Chasing Tide (A Merman's Tale And The Human Who Desired Him)

BIRTHDAY GIRL.

Chapter: 9.
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"Hello, Dad," his favorite cheerful voice resounded around his ears and he chuckled warmly. She still brings the light into his dark heart.

"Hello, Princess." He called back and she giggled.

"Did you forget what day today is?"

"Did I now? Mhmm..." the man pretended to be lost in deep thought and the little girl just laughed harder. "What day is today?" He asked, causing her to laugh louder. 

"It's my birthday, you silly old goose!" She yelled between giggles.

"She called me old. My own daughter called me old, oh what a life." This cracked the little girl up harder and she nearly tumbled over from her end.

"But, you are old, my silly old goose, Daddy." She said between giggles.

"My poor heart."

"I know you didn't forget."

"Of course, I wouldn't forget the birthday of my one beloved." Her laughter boomed and he smiled. "Happy sixth birthday, monkey." He finally said and she laughed.

"Thank you, Daddy, but this monkey is getting bigger and bigger." She asserted as if he didn't already know that.

"Where has the time gone? You were so little just yesterday." He feigned sadness and she tittered.

"Yesterday?!"

"Did I say yesterday?"

"Oh, Daddy, I love you so very much."

"And I love you much more." He felt his eyes sting with unwelcome tears and he just let them roll down his face.

"Did you get me a present, Daddy?"

"Yes, baby, as a matter of fact, it should be arriving at your doorstep in five, four, three, two, one...." The sound of the doorbell ringing echoed in his ears and his daughter's voice followed.

"I'll get it!" With the phone still in her ears, she walked over to the door and opened it. A delivery man stood with a huge box smiling grandly at the jovial little girl.

"Hi, my name is Peter. Are you, Miss Allison Rodriguez, please?"

"Yes, please!" She replied cheerfully.

"Well, then, your father said to make sure this gets to you specifically because he sent this little note and he requested that you return it to him." The man told her before pulling out an envelope and handing it over to the girl. She took it and immediately dipped her hand into her jacket pocket and retrieved her own little note.

"Here you go." She handed it over then grabbed her box and walked back into the house, shutting the door. "Mom!" She called loudly, causing the unprepared Alexander to jolt as her voice pierced through his eardrums.

"Geez, baby, trying to make your father deaf, are we?" He asked and she laughed.

"Mom!" She called again and once Alexander heard her voice in the background his heart skipped a few beats.

"Yes, honey, I'm coming, I'm coming."

She sounded as cheerful as her daughter. She was really happy, why wouldn't she be, her wedding is just a few days away so of course, she's the Queen Bee once again.

"Where did that box come from?" She asked her daughter once she caught sight of her struggling with a huge box.

"It's my present from my Daddy."