Life after the girls aged to toddlers was pretty mundane for the Shaw clan. Billy focused on his music and art, Mira focused on the girls most of the time. Their passion for each other slowly faded into the background, but it was expected with two little ones to look after now.
Bella and Abby were curious and full of life. Abby couldn’t get enough of her toys and teddy bears and liked to hide for hours at a time inside the toybox Mira had managed to salvage from the wreckage the tornado had left behind. The toybox - covered with the images she drew with her mother when she was a child, covered with the fingerprints of a long lost love.
Bella, on the other hand, was daddy’s little angel. Billy didn’t mind that she followed him around and begged to be cuddled and kissed – he was amazed that such a little person could make him feel so much so fast. This little smiling, laughing being, pulling at heartstrings he didn’t know existed.
Mira continued to advance in her career. She traded in her coffee-stained T-shirts for business suits and sneakers for heels. She was happy to be taken seriously for once, even if she could have lived without the meetings and aching feet.
Though she was climbing the career ladder, she was still a mother, and never hesitated to run home after work for some snuggles with her favorite little girls.
Billy didn’t want a birthday party - he wasn’t a fan of crowds. Unlucky for him, Mira insisted they invite some of their close friends over to celebrate the occasion. “Oh well,” he thought to himself,”just play nice and maybe I’ll get in good with my boss and he’ll let me be more use at work than just setting up the set.” Billy hated getting the sets ready, it was tiring and dirty, not to mention no one cares about your music when you’re just the technician.
The party began smoothly, one of Billy’s coworkers kept most of the group entertained with some tunes while Mira put the girls to bed so the adults could enjoy some time to themselves without any screaming or whining.
Billy was reluctant to blow out the candles, he felt it was childish and wasn’t comfortable with the idea of everyone watching, but he loved making Mira smile, so he did it anyway.
“Mira! How many candles were on this thing?” Billy screamed as he realized his leg was engulfed in flames. This is what I get for trying to make her happy all the time, he cursed himself for being such a pushover. Apparently, however, the young girl in the background was making light of what is a very serious situation.
As the entire table was engulfed in flames, Mira quickly dialed the fire department while some of the houseguests started trying to extinguish the blaze. She panicked, “I’m going to be a widow! He’s going to die in this fire and I’m going to have to raise our daughters by myself! Why am I not allowed a happy ending?”
The brave guests continued to put out the fire while Mira huddled in her little girls’ room, making sure they were safe and sound. Luckily for Billy, the fire was put out before the damage was irreversible.
“Maybe next time she’ll listen to me when I say I don’t want a party,” Billy mumbled to himself as he headed to the shower.
After scrubbing himself clean, he headed off to work without getting to enjoy his birthday and left Mira to deal with the party guests. Disgustingly, they all had a pretty good time - apparently watching a grown man catch on fire is prime party entertainment.
“Hey beautiful, now that your husband’s gone, how about the two of us get to know each other a little better?” Yuri may be Billy’s best friend, but that means nothing to a rock star.
“Yuri, Billy almost died! Do you really think this is the best time to hit on me?” Mira was abhorred by his actions.
“Hey, any time is a good time as far as I’m concerned,” he said with a smirk.
“Why don’t you go home to your wife, Yuri?”
“Fine, but call me if you change your mind,” he said slyly as he turned to leave.
“Yeah, I’ll be sure to do that, Yuri,” of course she never would, but he was kind of amusing.
After work that night, Billy celebrated his birthday by himself. He didn’t mind, he enjoyed the peace and quiet after enduring such a hectic afternoon. He kept his look, but got rid of the hat – he felt he was too old now to pull off that look anymore.
Meanwhile, Bella and Abby continued to learn and grow. They spent a lot of time to themselves since Mira and Billy were so busy with work and other hobbies. But they did learn their basic skills, and soon enough graduated from diapers and learned how to toddle around the house.
“Hey you, guess what day it is?” Mira whispered lovingly.
