When the Night Falls

JASMINE

I closed my eyes before opening them. I didn’t know where Theo was and why he wasn’t answering my calls. Mic k and Sherry sat before me as they went through their phones,

“Do you have Blake’s contact? I can’t rench Theo,” I said, and they looked up at me.

“No, we don’t have it. He ranks higher than us, so we don’t have access to his number,” Mic k said.

“Ugh…Then how am I gonna talk to Theo? It’s already 11:29. I want him to be here before midnight.”

Sherry gave me a sad smile. “Don’t worry, Mr. Jefferson will be here. You told him in the morning to be here on time. I’m sure he’ll be here, no matter what.”

“Yes, Sherry is right. Mr. Jefferson will be here. Don’t worry, we still have time.”

I sighed, leaning my head back on the sofa. Tomorrow is Thea’s birthday. We were holding a surprise party, but we decided on having another small surprise in the night.

I’d told Theo that we would have a small cake cutting at midnight. He said he had to go somewhere for an important meeting, but that he’d be home before 11:00.

But now I couldn’t contact him.

“The decor people will be starting early in the morning, around 4:00 AM, to start the birthday decor,” Mic k said.

“Good, you stay with them and please look after everything. I don’t want anything to happen.”

“Sure, we’ll take care of everything. Don’t you worry about it,” Sherry said, and I nodded.

“Mr. Jefferson’s parents have already sent the flowers and gifts,” Mic k said.

I smiled. “Yeah, they wanted to be the first ones to give Thea her birthday gifts.”

I looked at the time on my watch before closing my eyes and hoping Theo would get home before time. I wanted him to be there beside me.

We sat silently. I didn’t say anything as I was anxious.

Time passed and before I knew it it was 11:50 PM. “I think we need to get the cake from the

18:09 Wed, 28 Feb 00:

kitchen and go to Thea’s room,” Sherry said.

“Yes,” I replied, standing up from the sofa. I looked at the entrance, hoping to see Theo,

We went to the kitchen. Mic k turned off the television that was playing in the background, Sherry carried the birthday balloons, Mic k opened the fridge doors, and I picked up the cake from the fridge.

“Where did I put the candles?” I asked.

“In the drawer. I’ll get them,” Mic k said,

“Okay.”

“I’ll carry the cake, too,” Mic k said.

“Yeah. With your anxiety, it’s better if Mic k holds the cake,” Sherry said. I nodded before handing the cake to Mic k. I didn’t want to mess it up.

“Let’s go.”

I headed toward Thea’s room, forgetting that I’d left my phone in the living room.

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We stood in front of Thea’s room as we waited for midnight. “Why aren’t we using the confetti?”

Mic k asked.

“Because Thea doesn’t like confetti.”

“Okay.”

“And Thea doesn’t like to mess up her room. It has to be clean,” Sherry said. I nodded with a smile on my face.

Thea really didn’t like a mess. She kept her room, playroom, and surroundings neat and tidy. But Theo isn’t like Thea. I’ve seen him being messy.

He throws down his belongings and someone else cleans up immediately.

“It’s 11:59,” Sherry said.

“Let’s

go inside,” I said, opening the door. The lights were on, as Thea couldn’t sleep with the lights off.

I chuckled, looking at Thea. She was sleeping on her stomach, mouth open, while hugging her doll.

I wandered slowly toward her bed, placed my hand on her shoulder, and started waking her up.

“Thea…baby…Thea…” She woke for a moment but closed her eyes again before opening them

sleepily.

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I wandered slowly toward her bed, placed my hand on her shoulder, and started waking her up.

“Thea…baby…Thea…” She woke for a moment but closed her eyes again before opening them

sleepily.

“Thea, darling…Wake up…”

“Flower? What happened?” she asked.

“Happy birthday, baby,” I k*ssed her nose and watched her face as she blinked her eyes.

“Happy birthday, Thea,” Mic k said.

“Happy birthday, Thea,” Sherry said, handing Thea her balloons.

