Richmond, Virginia

~Brie

My favorite part of my dad's birthday every year... aside from making it look like Thanksgiving all over again... was the fact that he made it a rule to make it a day when everyone got presents. He'd write down the names of everyone going to be present at his party on small pieces of paper, put it in a small box, and then shake it around before asking everyone to pick a piece of paper.

Whoever's name you picked, you'd have to buy them a small present. If you picked your own name, you'd have to clean up after the party.

Totally unfair... I know.

I'd gotten Iris' name this year. And since it was going to be our first birthday tradition with her and Aiden, I had quite the surprise for her.

Aiden pulled into the driveway of my parents’ house, parked the car among the many others that were there, and turned off the engine. Roman was the first to get out. He'd picked the birthday boy's name and was super excited to give him the painting he'd made for him.

Aiden got out of the car and moved around to open the door on my side.

“M'lady” he bowed, extending his hand.

“I could get used to this” I smiled, taking his hand.

He laughed and closed the door behind me. Holding my hand, we walked up to the door, side by side.

“It’s good to see you, Aiden,” my dad greeted, engulfing Aiden in a big hug. “It’s been too long.”

“We were here two days ago Daddy” I chuckled, tucking my hair behind my ear as I gave a small wave to Leslie.

Aiden tucked me in close to him as we sat on the couch in the living room.

“The birthday dinner’s almost ready!” My mother hollered from the kitchen. “The turkey's just not sitting right today.”

“I'll help, Becky” Aiden shot up from the couch, kissed my cheek, and moved into the kitchen.

“Like you'd ever pass on an opportunity to show off your amazing cooking skills” Iris teased after him, shaking her head with a smile.

A photo of Aubree and me from Disneyland caught my eye as it sat on the mantle of the fireplace.

“No way” I laughed, getting up to go pick it up.

“She's seen it Becky!” my dad hollered.

“Where'd you find this?” I laughed as Jake ran up to me to see.

“In the attic” my dad smiled.

“Which one's you, Auntie Brie?” Jake asked.

“Definitely not the prettier one” I heard Aubree's voice move into the room.

“Aubs!” Leslie grinned, going in for a hug right after my mother swept in to hug her, hug Oliver, take Sebastian into her arms, and then return to the kitchen with the two boys.

Hugs went around and I was the last one she hugged.

“Your hair” I grinned.

“Your hair” she replied in the same tone.

“You cut it.”

“Maggie convinced me I'd look great in a platinum blonde medium-length bob and so I did.”

“Great is an understatement. You look incredible.”

“And you look like you've been a brunette your whole life.”

I gave her a playful slap on the back of her head.

“I have been a brunette my whole life.”

“Oops.”

I squeezed into her hug and she squeezed me back.

“Missed you” I smiled as I let her go.

“Of course. It's me” she playfully rolled her eyes. “And I missed you too.”

She looked exhausted.

“So, how have you been?” I asked, taking her hand to lead her to a seat by the window.

“Fine. How have you been?”

“Pretty well” I smiled.

The smile she returned didn't reach her eyes but I didn't question her. I could tell it was the jet lag.

“So where's Beck?” I asked, then laughed, “Why am I even asking? He's obviously got more important stuff to do than to be here today” I shook my head.

Aubree sighed.

“Well, it doesn't surprise anyone anymore.”

I chewed on my lip a bit.

“Aubs, is he treating you well? I mean, are you happy?”

She smiled.

“It's not a fairytale Brie... you were married to him.”

I playfully rolled my eyes and she chuckled.

“But yeah, I'm happy.”

I nodded and squeezed her hands.

“And what about you? Are you happy?”

I closed my eyes and let a wide smile spread across my face.

“The happiest I've ever been, Aubs. Roman and Aiden are the best things to ever happen to me.”

There was the sound of a small sniff and when I opened my eyes, my sister's eyes were teary.

“Aubree? What's wrong?” I asked, my eyes scanning her face with worry. “Why are you crying?”

She sniffed and shook her head.

“Hormones. And because you're so damn happy, duh.”

I chuckled and lifted a hand to brush her tears away with my thumb.

“Brie?” she sniffed, “I kinda need to tell you something.”

I nodded.

“Okay, tell me. What is it?”

“Well, I—”

“Aubree!” Dove exclaimed, diving straight for her best friend and wrapping her in a hug.

