*beep beep beep* my alarm clock went off. I opened my tired eyes and picked up my phone to look at the time. July 26th, 9:06 a.m. I rolled out of my bed, a sticky sweaty mess. It's hot as hell in July in California, and though I called the repair guys yesterday morning to come fix the A/C in my bed room, they still hadn't come. Remember when I said: "fame means when the computer modem is broken the repair guy comes to your house a little faster."? Clearly that rule doesn't apply for ALL repair guys.
"Why am I up before at least 11:30 on my birthday?" I whispered to myself, trying not wake the beautiful sleeping boy in the room down the hall. I slid some slippers on and tip toed down stairs.
The house smelled of blueberry pancakes and fresh squeezed orange juice. I don't think I was as quiet as I thought I was being because from the kitchen I heard someone say "good morning birthday girl!" I turned the corner to the kitchen and saw Marlon, my boyfriend of 6 and 1/2 months standing at the stove in a "kiss the cook" apron and oven mittens. I couldn't help but laugh. "I love you so much" I said chuckling. "I love you more" he said laughing back.
He leaned in to kiss me but I stopped him with my finger "I've got.. Morning breath" I said with a gross look on my face. "Well, I think you smell good" he said, kissing me. I loved Marlons lips. I loved how they were so much bigger than mine, and how they sent shivers down my back. I loved how soft and warm they were, and how even warmer they made me feel when they were on mine. He pulled away, asking, "how does being 50 feel baby?"
"It feels..good" I said smiling. But I think we both knew that was a lie. Not that being 50 didn't feel good, but I just didn't see what was so amazing about turning 50, or about birthdays in general. Well my own birthdays at least. "Good." He said kissing me on the forehead. "So I made pancakes for you and Louis whenever he decides to get up. But I've got a few errands to run, so I'll be back soon alright babe?" I walked into the living room, opening the curtains. "Okay baby, see you later"
As I sat down on the couch I heard little foot steps coming down the stairs and into the living room. "Hi mama." I heard the sweetest voice say, and looked over to Louis rubbing his eyes. "Good morning baby!!" I said walking over to him, picking him up. "How was your sleep? Did you dream good dreams?" I asked, kissing his chubby, warm cheeks. "Yeah mama." he said clearly distracted by the stack of pancakes on the table in the kitchen.
I walked over to the table sitting him down in the booster seat. "You hungry little man?" I asked him, putting a pancake on a plate and cutting it up into small pieces for him. "Mmmmmhm!" He said nodding his head. I handed him his breakfast and kissed his forehead. "Eat up baby." I said, sitting down next to him.
Minutes passed and after he was finished eating the both of us went upstairs to get changed. Louis liked picking his own clothes out, and I let him. I think it's good to let your kids experiment, Helga B always wanted that for me and my sister and I wanted the same for Louis. I put on a red lace shirt and a pair of light blue boyfriend jeans. I brushed my hair out and clipped my bangs back, and since it was my birthday I even put mascara on.
Louis and I came out of our rooms at the same time. He had on a superman shirt & a pair of black jeans. "I like it!" I said smiling at him. "Thanks mommy" he said heading down the stairs. When we got down stairs Marlon had been back. "Hey buddy" marlon said, picking Louis up. He whispered something in his ear and as soon as he finished Louis said "HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMA!!!" I giggled, "why thank you so much Louis!" Marlon put him down and he went into the play room to play with his Legos. As usual.
"I got a surprise for you babe" he said taking my hand. "Okay" I said smiling. As he lead me further I wondered what the surprise was and if Louis needed to come. "What about Lou?" I asked. "He's fine, he's occupied. We'll only be a few minutes" he said convincingly. He put his hands over my eyes and I felt the hot sun hit my body. "Marlon, why the hell are we outside?" "Open." He said, taking his hands off of my face. "Surprise!!" A tall woman, with long thick black hair in a braid & a blue shirt, said to me as I opened my eyes. "Gesine!!!" I said running up to her, hugging her. "I missed you so much!" I said sincerely. "I've missed you too sandy" she said hugging me tighter.
"Wait how did you get here?! You never told me you were coming!" I said shocked. "Marlon called me like last month and asked if I wanted to come down to surprise you for your birthday. And it wasn't like I was gonna say no!" She said laughing and hugging me again, briefly. I turned to look at marlon. I walked over and gave him a kiss. This one, longer and wetter. "Thank you" I said looking into his eyes. He grabbed my face, kissed me again and said "I'll be inside with Louis. Spend time with your sister, okay?"
He let go and walked up the driveway and into the house. I turned to Gesine again and smiled huge. "I'm so happy you're here! What's that?" I said pointing to the big red cooler she was carrying. "I brought Radlers girlfriend!" She said. Radlers were a type of alcoholic beverage extremely popular to Germans/Austrians. Half beer half lemonade chilled in a tall, cool glass. Our favorite. "You are seriously the best." I said with a cheesy yet excited look on my face.
"Let's drink!" She said, walking through the garage and into the backyard, sitting down at the picnic table. She opened up the cooler and gave me one, and then herself. I took a sip and felt the extreme coldness of it rush down my throat. Perfect on a hot day like this one.
"So what's new sis? How're things in Vermont?" I asked. "Things are good, Vermont is good! The bakery is good. Everything is just.. Happy." She said, happily. "Good!" I said "I'm so happy you're here, you and Marlon did a great job surprising me." I said laughing lightly.
We talked and talked for hours about absolutely nothing, drinking away. And it was fun. We went inside and Louis and Marlon had baked me a cake. Everyone sang happy birthday yet the only voice I could hear was Louis'. His sweet, little voice messing up the words of the song was gift enough. This had truly been the best birthday any mother, girlfriend or sister could ask for.
Night time rolled around and Louis had fallen asleep in the play room, on the floor. I went in and picked him up, quietly saying good night to Gesine & bringing him up stairs. I changed him into buzz light year pajamas, careful not to wake him. "Good night baby" I said softly as I kissed him on the forehead and left the room, lightly shutting the door.
I walked over to my room and saw Marlon laying down, shirtless under the blankets. "Is that a breeze I feel??" I asked extremely surprised. "Yup, it is baby!" He said. " I fixed the A/C" I looked at him seductively and walked over to the side of the bed where he was.
I got on top of him, rubbing his bare chest and leaning down to kiss him. His tongue was warm and he smelled of birthday cake. I kissed him up and down his chest, and just laid there for a while. I could hear his heart beat and it made me feel safe. Not safe in the sense that I was scared and I needed protection, just safe in the way that our hearts were beating together & at the same pace, and for the first time in a long time, I had felt whole again. I looked up to see him drifting off in a deep sleep. He had had a long day. Sex could wait. I rolled over to my side of the bed, turned off the lamp & slowly dozed off into a peaceful, dark sleep.