“Mmmm, our anniversary?” Billy didn’t care, he just wanted to breathe in her sweet perfume.
“It’s the twins’ birthday, I invited some people over, you’ll be OK, right?” Mira asked nervously.
“That’s fine, anything for my girls,” he squeezed her and then went to set up the cakes.
The party was a blast for everyone. There was a lot of dancing and laughing – no fires or emergency calls. Mira was excited for the way it turned out, but all she really wanted was to see her little girls grow up.
Abby was first to the cake. Mira danced her around and laughed with her while the guests smiled and watched, singing “Happy Birthday.” Then they blew out the candles together and Abby sprouted into childhood.
She is a cute child, with her father’s nose and mother’s green eyes and blonde hair. “Why do I look like such a tomboy? This is not going to work!” she complained after studying her attire.
Bella, jealous that Abby got to blow out the candles before she did, couldn’t wait any longer.
In a frumpier outfit than her sister, but just as cute, Bella became a lovely little girl – who immediately cleaned up the mess the guests left behind.
As if three birthdays in a row wasn’t enough, it was Mira’s turn to blow out the candles, and Bella wanted to make sure it was a good one.
“Daddy, did you remember to call everyone about mom’s party tonight?” she questioningly asked Billy.
“Of course, honey, I’m not going to let your mother’s birthday go unnoticed! Everyone will be here at 5:00 this afternoon,” Billy found it amusing how mature his daughter could behave from time to time. Even though he knew he’d be miserable the whole time, Mira was the love of his life, and he’d get through it for her.
Mira was anxious about her party. Work was difficult enough, what with having to entertain the businessmen that were in from Tokyo – but knowing she was going to get to let her hair down and relax after work made the day seem to drag out forever. She daydreamed about her sweet, sweet husband, and the treat she was going to give him for going through with this party.
Mira was having a blast! She got a chance to catch up with old friends and boogie down with some new ones. She laughed with her daughters and found out about all the gossip going on at school. It was the best night she’d had in a long time, until…
…one of the party guests took it upon herself to get Billy alone in the kitchen.
Roxie flirted, she swooned – she kissed Mira’s husband at the birthday party he had thrown for her, and Billy didn’t stop her.
“What is going on here?” Mira tried to hold back the tears.
“Mira, I don’t know what happened! We were just talking, and she, she kissed me – I’m so sorry,” Billy was dumbfounded. How could he have let this woman have such an effect on him?
“And in front of our daughters! What were you thinking, Billy?”
“I – I don’t know,” Billy shook his head in shame.
The girls watched as it all unraveled. Their own father, betraying them like this. Is this who he really is, they asked themselves, or is it all a silly mistake?
Mira left Billy to think things over while she dealt with Roxie in the other room.
“How dare you come into my home and stick your tongue down my husband’s throat in front of my children! You have some nerve, Roxie!” Mira was so angry she spat as she spoke. “I knew you were trash, but I never took you for a woman who would try and break up a family.”
“Hey, he could have stopped me at any point, but he didn’t. Looks like someone hasn’t been taking care of her man when he’s home,” Roxie replied sourly.
“If I were a lesser woman, I’d smack you down right here,” Mira threatened. “But luckily for you, I’m above all that. So why don’t you get out of my house before I change my mind, and if I ever see you around my husband again, you won’t be so lucky.”
“Like I’m scared of a stick like you!,” Roxie laughed heartily, “but I’ll leave, this party is lame, anyway.” She left without another word.
So this is how I get to spend my birthday, Mira thought to herself. She just wanted everyone to leave, the party was the last thing on her mind. But once everyone left, Mira would have to deal with the inevitable – her marriage was a joke – the man she believed to be perfect was no better than any other man she’d ever known.
I’m amazed at how beautifully you put together pics and words. Fabulous story – drama! – can’t wait to read more!
Oh, that last picture…the look on her face is so sad.
Darn that Billy. I really liked him. Maybe he should have burned in the fire….ok, that was mean spirited, but sheesh.