Page 39 of Her Sweet Surrender
She stood back and watched with joy as Sir’s uncle helped Jonathan unwrap the gift. Mr. Reynolds opened the box and handed Jonathan one of the colorful balls inside.
Brie explained, “The elephant shoots the balls out of his trunk whenever Jonathan presses the button.”
“Oh, he’s going to love that,” Judy exclaimed excitedly.
“I thought he would enjoy chasing them.”
After he set the elephant on the floor, he filled it with the other balls and held Jonathan’s hand to help him press the button. The elephant began playing a happy little tune as a green ball shot across the floor.
Jonathan’s eyes widened and he squealed as he toddled off to get it.
“I think you have a winner there,” Sir said from behind her.
Brie turned and saw Hope dressed in the frilly dress she had picked out for the big day. The yellow dress had a puffy fairy skirt with a big satin bow in the back. She looked just like a ray of sunshine.
“Hello, birthday girl!” Brie cooed.
Hope reached out to her and let Brie cuddle for a moment. However, she was entranced by the elephant and was soon squirming in Brie’s arms, wanting to be put down. As soon as she saw Jonathan, she completely forgot about the elephant.
Hope was entranced by her cousin as he toddled to her, and she stared at him with open adoration.
Brie had to excuse herself from the adorable moment to answer the doorbell again.
Soon the house was filled with the guests she had invited to the small celebration, including Mary, Mr. Gallant and his family, and Celestia and Marquis Gray. Despite their heated confrontation recently, Sir and Marquis Gray were cordial to each other, acting as if nothing had happened.
Only one person was missing—Hope’sdyadya.
When Rytsar came, he burst into the house without waiting for Brie to answer the door and called out, “Where is my favorite girl?”
Hope looked up and smiled, squeaking with delight as he approached her. He was carrying a large box wrapped in a purple bow.
“We said no gifts,” Sir reminded him.
Rytsar scoffed. “I am herdyadya. I follow no rules.” He pulled a check from his breast pocket and handed it to Brie. “For the other babes.”
She unfolded it, surprised to see it was for ten thousand dollars. “That is going to help a lot of babies!”
He winked at her, before sitting down on the floor beside Hope. Pushing the box toward her, he exclaimed, “Happy first birthday,moye solntse.”
Just like at Christmas, Hope was far more interested in the pretty bow on the package than the present itself. But Rytsar found it charming as he unwrapped the gift for her.
Pulling out a large cloth box, he placed it in front of Hope, then reached into the opening on top and pulled out a stuffed butterfly with crinkly wings. Rytsar handed it to her and reached into the box again. This time, he pulled out a fuzzy sunflower with a mirrored surface for the center. Each item he pulled out of the box had a different texture and shape, including a white pony with a long mane. He stuffed them back into the box and shook it before sliding it toward her.
Hope grinned as she stuck her hand into the top of the cloth box and pulled out a fuzzy violin. She squeezed it and the toy squeaked, making her giggle.
The smile on Sir’s face touched Brie. He patted Rytsar on the back before turning to their friends. “Shall we light the candle?”
Everyone gathered around Hope as Brie brought out the cake, which looked like a miniature fairy garden.
Several of the ladies “oohed” and “ahhed” as she set it on the table. Sir lit the candle in the center of the garden and Brie waited a moment singing, “Happy birthday to you…”
Brie looked around the room, smiling to herself as all of the Doms in attendance joined in, singing the simple song in honor of Hope. Remembering her first night at the Submissive Training Center, Brie could never have imagined such a thing—not in a million years.
It was a testament to the close-knit family they had built in this community.
She gazed lovingly at her daughter, who refused to let go of the violin, even though she was mesmerized by the candle on the pretty cake.
Brie felt as if Alonzo was with them and she knew he would be proud of his little granddaughter. She wondered if Hope’s natural affinity for the instrument might manifest itself later on in her life.