“Hey, Breezy Bee!” Zach greeted me, kissing the top of my head and then ruffling my hair.

I swatted his hand away and tossed a throw pillow at him, making him laugh.

“Oh, oh, oh my goodness, Aubree! You have to see the cute outfits I got for Bash. C'mon!” Dove grinned, practically dragging my sister to her feet and out of the living room.

I guess that conversation's been bottled up for later.

“Those two” Zach shook his head. “I better go make sure my wife doesn't go overboard. My wife... man I love how that sounds” he chuckled, walking away.

When I heard loud laughter coming from the kitchen, I got up to go and see. Aiden wielded the turkey baster in one hand while gently pulling the top rack of the oven out. As he sucked up turkey drippings and let them roll over the golden-brown crust forming on the bird, he talked my mother through it.

“It’s all about timing,” he said as he turned the pan just a tiny bit, making it easier for him to reach the far side of the turkey. “And consistency. You want to keep the basting steady until the end, and putting the butter and herbs on the skin at the beginning is what helps give it that golden brown crust.”

“Thanks for your help, Aiden” she grinned as she washed her hands in the sink and patted them dry on the hand towel hanging off the front cupboard. “I don’t know why I keep agreeing to cook a turkey for that man's birthday every year.”

Aiden chuckled and closed the oven.

“I know why” my dad spoke up. “It’s because you, like everyone else, secretly enjoy treating my birthday like Thanksgiving every year.”

I chuckled.

He's not wrong.

Aiden took off his oven mitts and hung them on the hook against the backsplash.

“I'm going to go check on Roman” he announced, kissed my cheek, and walked out.

Emmett breezed beside me, a suspicious smile on his face, before holding up a wine glass at me.

“Wine?”

I smiled.

“Thanks, Em.”

He poured me a glass and one for himself.

“Shall we join the others while we wait for the last half hour?”

I nodded and followed him out to where the rest of the family was.

Roman sat, legs tucked under him, and a Nintendo Switch in his hands. His tongue poked out between his lips the way it did when he was focusing hard. Beside him, Aiden sat on the floor, peering over at the game system screen and offering suggestions between cringing whenever he thought Roman was going to crash.

I loved how their relationship had blossomed even more these past months. They’d become each other's favorite person... after me of course, and I loved it. They were both also obsessed with Go Karting.

Roman had already won a couple of tournaments. I didn’t like how that boded for his future when it came to cars and speed, but that was a hurdle we’d jump when we got to it.

As long as he doesn’t develop an interest in motorcycles.

I smiled as I down next to Iris on the loveseat near the fireplace. The exposed white brick created a grand feeling as it reached toward the arched ceiling, all the white walls softened by the exposed wood timber beams. The flames in the fireplace flickered and warned the whole room.

“That turkey smells heavenly,” Iris said as she fixed her pleated skirt.

It was blush pink and adorable, and she’d paired it with a cream-colored spaghetti-strapped top.

“You have your brother to thank for that,” I said.

“Yes, he did all the hard work,” my dad added.

“I only gutted it,” Aiden said like it was nothing.

He sat beneath the fireplace mantel, back to the flames, long legs stretched out in front of him. He looked dashing in dark blue slacks and a black button-up shirt. He’d rolled the sleeves up and unbuttoned the top two buttons after helping in the kitchen and overheating, and I had to say, he looked pretty sexy.

“Because mom didn’t want to put her hand up in the bird” Emmett teased.

“There are some things a lady shouldn’t have to do,” my mother chimed.

She sat beside my father, Sebastian in her arms, one leg crossed over the other, large diamond earrings winking in the ambient light in the room. My father put his hand on her knee.

“True.”

“You’re going to be removing turkey innards for the rest of our lives, Aiden,” I said.

He chuckled and leaned back.

“A small price to pay for this life, I suppose.”

“That’s the spirit,” Dad laughed.

Leslie wandered over to the coffee table to help himself to the appetizer they’d set out. Baked baguette slices with granny smith apple, brie, and a drizzle of honey.

He popped the whole thing in his mouth and chewed. Between bites, he mumbled, “I’m not going to have room for turkey if I keep at these.”

“Then show some restraint,” Iris teased.

“Yeah, Les. Do you ever stop eating?” Nia asked.

