Chapter 323: Birthday for the dessert monster!
Chapter 323: Birthday for the dessert monster!
Blake woke up early on the morning of Celena's second birthday, excitement buzzing through his veins. He had been planning this special day for weeks, wanting everything to be perfect for his little girl. He glanced over at Rose, who was still sleeping peacefully beside him. She had been working so hard lately, taking care of Celena and keeping their home running smoothly.
Blake wanted this party to be a chance for her to relax and enjoy some quality time with their family and friends.
As quietly as possible, Blake slipped out of bed and padded down the hall to Celena's room. He peeked inside and saw his daughter still fast asleep, her dark curls spilling across the pillow. Blake smiled softly. He could hardly believe how much she had grown in the past year. It seemed like just yesterday they were celebrating her first birthday.
Now his baby was turning two, becoming more independent and adventurous every day.
Blake closed the door gently and headed to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. As the rich aroma filled the cabin, he began making a list of all the things he needed to do before the party. Pick up the cake from the bakery in town, hang the streamers and balloons, set up the snack table... It was going to be a busy day, but Blake was determined to make it a success.
Just then, Rose walked into the kitchen, yawning and stretching. She smiled when she saw Blake and walked over to give him a kiss. "Good morning, birthday daddy," she teased. "You're up early."
Blake chuckled and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Just wanted to get a head start on all the party prep. I want everything to be perfect for our little star."
Rose nodded, her eyes shining with love and pride. "She's going to have the best day. I can't wait to see her face when she sees all her presents and everyone who came to celebrate with her."
Blake gave her a squeeze. "Speaking of which, I have a special job for you today. I need you to stay here and get the cabin ready for the party while I take Celena out for a little daddy-daughter adventure. We'll go pick some wildflowers in the meadow, maybe have a picnic lunch. That way you can decorate and cook in peace, without a rambunctious toddler underfoot."
Rose laughed. "That sounds perfect. Celena will love spending some quality time with you. And I'll make sure the cabin looks like a birthday wonderland by the time you get back."
Celena woke up a short while later, her eyes sparkling with excitement when Blake told her they were going on a special outing, just the two of them. They ate a quick breakfast and packed a picnic lunch, then set off hand-in-hand towards the sunny meadow near their home. Blake had taken an umbrella just for Celena, himself on the other hand didn't need one.
Just like they all suspected from the onset, he was different from the other vampires. For the most part, neither him nor his family knew why he was.
The sunlight didn't affect him the way it did to the others. Matter of fact, the only noticeable change he observed under the sunlight was his metabolism increased. This meant he got hungry faster. And he was a big man so keeping his appetite in check so as not to recede into his blood thirsty ways was very important.
More than anything, he wanted to be a role model for celena to look up to and know that blood dependency could be avoided.
The morning passed in a blur of laughter and fun. Blake and Celena waded in the shallow stream, picking smooth stones to skip across the water. They chased butterflies through the waving grass and gathered bouquets of colorful wildflowers. When they got hungry, they spread out a blanket and enjoyed the sandwiches and fruit Rose had packed for them.
As he watched Celena happily munching on a juicy strawberry, Blake felt a surge of love and gratitude wash over him. In moments like these, it was easy to forget the worries that sometimes kept him up at night. Worries about Celena's vampire side and whether he and Rose would be able to guide her down the right path. Right now, she was just his sweet, innocent daughter, full of joy and light.
All too soon, it was time to head back to the cabin. Celena skipped ahead of Blake, proudly carrying the flowers she had picked for Mommy. When the cabin came into view, Blake saw that several cars were already parked out front. His heart swelled as he recognized them: Reggie and Nana's sedan, Randal's sleek sports car, Gunther's motorcycle. Their family had arrived.
Celena squealed with delight when she spotted her Reggie and Nana standing on the front porch. "Aunt Ana! Uncle Reggie!" she cried, running into their open arms. Reggie scooped her up and twirled her around, peppering her face with kisses. "There's the birthday girl!" he exclaimed. "We've been waiting for you!"
Blake walked up and shook hands with Reggie, grinning. "Thanks for coming, Man. It means so much to have you here."
Nana reached out to hug Blake tightly. "We wouldn't miss our dear Celena's special day for the world. Now, let's go inside and party!"
The cabin was transformed. Colorful streamers and balloons hung from the ceiling, and a big banner read "Happy 2nd Birthday Celena!" The dining table was laden with all of Celena's favorite foods: mini pizzas, fruit kebabs, cupcakes decorated like flowers. In the center was a beautiful cake topped with pink and purple frosting roses.
Rose stood beaming in the middle of it all, looking radiant despite the smudge of flour on her cheek. Blake walked over and kissed it away, whispering "You're amazing" in her ear. She just smiled and said "Anything for our baby."
Despite her supernatural speed, Blake had noticed that Rose, ever since Celena was born, chose to handle family affairs at a deliberate pace. It seemed she wanted to savor each moment, even the simplest tasks like bathing Celena took hours.
For Rose, who had lived her entire life as a vampire, accustomed to the swift passage of time, this deliberate approach marked a significant shift. Perhaps now, with Celena in their lives, Rose was embracing the opportunity to slow down, to fully immerse herself in each precious moment, and to cherish the joy of family.