Skylar watched as everyone gathered to celebrate her little baby. She couldn't help the smile that spread across her face as they sang a birthday song for him.
"Happy birthday to you."
"Happy birthday to you."
"Happy birthday to you, dear Valentino."
"Happy birthday to you."
Skylar smiled as she saw the tears of joy on her son's face as soon as he cut the cake. He bubbled with happiness and came running to her side, shouting with happiness,
"I did it, mom. I did it. Now I can protect you. Daddy says I'll be able to protect you when I clock five. I'm now five," He called excitedly as he turned to flex his tiny muscles at his mom, who squatted down beside him and hugged him tight to her chest.
"Yes, Tino. You are five. Thank you for growing up so healthy and being brave for Mom and Dad. We love you so much," Skylar told her son with a smile on her face as she turned to wipe her eyes away from him, as she wouldn't want him to see her in tears. He worries so much about her already without seeing her in tears.
"Now, run along, son. I'm sure Nelson will be happy to show you your present," Skylar told her son, who nodded and ran off to his favourite cousin after dropping a peck on her cheek.
"I'm glad to see him healthy and happy. It gives me joy and peace of mind."
Skylar turned with a smile at her mother, who was coming to her. She rushed to her side and help her. "Mom, I thought you couldn't make it."
"And make my grandson hate me forever. No, I can never risk that. That young man has a temper that I would be able to live if it directed at me."
Skylar and her mom burst out laughing. She had always been told by both her mom and Vino's mom that Tino had both hers and Vino's anger combined, but Skylar wouldn't agree, though she never bothered to voice her opinion as both her mom and Mrs. Thompson wouldn't budge if she had done that anyway.
Skylar turned to her mother and looked at her as her voice took on a serious edge. "How are you coping, mom, with everything that has happened? I'm still having trouble sleeping at night, but I have Vino with me, and you, mom, you don't have anyone with you. Why will you refuse to move in with us?"
"Because my daughter deserves the privacy of her marriage life without her mother there to nag her day and night," Mrs. Evans replied with a smile on her face as she shrugged.
Skylar could see that she was trying to evade the question, which made her scream in frustration, "Mom! I'm being serious here."
"Of course, I know that, darling. I'm fine. Being in a wheelchair wouldn't restrict me. It only serves to make me stronger, and besides," Mrs. Evans bent to whisper in her daughter's ear like she was sharing a secret with her.
"I've found a man. I'm in love with him."
"And I trust it's Mr. Falcone, right?" Skylar asked with her hands folded across her chest as she regarded her mother like a little child.
"How did you know that?" Her mom asked Skylar, suddenly feeling embarrassed to be having feelings for a man at her age.
"Really, mom? You expect to date my husband's godfather without my knowledge. That can't happen. Anyway, I wish you luck handling Daddy's girl, Layla." Skylar smiled at her mother, who made a disgusted face at her before bursting into a smile. Even though her mom pretended to hate Layla for being a daddy's girl,
Skylar could see that her mother was fond of the girl. She couldn't believe Layla would become her stepsister if they married. Her dreams of having siblings were finally coming true.
Speaking of Siblings, Skylar glimpsed her prodigal sibling coming toward her, "I'm going to go mingle and probably have a chat with my zaddy to be." Her mother winked before she wheeled herself out of her presence, but Skylar could understand that her mother was running from Elise. Even though everyone had forgiven her for what she did, her mother still hasn't, and frantically speaking, Skylar couldn't blame her either.
"She ran again," Elise gloated as she came to stand beside her sister, staring at the back of the woman who was lost in conversation with Michael.
"Give her some time, Elise. She will come around," Skylar replied, shrugging. She was getting tired of being put in the middle of their fights. She just hopes they'll settle already.
"When sister? It's been five years, and she doesn't look like she'll forgive me anytime soon," Elise protested furiously after her mom's death. Elise had a rethink; she went for therapy and was confirmed to heal before she was released from prison.
