Page 15 of Puck'N Enemy
She gives me a tired but warm smile. For the occasion, she’s dressed in a pink floral dress and matching shoes, but her hair is escaping the clip she’s tied to keep her messy bun in place.
“What do you think of the cake?” she asks, standing back to show me her creation.
“It’s chocolate,” I say, grinning at the thick ganache that coats the whole cake. “Everyone’s going to love it.” I look around the kitchen, taking in the paper plates and cups on the counter. “Mom, do you need any help?”
“I have everything in control here,” she says, smiling. “Just go help Maddie put up some balloons.”
“On it,” I tell her.
Going back to the living room, I see Maddie playing with the unicorn piñata.
“Come on, let’s hang it up,” I say, stepping closer to her.
“I can’t wait to eat all the candies inside it,” she says, grinning excitedly. “Mom didn’t let me eat any sweets yesterday or today. And it’s mybirthdaytoday.”
“She was helping you save your appetite. You can go crazy later tonight,” I say, quickly blowing up the balloons she’s ignored while I was gone.
The living room is soon filled with them. Maddie’s unicorn piñata hangs from the ceiling in a corner, ready to be broken into. A big birthday banner is strung over the window, adding more color and glitter to the chaotic decorations.
Someone rings the doorbell just as I’m clearing away the packaging stuff from the room.
“Looks like you guys made it in time,” Mom says, walking into the room and moving toward the door.
Maddie straightens the tiara on her head and runs behind Mom. A chuckle escapes me at her excitement. She’s ready to welcome her precious guests to the party.
I hang back as a tiny chaos erupts in our living room. More of Maddie’s friends come in, all gleefully taking in the giant unicorn piñata we put up earlier.
“Logan, come on,” Mom calls out to me. “We’re about to cut the cake.”
A gaggle of eight-year-olds has already surrounded the table. Maddie stands in the center with a knife in her hand, ready to blow out candles and cut her cake.
I sing off-key along with them, clapping the loudest.
A big grin spreads on my sister’s face as she blows out her candles and makes her wish. That smile is bright enough to light up the world and make me forget about my worries.
Maddie runs over to me with a piece of cake.
“Thanks, squirt,” I say, taking the cake from her. “And happy birthday.”
Beaming up at me, she grabs my hand and makes me face her friends.
“My big brother is here,” she announces while I silently cringe as she presses chocolate icing into my palm. “He’s the captain of the Thunder Knights team!”
The kids stare at me with wide eyes, clearly impressed by that title. I chuckle at the pride radiating from my little sister’s face as she parades me around the room.
A sigh escapes me. It feels good to be home.
Mom and some of the parents get busy cutting the rest of the cake and giving out plates of food and glasses of soda to everyone. While some of the kids get into an argument about who gets the biggest slice, Maddie quietly walks up to me.
“Logan,” she says in a quieter voice.
“Yeah, birthday girl?”
She fiddles with the hem of her dress for a second before glancing up at me. Why does she suddenly look hesitant and shy?
“Is Dylan still away?”
The name hits me like a punch to the gut. I blink, thrown off by her question.
