The Love Story Between Sophie Thompson And Niall Horan

Chapter 105 Khai Havan's 1st Birthday

September 18th 2021

Layla's Point of View

Tomorrow is a big day. Zayn and I are getting ready to celebrate our daughter Khai's 1st birthday. It feels surreal that an entire year has gone by already—one minute she was this tiny little bundle in my arms, and the next, she's this energetic, curious toddler who's already starting to say her first words.

Right now, Khai is upstairs in her room, taking her afternoon nap. It's just after 12 PM, and I've taken advantage of her nap time to get everything ready for her big day. She's been so excited lately, especially when we show her her favorite characters—Mickey Mouse and all of his friends—so we've decided to go all out with a Disney-themed birthday party.

I glance over at the decorations we've put up in the living room. The walls are covered in colorful streamers, and a bunch of Mickey Mouse-shaped balloons float around the room, adding a cheerful vibe. Zayn's been a huge help in getting everything ready, and right now, he's carefully setting out a table with matching Disney-themed plates and cups. We've got everything—Mickey Mouse napkins, a huge banner that says "Happy Birthday Khai," and even a cake topper in the shape of Minnie Mouse.

I look up at the baby monitor on the table, which is quietly buzzing with the soft sound of Khai's breathing. Her room is just down the hall, so I can hear her when she wakes up, but for now, it's peaceful. A soft sense of anticipation fills the air, and I feel so proud of everything we've put together for her.

Zayn's eyes flick up from the table as he notices me standing there, staring at everything.

"Hey, Layla, you okay?" he asks with a warm smile.

I turn to him, smiling back, but my voice betrays the excitement bubbling up inside me. "Do you think Khai will love this? I mean, it's her first birthday... I just want everything to be perfect."

Zayn looks around the room, taking in the scene—the balloons, the decorations, the little touches we've carefully chosen. He walks over to me, wraps his arms around me from behind, and kisses the top of my head. I can feel the warmth of his embrace and the gentle reassurance in his voice as he whispers, "She's going to love it, Layla. Look at all this. It's more than perfect—it's everything she could've ever dreamed of."

I lean back into him, letting myself enjoy the moment. "I've been planning this day for months. I just want it to be special. She's only one once, you know?"

He squeezes me a little tighter, pressing a kiss to my temple. "She's lucky to have parents who love her this much. I'm sure she'll have the time of her life tomorrow."

Just then, the soft buzzing of the baby monitor crackles. It's followed by Khai's little voice—sweet, familiar, and unmistakable.

"Mama... dada..."

Zayn and I freeze. It's the sound of our baby girl waking up from her nap. I can't help but smile, my heart swelling with love at the sound of her voice.

I walk over to the monitor and press the button to speak into it. "Hey, baby girl, are you awake?" I ask softly, the love in my voice undeniable.

From the speaker, I hear her little giggles, followed by her excited voice. "Mama! Dada!" Her joy is infectious, and I can already picture her little hands reaching out to us.

Zayn laughs softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Guess it's time to get our little princess up," he says, heading for the stairs.

I follow him, feeling that familiar sense of happiness I always get when I'm around Zayn and Khai. As we walk up the stairs, I can hear Khai babbling away from her room. She's always been a curious little one—always exploring and observing the world around her.