Forever and Always

Chapter 32 - Birthdays and Goodbye's

Poppy's third birthday was in full swing. We had decided on a family-only party because it was a very important one for Levi and Isabel to be involved in. Isabel and Farlan had both taken the day off work and we were all ecstatic to see the little girl in her new pink fairy dress, strutting around like the princess she was. Isabel was helping her change into it and putting her pretty black hair up into a special birthday hairdo, while Farlan, Levi and I waited for them downstairs with the birthday cake and the candles and the fire. 

"Bro, I feel so macho," Farlan started. Levi scrutinized him with a mildly disturbed smirk, and I raised my eyebrows at the tall blonde. "I'm literally about to set a cake on fire."

"Don't get carried away, bitch, it's just the candles. Isabel might shoot you if you catch that cake on fire. She spent forever on that frosting," Levi snapped playfully. "Did you never light candles before? I know you've caught shit on fire before. I can't even begin to count the number of times I've gotten-"

"Okay," I interjected, tapping my foot in annoyance. "There is a child in the house. No drug references. Please. For my parental sanity."

"Sure, babe, whatever you say," Levi snickered, planting a light kiss on my cheek. "I love you."

"I love you, too," I smiled. Feeling a sudden tenderness in the moment, I squeezed him close to me.

"Okay! Here comes the birthday girl!" Isabel called from the top of the stairs. "Remember, Sweetie, the princess wave."

I whipped my phone out of my pocked and Farlan grabbed the Nikon off the dining room table and aiming for the staircase. She appeared from behind the dividing wall, a confident, regal glow about her as she toddled down the stairs. She had her chin up and her eyes closed, trying her hardest to walk elegantly. I couldn't help but "Aww" as I snapped photos. Her hair was pulled back into some kind of braided bun with glittery hairpins and tiara. Her dress was long and puffy with ruched tulle. She really looked like a princess.

"Okay, Princess, do a spin for Daddy," Levi instructed, his camera out and recording. Poppy did as she was told and lifted onto the balls of her feet, attempting a pirouette. "You're so beautiful Sweetie. You look like a real princess."

"I am a real princess, Daddy!" She chirped, grinning at the camera. I looked to Levi who had tears in his eyes.

"Of course you are," he choked, wiping his eyes with the butt of his hand. I let out a sharp breath through my nose, eyeing my fiancee with amused empathy. Isabel soon reached the bottom of the stairs, a tired, but satisfied look in her cerulean eyes.

"Okay, Birthday Girl. Do a curtsy," Isabel asked, flipping her long twin braids behind her shoulders and squatting down to smile at the little princess.

Again, Poppy did as she was told, dropping her ankle behind her other leg and bowing low, using her dainty fingers to hold her skirt as she bent her knees. "Yaay!" I exclaimed, still snapping pictures, knowing I could weed out the bad ones later. 

Poppy flashed a dazzling smile before leaning into her mother, planting a small kiss on her cheek. "Thanks Mommy."

"You're very welcome. You know, I think Princess Poppy has quite a lovely ring to it. What do you think, Baby girl?" She asked her daughter, smiling and exposing her cheek dimples. Poppy did the same until their grinning cheeks matched, the only trait Isabel had really passed down to her daughter. A sharp nod and a shrill giggle was all the response Isabel needed. "You ready for dinner?" Isabel asked, raising an eyebrow. Poppy nodded again. "Or, no, you're the princess. Cake first?"

"Yeah!" Poppy cried, her grey eyes glittering in purity, dripping in youth. 

Lifting her daughter with a quiet groan, Isabel replied, "Alright. The princess has spoken. Cake first."