CATHERINE
This was the best birthday Es ever had. I just knew it.
It was joyous, and she wasn’t alone this ti; she was with family and people who loved her like she hung the moon.
Ares ordered her a chocolate tower cake, and Athena’s gifts were filled with beautiful gowns and shoes that made her seem like a princess. Gramps and Granny sang happy birthday, and everything else was just... magical.
I have never heard her laugh so much. Her smile never ceased, either, and dinner was perfect.
I stroked the top of Es’s head gently, my smile yet to fade away. I’m sorry it took this long, sweetie. I’m glad now you get to experience this joy.
I kissed her forehead and got off the bed. The attic had been cleared out and transford into a room just for Es.
This place was once filled with mories, and Gramps took a big step to free it up for new ones. After all these years of silence, we finally took that leap.
I was happy that we could finally heal.
"Mommy?"
"Sweetie, you’re awake?" I sat back down on the bed. "Don’t tell you still want so chocolate cake; you have had enough for today."
Es shook her head.
"Then what is it?"
She dipped her gaze, fidgeting with her fingers as if she was nervous.
"Es? Is sothing wrong? Talk to ..."
It took a while before she crawled out of bed to her dresser, taking out a pink ledger she used to keep her drawings. She ca back to and placed it in front of like a presentation.
I smiled. "You finished?"
A nod.
"That’s wonderful! Can I see them?"
Another nod.
Excited to see what she had been up to, I opened it, revealing so old drawings she had shown , but as I surfed through them, I saw the new ones.
I gasped. "Lovely!"
There was one she had carefully glued together like a book, with flower shapes all over it as well as stones.
"You made this?" I was stunned because this was excellent!
"It’s for Mister King... but..." she murmured. "I wanted you to see it first."
"Are you sure? If it’s just for him, then I won’t look. I promise."
"I want you to see it, please?"
"Okay, sweetie." I opened the first page, and there were stick figures, but the blue dots told what I needed to know.
I think the first page was at my diner, and there was writing at the top. Two fairies. I smiled, flipping toward the next, and my heart stilled.
I finally t my daddy.
I covered my mouth, looking at Es, who waited patiently.
"Es..."
"I always knew mommy..." She confessed. You kept his picture so close."
I never realized I was that transparent, or maybe Es was just very observant.
"I asked our teacher once what it ans when an adult and child share the sa eyes. She told it could be a coincidence or that they are related. You told I have blue eyes because I’m a fairy, and when I asked Mister King, he told he was, too."
I couldn’t form words; I don’t think I could say anything that could stop this crushing feeling from overtaking my body. I settled for tears, and the warm moisture ran down my face, but my lips curled in a smile.
All this ti, she knew, but she never once asked .
Maybe she had a feeling I didn’t wanna talk about it and I never exactly ca forward with it.
I sobbed, looking back to the page as I flipped to the next.
Will Mister King dislike it if I call him daddy?
"Oh sweetie... he won’t—"
She took my hand, where my ring was. "Now you’re both closer. Does that an I can call him daddy now? Does that make it okay?"
I set the drawing down and hugged her, kissing her forehead multiple tis.
"Ring or not, Es, he has always been your daddy."
A grin spread on her lips. "Really?"
"Yes!" I cupped her face. "And I know he would be so happy if you called him that. He’s waiting patiently. Sweetie, I have wanted to tell you for so long, but—"
She wrapped her arms around my neck in an embrace. "It’s okay, mommy... I’m not mad, I’m happy. You and Mister King are gonna be together forever."
I sobbed, nodding as I held her tighter.
A knock on the door distracted us, and I quickly used the back of my hand to dry my tears as I answered it.
"A-Ares..." I leveled my gaze at the small pink he held.
He narrowed his eyes as if sensing sothing was wrong. "Did I co at the wrong ti?"
"No..." I smiled, giving way so that he could see her. "I think it’s perfect."
Ares stepped in, and I whispered to him. "She has sothing she wants to say to you."
I looked to Es, and she got my signal, crawling out of bed and walking to Ares.
"You asked what I wanted for my birthday."
"Yes, angel. You didn’t tell , but I got you this..." He crouched to her height and opened the box.
"Shoes!"
Ballet shoes to be exact.
"You told you always wanted to join. I know the best place you can attend."
"I love it!" She jumped, but stopped the next minute. "But I want another present if you don’t mind. You told you would give anything I want for my birthday."
"Yes, angel. Anything."
She took the shoe box from him and set it down on the floor.
"Can I... can I call you daddy, from now on and forever ever?"
Ares went still, almost as if he were in shock, but then a soft look took over his expression.
"Yes."
Es jumped into his arms, crying, and Ares wrapped her up so tightly, as if he’d never let her go.
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