“I’ve known him for years and the answer is no” Aubree replied. “Buckle up Rissa.”

I laughed.

“I’ve been daydreaming about stuffing all day long. And green bean casserole. And cranberry sauce. Please tell me there’s cranberry sauce, Becky” Zach sighed dreamily.

“Wouldn't be my old man's birthday without some,” Emmett smiled.

“Becky’s recipe?” Zach grinned.

My mother sat up a little straighter with pride.

“The same I had when I was a little girl.”

I smiled. We relished the final half hour of our evening before everyone made for the kitchen and helped put the finishing touches on things. By the time we all sat down to the meal, my stomach was grumbling fiercely, and the wine I’d drunk had gone a little to my head. I needed to eat.

The dinner went great... not surprise guests, thank God. And soon after the table was cleared, we all gathered around to trade our gifts.

“Okay, who's going first?” Zachary asked.

“I say the birthday boy's eldest kid should go first” Leslie raised his glass.

Emmett chuckled and stepped forward.

“Fine, fine,” he said and cleared his throat. “Mom, this is for you.”

My mom grinned and accepted his envelope. She opened it and gasped.

“A cruise to the Bahamas?”

“You're welcome” he smiled.

“Oh, my sweet boy” my mother wrapped him in a hug.

“Aubree you're up” Dad smiled.

“Nice try, Em. But I'm still mom's favorite” Aubree announced, stepping up to them with a gift bag and then turning to Nia.

“You're getting me a gift?” she asked.

“Yep,” my sister replied, handing over the gift bag.

“Should we be concerned?” Dove whispered to me.

“Nah” I whispered back.

Nia smiled as she reached into the bag, but frowned seconds later.

“Really?” she questioned, “This is what you got me?”

“Okay maybe we should be worried” I whispered back to Dove.

“What is it?” Leslie asked.

“A family planning book!” my sister chirped. “Happy Hanukkah!” she laughed.

Nia shoved the book angrily back into the bag.

“What? You don't like it? I had them calligraph your name and everything.”

“That's not funny Aubree” Nia scowled.

“Oh c'mon, Nia. This is me helping you to give your ovaries a break. You should be thanking me with a hug... or an altar, but I'm not picky.”

Nia scoffed.

“You're never going to change are you?”

“Oh c'mon. Back me up here guys” My sister looked at us. “Em? Les? Birdie? Anyone?”

The room had grown quiet. Even the kids had stopped doing their own thing and had craned their necks to look at what was happening.

Then Aubree burst out laughing, clapping once.

“Gotcha!”

“Aubree this isn't funny” Emmett frowned.

“Jeez relax, Em. It was a joke” she giggled.

A horrible joke.

Aubree reached behind one of the indoor potted plants in a corner of the room and brought out another gift bag.

“Here's your real present.”

“What is it, a lump of coal? Or a doctor's appointment?” Nia shot at her.

“The latter can be arranged” my sister answered.

Nia frowned.

“Just open it” Aubree rolled her eyes.

Nia took the bag and unenthusiasticly reached inside.

“I swear if it anything inappropriate, Aubree, I'm going to—” She paused and fully brought out the box in the bag. “No way” she gasped. “You got me a Kindle Paperwhite?”

Aubree gave her a half-shrug.

“Aww you love me” Nia beamed.

“No I hate you and you should really take a look at that book.”

“Shut up and get in here” Nia laughed.

“No, I changed my mind. I prefer the altar” Aubree replied as she went in for the hug.

I shook my head and chuckled.

Their frenemy drama was going to last forever.

“Okay now get off me before you get your fertility juices on me” Aubree laughed and playfully shoved Nia off her.

“Already have, love. Buckle up!”

Aubree rolled her eyss with a smile and took a seat.

“Brie, you're up” my brother smiled.

Abandoning my glass of water on the small side table, I pulled out a card from where I’d stashed it in the cover of one of the couch cushions and walked up to Iris.

“What is this?” she asked with a laugh as she looked at the envelope I’d placed in her hands.

“Open it,” I smiled, settling on the couch next to her.

I watched as her eyes scanned the card, reading the inside before pulling out the contents. She blinked, her eyes filling with tears and a wide smile.

“Uh-oh,” Aiden let out, “I know that smile.”

“And I have also encountered that smile” Leslie added.

