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Lucy wakes up early the day before Tim’s birthday and sneaks out to the kitchen to make sure she has all the ingredients to make his cake. She is digging through the cabinets when Tim comes out into the kitchen yawning and looking at her curiously. She bites her lip as she pulls out the pan she is going to need before Tim wraps himself around her and kisses just behind her ear.
“Good morning.” He says his voice still rough with sleep. “What are you doing?” She sighs and turns around in his arms to look at him.
“Trying to find everything for the cake I’m baking you.” She says. He furrows his brows and he looks confused.
“What cake? Why are you baking me a cake?” He asks her as she softly pushes away from him. She clicks her tongue when he pulls her back to him and the bends down to give her a quick kiss.
“Your birthday cake.” She replies simply. He studies her, his blue eyes going all over her face until they land on her lips.
“Why are you baking me a birthday cake?” He asks. Lucy rolls her eyes and shoves him a little.
“Because your birthday is tomorrow. And this is the first one we will be celebrating as a couple. And I want to bake you a cake, you deserve it.”
Tim frowns and this time he pushes back. “Lucy, you don’t have to bake me a cake.” He says. She tilts her head at him and looks at him curiously. “I know.” She says. “But I want to. Now what is your favorite type of cake?”
Tim is silent and then he backs fully away from Lucy and goes over to the coffee machine to start it.
“Tim?” She asks slowly. “What’s your favorite type of cake?” Tim’s shoulders are tense as he turns around to face her, his face showing no emotion what so ever.
“It doesn’t matter.” He finally says. “Any type of cake will do.” Lucy frowns at him and she opens her mouth to say something else but he cuts her off with a soft kiss to her lips.
“I’m going to take a shower if you want to join me.” He says a smirk playing at his lips. She rolls her eyes but follows him into the bathroom.
***
Lucy holds her phone to her ear, hoping Genny will answer. She does on the second ring.
“Lucy?” Genny asks sounding confused. “What’s wrong? Is Tim okay?” Lucy bites her lips as she moves around the living room, pacing from one corner to the other.
“Tim is fine. Except he’s stubborn. His birthday is tomorrow and I want to bake him a cake but he won’t tell me what his favorite type is.” She says. Genny huffs out a laugh and Lucy pauses as she waits for the other woman to speak again.
“Tim hasn’t celebrated his birthday since he was a kid.” Genny finally says. “No one in our house made a big deal about them and our mom tried but the last birthday Tim celebrated was kind of tainted by our father.” Lucy lets out a big sigh why didn’t she think of that?
“Oh.” She says. “So he won’t want to celebrate it?” There’s some movement on the other end of the line.
“I don’t know honestly Lucy. He has scars from his tenth birthday when our dad burned him with candles.” Genny says solemnly. “I’m not sure what he will want to do now. But I think you just need to make it special. Something just for him.”
Lucy licks her lips and nods pressing her hand to her forehead. “He deserves to be celebrated.” She tells Genny. Genny hums in agreement. “I agree Lucy. But I also know he will love anything you do for him because.. it’s you.”
Lucy sighs loudly and then bites the inside of her cheek before speaking again. “So what is Tim’s favorite type of cake?”
Genny laughs a little. “Red velvet.” She answers. “That’s what my mom always made him for his birthday.”
Lucy bounces on her toes, thankful she finally has something to go on. She thanks Genny and hangs up. She has some shopping to do.
***
Lucy wakes up the next day, and kisses Tim on the shoulder before heading out to the kitchen to start baking the cake. Once she has everything out and on the counter, she starts mixing things together. She wants to at least have it in the oven before Tim wakes up, she knows she’s making a mess but she doesn’t care she just wants Tim to have a good birthday. She has just put the cake in the oven when Tim comes out of the room. He’s shirtless and wearing pajama pants that are slightly too big. Lucy meets him halfway and turns him around to the sofa.
“Happy birthday.” She says enthusiastically giving him a kiss on the lips. He runs his fingers across her face.
“Did a bag of flour explode or something?” He asks amusement tinting his voice. She shakes her head and leans in to kiss him again.
“It’s a surprise.” She tells him. “Now sit I will get you some coffee.” She plops him down in the sofa but not before giving him one last kiss. She can feel his eyes on her as she goes back to the kitchen but she doesn’t say anything.
She makes him his coffee, checks the cake and then heads back over to sit down by him. She hands him his coffee and then sits down next to him. He draws her close and into his side as soon as she sits down.
“Lucy, you didn’t have to do anything for me. It’s just a birthday.” He says into her hair. But she shakes her head and then tilts her chin to look up at him.
“I know Tim. And I know you don’t want to make a big deal about this. But I want to do this for you.” She says. He kisses her once and then again on the nose.
“My birthdays weren’t always the best.” He says quietly. “After my 10th birthday I just didn’t want to celebrate anymore.” Lucy takes his hand in hers and rubs small circles on it.
“I know and I’m sorry you didn’t—you deserved to be celebrated. You were a kid.” She says lifting his hand to her lips and kissing it gently. “You shouldn’t have had to worry about anything but being a kid.”
Tim sighs and kisses the top of her head again and then rests his chin on top of it. “I love you.” He says his voice shaky. “I don’t know how you make everything better but you just do.” Lucy blinks back the tears burning her eyes and adjusts herself so she can kiss him. “I love you too Tim. And I just want to make this day better for you.”
There is a comfortable silence for a few minutes before the oven timer goes off. Lucy hops off ignoring Tim’s soft noise of protest when she does.
“I’ll be right back.” She promises him and he mumbles something about it’s his birthday. She laughs happily and makes her way to the kitchen. She pulls the cake out of the oven and puts the frosting on it. She glances over at Tim who is watching her intently.
She smiles at him and then as nicely as she can writes Happy Birthday on it. And then adds a few candles for good measure. She walks back over to Tim and plops down next to him and curls her feet underneath her.
“We can eat your cake later.” She tells him. “What else do you want to do today?”
“You.” He answers grinning at her. She rolls her eyes at him and he pulls her closer. “Honestly? This is perfect.” He gestures between them. “I just want to be with you.” Lucy reaches over to kiss him.
“Okay.” She says because honestly that sounded perfect to her too.
***
Later after they get up off the couch, Lucy lights the candles and makes Tim blow them out. And then they sit on the couch with their legs tangled eating the cake. Lucy pauses and watches as Tim eats his piece his blue eyes sparkling. And she really hopes this was a good birthday for him.
“Did you have a good day?” She asks him. He pauses eating and looks over at her. And then his face breaks into a smile and he nods.
“Yes baby. It was perfect. Thank you.” He says. Lucy puts her plate down and scoots over so she can put her head on his shoulder.
“You are welcome. You deserve the best.” She says quietly. And when Tim lifts her head up to kiss her she realizes it’s true he really does deserve the best and to be celebrated. Not just today but every single day.