It was supposed to be a day of joy and celebration, full of laughter and fun.
But when the sun shone clearly in our backyard, something felt. I felt strange tension in the air, especially from my daughter Joyce, who acted unusually silent on her 7th birthday. Just as I tried to wipe it as a birthday nervousness, deep down,
I knew that something was not quite right. And when she made this wish – the one who cut off the celebrations as a sharp knife – I realized that this birthday would be one that we would never forget.
My husband, Bruce, a nd I were pleased with the 7th birthday of our daughter Joyce.
We wanted to create an unforgettable day for all.
I spent a lot of time organizing the party we held in our backyard. I ordered a beautiful pink cake with seven candles and covered every available space with festive balloons.
Joyce, my dear little daughter, who always lit any room, was strangely quiet all afternoon.
“Sweetheart, what’s going on?” Don’t want to play with your friends? ”
“Are you nervous of all people?” I asked. “It’s okay to feel a little shy.”
“I’m fine, Mom,” she murmured.
My husband, Bruce, appeared with the usual carefree smile. “Pumpkin, come on help me get the brand game,” he urged, slapping his hands together. “We need a birthday girl to really have fun!”
Both sets of grandparents were present. My mother was struggling with food in the kitchen while Harold, Bruce’s father, wanted to talk to me. Others also required attention. In short, it was a bit hectic.
Her friends just closed the brand and laughed, but she was grim again. The game failed to strengthen its spirits, so I had an idea.
“Joyce, we’ll open some gifts!” I called and waved her.
Visitors were moving around and their discussions were shrinking as they began to unpack the first box.
My parents gave me a playroom, accompanied by miniature furniture. “Thank you, Grandmother and Grandpa,” she whispered before she put it aside.
Her reaction to every presence was polite, quiet, and almost mechanical.
When it ended, I gripped my hands and tried to look cheerful. “Okay, everyone, time for a cake!”
Joyce climbed on his chair at the forefront of the table and grinned at seven candles flashing, as if it were all she had ever wanted.
My heart relaxed slightly when others started singing “happy birthday”.
My daughter fired her candles and before everyone could cheer, she said loudly, “I wish my dad would never leave me for her new child.”
I realized that his smile disappeared and his face paled. But my focus returned to my daughter, who kicked my pocket and offered something to me.
“I found it in my dad’s briefcase,” she said, biting her lips.
My hands were curled around a small pink pacifier with a message attached to it. “You will soon become a father,” he said in an excellent manuscript.
He stared at me, then at Joyce, and finally at me. “It’s not what you think,” he murmured.
I approached her side and pulled her into a hug. “Don’t worry, sweetheart,” I told her firmly, stroking her hair. “Dad won’t leave us.” Will we figure it out, okay? “Bruce and I crawled into our room.
“I didn’t know Joyce found it,” he said, shaking his head. “I didn’t want anyone to find it.”
Once hesitated. “The pacifier belonged to employees at work,” he began. “A woman named Claire.” She recently died and she seems to be pregnant. ”
“Oh, gentlemen.” But why do you have it? ”
“When she died, I had to go through her table and fill the box with my things.” I found a pacifier and a note. I assumed it was intended for her husband, ”he admitted, rubbing his neck. “I think she wanted to surprise him with news.” But when I saw it, I didn’t know what to do. Later he came that day to pick up the box. Honey, he was so destroyed. I just couldn’t get myself to get it to get worse. So … I left it. ”
“I didn’t want you to understand.” I didn’t want you to think that something was wrong between Claire and me. I thought I could come at the right time to give it to him, but it was days, and I feel so bad if I take it. ”
“Sweetheart, my dad doesn’t go anywhere,” I said quietly, and after I pulled my daughter in the backyard for a second.
My husband, Bruce, and I were enthusiastic about the 7th birthday of our daughter Joyce.
We had a day to remember.
I spent a lot of time preparing for the party we hosted in our backyard. I ordered a beautiful pink cake with seven candles and decorated with pulsating balloons.
Joyce, our bright and cheerful daughter, was unusually silent all afternoon.
“Sweetheart, what’s going on?” Don’t want to play with your friends? “I asked her gently.
“Do you feel shy with all those people around?” I added. “It’s okay to be a little nervous.”
“I’m fine, Mom,” she replied quietly.
Bruce, my carefree husband, appeared with a smile. “Come on, pumpkin, let’s get into the brand!” He said and applauded his hands together. “We need a birthday girl to have fun!”
Both sets of grandparents were present. My mom was busy with food in the kitchen while Bruce’s father, Harold, wanted to talk to me. Everyone seemed to need something, so the party felt a little messy.
Joyce’s friends just finished the brand’s game, laughed and ran around, but still looked decreasing. When I saw it, I came up with an idea.
“Joyce, we’ll open some gifts!” I called and instructed it to come.
The guests gathered and calmed down when Joyce began to unpack their gifts.
My parents gave her a small furniture playroom. “Thank you, Grandmother and Grandpa,” Joyce whispered quietly before he put it aside.
Her reactions to each gift were polite, but distant and almost automatic.
As soon as she was done, I applauded my hands and tried to sound excited. “Okay, time for a cake!”
Joyce was sitting at the forehead of the table, smiling as seven luminaires were flashing, but her expression seemed not to match the mood.
My heart relaxed a little when everyone started singing “happy birthday”.
She threw the candles and said loudly before the applause could start, “I wish my dad would never leave me for his new child.”
I saw Bruce’s smile disappear when his face paled, but my attention moved back to Joyce, who reached into her pocket and handed me something.
“I found it in my dad’s briefcase,” she said, biting her lips.
I took a small, pink pacifier with the message attached: “You will soon become a father,” he said, written in a neat manuscript.
Bruce stared at me, then on Joyce and back on me before he murmured, “That’s not what you think.”
I knelt next to Joyce and pulled her into a hug. “Don’t worry, sweetheart,” I said, stroking her hair gently. “Dad is not going anywhere.” Will we come, okay? “Bruce and I have retreated quietly to our bedroom.
“I didn’t know Joyce found it,” he said, shaking his head. “I didn’t want anyone to see it.”
Before he continued: “The pacifier belonged to one of my employees Claire. She recently died and she seems to be pregnant. ”
“Oh, God.” But why did you have it? ”
“When Claire died, I had to go through her table and collect her belongings,” he explained. “I found a pacifier and a note.” I believe it was intended for her husband, ”he said, rubbing his neck. “When I saw it, I didn’t know what to do.” Later her husband came to pick up his belongings. He was destroyed and I couldn’t get myself to give it to him. So … I left it. ”
“I didn’t want you to understand anything.” I didn’t want you to think there was nothing inappropriate between Claire and me, ”said Soft. “I thought I would find the time to give it to him, but it’s been days and I feel terrible if I keep it.”
“Sweetheart, my dad doesn’t go anywhere,” I said quietly as I talked to Joyce in the garden for a while.
When I hugged Joyce tightly, I assured her that everything would be fine. My heart hurt when she knew she felt uncertain, but I knew we would go through it together as a family. Bruce and I had a lot to talk about, but for the time being we had to focus on Joyce and ensure that she felt safe and loved.
Despite the unexpected moment, the party was still full of love, and in our lives we went through this new chapter with patience and understanding. Regardless of the fact that we were a family and we would face everything together.