Page 55 of A Royal Arrangement
“Why would Rosalie need a birthday cake today?”
His daughter placed her hand on her hip and gave him an expression that said it was an obvious answer. “It’s her biwthday, duh.”
“Did she tell you today was her birthday? Or is this just you trying to find an excuse to eat cake?”
Addie flipped her hair sassily. “Yes, she told me this mowning. I told you. I know things.” She tapped her temple with her final words. “I wanted to surpwise her with a cake.”
Colin stood and pinched his fingers on the bridge of his nose. He would know if it was his wife’s birthday, right? But he supposed he’d never exactly asked her when it was…
I’m the worst husband ever.
“We’ll talk about how you didn’t listen to Luna’s instructions later.” He gave her a pointed look before softening his features. “But for now, let’s make a cake—one that isn’t burnt—for Rosalie.”
“Yay! Thank you, Daddy,” Addie squealed, hugging his legs.
When she let go of him, Luna rounded the entrance, breathing heavily. “Thank the heavens you’re all right.” Turning her gaze to Colin, she said, “I’m so sorry, Your Majesty. I went to grab some powdered sugar, and then the alarms started going off.”
“No need to apologize. Everything is fine, but I would like to make the cake for Rosalie with Addie, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course not.” She set the bag of powdered sugar on the island. “You two have fun.”
After Luna left, Colin and Addie worked side by side, following the recipe Gloria had given Addie and Luna for a red velvet cake, because, apparently, Addie also knew that was Rosalie’s favorite cake. He wished the palace kept boxed cake mixes on hand for times like this. Baking things from scratch was not his forte.
When the timer beeped, he pulled the cake out of the oven, carefully setting it on the counter to cool. The middlehad sunken in a little, but otherwise it looked halfway decent. They whipped up a cream cheese frosting while they waited for the cake to cool. When the cake was no longer warm to the touch, Addie lathered the frosting all over it…with her hands. It was a complete mess, but he knew Rosalie would love it simply because it had come from her stepdaughter. And it was well worth the mess to see the giant, proud smile on Addie’s face at her creation.
Colin lifted the tray holding the cake while Addie carried a plastic knife, plastic forks, and a few paper plates. “Let’s go.”
He had to pick up the pace of his steps to keep up with Addie, who practically bounced up the stairs. When they reached Rosalie’s bedroom door, Addie knocked about ten times, giggling wildly as they waited for her to answer.
Rosalie opened the door and smiled the instant she saw Addie, but Colin watched her smile grow wider when she saw him.
“Happy birthday!” he and Addie shouted together.
“Thank you so much.” Rosalie eyed the cake with hungry eyes before pointing at it. “You’re coming in so we can eat that, right?”
“Absolutely,” he responded, letting Addie walk into the room before following her.
Rosalie led them over to the sitting area, removing decor from the table so he could put the cake there. He cut each of them a slice before sitting down. They each lifted a forkful into the air.
“Cheers,” Rosalie said, and they all clinked their forks together.
Colin ate the bite, chewing slowly. It definitely wasn’t one of Gloria’s cakes, but it wouldn’t kill any of them either.
“Do you like it?” Addie looked up at Rosalie with pleading eyes.
“I don’t like it…Iloveit.” She wrapped her arm around his daughter, her hand brushing his arm with the motion.
He softly smiled at her over Addie’s head. They finished their pieces of cake, laughing at the childhood birthday memories Rosalie shared with them.
It wasn’t long before Addie was yawning and leaning more heavily against his side. “Okay.” He nudged Addie. “Let’s get you to bed, little princess.”
“I’m not tired,” she said with another yawn. He shook his head softly as he stood, lifting her into his arms. Addie immediately nuzzled into his chest, wrapping her arms around his neck.
He looked back at Rosalie. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was your birthday, otherwise I would’ve said something earlier.”
She gestured to the cake on the table. “This is more than enough.”
Colin worried his lip as he nodded. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