“You got me Taylor Swift tickets?” she asked. “But they have been sold out. How’d you even get these?”

“I have my ways,” I said with a smirk.

She didn’t need to know how long I’d sat there, in the queue, trying to get her VIP tickets and a chance to see her favorite artist perform live.

Iris threw her arms around me, hugging me tight.

“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! Oh my gosh, I’m so excited!”

It had been worth it.

For this.

I wrapped my arms around her.

“You're welcome.”

Everyone else exchanged gifts. And when my dad saw the portrait Roman had painted of him for him, he cried a little.

But not because all his best features had been smooshed in the painting.

I'm sure.

“Hey, when do I get my gift?” Aubree asked.

“Yeah, me too” I added.

“And that's our cue” my dad smiled at my mom.

“You two picked us?” I asked.

“We sure did” Mom smiled.

Aubree made a face.

“If it's an ugly sweater, you can have mine, Brie,” she said to me.

“Oh trust me, it's anything but ugly” Leslie laughed.

“How'd you know what it is?” I asked.

“Because we're awesome” Emmett fist bumped Aiden.

“You too?” I chuckled.

“I got looped in and it's a pretty swell gift so I've been on board a hundred percent” he smiled.

“Can we blindfold them now?” Oliver chirped.

“Blindfold—” but I was cut short when a piece of cloth was secured over my eyes and I was led into a couch.

Aubree yelped beside me and I reached out to pat her thigh.

“Can you see anything?”

“No. Can you?”

“No. What do you think it is?”

“If it's a car, I get to have it because I'm the oldest” Aubree said.

“Or maybe it's that pony you've always wanted.”

She gasped.

“You think?”

“No” I laughed.

“Okay girls, you ready?” my mom asked.

“Is it a pony?” Aubree asked.

“No, now shush!” Nia replied.

“Squeeze in,” Dad said and my sister and I pressed together.

A weight dropped into our lap, and a cold, wet thing pressed into my hand.

“Aubs, you feel it too right?” I whispered.

“Uh-huh.”

“Okay on three, you can take off the blindfold,” Iris called out. “One... two...”

The cold thing pressed into my hand again.

Weird.

“Three!”

I peeled off the blindfold and it took me a minute for my eyes to adjust to the lighting. Aubree and I looked down on our lap and there in a box sat a puppy. Aubree grabbed my hand as she gasped.

“Surprise!” everyone cheered, their eyes glowing with happiness.

“A dog?” I blinked.

“You got us a dog?” Aubree laughed, scratching the top of the solid black German Shepherd puppy’s head as it nuzzled into my hand.

“Yep. He’s all yours” Mom beamed.

“You guys” I chuckled happily.

The puppy barked, demanding attention on him as it focused on Aubree’s face.

“Did you name him?” she asked.

“No” Emmett shook his head “We figured you'd use your twin psychic abilities to name him like you did for Dash.”

I laughed as I ran my fingers over the dog's still floppy ears. 

“We have zero psychic abilities, Em. We agreed on a name for Dash and told you we used psychic abilities” Aubree confessed.

“We know” Dad smiled, “But please, humor us.”

Aubree laughed.

“On three?” Dove smiled.

“There's no way we're going to say the same name, Birdie,” I said.

“So then the little guy gets two names, easy” Leslie smiled. “So on three.”

I studied his little dark face and the black wet nose that had pressed into my hand. His soft pink tongue was all too happy to take turns licking Aubree and me.

“He’s so cute” Aubree smiled next to me and the countdown began.

“One...”

I ran my hand over the puppy’s snout.

Cookie?

“Two...”

Marshmallow?

Or we could just name him Dash Junior.

Or not.

“Three!”

“Bear!” Aubree and I let out at the same time and gasped, “No way!”

I laughed.

“What do you think, Bear? You like your new name?” Aubree asked.

The puppy tilted his head at her before licking her hand. And then he barked excitedly at me.

“I think he likes it too” I smiled.

“Then it’s settled. Welcome to the pack, Bear” my dad announced excitedly like he'd done with Dash twenty years ago.

I smiled and Aubree leaned her head on my shoulder as we watched our puppy curl up in my lap, his head resting on her arm.

“Best daddy's birthday ever” she whispered.

“For another twenty years, right?”

“You know it.”

Thank you so much for reading! ✨