Thea’s mouth was wide open as she looked at me, Mic k, and Sherry. “Is that cake for me?” she

asked when she saw the cake Mic k held.

“Yes.”

“Thank you so much! I love you!” she said, wrapping her little arms around my n*eck. I chuckled, hugging her back.

“Make a wish and blow out the candles.”

“Okay.”

Mic k placed the cake on the bed while Thea sat criss-cross applesauce.

“Where’s Papa? He isn’t here?” she asked.

I opened and closed my mouth. I didn’t know how to answer. I looked at Mic k and Sherry, at a loss for words.

“Papa…” I started, but I didn’t know what to say.

There was a noise, like someone was running in the hallway. I turned my head to look at the door and blinked in surprise when I saw Theo.

“Papa!” Thea yelled loudly, surprising me.

“Happy birthday, Thea. I had to get your flowers,” Theo said, walking into the room holding four sunflowers.

“Sunflowers? They’re my favorites!”

“I know.” I watched as Theo dropped to his knees, handing Thea her flowers before k*ssing her forehead.

Our gazes met. I didn’t say a word, just watched them interact. “Thank you! I love these flowers.” Theo nulled away from the bug as Thea looked at her flowers in awe.

“Blow out the candles and cut the cake,” Theo said, placing his hand on Thea’s shoulder.

“Ok.” We all watched as Thea closed her eyes to make a wish. I smiled, seeking her cute little eyebrows crinkle as she concentrated.

Sherry handed Thea the cake knife. We started singing “Happy Birthday” while Thea cut the cake with a broad smile on her face.

She handed the first piece to her papa. Theo took a bite and pulled off a small piece that he placed in Thea’s mouth.

“I love you so much, butterfly,” I said, placing another bite of cake in her mouth. She giggled at her new nickname.

“I want to keep the balloons and flowers beside my bed,” Thea said.

“I’ll set that up for you, birthday girl,” Mic k said, pinching her cheeks.

“Don’t do that,” Thea said, pushing Mic k’ s hands away. I chuckled, shaking my head.

We spent a little more time in Thea’s room before she started yawning. We tucked her back into bed.

Theo closed the door while I removed my sl*ppers and turned to face him.

“Where’s your phone? Why didn’t you answer my calls?” I asked, crossing my arms.

He pulled a broken phone out of his pocket.

“Dropped the phone.. I was trying to contact another number, but there was no signal. When I got a signal back and tried calling you, you didn’t answer,” he said.

“You tried calling me?” I asked, searching for my phone. He pulled another phone from his pocket my phone.

—

“It’s in the main living area. You must’ve left it over there.”

“Yeah…I forgot about it.”

He wandered towards me, removing his tie and throwing it on the sofa.

“How was your day?” I ask him.

He sighed, wrapping his arms around my waist. “Tired… It was a long journey back home and there were no signals since it was raining.”

“I thought you wouldn’t make it tonight, but you got here on time.”

I looked up at him as I said that. He k*ssed my forehead. “I wouldn’t miss it when you were so excited. I wouldn’t make you sad. I tried my best to be here before 11:50.”

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I smiled. “It doesn’t matter, though, you tried and you were here. I’m happy that you were here no matter what. You made Thea happy, and you brought her her favorite flowers.”

He didn’t say anything, just looking at my face. He traced his finger over my skin. “I was happy when I saw her smile.”

“I know. I saw your face. I saw relief and happiness. We should’ve taken pictures! I forgot to tell Sherry to take pictures.”

“It’s okay. You don’t always need pictures. Some things can live on as memories. Even if Thea didn’t remember this birthday in the future, we could tell her about it.”

I looked at him in awe as he spoke. I didn’t know how I got so lucky to have him. I was so happy to have him in my life as my partner.

“What are you thinking?” he asked, pulling me closer.

“Nothing.”

“The sky is full of stars. Want to go stargazing?” he asked.

I smiled brightly, nodding. “Yes!”

“Wear something warm, and I’ll take you out.”

“Okay.”