What Would've Happened

Birthday Party

"Happy birthday!" The crowd of children roared as Maria walked down the stairs, dressed in a Cinderella style dress. On the walls were several, life sized pictures of multiple Disney princesses. Mac and I planned for him to come out with a pretty silver tiara and place it on her head. He was upstairs preparing it at the moment.

Suddenly, she ran down the stairs and immediately went up to a boy. He had a short brown Mohawk (why would someone give their child that kind of haircut was beyond me). Maria crossed her arms and glared at him.

"No loud noises, Tommy." She ordered.

"Why not?" He whined.

"Because you'll give my daddy a scare." She replied bitterly. At this, Tommy and his friends started laughing. "It's not funny!"

"Your daddy is a scaredy cat! Your daddy is a scaredy cat!" They taunted, and I could tell that Maria was getting angry.

"Maria, honey! Why don't we open your presents?" I suggested, gently grabbing her hand.

"Those boys are loud and noisy. I don't want Daddy having more scares." She explained while we headed into the living room.

"I know you don't. They won't scare your daddy, ok?" I mumbled.

"They better not. Or else I'm gonna punch him in his stupid face!" She declared. I glared down at her.

"No you won't! A princess doesn't do that." I hissed. She mumbled something under her breath while she sat down in her chair. Suddenly, I heard Tammy call me from the kitchen. "I'll be right back, ok? We'll start opening presents when I get back, ok?" I stated. She nodded, situating her dress so that her jeans weren't showing. I made my way into the kitchen, where Tammy and Cindy were bringing the cake out.

"That looks amazing Cindy!" I exclaimed. The cake was light pink with Cinderella, Belle, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty dancing on top of it. Cindy even got a custom princess built to look like Maria. They were only a couple inches tall, but I knew Maria would flip out over it. It spelled in golden letters "Happy Birthday, Princess Maria!"

"Thanks! Took forever to get the frosting right!" Cindy groaned.

"Well it certainly was worth it! It's beautiful! And I know Maria will absolutely love it!" I declared. Then I turned around. "Mac! Come down here and check this out!" I called.

"Should we get the ice cream out?" Tammy asked

Before I could answer, I heard a loud popping noise. I wouldn't've minded it, if the room hadn't went silent. Just as I turned around, Maria came hustling through the doorway.

"Mommy! Mommy! Daddy's having a scar!" She exclaimed, her eyes wide with urgency.

"Make Daddy some tea, ok?" I ordered, jogging into the living room. Mac was standing at the base of the stairs, in a terrifying, frozen stage. Maria was right. I crept up to him slowly. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tommy and his friends staring at Mac in terror. Tommy even had a tear running down his cheek. He was holding one of those confetti launchers, and confetti was scattered all over the floor.

I stood in front of Mac. "Mac? Sweetie, it's me." I mumbled, carefully lifting my hand. He glared blankly into space. "Honey, it's me. Angie. Your fiancé. You're at you daughter's birthday party. It was just some confetti, ok?" I spoke gently. I felt his hands go on my hips, and they started squeezing. "Baby, you're ok. You're in Colorado at your baby girl's birthday party." I could smell the tea in the air as Maria made it. Mac's hands tightened their grip on my ps, to the point where I knew there'd be bruises. "Honey, it's ok." I murmured, resting my hands on his hips. "There are children here. You're safe. It's fine."

Suddenly, I was pulled into Mac's chest. His arms wrapped around my waist, and for a second, I thought he was going to squeeze me to death. Instead, his forehead rested on my shoulder, and his body started trembling. I wrapped my arms around his torso, resting my hands on his shoulder blades. "Shh, it's ok. It's ok." I murmured, rocking him slightly. "Do you want to go upstairs and lay down for a bit?"

Mac nodded. I turned him around and rested an arm over his shoulders, leading him up the steps. He kept his head bowed. Behind me, I heard Maria.

"I told you not to do that! You gave my daddy a scare! You meanies!" She declared to the boys. I glanced over my shoulder. As much as I liked Maria standing up for her father, we still needed the tea.

"Maria, get Daddy his tea." I ordered, leading Mac towards our room.

"Yes Mommy." Then I heard her speak to the boys again. "As princess, I declare you to go wait outside."

In our room, I sat on the bed, letting Mac sit down next to me.

"I'm sorry." He mumbled, his head in his hands.

"It wasn't your fault. And you didn't do anything." I stated, rubbing his shoulder. He nodded, and laid down. Resting his head in my lap, I brushed his hair with my fingers. Mac was facing my stomach. He lifted a hand to it, and started rubbing it. I smiled. "Excited to be a daddy again?"

"Yeah." He mumbled, smiling.

We sat in silence for a few more minutes until the door opened. Maria timidly peeked in, a mug of steaming tea in her hands. Mac sat up instantly.

"Hey hon. I'm sorry I scared you-" Mac began.

"You didn't scare me. You were just having a scare. It was those mean old boys who scared you." Maria stated, walking over to us with the tea. Mac glanced at me, and I smiled. Maria was accepting her father. Mac smiled too, and opened his arms. She set the tea in my hands and ran to Mac, throwing her arms around his neck. Mac held his daughter close, rocking slightly. "I love you, Daddy." She mumbled.

"I love you too, Princess." Mac murmured.

I smiled. Finally everything was falling into place.