She looks up to Skylar's mom as her mom, but she wouldn't forgive her. "And she forgives Adora very well," Elise shouted out in frustration as she saw her younger sister smiling at Mrs. Evans while they chatted.
"Adora never offended her. She was just a pawn in your game, Elise," Skylar snapped at her, seeing the tears in her eldest sister's eyes. She retracted her words.
"I'm sorry, sis. I've been on edge lately with the party and everything," Skylar gulped nervously as she gazed around the room, searching for the faces of any person, or was she searching for a particular someone?
Elise caught her staring around. She reaches out to take her hands, which causes Skylar to recoil in fear before she realizes it is her sister. "I'm sorry, you startle me," Skylar explains to her sister, who was again on the verge of tears as she forced a smile on her face.
"I'm sorry, all of these happened because of me; I shouldn't have kidnapped you then. I was lost in my head, looking for love in a man without knowing that true love was in loving myself. I'm so sorry." Elise apologized again before running off without letting Skylar respond.
Skylar watched her sister leave with a sad look on her face. She pitied Elise when she found out about her condition. Who knew there was really a medical condition for someone suffering from a lack of love? It was called the obsessive love disorder, but now she could see the changes in her sister. She now had a spark in her eyes. Spark got it from doing what she loves, which is acting. Just last month, she won the award for best actress of the year, and Skylar couldn't be prouder of her.
"And the prodigal daughter returned."
Skylar smiled as she turned to her two best friends, to whom she held her life. Oh! Make that three...
"Oh my God! Doctor___, I'm sorry, old habit. Venita, it's so good to see you. How have you been?" Skylar smiled as she hugged her friend. It was her second genuine smile this evening, except for the one she gave her son and father.
"I'm good, Sky. You look good! And congratulations! My godson added another year. I'm sure he's already boasting about how he will protect you," Venita said as she checked out Skylar before waving to Tino, who had obviously seen her.
"You bet!" Skylar laughed excitedly. "He had been going on and on about it all evening. I had to send him away when my ears couldn't take it anymore."
"That's the way kids beh___."
"I told you, we are going to be forgotten again. Why did we even bother to come?" Ty called out loud, cutting off Venita from her doctor's advice.
"Uh oh! Look at that jealous face!" Skylar exclaimed before grabbing both cheeks. "You grew an inch in seconds because of your jealousy. How do you cope with him?" Skylar directed her question to Lolita, who shrugged with a smile on her face before she replied.
"What to do? I had to manage him. I'm just waiting for the next man before I dump his sorry ass."
"No, you love me," Ty protested as he dragged his wife to himself and kissed her unabashedly on her lips.
"Eewh! Can you guys get a room? You are corrupting my virgin eyes."
"Virgin after Valentino, right?" Ty asked Skylar before putting his tongue out at her. He turned to call something to his wife and walked down to the men 's corner, where they were busy discussing baseball. "Allow me to leave you, ladies," he told them before leaving.
"How's the baby?" Skylar asked as she pointed at Lolita's now protruding stomach. She had gotten pregnant last year when Tino was four. And now she was almost due.
"He's kicking. I'm not worried since a doctor is my friend," Lolita replies as she looks at Venita, who smiles back at her before replying with her own comeback.
Skylar watched them banter against each other with a smile on her face. She was glad to have them. They help her cope with and overcome her trauma. They made her believe that those months were real. She was happy for Ty and Lolita, who had found love in her despair. It was worth every bit of suffering, especially after seeing the glow on Lolita's face. She was glad they met because of her.
"And I'm sorry, I'm going to have to steal my friend away. You both are selfish, having her to yourself alone." Paula's voice rang across to them from where she stood on the porch, obviously pissed with something.
Skylar's eyes went to meet her husband, who nodded at her. Obviously, he told her about it. She couldn't believe Vino would do that to her, and now she had to endure another hour of Paula's endless lecture.
