“Sounds reasonable.”
“Well, I ended up falling in and almost drowned. Sebastian saved me.”
My eyes turn to my husband. He’s in the boat now, watching as Callum checks out the controls.
“That’s scary.”
“Yeah. So, since then, I just stay away from the water. But this lake is absolutely gorgeous, and there’s no harm in going out on the boat. I’m not going to be swimming, for goodness sake. I’m going to sit in the boat.”
“Exactly,” I agree. “And we have life preservers to wear, of course, if it makes you feel safer.”
“Brilliant.” She clinks her glass to mine. “Perhaps after the party, you and I will slip away and go on the lake.”
“By ourselves?”
She nods, sending me a sly grin.
“Without them?”
“You need to live a little, Nina.”
***
“Happy birthday, dear Sebastian…
Happy birthday to you!”
I snap a photo with my phone as Sebastian blows out the candles on the beautiful cake Maisey made. It’s round, and the icing is made to look like marble with golden gilding.
It’s certainly a cake made for a prince.
I opted to have a smallish gathering here at home, with the same group of friends who came to the wedding. If we’d gone out to a restaurant, there would have been security concerns, and maybe even some press.
This way, we can all relax and just enjoy each other. I had dinner catered by Ciao, the cake came from Cake Nation, of course, and Brooke even brought in huge gold and silver helium balloons.
Sebastian seems pleased. He’s been all smiles, has kissed me several times, and said thank you at least three times.
I’m relieved.
Because what in the world are you supposed to do for a prince for his birthday?
Jenna helps me cut the cake, and once it’s set out for everyone to enjoy, I walk out onto the deck to find Sebastian by himself, watching the water.
“Bailed on your party already?”
He turns to me, takes my hand, and gently pulls me to him for a hug.
“I thought I’d just grab a breath of fresh air.”
“Are you enjoying yourself?”
“More than I can say.” He kisses my head. “Thank you for thinking of this.”
“It’s just a small party with friends, but I thought you’d enjoy it.”
“I am, and the fact that you thought to invite my family as well means a lot to me.”
“They were excited to come. Your parents and Frederick all had previous engagements, but they sent presents with Ellie and Callum.”
“I have everything I need.”
“Hey, you can’t throw a party and then disappear,” Jenna says, poking her head out the door. “I think Willa and Max are going to leave soon.”
We go back in and spend the next hour laughing and talking with our friends. They start to leave, one couple at a time, until all that’s left is the two of us and Harrison, Callum and Ellie.
Actually, Ellie’s gone, too.
While the guys chat in the living room, I go in search of my sister-in-law and find her downstairs on the patio, talking with Liam.
“I came to Cunningham Falls in the summers…”
I back away, not wanting to interrupt, and mentally give Ellie a high-five.
Attagirl.
“Where’d Callum go?” I ask when I get to the top of the stairs.
“He went to make some phone calls,” Sebastian replies. “I finally have you all to myself.”
“It’s still early. Are we so old that our friends go home before midnight?”
“It seems so,” Sebastian replies as he wraps his arms around my waist from behind and kisses my neck. “Let’s make it an early night, too.”
“I have something for you.”
“This party was my gift.”
“No, this party was a party.” I take his hand in mine and pull him through the house to our bedroom. Sitting on the bed is a big, white box, tied with a red bow.
“Is that for me?”
“Yep.” I pass it to him, and we sit on the sofa by the big windows that also look out to the lake. “Open it.”
He sits for a moment, not moving. “You honestly didn’t have to get me anything.”
“It’s your birthday,” I remind him. “And I’m already nervous enough. What in the hell does a person buy for a man who literally has everything?”
He smiles and unties the ribbon, lifts the lid on the box, and then looks a bit confused.
That’s okay, I would be, too.
“You got me a photo album?”
“Sort of.” I toss the box aside and open the cover of the album. “I got this idea the other day when we were still in California. You see, I know or have access to pretty much anything I could want to know about you. I just have to Google it or buy a book. You don’t have the same privilege.”
My baby photo is the first thing he sees.
“This book is me. I know we’re still getting to know each other in a lot of ways, and I thought this would be a fun way for you to see some of my childhood, and what brought me to you.”