Page 130 of Daddy's Pride

“Come over and decorate our pizza but please do not touch the other two.” I put the sauce and cheese on first because I wasn’t about to deal with that potential disaster.

“Henry, Chase, come on over and do yours.”

Chase glanced up and Casey nodded and smiled at him. I was happy for my friend and though he might have his work cut out for him, Chase would make a sweet boy once he let go. Together they would work past their traumas and challenges, but either way my mischievous boy had a new friend.

With minimal topping casualties, the boys decorated the pizzas. While Casey and I manned the pizza oven, Jensen and Mitchell took care of the rest. When we brought the pizzas inside the boys were seated and had their drinks.

The three of them didn’t say a word as they ate. Henry and Jamie likely didn’t enjoy the timeout but hopefully they’d learned their lesson. “Why don’t you boys go into the playroom while we get the kitchen cleaned up.”

“Okay, Daddy. Thank you for dinner.” Jamie kissed my cheek and skipped off. He was clearly trying to get me to forget the whole event, and given it was his birthday he may get away with nothing more than a warning.

Maybe.

“Cake and presents time?” Jensen asked.

“Should we really give them any more sugar?” Mitchell had a point.

“Good call, but given it’s Jamie’s birthday and I get the feeling it’s his first real birthday party, I hate for him to miss this important part.” I pulled the cake from the fridge and put the candle on it. “You want to grab them, Casey?”

As soon as Jamie appeared, we broke into the familiar song.

“Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Jamie. Happy birthday to you.”

His eyes were wide as saucers, and he clapped when we were done. “Thank you!”

“Make a wish and blow out the candle.” I stood nearby just in case…

Jamie closed his eyes and scrunched his face then blew hard. As soon as it went out, we cheered.

“Okay, Jamie, open your presets.”

While the boys were enthralled with that, we cut and served the cake. Jamie got a racetrack from Henry, no surprise there, and a gift card from Casey and Chase.

“Thank you, everyone. Cake with ice cream in it. I’ve never had that before.” Jamie was so excited. “So nummy, nummy!” Before he got to his third nummy, he slapped his forehead. “Owie, owie, owie. Ice-cream head rush.”

“Slow it down, Jamie.” I got that he was excited, but brain freezes were painful.

With full bellies, the boys were sluggish and decided to play with the toys in lieu of swimming.

“Do you hear that?” Mitchell held his hand to his ear as the four of us took a seat. I didn’t know about them, but I was worn out.

“I don’t hear anything.” Having said the words aloud triggered my Daddy radar.

“Exactly.” As one, the four of us went straight to the playroom where we found all three boys sound asleep on the floor.

“I better get Chase home. He’s got band practice in the morning.”

“Ah, I thought I recognized him.”

“Yes, and you can imagine how stressful his life is.”

“You’re good with him,” Jensen told Casey. “I hope he finds the right headspace to unwind.”

“Me, too.” Casey crouched down beside Chase and whispered, “Chase, sweetie. Time to go home.”

“M’kay. Seepy.”

“I know, sweet boy. Let’s get you home so you can rest.”