LANA MASON
I love celebrating birthdays when it's not my own. If I pride myself on anything, it's being able to find or create the perfect gift for the people I love, and if I enjoy anything, it's watching them open the gift I worked so hard on picking out or creating myself. Today, on Jane's birthday, is no different.
"I don't understand why you won't just tell me what's in the gift," Harry's smiling at me in the backseat of the Uber, despite his frustration.
"It's a surprise," I tell him for the fifth time, at least. "You need to learn patience, babe."
He sighs heavily in response, which is adorable if nothing else. I'm excited for Jane to open my gift, but I can't wait for her to open her dad's either. She told him last week that she wanted to be a chef like him, so that was his sign to buy her kid-friendly utensils to help him in the kitchen just like Anne did for him when he was around her age. He's not sure she actually means that she wants to follow in his footsteps, but he can't ignore the opportunity to bond with her more when they're together.
As the Uber comes to a stop in front of Jane's chosen venue, Harry and I slide out of the backseat to retrieve her gifts from the trunk of the car. Harry leads the way since I can't quite see over my pink-wrapped box, so I have to turn to the side once we're in the front area of Zero Gravity. It's essentially a place full of giant inflatables for toddlers and kids to jump around and play on.
"Hi, we're here for Jane Styles' birthday," Harry says.
The girl with purple hair and a handful of face piercings smacks her gum. "Are you gonna be jumping?"
Harry looks at me with an amused smirk. "Are you?"
"No," I chuckle.
"No," he answers for both of us.
"K, right through there, then," she gestures to the door on our left, so I shuffle my feet on the navy blue carpet decorated with colorful shapes to follow Harry inside.
The large room is both freezing and incredibly dark in comparison to the lobby area. The blacklights in the ceiling force my heather-grey crewneck to glow the same way Harry's white long-sleeve shirt is. That makes it easier for me to follow him toward where all the adults are standing as my eyes adjust.
"Hey, you made it," Allison chuckles and hugs Harry first as he sets his present down on a cushioned bench, then me second.
"Sorry, there was quite a bit of traffic on our way over here," Harry speaks above the sound of the pop music playing loudly, as well as children screaming and giggling.
"No, don't worry about it," she looks over at the inflatables. "Jane's around here somewhere...oh-right there in the all-white outfit. When I found out there was a blacklight, I knew she'd want her clothes to glow."
"Cute," I laugh as her mother calls for her to come to us.
Jane's hair is already a disaster and she's out of breath as she squeals in delight at the sight of Harry and me. He crouches down to hug her and stands with her in his arms, expressing his disbelief that she's already five years old. I can't believe it and I've only known her for a year now, so I can't imagine how her parents must feel.
"Happy Birthday, sweetheart," I kiss her cheek before she reaches for me so I can hug her next. "I can't wait to give you my present. You're going to love it."
She beams in response before I let her down on the floor, and she takes off running to her friends. Allison then explains who all of them are, though I recognize most of them from her karate class. There are also a few kids that belong to Allison's friends from work, as well as Jameson's niece and nephew. That answers the question of how well that's still going for them, I suppose.
