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When she let go, she noticed the worry had left his expression and was replaced with a smile.
She faked her best sweet smile in return. “Drink some water.”
He chuckled.
Sebastian was watching them with an expression of concern.
“What?” she asked as she passed him on her way to the banquet room.
“Are you okay?” He fell into step beside her.
Skylar fought off the tears that were burning behind her eyes and forced a reply. “I’m fine.”
“Did he do something?”
She looked over at him. “Please, drop it.”
“There’s my girl.” Mom’s expression was filled with concern when she caught sight of Skylar. “Is everything all right?”
Skylar glanced at Sebastian then back at their mother. “Everything’s great.”
Mom tilted her head like she knew Skylar wasn’t telling the truth. “Shall we cut your cake? I think people are ready for dessert.”
Skylar nodded and followed her mother to the cake table.
Dad took the microphone from the stage and meandered over to where they were standing, and everyone took their seats.
“Thank you all for coming to celebrate Skylar’s big three-oh with us tonight.”
The guests whooped and cheered, and Dad took hold of Skylar’s hand and brought her into his side with an arm around her. “When Harriet and I were young and dreaming of starting a family, we both hoped and prayed for a little girl. I know, most men dream of having a son to carry on the family name, but I wanted a daughter who looked just like her mama. And when that first baby was coming, we were both sure that’s what we were going to get. Instead, our son, Sebastian, was born.”
“Love you too, Dad,” Sebastian called out.
Everyone laughed, and Dad chuckled. “Then baby number two was on the way, and Harriet was so certain it was going to be a girl that we had the nursery painted pink. And our second-born, Augustus, blames those pink walls for his early interest in girls, even though the walls were only pink for a few weeks of his life.”
Laughter filled the room.
“So, when our third child was coming, we were pretty much resigned to another boy. And wouldn’t you know it, our sweet little baby girl finally arrived, with big beautiful eyes staring up at us in wonder, and our family was complete.”
Skylar smiled over at him.
“And go figure, she looks nothing like her mama and a whole lot like me.”
He got a few more laughs.
“I can still see her in pigtails, climbing trees and playing tag with her brothers, doing flips off the diving board into the pool. But then I look at her on a special night like tonight, all grown up, and I don’t know where the time has gone. Skylar, I’m so proud of the beautiful woman you’ve become. You have exceeded any expectation your mother and I have ever had for you, and you continue to show us what it means to be kind, loving, talented, and so strong.” He squeezed her tighter against him. “Happy birthday, sweetheart. We love you.”
“Thanks, Daddy.” She turned into his arms, and he placed a kiss on her cheek before hugging her tightly.
“Third time’s the charm,” he whispered.
She laughed and brushed a tear from her cheek.
Mom hugged her next. “Happy birthday. I love you.”
“Love you too,” Skylar replied.
“And if you need to talk later, you know I’m here.”