning even the smallest milestones into something special.

I closed my eyes tightly, hoping for something extraordinary, and blew out the candles on my cake. The flames flickered and then vanished, taking my wish with them. Just then, my little sisters, Faith and Jewel, came bounding toward me, their faces flushed with excitement. "Happy Birthday, Joy!" they squealed in unison, enveloping me in a tight hug before eagerly following Mom to get their slices of cake.

Dad approached next, his warm smile a comforting presence. He gently kissed my forehead and said, "Happy Birthday, sweetie." His eyes sparkled with pride as he took in the joyful chaos of the party.

"So this is Mom's idea of not celebrating," I remarked, my voice laced with playful annoyance. I shot him a sideways glance, but he merely chuckled, his gaze drifting to Mom, who was energetically distributing cake and chatting animatedly with everyone she encountered.

I nudged Dad with my shoulder, a feigned pout on my lips. "I blame you too. You're supposed to keep her reined in."

Dad's laughter was soft but genuine. He looked over at Mom, a look of affectionate amusement in his eyes. "Well, she did scale it back a bit. Before you said you didn't want a big celebration, she had even rented a blow-up slide."

My eyes widened in mock horror, and a burst of laughter escaped my lips. "She's crazy."

Dad nodded, a twinkle of fondness in his gaze as he watched Mom, who was now heading toward us with cake plates in hand. Her energy was contagious, and her smile was as bright as ever.

"Alright, you two, eat your cake and mingle," Mom instructed with a cheerful authority. I took a bite of the rich, chocolate cake and planted a quick kiss on her cheek. As I walked off to join my friends, the warm feeling of family and love enveloped me, making me realize that even though I didn't want a big celebration, this was exactly what I needed.

I don't own any of the pictures used in the book, most were Pinterest finds!

Thanks for reading I hope you enjoy...