Chapter 2 - The Birthday Cake
Rosa tried to take Isabella home.
Marcus stopped her.
"She can stay."
Rosa stared at him.
"Sir?"
"She can stay."
"But she'll bother you."
Marcus looked at the toddler.
Isabella was already staring at the massive chandelier.
"She can't possibly bother me more than my board of directors."
Rosa almost smiled.
Almost.
"I'll keep her in the kitchen."
"That's fine."
He turned to leave.
Then Isabella called after him.
"Mr. Birthday Man!"
Marcus stopped.
"What?"
"Do you have cake?"
He blinked.
"No."
Her face fell.
"Oh."
Marcus looked at Rosa.
Rosa looked embarrassed.
"She's obsessed with birthdays."
"Whose birthday is it?"
"Mine," Isabella said.
Marcus frowned.
"Today?"
"No."
She thought carefully.
"Everybody's birthday is today."
Marcus laughed again.
Rosa shook her head.
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine."
Marcus walked toward his office.
Then stopped.
He turned around.
"Rosa."
"Yes?"
"Can you make pancakes?"
Rosa looked confused.
"Yes."
"Make some."
"Now?"
"Yes."
"For you?"
Marcus nodded.
"And her."
Twenty minutes later, Marcus sat at the kitchen island.
Across from him was Isabella.
She was eating pancakes with her hands.
Rosa apologized every thirty seconds.
"Isabella, use your fork."
"She's fine," Marcus said.
"She'll make a mess."
"So will I."
Rosa looked at him.
He realized he was enjoying this.
That surprised him.
Isabella suddenly climbed onto her chair.
"Wait!"
She ran toward Rosa's bag.
"Isabella!"
The little girl returned holding a tiny paper box.
She placed it carefully on the table.
"I made this."
Marcus looked at the box.
"What's inside?"
"Birthday."
She opened it.
Inside was a crooked cupcake.
The frosting had melted slightly.
Three tiny candles were stuck in the top.
Marcus stared at it.
"You made this?"
"Mama helped."
Rosa looked down.
"I made it last night."
Marcus felt his throat tighten.
"You knew?"
Rosa shook her head.
"I didn't know it was your birthday until this morning. Isabella saw the date on the calendar."
Isabella pushed the cupcake toward him.
"Make a wish."
Marcus stared at the three candles.
He hadn't made a birthday wish in four years.
He didn't believe in wishes anymore.
But Isabella was watching him.
So he closed his eyes.
For one brief second, he remembered his mother.
Her kitchen.
Her pancakes.
Her terrible singing.
Her hands pushing a candle into a stack of pancakes.
Marcus opened his eyes.
"What did you wish for?" Isabella asked.
Marcus looked at her.
"A second chance."
Rosa went completely still.
He blew out the candles.
And that was when Marcus noticed something.
The little girl wasn't looking at the cupcake.
May you like
She was looking at him.
Like she'd already known what he needed.
