So... could we see a glimpse of baby Sophie turning 4 years old in France? Her bossing shit up at her birthday party?
I'm pretty sure the photo is of Julia Berolzheimer, not 100% sure but I'll look into it haha
France was home for Esme, it is the place she felt comfortable but in recent years that shift had started to move to Hampshire with Richard and their tiny princess Sophie.
Esme had begged Richard to come to France to celebrate their daughter’s birthday and have a little pre-wedding celebration with her family and friends in France that weren’t able to make the wedding.
Reims was the place Sophie had been born, it had been a hard birth for Esme especially being by herself with only her mother for company, Richard back in the UK with no idea Sophie had been born.
But this was in the past, their future was set in front of them and they’d marry two weeks after their princess’ birthday and the entire family had made their way to France for a big celebration.
“Sophie ma petit… where are you?” Esme called out looking for her newly 4 year old daughter. Sophie was quite adept at hiding but whenever Esme called for her, she’d giggle.
She heard the tiny giggle coming from one of the cupboards and a rustling of a bag “Sophia Ma Petit… if you have the crisps that are for your party, Mama is going to be very upset”
“But MAMA Papa gimmed them!” Sophie’s little voice came, muffled with the sound of crunching.
“Sophie!” came Richard’s voice entering the kitchen as he looked at his soon to be wife who had an amused look on her face “it was supposed to be our little secret!” he said opening the cupboard and lifting his little girl from the cupboard she’d begged to be let to hide in.
“But Papa you said lying is naughty!” Sophie said, crumbs covering her entire body as she gave her Papa a toothy grin.
Richard sighed as Esme chuckled and walked over to her daughter “Oh mon amour she has you there” Esme grinned before seeing the state of her daughter.
“Oh Sophie… everyone will be here soon and you have crisps in your hair… how?”
Sophie decided to show her Mama how by putting the crisps packet back on her head “it’s a crown for princess Sophie”
Richard burst into laughter and Esme groaned “I swear, the children at nursery are such a bad influence on you ma petite”
“I think the birthday princess needs to have a bath before all her guests arrive”
“Noooooo no bath’s on my birthday!” Sophie squirmed in her father’s arms
“Sophie you need a bath before you can have cake” Esme said as she took her wriggling daughter.
“NO BATHS” Sophie yelled as she burst into tears “waters hurts my eyes” she said through great big sobs
“Mama will be very careful ma petite and if you are good Mama has a special surprise for you after your bath” Esme said placatingly.
Sophie sniffled and pouted sadly but let her mama carry her off and bathe her. Sophie liked that her mama managed to make the water all bubbly and let her wear a bubble beard and crown whilst she was having her hair washed.
Sophie was wearing her little bubble beard and crown whilst Esme dashed out of the room to get the surprise for Sophie.
Sophie was splashing in the water happily with her toys ducks as she was quacking and giggling. Esme smiled at the noises coming from the bathroom as she grabbed the dress that was hanging up, and her own and dashed back into the bathroom “so since you’ve been a big brave girl Ma petite… Mama got you a special birthday party dress” Esme smiled brightly as her little girl stared at her, her little green eyes alight with happiness.
“A pretty dress like Mama???” Sophie squeaked
Esme showed Sophie the little Silvery grey dress and showed her own in a similar shade with flowers on “just like mama” Esme said
Sophie screamed excitedly and burst into happy tears “BESTEST DAY EVVVVER” she sniffled
“Are you going to let Mama wash and dry your hair without sad tears” Esme said
“If i can wear the dress! Yes!” Sophie squealed happily with her happy tears in her eyes and didn’t complain at all as her Mama washed her hair and even sat still as Esme combed her hair once she was out of the bath.
She sat very still whilst Esme put her hair into two plaits and beamed toothily as her dress was put on and she started spinning happily on the spot giggling. “Princess Sophie!”
Richard knocked on their bedroom door “everyone is here my love and waiting for the birthday princess and her Queen” he grinned brightly.
Esme chuckled “we’re just ready now mon amour” she smiled as Richard opened the door.
He gasped when he saw Sophie “well look at you all grown up and looking like Mama!”
“I match Mama!” sophie said with a bright toothy grin on her face.
“I can see, do you want to walk down or does the princess want a carry?” he asked
“I can walk!” Sophie beamed and rather than walk she skipped her way downstairs into the garden. Because the weather was so lovely they had decided to have the party and celebration in the garden.
“Can Papa take some photos of Sophie?” Richard asked as he held the camera up.
Sophie nodded and permitted her father exactly two pictures before she turned around “I can hear Mamaw and Nonna!!!” she squealed excitedly “and Ali!!!!!” she said, turning around quickly and pointing towards the path that led to the back garden just as Richard snapped one last photo.
“LETS GO PAPA!!!!” Sophie squealed and ran off and made her way into the party with Esme following chuckling and shaking her head
“Our little princess loves a party” Esme said
“She just likes being centre of attention” Richard chuckled
“She gets that from you” Esme said, blowing her husband a kiss and following her daughter into the party.
He had meant to take more during the party but between his family, Esme’s friends and Sophie he didn’t have the time and it turned out, the photo of Esme and Sophie heading into the party would be the last ever photo he would take of his Princess and his Queen.
