Almost two weeks had passed since the canceled birthday celebration of Roland. And a lot of things had happened. When I called Mama Credence to ask if she knew about Roland’s background she told me that she would visit us and she would tell me in person.
When Mama Credence got to our house. I asked her if we could talk in the living room of the master bedroom. She said it was fine. She told me that she did not know about Roland’s real identity at first. But someone told her about it. I asked who it was, but she refused to tell me. I was assuming that my mom told her but I could not be sure.
“Does Bram know?” I asked Mama Credence during our conversation.
“Of course, dear,” Mama Credence replied with a small smile.
When I called my mom to ask about Roland. She asked if I remembered the day that she told me about Roland being my half brother. She did not know that Roland had heard it and he ended up back in his old ways. That was why mom and Uncle Theo decided to enter him into rehab. When Bram and Mama Credence heard about this, they said that if we needed any assistance just let them know.
Bram did not want me to worry because I was pregnant. When he saw me crying quietly in our room, he told me to come to him and he made me sit on his lap. He told me that he would never leave my side no matter what. And now we were all looking forward to Bram’s first check up. He was advised by his doctor to return to the hospital after three weeks. Which would be the same day of my prenatal check up too.
March 29
I woke up because Bram hugged me so tight. And I felt him kiss my nape, “Someone turns twenty eight today,” Bram whispered to my left ear.
I smiled because he remembered. I turned to face him and wrapped my arms around his neck. He kissed my nose then he started singing the birthday song. I shook my head and hid my face on his chest. When I got out of our room, Maria, Jonas, and Andi were singing too. Maria was carrying a very intricately made round cake. It was designed with roses that had white, red, and gold color.
I blew the candle and Bram surprised me by kissing my left cheek. I did not notice that he was at my back. Maria said that Mama Credence ordered food for our little celebration and that she would be here before lunchtime. When Maria and I got upstairs, she suggested that I should wear something red. She handed me a red puff sleeve dress. It was mid-thigh in length.
When I looked at myself in the mirror I looked taller than my five foot five height. Then I decided to wear a flat Chanel slingback in beige and black. I did a half ponytail on my hair and used a flat round earring. I put on light make-up and checked the time on my watch. One last look in the mirror then I walked out of the master bedroom and went straight to the elevator.
They were all waiting at the dining area-including Mama Credence. They sang the birthday song one last time then we started to eat. When we were done eating Mama Credence became the host and asked everyone their birthday wishes for me.
“What is your birthday wish for Emma, Bram dear?” Mama Credence asked Bram. And we all turned to him.
He lifted his glass of pink champagne as a salute to me. In response, I did the same with my glass of juice. Then he started to speak, “I wish Emma good health and may she never run out of patience with me.”
We all laughed because of what Bram said and then we gave him a round of applause. I was seated on the head seat and Bram was on my right. When everyone was still clapping, Bram moved his face closer to mine and whispered, “Happy birthday, baby,” then he kissed me on the lips.
At around three in the afternoon. Mama Credence said that she needed to go home because she needed to talk to the caretaker of the ancestral house. Bram and I walked with her towards the entrance to bid her goodbye. But there was a red SUV parked in our driveway. It had a red ribbon at the front. I turned to Mama Credence and she just grinned at me. I turned to Bram and he handed me a bouquet of red and blue roses.
“Oh wow, blue roses?” My eyes pooled with tears, “This is very rare, thank you.” I told Bram then I kissed his cheek.
I wiped the tear that escaped my eyes then smiled at Bram and Mama Credence. Bram adjusted his crutches and took something from his pocket then he handed it to me. It was a car key for a Lexus.
“You need a key to drive it.” Then he turned to the red SUV.
My eyes widened and I covered my mouth, “Oh my God!”
“I chose it for you,” Bram commented, “Go on! Go around it and see how red it is.”
I was still holding my bouquet of roses when I went to the back of my new SUV, “Is this a letter F? Why does it say sport?” I asked.
Bram yelled because he stayed near the foyer, “It’s an NX 350 F Sport. I ordered the Sport version so I can drive it.”
I laughed and turned to Mama Credence. She rolled her eyes at Bram, “I thought this car was mine?” I asked Bram with a smile.
“I was just thinking ahead,” Bram added.
I giggled and Mama Credence placed her left hand on her waist, “Bram dear, you can buy your own,” then she shook her head.
“Nah! I’m fixing my MX-5,” Bram commented, “I’m trying to be frugal.”
“Non-sense!” Mama Credence looked incredulous..
“I said “trying”, mum,” Bram reasoned.
I continued inspecting the SUV. Even the interior had a touch of red in it. I suddenly got dizzy when I smelled the interior of the car. I got out quickly and stood near Bram. I held on to his right arm.
“What’s wrong?” Bram asked. His eyebrows met in the middle.
“The smell of the interior made me dizzy,” I told him, then I closed my eyes.
“Take it easy dear,” Mama Credence said, “Pregnant women have a sensitive smell.”
“Yes, I will,” I nodded at Mama Credence, “Thank you.”
“Jonas you move the new car, I need to go now,” Mama Credence ordered Jonas who was standing by. We kissed Mama Credence goodbye and Bram and I went back inside.