THE HEIR'S REVENGE

chapter 48

The bouncy castle arrived at nine and took forty five minutes to inflate.

It was purple as I had expected.

I had never seen a purple one before and it seemed like the delivery men had clearly never installed a purple one before because they glared at it like they were having second thoughts about it.

Lily stood in the garden and watched the process. She looked like a project supervisor overseeing her work only that she was overly excited. At some moment, she'd point at something and laugh.

Then she came to me when everything was finally set up.

“This is perfect.” She said, “I love it.”

“I'm happy that you love it.”

“Can I go in now?”

“But your party starts at 12.”

“That's too far away. I just want to jump into it now.” She said and I could notice her body literally shaking because of that.

She looked at the bouncy castle. Then at me. Then at the bouncy castle.

I still didn't say anything so she called one of those delivery men to come and he did.

"Sir," she called.

“Yes, Miss.”

“Is there a rule that says that I can't use the bouncy castle until it's time for the party.”

The delivery man seemed amused. “Of course not.”

Lily looked at me with great dignity.

I looked at the bouncy castle.

"Ten minutes," I said.

She was already taking her shoes off even waiting for me to finish.

Ten minutes later, the butterfly people arrived. They were two young women who carried two elite boxes and small ventilation holes. They seemed professional and efficient because they went straight to bed.

Lily stopped jumping up and down when she saw the box which only meant that she had the feeling that was beyond words. She glared at the box again and again.

It was weird for Lily to be quiet, not like this.

"They are in there?" she asked, seemingly afraid of what the answer would be.

"They are in there," the woman confirmed. "Sixty blue morpho butterflies."

Lily looked at me.

I looked at her.

She did not say anything. Her eyes were very bright and that said everything.

“You are not opening it now. That would be later. Remember that was the agreement.”

“Yes.” She nodded but was still very still. She then turned to the two women and thanked them like they had not just done their work.

The woman looked at her and liked her excitement.

“I'm sure your birthday party would be lovely.”

“Yes, it will.” Lily nodded, confirming.

By one o'clock the garden looked like something from a dream.

Everything was purple, the butterfly garlands that Lily made. Emma had helped hang the final section along the back wall that morning. Lily had even supervised her.

The tables were covered in purple cloth and the venue decorated with purple balloons. I also noticed that the gust bags that Oily herself filled last night were also purple in colour. At 10, the cake arrived, also purple in colour with the exact design that Lily wanted.

It was a life size and Lily had looked at it for a long time before speaking which meant that she was dumbfounded by it and Lily is never dumbfounded by anything.

“Tell the baker that she did a very good job.” She said when she turned to face Mrs. Pack.

Emma came to stand beside me and we stood for a while without speaking.

“She'd be planning this for a while now.” She said, “”She seemed so excited.”

“Yes, she is.” I said.

“Sge told me about her grandfather and how she feels so bad that he wouldn't be attending her party.” Enma said and I turned to her, surprised.

Had Lilit really said that to her? I looked at Lily's direction and felt bad. Sometimes I wondered if she was really five.. I mean she's six now do I guess she grew in knowledge.

“I know what you are thinking about.” Emma said and I turned to her. “She said she didn't want to talk about him in front of you because he didn't want you to be sad.”

What?

Lily was the child but she worried about me like she was my mother..

“Hinestly, I'll have to admit it. She's pretty smart. Too smart for her age.”

I agreed. I nodded to what Emma said but I had to leave. I needed to talk to Lily before her birthday started officially.

“I'll see you, Emma.”

I said to Emma and walked out before she could say anything more. I went straight to where Lily was standing. She wasn't doing anything.. just staring and getting mindblown by the setting.

“Lily.” I called and she turned to face me with a smile. When I got to her, I bent to her size and looked into her eyes. She was about to probably talk about how excited she was when I took over.

“You miss grandpa?”

She looked at me, surprised at first but then her face melted into pain. “Yes.”

“You don't have to act strong in front of me. You don't have to worry about me. You are free to tell me whatever it is you want to say. Do you understand.” I shoved her quietly.

She nodded but said nothing.

I just couldn't believe this little girl. She was about to cry and make me cry as well.

“This is the first birthday that he won't be attending and I honestly feel scared.”

“Why?”

“Does it really mean I won't see him again?” She asked me and I nodded.

“Yes but you have me so I don't want you to be sad again. Promise me, you won't be sad again.”

She nodded.

“It's time for you to get ready, don't you think?” I asked. “I'd love to see how my princess is doing. I love you, baby.”

“I love you.”

That was it. That small moment but it meant so much to me. It made me happy and it taught me that even big things can happen in small moments like this.