could you maybe do one where zoey lived and they celebrate Ruby's first birthday all together
Everythinghad to be perfect. This was a big day and nothing was going to ruin it.
Not evenher parents entering the door right before it was time to cut the cake.
Zoey stood,knife in hand, staring at them in disbelief. The crowd around her was small,but it was full of people that cared for her and her daughter. The peoplesurrounding her had supported her through her difficult pregnancy. They hadbeen there to help in any way they could.
The twopeople in the doorway had not.
“Zo.”Luke placed a hand on the small of her back, his eyes never leaving the sightof her parents. “Ease up on your grip.”
Her knuckleshad gone white as she’d gripped the knife tightly. She blinked a couple timesbefore setting it down. She glanced over at Luke’s mom, half hoping she wouldjump in and take control of the situation.
But thiswas Zoey’s responsibility.
She smoothedher skirt down and took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. Then she turnedto her parents and gave them a soft smile.
“I’m soglad you came.” She’d sent the invitation fully expecting them to decline. But shedidn’t want to look back later in life and regret not giving them a chance tobe a part of their granddaughter’s life.
Her motherstraightened up, looking down her nose at everyone. “We thought it would bebest to at least see what this was all about.”
There wasa beat of awkward silence.
Then Rubylet out an impatient squeal, thrusting her hands towards the cake and momentwas broken. A few soft chuckles rumbled through the crowd as everyone’sattention turned back to the baby girl.
“Webetter hurry before she flips the table.” Calum joked.
“Or I dropthe cake.” Michael grumbled, still standing the cake halfway lowered onto Ruby’shigh chair. He had frozen out of shock from the sight of Zoey’s parents and hadall but forgotten about the cake until he’d felt the burn in his arms.
Momentarilyforgetting about the new guest, Zoey shot Michael an icy glare full of warning.“Don’t you dare.” She had worked far too hard on the cake. Not to mention thesmash cake that was on the table, ready for Ruby to tear in to.
Luke visiblyrelaxed next to Zoey as he laughed. He rubbed her back for a moment beforepicking up the knife and moving to cut slices of cake.
They passedaround plates of slices of cake while everyone watched Ruby play with the smashcake. She was much more interested in eating it than making a mess, but thatwas to be expected. She loved sweet foods.
Zoey stoodoff to the side as people gathered to open presents. She was in charge oftaking pictures, despite the fact that Ashton already had his gear set up andone of his most recently bought cameras in his hand.
Her mothercame to stand beside her.
Zoey glancedat her but she didn’t seem to have anything to say, so Zoey focused on watchingLuke get excited about every little gift, causing Ruby to giggle and clap.
“Whatyou have here,” Zoey lowered her phone, turning to look at her mother. “It’sgood.”
For second,Zoey thought she saw tears brimming in her eyes, but her mother blinked andthey were gone. She placed a hand on Zoey’s cheek, gave it a gentle pat thenturned to walk away.
Zoey didn’tsee her parents leave, but one glance around a little while later and sherealized they had left as suddenly as they had come.