SHAPES UNSPOKEN

-41-

Happy Reading 🥰

Annabelle Innis

I wake to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and something sweet in the air. Sean’s in the kitchen, flipping pancakes with a precision that makes me smile before I even get out of bed. The twins stretch inside me, and I giggle at the little nudges—they’re excited too, I think.

“Morning, birthday girl,” Sean says, turning to me with a plate stacked high with pancakes, whipped cream, scrambled eggs, and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. His hair is tousled, and he looks more at peace than I’ve ever seen him in months, all gentle eyes and soft smiles directed at me.

“Morning,” I murmur, sitting on the kitchen island. He places the plate in front of me and perches beside me, careful to keep a respectful distance, though I can feel the warmth radiating from him.

We eat slowly, catching up on the week. I tell him about work—the meetings, the emails, the small victories that make me proud to be back as an International Affairs Officer. He listens, his eyes never leaving mine, nodding in all the right places, occasionally teasing me with a joke or playful glance.

I’m finishing the last bite of my pancakes when Sean disappears into the kitchen. Before I can ask where he’s going, he returns carrying a small, perfectly decorated cake. The frosting is pale pink, trimmed with tiny silver sprinkles, and a single candle flickers on top.

“My queen,” he says, placing it in front of me on the kitchen island, “a little something extra for my birthday girl.”

I laugh, covering my mouth in surprise. “Sean! You didn’t have to.”

He shrugs with a mischievous grin. “I did. You only turn twenty-eight once.”

I can’t help but smile at him, and he leans down, lighting the candle with a gentle flick of his hand. “Make a wish,” he whispers, his warm breath brushing my ear.

I close my eyes for a moment, letting the world disappear—thinking of the twins, Steph, Sean, and everything that’s brought me to this moment. When I open them again, he’s watching me, eyes soft, full of love.

I blow out the candle, laughing as a tiny spark of frosting sticks to my lip. Sean wipes it away with his thumb, leaning in to kiss me lightly.

“Happy birthday, beautiful lady,” he murmurs. “I hope every wish comes true.”

I rest my hand on his, squeezing it gently. “With you… they already have.”

The twins has me tired much without doing much lately. My ankles are swollen from standing at the office, and Sean notices immediately.

“You should take a break this week,” he says softly, placing a hand over mine. “Let the swelling go down. I want you rested, baby.”

I glance down at my body, at the curves that have expanded with our twins—the full breasts, thickening hips, and round belly. I feel a pang of self-consciousness, but he notices none of it. Only admiration.

“You’re perfect,” he murmurs, as if reading my thoughts. “The twins picked the best mommy in the world.”

I laugh softly, shaking my head. “I don’t get a say in this, apparently.”

The sisters arrive soon after bubbling with excitement. They insist on taking me to a spa day.

I glance at Sean over my cake, my fork paused mid-bite. “I wanted to spend the day with you,” I say, a little pout in my voice. “I thought we were going to wrap up in each other.”

He smiles, reaching across the kitchen island to take my hand. His thumb rubs soothing circles over my knuckles. “Anna… I know, I know,” he says gently. “But your sisters planned this for you. A spa day, pampering, the whole works. You need it, baby. You deserve it.”