~~~
"There she is!" The older woman's eyes lit up the moment she caught a glimpse of her favorite girl descending the stairs. "Happy birthday, sweet baby." She added, already holding up the plate that had a single red velvet cupcake resting on it, along with a pink candle sticking out.
Laughing softly, the blonde wrapped her sweater around herself tighter as her sleepy eyes started to adjust to the morning light that was beaming in through the kitchen windows. "Thank you," she carefully took the plate, another faint giggle escaping her when Jess reached out with an lighter to spark flame to the candle.
"Happy 21st birthday." He was across from her, leaning into the island with such a proud smile on his face.
Nodding her head, Barbara's hand fell on her husbands back as she motioned towards the wax that was slowly melting. "Make a good wish, angel." She bit down on her bottom lip, watching as Penny closed her big brown eyes.
She thought about it for a second and then, after she had silently made her one birthday wish, she blew out her candle. "Thank you." She repeated with so much admiration.
"Grandma made your favorites for breakfast." Jess told her as he tilted his head back, showing her the plate of hot blueberry and chocolate chip pancakes.
Penelope had the biggest grin on her face, still feeling incredibly fortunate, even though this was exactly how they had spent every birthday for the past twenty years. "I appreciate you both so much." She reached across the counter, taking her grandmas hand in hers to give it a soft squeeze.
Barbara tangled her fingers in Penny's, already feeling very sentimental and emotional as it was... Her birthday always brought a little bit heartache that mixed into the joy. "We love you to the moon." She had always said that as a silent promise to Penny that she was their world... She had been from the moment she'd come to live there.
"I love you with all my heart." She assured as the sound of the front door coming open filled the room, causing another happy smile to form.
"Smells like blueberry pancakes." Lindsey's voice rang through the foyer as he slipped out of his shoes.
Penny let out a deep laugh, setting her cupcake down on the counter to hurry through the room.
"Happy birthday to you." Lindsey started to playfully sing to her before he even saw her, but he could hear the sound of her bare feet hitting the hardwood floor, so he knew that she was headed towards the door. "Happy birthday to you." He continued with a grin when she came through the doorway.
She was still in her pajamas, blonde hair pulled up into a messy clip and glasses perched on the bridge of her nose... Penny was everyone's favorite thing in life.
"Hi, dad." She giggled softly when she saw all the gift bags in one hand and sheet cake in the other... He never missed a birthday, not for anything.
"Happy birthday, sweet Penelope." He finished off the song with a smile as he handed her the pink bags that had gold tissue paper sticking out.
Once he had a free hand, she immediately wrapped him in a hug. "Thank you so much for coming this early." She knew he would be there- he always was on her day, but she never expected him to show up at the crack of dawn... He did that because he wanted to. "And thank you for all this." She added, meaning all the presents that he didn't have to bring and the cake that probably cost way too much.
Penelope was always incredibly appreciative, but she also never expected anything either. She didn't have to have all that stuff, even though she loved it.... just having pancakes with her grandparents and her dad made her entire day every year.
He kissed the top of her head, so happy to be back in Arizona with his daughter. "I'm so proud of you." He patted her arm softly, also always feeling a tiny bit of emotion on that day... It brought a lot of happiness for Penny's incredible presence, but also a lot of discomfort from the absence of someone else. "Now let's go get some of those pancakes." He said a second later, not even giving her a chance to reply.
She chuckled, tears lingering in her brown eyes as she led the way back into the kitchen, where Barbara was making mimosas and Jess was already eating.
"Good morning, honey." Barbara held a champagne glass in both hands, giving Lindsey one as soon as he set the cake down on the marble counter top.
He grinned softly, taking the glass carefully. "Good morning, mom." He was getting ready to take a sip, when she held hers out to clink them.
"Cheers to us for raising the most incredible girl."
~~~
With a gentle sigh, the blonde slipped down into the chair behind the desk with a pink envelope in one hand and a felt tip pen in the other.
This was the first year in twenty that she was writing out her letter on the day. She usually made it a point to sit down a few days before to have it mailed there by her actually birthday, but that year everything had been a little more hectic than before. So she was late, but she still had a lot to tell her...
"My sweet Penny..." she whispered as she stared down at the picture of her most favorite girl in the whole world. "Happy birthday."
