ᴏɴɪᴋᴀ ᴍᴀʀᴀᴊ
The sun was still warm, casting a golden glow over the party as everyone climbed out of the pool. The sound of laughter faded into excited chatter as we all gathered around the cake table for Ava's birthday celebration. The kids were soaked, their hair dripping, but no one seemed to care. Everyone was focused on the brightly colored cake sitting at the center of the table.
I could feel it as I stood off to the side—the tension. It was subtle but hard to miss once you knew what to look for. Aubrey stood on one side of Ava, his posture relaxed but his face tense. Sophie was on the other side, her eyes red and puffy like she'd been crying. She had a smile plastered on, but it wasn't reaching her eyes. Ava, of course, was oblivious to it all. She was just happy, caught in the excitement of her birthday.
Everyone began to sing "Happy Birthday," Ava was all smiles, looking between her mom and dad, soaking up the attention. Sophie clapped along halfheartedly, her smile tight, while Aubrey kept his eyes on Ava.
Once the song ended, Ava blew out the candles with a dramatic puff of air, earning cheers from everyone around. The kids were bouncing with excitement, their eyes locked on the cake as we cut into it, handing out slices to everyone.
After the cake was served, Ava eagerly started opening her gifts. The table was filled with colorful bags and shiny wrapping paper, and each one brought another round of excitement. The smaller gifts from friends came first—dolls, art supplies, and stuffed animals. She was thrilled with each one, thanking her friends with big hugs.
Then came the gifts from her parents. The pile from Aubrey and Sophie was noticeably larger, with designer clothes, shoes, and a brand-new pc. Ava's eyes lit up with every present she unwrapped, clearly in awe of how much they'd gotten her.
Every time Sophie looked Aubrey's way, her eyes would flicker with something unresolved—anger, maybe hurt—but Ava was keeping her distracted. Sophie would quickly pull herself together, smoothing down her hair and pretending everything was perfect. But I could see the otherwise.
Once the gifts were opened, the kids dove into their cake and ice cream. Ava was bouncing from table to table, talking to everyone, her face covered in frosting. The energy was high, and despite the tension with her parents, Ava was having the time of her life.
After finishing her cake, Ava came over to me, her eyes bright with excitement. "I really loved the cake you made!" she said, her voice filled with genuine happiness. Her smile was so wide.
I smiled back, feeling proud that she liked it. "I'm so glad you did, sweetie. I wanted it to be special just for you."
As we talked, I noticed Sophie watching us from the corner of my eye. She had been sitting with her friends, who were busy comforting her, but now her attention was fully on me and Ava. I felt the sharpness of her gaze before I even looked up. When I finally glanced her way, Sophie's eyes were fixed on me, her expression unreadable but intense. It was as if she was sizing me up, trying to figure out who I was, and why I was making her daughter a cake.
I tried not to react, but I could feel the weight of her stare, and it was clear she wasn't happy. The glare she gave me wasn't just casual curiosity—it was a warning. I could almost hear the unspoken question: Why are you here?
"Nana and Papa!" Ava's voice rang out, filled with excitement. I turned around, seeing her grandparents approaching, their arms loaded with a pile of brightly wrapped gifts. Behind them was Aubrey's younger brother, Kashton, also carrying more gifts. They were beaming, clearly excited to be part of their granddaughter's big day.
