Twenty-Two
"Happy birthday to you~"
All 22 flaming candles atop the cake flickered and sputtered out as the young brunette woman blew them out. Champagne corks flew over her head as her two former roommates popped their bottles open from either side of her. She grinned, her mother stepping forward with the knife, ready to cut the cake into even parts. "Y'all have beautiful singing voices," the young brunette mused as she plucked the smoking candles from the icing. "I can definitely see a music career in your future."
The red-haired Kaitlyn shook her head as she offered the young brunette the first glass of champagne. "Yeah, right, Bella. If you're referring to a career of sounding like dying cats, we're definitely on the right track."
The champagne hissed in the flutes as the foam subsided and each party guest was given their glass.
"Well," mused Crystal, "us dying cats can definitely throw a kick-ass birthday party!"
Bella's mother, Jasmine, cleared her throat and shared a look of disdain at the expletive with Crystal, who smiled bashfully and offered a quick apology. "Well, no party is complete without a toast." Jasmine held her glass up before the group. "To great friendships, bright futures, and many more years to come."
"Here, here!" Bella mused as everyone clinked their glasses together before taking a sip. The women laughed joyfully together as the conversation continued, but as Bella lowered her glass from her lips, her eyes landed on a picture frame displayed on the nearby bookshelf.
The voices around her faded into distant mumbling as she became mournfully aware of the absence of the smiling man in the photo.
The photograph did an excellent job immortalizing his joy. His blue eyes always lit up when he laughed, and they definitely shined through the clear glass frame. The memory of that moment played through Bella's mind. The card game sprawled out over the floor, the little black cards displayed neatly below the white one prompting the round. As inappropriate as the subject might've been, it was one of the greatest game nights Bella could recall.
I would give anything to go back to that day.
"I'm sure Preston is looking down on you now." Jasmine murmured as she placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Singing you happy birthday with the angels."
"Mom, you know he didn't believe," Bella sighed, "but I appreciate the thought. It would be nice to see him in heaven one day."
"God works in mysterious ways, Bells," her mother smiled softly. "There's a chance he's up there."
Bella downed the rest of her champagne with a faint nod to her mother before she poured herself another glass and rejoined the conversation.
The party lasted a few more hours, her grief floating away with the bubbles of the champagne, before Kaitlyn and Crystal had to leave for their respective apartments. Bella bid them farewell and gave them both parting hugs before closing the front door of her childhood home.
Her mother had already begun cleaning the trash from the party when Bella stepped into the living room. Thankfully, with there only being a handful of guests, the cleanup wasn't much to tackle.
Bella took to the kitchen to begin washing the dishes. "Thank you for tonight, Mom. I had a blast."
Her mother yawned, placing her trash bag next to the back door. "I'm glad. I hope you know how much you're loved."
With a tired chuckle, Bella shook her head. "I could never forget."
Bella's mother joined her at the kitchen sink and grabbed a dish towel, drying the dishes Bella had already cleaned. "Are you planning on staying up to watch your father's latest video?"
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Action***Very much still a work in progress*** Any constructive criticism is greatly appreciated! After her father's disappearance, Bella spent years wondering where her father had gone. All she had left of him was the annual training videos she received...
