#;packages

I know it isn’t much. But I started this after you said you got cold in winter. Hopefully this will help. I love you so much!

Jayden.

You know I am always happy with but a simple birthday wish! You have always been but enough of a gift. And this is so beautiful and amazing, I adore it. This way, when I’m cold, you’ll be there to help me keep me warm. 

Thank you my little star. 

Mahuakine,

So I was in Paris this weekend, so I will try to call at a reasonable hour, but I wanted to make sure that you know I love you and want to wish you the best birthday ever. You are so glorious and amazing, these things can’t do you justice. But I hope they remind you of the beauty you put forth into the world. Or at least make every head that turns your way even more jealous. 

You’re the most wonderful person and I wish you every happiness in the year to come. Always, your hanai-daughter, Beth <333

Dear Beth, 

I am in love with all of this. I will definitely be turning heads with these on and you know I live for doing that. You didn’t have to but I know, I know, you wanted to. Thank you so much and I hope you are having fun and taking good care of yourself. Tell your man that I hope he’s taking good care of you. 

Love always, Mom

The gift was important, and so she had Z do the wrapping paper, so that it was absolutely perfect. He sneered at the brightness of the actual wrapping and he might have been a little offended by her choosing to do the finishing bow but it was one of the first gifts crossed off the list. She couldn’t let her hanai-mother think that she’d forgotten.

The gift itself had been practically had the woman’s name all over it and she’d nearly run three people over in trying to get at it. Normally, Beth was the soul of kindness and civility, especially during the holidays but this…she’d had to have it. And then she’d gone out of her way to make sure the treasure could never be harmed, actually hiring a courier to deliver it. Tucked in the box was her usual Christmas card, hand painted on recycled paper, all natural plant-based water colours. Donna’s was a bluebird and a holy wreath. “Mele Kalikimaka, Makuahine! Wishing you all the brightest of blessings now and in the New Year, Aloha, Beth and Zarek.”

The Faberge Egg was also a music box, and played the Waltz of Flowers. {{Translation: Merry Christmas, Mom!}}

Donna was surprised at the sound of her bell ringing. She hadn’t been expecting anything deliver but it was December. With a smile she took the package, already knowing who it was from without having to read the note. But she read it anyways, smiling the whole time as she placed the box on the table. 

Carefully she unwrapped it and took the Faberge Egg out. She stared at in total surprise, inspecting every wise of it. Noticing that it was a little key to turn, she cracked it and laughed as it began to play Waltz of the Flowers. It was beautiful. 

She couldn’t stop staring at it in awe. Quickly, she picked up her phone and began calling Beth. 

“Beth, sweetheart, you’ve outdone yourself. I’m almost tempted to say that this is too much and send it back, but I love the gift too much to actually do so. Thank you. Your gift should be on its way, tell Zarek I say hello. Happy holidays!” 

Hey, I just wanted to stop by and tell you that you are really awesome and that I really enjoy interacting with you.  I hope you have an amazing day and sending a hug to get you through it!

.

When she heard the Birthday girl come shuffling into the kitchen Jayden turned and smiled brightly. 

“Happy Birthday Mom.”

Donna groaned, turning over in her bed as she caught the scent of coffee? The delicious aroma of coffee and food? What? There was a moment of hesitation, but the people who had keys to her apartment were few in between. With a yawn, she stumbled out of her bed and rubbed at her eyes. There was only one person who made coffee smell so good, and that was her Jay. But why was she over so early? 

She stopped right in the middle of the living space, looking at Jay, then at the cake and food, then back at Jay. 

“Birthday?” were the very intelligent words that came out of her mouth. She blinked a couple of times, brain beginning to race as the sleepiness wore off. Birthday? What day was it? She knew it was coming up, but was it that day? She let out a laugh, realizing it was and she was going to sleep the day away, not remembering it. This is why she had Jay. 

“I had not realized that was today! Thank you!” she moved forward to envelop Jay in a tight hug. She squeezed her real hard in thanks, before letting her go to take a closer look at the display. 

The cake was beautiful, no surprise there. But there, in the center. 

“Did you put a ring in the cake?” she asked, laughter in her tone as she plucked it up. It was beautiful, and she looked at it suspiciously, then at Jay. The amount of money Jay spent on Donna could be a subject of contention between the two of them. Donna had no qualms spending all kinds of money on her girls, but them spending money on her? She wasn’t too comfortable with that. 

However, this time, she just sighed and smiled, slipping the ring on. She knew when to let things go, this was one of those times. 

Beth knew she wouldn’t be in New York when her hanai-mother’s birthday came around, so she made the arrangements for everything to happen in a quiet way. Caterer’s to deliver breakfast in bed. And beside her juice and coffee and the molten chocolate souffle, a box. Long and slender and wrapped in the unmistakable colour; Tiffany blue. Matching ribbon. And with it, a hand written note in her signature purple sparkly pen. “Donna, Please take this token as a symbol of my enduring love and faith in you. I can’t tell you how much you’ve shaped and changed my life. You took in a scrawny stranger and helped her become the woman I am today. You and Jay have always been my hanai-family and if I had a thousand years to thank you, it wouldn’t be enough.

Hauʻoli Lā Hānau, Mom.

~Always,  Beth.

The knock at the door had her waking up early in the morning. Too early for a Sunday morning. She wasn’t expecting anyone, and anyone who would be visiting her at this hour, had keys to her apartment. So, riddled with confusion and sleep, she opened to the door…..to find the amazing display of a molten chocolate souffle and the smell of coffee. 

“What?” she was not quite sure what was happening here, but she was not going to complain. 

“Donna Paulsen?” 

“Yeah?” she would be whoever the person was looking for. Not really. But she had been tempted. 

“Happy birthday!” the caterer smiled, and Donna just stepped back and let the man place the tray on her table. She was so out of it, she completely missed the opportunity to tip the man. When she remembered, he was already waving her off, that it was taken care of. Huh. Happy birthday? She counted the days in her head as she closed the door behind her. It seemed she’d been working more than she should have, if she’d forgotten about her own birthday like that. 

She made her way back to the food, dipped a finger into the souffle before licking the chocolate off. Curiously, she picked up the note, immediately knowing who it was from, from the sparkly pen. It made her smile, a mixture of happy for Beth remembered her birthday, and sad, because she missed having her nearby. 

The words had her in tears, happy to know that Beth thought so fondly of her, that she considered her like a mom. It was a relief to know that her best, had been enough. She placed the note down and carefully picked up the box, taking her time in untying the ribbon and lifting the box off. 

“Oh.” She let out a soft noise of wonder as she looked at the necklace that sat there. Donna did not want to think of the fortune it must have cost. Perhaps it was why Beth decided to get it, there was no way Donna could refuse it with Beth so far away. At any other time, Donna would have protested. It was too much. 

The red gift box is left on her nightstand along with a note:

I heard it was your birthday, I thought this suit you.

- Delta

Donna sighed, letting out a soft yawn as she stretched out on the bed. The spot next to her had grown cold, but it didn’t surprise Donna. Slowly, fighting down another yawn she sat up, ran her hand through her curls as she looked around. Surprised, she stared at the red gift box on her nightstand for a moment too long, before picking it up. She read over the note, surprised for she had forgotten the date. Curious, she opened the box and stared, amazed at the necklace that sat snugly inside. It was beautiful. 

She immediately picked up her phone and sent Del a quick text message. 

[text] it is beautiful 

[text] thank you, you didn’t have to get me anything.