Daylight

Chapter Twenty-Two

The summer passed quietly, the three of them settling into their lives together. Luca participated in two different camps, and he was excited to start at his new school in the fall. There were a few weeks left before school, though, and something important was still in front of them.

It was the morning of August thirteenth. A very important someone's birthday. Luca and Ava knew that Sebastian would be up early that day; he had to do some test shooting for A Different Man. They'd gotten up early and snuck out of the house to the good bagel place to bring home some for Sebastian in time for him to be able to eat before he left.

They heard his alarm go off from the kitchen and Luca jumped up and down.

"He's coming, he's coming!" he muttered excitedly.

"Shh, give him a minute," she coached, though her tired smile was bright.

Sebastian quieted his blaring phone before sitting up and rubbing his eyes. Then he noticed that Ava wasn't in bed. "Doll?" He called, feeling concerned. She usually wasn't up before him.

Ava's attention was drawn as Sebastian called out one of her pet names. "Out here," she called back in reply, making a face. "I might have worried him..." she murmured to Luca.

"It'll be okay, Mami," he assured as he waited impatiently. "Yeah, out here!"

He pulled on his briefs, having slept nude, and made a quick trip to the bathroom before padding down the hall barefoot. "What's going on?"

"Happy birthday!" Luca exclaimed, taking off in a run down the hall to smack into Sebastian.

Seb laughed and bent to wrap his arms tightly around Luca. "Thank you, Luca. That's very sweet of you." He kissed the top of his head and rubbed his back before looking up at Ava, giving her a warm smile.

Ava's bright green eyes held Sebastian's blue ones as she smiled warmly. "Feliz cumpleaños," she greeted in Spanish. "We got bagels and coffee. We know you have to be somewhere early, but we didn't want to have to wait until tonight to celebrate."

"That's so sweet of you, baby." He walked over to Ava and kissed her softly. "I love it."

"Well, your real party is later. That will be more fun than a bagel," she said with a soft laugh after she returned his kiss. "I also got you coffee from the bodega you like," she added. "Sit down, I'll make you a bagel."

Sebastian nodded and did as Ava asked him to. "You didn't have to set up a party, Ava. Really."

"That's why it's fun. Because I didn't have to," she smiled. "It's nothing big. It's not even really a party." Except as Chris said, everywhere he is is a party. He would be getting in this afternoon. Carefully, she brought Sebastian's coffee to him before putting a bagel in the toaster.

"Am I allowed to know where our dinner will be?" Sebastian asked curiously.

"Lola Taverna," she answered, waiting patiently to attend to the bagel once it popped out of the toaster. "Your mom recommended it."

"I like that name, Lola," Luca mused as he munched on a bagel of his own, unable to help himself.

Sebastian raised an eyebrow at Luca. "Why do you like the name?" He asked.

The young boy shrugged. "It's pretty," he observed. "Mami says my name would have been Lola if I was a girl."

Ava laughed as she set a bagel in front of Sebastian. "That's true. We didn't know what you were going to be."

"It is a pretty name," Sebastian agreed. He gently pulled Ava over so he could kiss her. "Thank you, love."

She smiled sweetly at him. "Of course. Thank you for being born," she replied with a soft laugh before she kissed his cheek.