Page 48 of Daddy's Little Dreamer

“Daddy will probably add him to our salad with some ranch for my dippy-dippy boy.”

“Nummy.” When I turned, Daddy had just finished setting the patio table for lunch. “I love eating outside, it’s my favorite place to be.”

“I know, Sweet Bee. Come sit and eat and tell Daddy how our garden is doing.”

We talked and ate wonderful nummy fish tacos Daddy had made. Butterflies and a couple of bees sampled our plants and made my day. As soon as we finished, Daddy set me loose and I ran and played until my legs gave out and he found me sunbathing in the sand.

“Silly boy, what are you doing.”

“I’m tired and the warm sand felt so good.”

“Come on, let’s take a nap. It was indeed a busy, but productive day.”

Moving and car shopping. Who knew it’d take so much out of you?

16

“Daddy, you have to wake up. It’s my birthday today!”

“No.” I wiped my eyes, playing along with him thinking I’d just woke up, but truth be told, I’d been up for a couple of hours already. We had guests coming this afternoon and I had to put the final touches on his room. “It can’t be. Isn’t that next month?”

“What? No, it’s today. Did you really forget?” He dropped to the bed and his bottom lip jutted out. Tears were sure to follow which wasn’t part of my teasing plan.

“Of course it’s today. Happy birthday, Sweet Bee! Daddy has so many surprises for you.” One by one was the plan for today. A gift at breakfast, one at lunch, then all the rest as soon as our guests arrived.

We’d been living together for nearly a month and, while there were a few bugs to work out, nothing major had come about. Considering countless weekends were spent together beforehand, we’d ironed out most of the challenges already.

“Let’s get up and get ready. Prezzie number one awaits you on the dining table.”

“Can I wear my dungarees today, Daddy, with my headband? I want to be a bee.”

“A bee for your twenty-first birthday? Sounds about right to me.” My sweet little bee would be adorably Trevor for his party. Little did he know the extra fridge in the garage held the party food and his birthday cake so as long as he kept busy, the surprises wouldn’t be found.

I dressed my birthday bee in his favorite outfit and added a new shirt beneath the overalls.

“Daddy’s Birthday Bee.” Trevor read it upside down. It took a minute to sink in, then he cheered. “Yay! I’m Daddy’s Birthday Bee. Thank you, Daddy.” His lips landed on mine with a loud smack.

“You are very welcome. Let Daddy get dressed then we’ll have breakfast.” Which I had made and warmed in the oven, waiting for me to put the finishing touches on. “Let’s go.”

He danced down the hall in front of me and straight to the table where number one sat.

“Go ahead, birthday boy.”

Trevor ripped into the bag with even more vigor, if that was possible, than he usually did.

“Bumble bee and ladybug rainboots and a matching umbrella. Thank you, Daddy.” he puckered up. “Kiss me.”

“Birthday boy is a sassy boy.”

He giggled but won his desired kiss.

“You are very welcome. Now on a rainy day you can still check on the garden.”

“You think of everything, Daddy.” This time, he cleaned up his own paper mess before I could.

“Now, take a seat and Daddy will serve the birthday boy.” My attempt at making bumble bee birthday pancakes, colorful sprinkles in the mix and all, was passable. “Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Little Bee. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, my love. Make a wish and blow out the candle.”

He took a moment, closed his eyes and filled his cheeks with air, then blew.

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