Mina yanked the cluster of pink, purple, and white balloons, around twenty, minus a few casualties while wrestling them in and out of the car. The bobbing mass barely missed a low-hanging branch on the tree she was passing in order to get to the cluster of four picnic tables a few feet away.
Linda snapped a picture of her with the digital camera as soon as she was in range and Mina shook her head. "I wasn't even looking!" she said attempting to frown. She barely got her lips to purse together before her smile returned. She couldn't even pretend to be upset on Ava's first birthday...and certainly not at her birthday party. Linda shrugged. "You look beautiful anyway."
Diana rushed to her daughter with Mina perched on her hip. "Good, you're here. Now we can start the party."
Mina glanced around at the gathering of every single member of Bryan's family including their kids playing on the playground twenty feet to the left of the picnic area. "Where's Bryan?" she asked loudly she said as she handed Linda the balloons.
"I haven't seen him," Diana answered sweetly. Mina had just learned that tone as the one her mother had taken on in order to stop herself from saying something hurtful or negative. She had to admit Diana was making an effort to be less bitchy since she'd called her on her shit a few weeks before.
"He'll be here," Linda said to her rival grandmother. "He picked up some things I'd forgotten at home."
Diana glanced at the picnic table that held the food and forced a smile. "I can't imagine you forgot anything at home. You've laid out quite a spread already." Mina could practically hear the saccharine coating on each word.
Mina kissed Ava's forehead to hide her smile. It was hilarious to see her mother so put out by Linda. She was not enjoying her "B-grandma" status. Just that day, Linda had shown up with piles of food...fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, baked ziti, antipasti, an enormous bowl of Greek salad, every soda imaginable, beer, and she'd made a three layer birthday cake. In fact, Linda had made so much food; she and Don had driven separate cars to the park. His was loaded with a trunk full of brightly wrapped gifts.
Diana's mouth had literally fell open when she arrived with her store-bought potato salad and one large gift bag. Mina had thanked her mother profusely, but Diana was still reeling from what some could have perceived as a shortcoming. Mina knew her mother didn't cook...well, she did, but she never cooked for a large crowd like Linda did every Sunday. Mina was also aware that her mother hadn't gone shopping for a small child since her own birthdays years ago.
"Hey!" said Bryan from behind her. "Sorry I'm late." He said it as he handed two large Tupperware containers to his mother, but his eyes were trained on Mina's.
She smiled and shrugged. "You didn't miss anything yet."
"It took you long enough!" Andrew said clapping his brother on the back. "You know mom can't show up to a party without olive tapenade and bruchetta!"
Bryan nodded and tore his gaze away from Mina to watch Ava. She was settled in Diana's arms watching one of her cousins blow bubbles. When an orb got close enough she'd extend a chubby hand to grab it and giggle when it popped on her fingers. When he looked back to Mina, she was engaged in hushed conversation with Brenda as they prepared the table for the impending onslaught of hungry family members.
"Can I talk to you?"
Mina jumped at Bryan's voice so close. She hadn't heard him approach but he was barely a step away when she turned to face him. Brenda gave her an interested look when she excused herself to follow Bryan. They found a secluded spot behind a tree about fifty yards from everyone else.
"What's up?" she asked pressing herself against the trunk of the tree.
"I just wanted to tell you Happy Birthday," he said putting a hand on the tree beside her head and leaning into her. "Here." He presented a small black box from the pocket of his dark denim jeans.
"Thanks." She pulled the top off the box and found a bright gold key. "What's this?"
"Dad helped me put some money down on a house."
Mina narrowed her eyes in confusion. "I don't..."
"I've been working my ass off, Mina. I really want us to be a family again and I got the feeling you did too." He watched for a nod or some signal of agreement, but she kept her head ducked, staring at the key. "I know you don't like it when I do things without involving you...and this is a HUGE decision...and I did it without you. I'm sorry, but this is just a starter house. It was affordable and it wasn't going to be available for very long so I just got it."
"You bought a house?" Her mind was still reeling and she wanted to laugh at the absurdity of the situation.
"I understand if you don't want to move in with me just yet."
"Move in? I don't even know if I've forgiven you."
Bryan nodded. "I know. Just promise me you'll think about it."
Mina looked up into his intense green gaze and smiled. "I know you're trying. I will definitely think about it."
Before he could stop himself he'd leaned further down and pressed his mouth against her full lips. The kiss began innocent enough, but when Mina wrapped her arm around his neck, Bryan almost lost his careful control. He'd been waiting so long; his body's reaction was instantaneous. His dick sprung to life and he pulled her hips from the tree trunk to rest against his body. Mina moaned when she felt his erection pressing against her stomach. She opened her mouth and his tongue slipped inside. She closed her eyes and felt him, his fingers splayed across her back, his chest hard and his heart pounding...she could feel it where their bodies pressed together. He held her as if afraid she'd disappear if he let go.
