After one or two more rides, I left Alessia to go inside and bake Luca’s cake. I was much more calm than I thought I’d be. Mommy was a wreck before my birthdays. I remember her holding me a lot, and her eyes were always red and puffy. She was the strongest person I knew, but always fell apart in secret because of my transitions. My firstborn is about to become a man and begin his life’s journey, and I am ecstatic. I want a front-row seat for every event he goes through. I’m pre-ordering tickets and buying all the #TeamLuca merch! No one will ever be able to match my enthusiasm for this man. No one. I am ready for this!
I called everyone inside once the cake cooled. Luca tip toed toward the cake, closed his eyes, and made a very serious wish before blowing out the candles. He must have stood there for a good minute before taking a deep breath. I wonder what he wished for. Hopefully not for me and Ali to get back together. It’s a little late for that one. And he’s too old.
We made noise for him as he blew out the candles in one breath, like he always did. Then, in the literal twinkling of an eye, the new Luca stood before us with broad shoulders and a slender, more chiseled face. My dad’s face! I don’t think I ever noticed he had my face shape before. How cool is that?
We ate cake in silence, but it wasn’t awkward. I imagined we all had different things on our minds. But everyone was all smiles.
When we finished, I collected the plates to wash. Ali remained at the table, stuck in his thoughts, while the kids went back outside.
“Ali?”
“Hmmm?”
“We did it.”
He looked at me, then back at the table. “We sure did.”
