Page 100 of Until the Ink Dries

CHARLIE’S BIRTHDAY PARTY

Today was the big day. My baby was turning six today. When she came into this world, everything changed. It wasn’t just a celebration that she was a year older, it also served as a thank you for her presence in my life. Willow came over bright and early this morning to have a girl’s day, as they called it. She wanted to take her to get her nails and toes done.

I was a little skeptical of that at first because she was just a little baby in my eyes. Why did she need color polish on her toes and nails? According to Willow, it was just for today. She told me over and over that the polish probably wouldn’t even be there come tomorrow, since she wasn’t getting her gel polish. I didn’t understand the difference but if that’s what she wanted to do with Charlie, I wasn’t going to stop her.

My mother had braided her hair the night before and added green and clear beads to the ends. Charlie had been walking around, swinging her hair all damn day. We knew when she was coming in the room because she made sure to put an extra bounce in her step so they would clack together.

Charlie wanted to wear a princess dress which was beyond me, because she also wanted to flip and jump around at the park. I wasn’t in the business of telling her no on her birthday, so we made sure she was wearing shorts beneath her dress.

Once we made it to Altitude Adventure Park, we checked in with the front. We had rented the entire park for a few hours on account of Charlie inviting everyone she saw at school. I prayed that all the kids didn’t show and damn, did God miss that prayer. This park was swarming with kids and their parents. Good thing we actually made enough bags for every kid she invited and didn’t assume they wouldn’t all come.

I should have known better. Not to mention, I’m sure my child was talking about how her uncle was coming. Charlie wasn’t one hundred percent certain that Jordan was a celebrity, but when we were out with him, she noticed how folks acted around him. So, I know her little butt used that card to make sure all these folks showed up.

We were covering the many tables with Raya tablecloths, plates, cups, and silverware. I was glad that we had enough hands to help. Willow’s and my parents came to help, in addition to a few of my biker bros from the Black Thorns. Shirah and her parents, Jordan, and of course, my baby Willow, were all hands on deck as well.

I glanced in her direction. She has squatted down to Charlie’s Height to fix her birthday sash before she ran to go play again with the other kids. She was wearing a pair of shorts, showing off those thick ass thighs, her natural curls surrounded her shoulders, with a t-shirt that said Birthday Girl’s Bestie. If today wasn’t about my baby, I would have been taken this woman to the nearest stall and celebrated just how beautiful her ass looked crying out my name.

I released a breath to calm down before my dick got hard in this park, before walking over to where she was now standing in front of the cake she had made for Charlie.

“I still can’t believe you made this damn cake.” I told her, while wrapping my arms around her waist from behind.

I placed a kiss against the length of her neck as she giggled while trying to adjust the Raya ornament she put on the top layer of the cake.

“Stop that before you start something you can’t finish. I told you I could do it, but you were out here doubting my skills.” She said, looking over her shoulder at me.

I leaned in and kissed her lips a few times quickly before stepping back to stand beside her.

“I mean, I didn’t doubt you could make a cake, baby. I just didn’t expect you to walk in here with two cakes stacked with designs and shit. I was sure you were about to get a box cake out of Walmart and add a toy or something on top.” I told her as I dodged her hand.

I laughed and held my hands up in mock surrender.

“I’m just stating facts. You never told me you got down like this. How was I supposed to know you were a part-time pastry chef?” I asked with a smirk.

She kissed the front of her teeth as her mom walked over with a big smile.

“Tell this man this is a tradition.” She told her mom.

Anna looked over at me and nodded. She glanced back at the cake and you could see how proud she was of it.

“It is. My mother taught me, and hers before her. It’s a family secret recipe and skill that we make sure all the women have. The birthday cake is special to your big day, and it only makes it more special when someone you love makes it.” Her mother said.

I couldn’t agree more, but it was still shocking, yet dope as hell.

“I hope you know I’m expecting a birthday cake for my day.” My mother said, walking over to stand beside Anna.

“All I’ll need is the time and the place.” Willow said with a smile.

They hadn’t been in each other’s presence long, but they acted like best friends. This wasn’t Willow’s first time meeting my parents, but seeing her with a cake she made for Charlie only made my people like her more. Because of the many times she came by to visit us, they had already built a bond, but this showed how much she cared for Charlie.

“Yeah, me, too!” Jordan chimed in, throwing his arm over my shoulder.

I shrugged it off, and he stepped to the side with a tilt of his head and wide eyes. He got on my damn nerves sometimes, pretending like he was offended.

“Niggas find themselves a woman and get to acting different.” He commented.

“You ain’t never lied about that. Some even forget what house you live in or your number?” Shirah added.

Willow kissed her teeth, looking over her shoulder at Shirah and Jordan, who were now trying to hold back their laughter.

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