From Rags (41 page)

After giving Isabel a big cuddle and kiss, Leah approached Jaxxon and handed her a little gift wrapped box. “I know you didn’t want us to bring you anything, but there was no way I couldn’t get my baby sister a present.”

“I told you not to,” groaned Jaxxon.

“Actually,” said Anna, “we did too. I stashed it in the living room.”

“So did we,” admitted Dane.

Ollie, Louisa, Richie, Tony, Lily and Ant all nodded guiltily.

Jaxxon gawped and shook her head. “I said the only way I was having a birthday party was if it was nothing big and fancy, if there were only a few people, and if there were no gifts.”

Connor had to smile at the look on her face. She’d always felt awkward accepting presents from anyone. She was great at giving them, just not receiving them; it made her feel uncomfortable. He was just relieved that she was actually celebrating her birthday properly again. Although he’d been able to get her to privately celebrate her birthday over the past few years she hadn’t had an actual party before now and if she had thought about Matthew at all today, she’d never once shown it.

“We don’t have you a secret birthday present upstairs hiding under my bed wrapped in silver paper, Mummy,” declared Isabel, shaking her head.

Connor groaned at the little girl balanced on his arm.

“We don’t have an even bigger secret one hidden under yours and Daddy’s bed either.”

“Alright, Iz, you can stop now before that big vein in Mummy’s head bursts.”

“And we didn’t buy you a big, massive secret cake either.”

As Connor watched Jaxx’s face slowly become a disturbing shade of purple, he didn’t know whether to laugh or wince.

“And it’s not a secret chocolate cake, Mummy, I promise.”

Jaxxon raised a brow. “Chocolate?”

He nodded. “But if you don’t want the chocolate cake -”

“Let’s not be unreasonable,” said Jaxxon, “you’ve obviously gone to a lot of trouble getting me a cake so I don’t see why -” His tight, one-armed hug and firm kiss cut her off.

Isabel’s face scrunched up. “Yuck.”

“I love you, you mental bitch,” he whispered in Jaxx’s ear.

“And I love you, you dick,” she whispered back.

“Shall we sing ‘Happy Birthday’ then,” called out Lily as she brought out the huge cake lit with candles.

“No,
no
singing!” insisted Jaxxon. But they sang. Bloody sods.    

To the Reader:

I’d like to thank you for taking a chance with a self-publishing author. It means a lot to me to know that others have taken the time to read this novel that I worked so hard on and lost a lot of hair over.  Hopefully you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. If for any reason you’d like to contact me, whether it’s about the book or you’re considering self-publishing and have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at [email protected].

Take care,

Suzanne Wright, Author