“What’s wrong, Pet?”
She shrugged.
“I don’t know. I just…” She wiped at her eyes and sniffled.
“What happened? Did I do something?” I hated when Livvie was sad. I no longer relished the sight of those tears. They were bitter on my tongue.
“No, Baby. It’s not you.” She’d never called me baby before—well, not in a positive way.
“Tell me.” I sat next to her on the bed and she instantly found her way under my arm and against my chest. I rubbed her back and waited. Livvie was a talker and I knew she’d come out with it eventually.
“My mom sent me a birthday card. I brought my mail over and there was an unmarked envelope. I wasn’t ready for it.” She buried herself further in my chest.
Livvie’s relationship with her family presented a quandary. I wanted her to be happy. I wanted her to have all the things she desired. However, I wanted to be a part of her happiness. I wanted to be the largest part. Her family could threaten that—they could threaten us, what we had. I needed to tread carefully.
“What did it say?”
“That she’s sorry. She says she misses me, that they all miss me: my brothers, my sisters. She wants to know if we can work things out.” Livvie sobbed and held me tighter.
“Is that what you want, Pet?” I wanted her to say no. I wanted her to say I was the only person she needed and to hell with the rest of them. But I knew what that would mean. I’d been orphaned. I might have one living parent, but as far as I was concerned I was still an orphan.
“I don’t know.”
I sighed.
“It’s me. It’s always me. I don’t want to be the thing that keeps you from the people you love.” I wasn’t sure what I was trying to say, I just knew it hurt like hell to say it. Livvie’s relationship with me was always going to alienate her from the rest of the world and I was too selfish to change that.
“You don’t!” Livvie insisted. “Things were shit between us before you and I ever met. You know that, it’s just…”
“She’s your mother. They’re your blood.”
“So are you.” She kissed my chest and went back to lying against me. “We’ve bled for each other. That’s more than I can say for my ‘blood’.”
I inhaled sharply. While I found her words moving, they were also troubling.
“That was my fault too.”
“Caleb, is this about you? Are you trying to make me angry with you? You make me happy. Today was one of the best days I’ve ever had. Don’t ruin it by making this about us. This is about my mom and the way she manipulates everything. At least you had reasons for what you did to me. She’s my mother. What the fuck were her reasons, Caleb? What were her reasons for treating me like shit and then waiting five days to come see me in the hospital?” Livvie sat up. Her fists were clenched around what I presumed was her birthday card.
“I’m sorry, Kitten. I didn’t mean to make it about me. Here’s what I know: You deserve to be happy. If getting the answers to your questions is going to give you peace, you owe yourself that much. If you’re done with her, that’s okay too… but I don’t think you are.” I pulled her back into my arms. I didn’t know if I did it to comfort her or myself, but it seemed to help us both.
“Maybe I’ll call her next week.”
“Okay,” I whispered. It was all I could manage.
“Promise me you won’t leave.” Livvie’s arms gripped me tight.
“I promise. Can you say the same?” I almost dreaded the answer.
“I promise. I’m yours,” she said.
“And I’m yours.”
“Sophia? Should we go?” Claudia shouted from downstairs.
“No!” Livvie said. “We’ll be down in a minute.” She sat up and kissed me, softly at first, and then passionately. I pulled her to me and caressed her breasts. She broke the kiss. “Later, Sexy. We have all the time in the world.”
“I plan to hold you to that.” I kissed her one more time.
“Good. I love it when you hold me.” She smiled and I could see she was in a better place.
I went downstairs to keep our friends company while Livvie cleaned herself up. Once she came down, we dined on arroz con gandules and steak. We had birthday cake for dessert, and I will always remember the smile on Livvie’s face when she blew out her candles.
That night, after everyone else had left and we were finally alone, Livvie and I sat on our new sofa and stared into the flames of our new fireplace.
“Thank you, James. I had a great birthday.”
I chuckled.
“Moving boxes, emotional trauma, and birthday cake—you’re easy to please.”
She nudged my ribs.
“Butthead.”
“I’ll let you have that one since it’s your birthday.”
“Speaking of, do I get a present?” I could hear the smile in her voice.
“Yes. Do you want it?” I coaxed.
“Of course!”
“Very well, but first… I believe it’s customary to give the birthday girl a spanking.”
Livvie squirmed.