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Chapter 300
“What about chocolate cake?” eens’s voice carried through the open window.
“Mom doesn’t even like chocolate that much,” Alex countered, pushing his glasses up with one finger.
“But everyone likes chocolate!” Lucas threw his hands up like this was the most obvious fact in the universe.
Lily shook her head firmly. “Strawberry. It has to be strawberry.”
The triplets‘ heated debate floated into the living room where Brandon was scrolling through his phone. His head snapped up like a dog hearing the word “treat
Within seconds, he was zooming his wheelchair across the patio, skleding to a stop beside the garden table. “Hold up–did someone say cake? What’s happening?”
“Mom’s birthday!” Lily bounced on her toes. “We’re planning!”
Brandon’s face lit up. “Seriously? Well, why didn’t anyone tell me?” He poured himself tea, gulping it down with excitement. “We’re gonna do this right! First birthday with actual family–gotta make it count!”
Adam, who’d been pretending to work on his laptop nearby, looked up. “We should make it special.”
The whole group turned to Irene, who’d been quietly enjoying the show from her garden chair.
Lily sidled up, eyes wide. “So, Mom… strawberry cake? Yes?”
Everyone stared at her like she was about to announce the winning lottery numbers.
Irene laughed, running her fingers through Lily’s hair. “Nice try. You’re the strawberry fanatic in this house.” She shook her head, watching her family plot and scheme. Since when had her birthday become such a production? Back in the day, she’d been lucky to get a hastily purchased cupcake with a candle stuck in it.
The conversation shifted to ice cream flavors as Brandon launched into a passionate defense of mint chocolate chip. Irene checked her watch and stood up. “Time for your treatment,” she reminded Adam, who nodded and followed her inside.
In the quiet of Adam’s room, Irene knelt beside his wheelchair, attaching small pads to his legs. The machine nearby made soft beeping sounds as she adjusted the settings.
“How’d you celebrate before?” Adam asked, watching her work. “Your birthdays, I mean.”
Her hands paused for just a second. “In R Country? Just me and the kids. Pizza if we were feeling fancy.” She twisted a dial, not looking up. “Before that, when I lived with the Claires… Ethan would smuggle in these chocolate cookies with sprinkles. We’d sneak out at midnight and sit on the back steps, sharing them in the dark.
Her voice softened at the memory. “We’d whisper happy birthday songs, terrified we’d wake someone up. It wasn’t much, but…”
“It mattered,” Adam finished for her, something shifting behind his eyes.
Irene nodded, finally glancing up to meet his gaze. “It did.”
The soft whirring of the machine filled the silence between them as they both got lost in their thoughts.
The kitchen erupted with chaos the next morning as pans clattered and cabinets slammed. By the time Irene stumbled downstairs, the dining table looked like a battlefield where breakfast had won–slightly charred toast, runny eggs, and juice in fancy glasses that
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Chapter 300
normally never left the cabinet
*Morning, sunshine!: Brandon raised his milk glass like he was toasting royalty. When he lowered it, a perfect white mustache lined his upper lip.
He couldn’t remember feeling this content in ages. Grandfather improving, Irene not running herself ragged, and even Adam—sitting quietly at the end of the table–looked almost human today.
Lucas pointed at Brandon’s face. “Dude! You look li
Santa’s young brother with that milk ‘stache!
“He looks ancient, even older than Great–grandfat
Alex deadpanted, sliding
อ
piece of toast toward Irene. “Here, Mom. We made
it special.”
Irene took a bite and somehow kept a straight face despite the burnt corner. “Delicious,” she mumbled through her mouthful, giving them a thumbs up. With Joseph and her kids safe and happy around her, a little burnt toast was nothing.
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