"Excuse me, ladies. Enjoy the party!" Skylar told them before rushing to Paula, as she couldn't risk her telling everyone. She wouldn't want them worrying about her.
"Now, spill it. What's going on with you? Vino said you've been withdrawn and a bit on edge lately. What's wrong?" Paula asked Skylar immediately. They were seated on the balcony overlooking the garden, where the party was in full swing.
"Is this about Leon?" Seeing the fear in Skylar's eyes, Paula had found her answer.
"But you shouldn't be afraid of that man; he couldn't even hurt you again, even though he may want to. He's dead, Skylar. Leon is no more." Paula almost screamed, but she had to control herself. Speaking to Skylar was like counselling a little child, and it took time. Being her therapist, she understood where she was coming from, but being her friend, she knew this was too much. Why can't she let go?
"I know. Leon's dead. I saw it with my eyes and confirmed it, but I still can't help but wonder what if tomorrow I wake up and boom, something happens and I'm kidnapped again. Oh, I hate parties!" Skylar exclaimed in sorrow as he buried her face in her hands.
"Then why did you throw one?" Paula asked before standing up to pace around the room as she couldn't contain her agitation. She hated that son of a bitch so much. She was glad he was dead before she got to him; otherwise, she would have____
"Because Tino wants it? And you know how persuasive he could be?" Skylar smiles at the fond memories of how her son begged her to hold his five-year birthday. She always smiles whenever she talks about him because she loves him. He was there for her in her darkest hour. Her son was the reason she is alive today.
"Don't anyone?" Paula replied, her voice heavily laced with sarcasm as she resumed her pacing.
Look, you've been this way ever since Tino's one-year birthday, and every year it has gotten worse. You refuse to celebrate your mom, Vino, and your birthdays and even refuse any invitations to parties. How long do you want to keep doing this? How long do you want to make Leon keep winning? Even though, in his grave, he still had that power against you? Answer me, how long?"
Paula's questions jolted Skylar from her reverie. She turned to gaze at Paula in shock. Like she was just realizing it too. "That's true. I did see him dead. I visited his grave and was happy when the police shot him. I shouldn't be afraid. I am strong," Skylar chanted out loudly while Paula watched her with a broad smile on her face. Seeing the determination on Skylar's face, Paula was glad to have her friend back. Skylar was going to overcome this. She would, and that was something Paula was proud of.
***
Later that night, while they lay in Tino's room watching the artificial stars dancing in his ceiling, Tino whispered to his parents.
"Mom, Dad, you both are the best things that have ever happened to me," he said to them as he lay in between them.
"Oh! baby. You are the best thing that has ever happened to us too, son. Now go to bed," Skylar replied as she bent to give her son a good night's sleep while Vino did too.
They step out of the room and close the door gently behind them before Skylar turns to Vino and says, "He probably heard that from you. You need to be careful with what you say around him. He's too smart for his age."
"I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm just teaching my son how to love a woman blindly, especially if she's the one, just like how I loved his mother."
"Then wait till he's all grown up before teaching him, Mr. Lecturer," Skylar replied playfully to her husband before opening the door to their room.
She stood at the window with her back to her husband, lost in thought, but pulled back when she felt his lips on her back.
"I meant what I said earlier, Skylar Thompson. I'll always love you for the rest of my life. I promise to be with you, protect you, and guide you as long as I live. I promise to live for you and our son alone and I promise _____."
"Still, death do us part. I know, baby, and I trust you to keep your promises. Can we go to bed? We have a long day ahead tomorrow."
"Sure, my angel." And he took her to bed, showed her all the things he couldn't tell her with words, and left Skylar satiated for the night. With the prospect of happiness in front of her, Skylar gave in to sleep. She was aware that although the road might be difficult and constrained, the two men in her life would always be there to help her and be by her side because they could not live without her and she could not live without them.
And so, Skylar discovered that, though it might be delayed, love always wins.
The End