Chapter 178


    Olive’s birthday was already off to a chaotic start. I had spent the morning gathering thest–minute


    supplies and decorating the apartment, ensuring it was a magical setting for her sleepover


    celebration. As I walked up the stairs to our apartment, the scent of the freshly baked birthday cake


    wafting in the air, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation.


    The apartment was already abuzz with the sound of children’sughter, echoing through the


    hallway. Aria was inside, overseeing the activities.


    I struggled to juggle the cake box and my bag of stic utensils as I approached the door. With my


    free hand, I tried to turn the doorknob, but it refused to budge. Frustrated, I began to grumble and


    knock on the door..


    Just as I was about to attempt a more vigorous push, the door suddenly swung open, taking me by


    surprise. I stumbled backward, almost dropping the cake, and was saved by a strong hand that


    reached out to steady me. Startled, I turned to find Timothy standing behind me.


    He grinned, his eyes darting from me to the party supplies tightly clenched in my hands, “What’s the


    asion?” he asked enthusiastically.


    I blinked, momentarily lost for words, still processing the shock of seeing him. “Olive’s birthday,’ I


    replied, finally finding my voice. “We’re having a sleepover party for her.”


    “Oh, nice!” Timothy leaned closer, a hand flying under the cake container before it could tip out of


    my hand. “Need some help?”


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    I hesitated for a moment, not wanting to trouble him. “Oh, that’s sweet of you, Timothy, but I think


    we’re all set. Thank you, though.”


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    He cracked a grin and began reaching over. “You look like you’re about to topple over. Here.”


    Before I could respond, the door to the apartment creaked open wider, and Olive emerged, her


    bright eyes alight with excitement. “Uncle Timothy,


    hil


    “Hi, Olive!” he said with a smile. He swiftly took the cake out of my hands as she took his hand and


    dragged him inside. “Happy Birthday!”


    I stood hopelessly by the door before shutting it behind me and following them inside. In the living


    room, Olive’s friends were ying a chaotic game of Twister. There was lots of shouting and


    movement, and Aria seemed just as overwhelmed as she helped turn the spinner.


    Timothy set down the cake and gave me an apologetic smile. Olive was right beside him before he


    could rush away, clenching his arm with her tiny grip.


    “My mom said you had a dog!” she eximed.


    Timothy’s. eyes softened as he regarded her kindly, “I do have a dog,” he confirmed. “His name’s


    Duke!”


    Olive’s delight was infectious. She tugged him over to the living room and her friends paused their


    game, gathering around him in curiosity.. “This is Timothy! He’s a hockey star!” she told them.


    The girl ogled him, as if a deity had descended upon them unexpectedly. I tried not tough as they


    began circling around him and firing questions.


    his way.


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    “He has a dog too!” she added, then paused to look at Timothy. “You guys have to meet him!”


    The mention of a dog sent a ripple of excitement through the group of girls, and their chatter


    intensified. Timothy nced at Aria and me, silently seeking our approval.


    I looked at the girls. “Well, it’s up to Timothy, girls,” I said, trying to strike a bnce. “If he’s okay


    with it…”


    “Duke would love the excitement,” Timothy said encouragingly, and the girls squealed in response.


    “I’ll go grab him real quick.”


    Relief washed over me, silently thankful for his willingness to amodate the girls‘ request. When


    Timothy came back with Duke hooked to a leash. the girls couldn’t contain their joy as they rushed


    over to greet him. They knelt beside him, stroking his fur, and Duke responded with affectionate


    licks and yful jumps.


    “He’s the best dog ever!” Olive eximed.


    As the girls yed with Duke, I shared a knowing look with Timothy. There was something


    enchanting about seeing the girls connect with the dog. and it warmed my heart.


    “That Duke of yours is quite the charmer,” I said, watching the girls y with him in the yard.


    Timothy chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Yeah, he has a way of stealing the spotlight.


    Speaking of which,” he hesitated, scratching his head, “I didn’t get Olive a gift. Of course, it didn’t


    know she had her birthday today, but it feels weird being empty handed.”


    I frowned, ncing over at him and mimicking his look of concern as a wave of panic surged


    through me. How had I overlooked such an essential.


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    detail? I had gotten everything but her gift!


    I leaned over and whispered. ‘I have to confess something.”


    He tumed to me, snorted. “What?”


    “I didn’t get Olive a birthday gift. Ipletely forgot somehow.”


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    Timothy sighed dramatically. “Well, that won’t do. We can’t let her birthday go by without getting a


    present from everyone, including us.”


    “You’re absolutely right,” I responded, ying along. “It would be a major faux pas.”


    Timothy held his chin and nced around. “I have an idea,” he said suddenly, a spark of


    determination in his eyes. “I’ll drive us both to the toy store. and we can pick out something perfect


    for Olive. Problem solved.”


    I sighed, relief washing over me. “That sounds like a great n,” I said, smiling at him. “Let’s do it.


    Olive deserves the best birthday gift!”


    We quickly informed Aria of our n, making sure she wouldn’t worry about our sudden


    disappearance. With her approval, Timothy and I slipped. away from the party, the distant sound of


    music andughter fading as we hurried towards Timothy’s car.


    As Timothy’s car glided through the night, I couldn’t help but feel slightly tense. The atmosphere


    inside the car was filled with afortable silencepared to the wild energy of the apartment.


    However, sitting this close to Timothy was far from the n this evening.


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    Timothy’s hands gripped the steering wheel, and the soft hum of the engine was the only sound that


    permeated the air. I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the evening slowly settling in.


    “You know, Evie,” Timothy said, breaking the silence, “what you did back there for Olive and her


    mom, Scarlett, was a really good thing.”


    I turned my head to look at him, a slight smile on my lips. “It’s no big deal, Timothy. I mean, Olive is


    a sweet kid, and Scarlett’s be a good friend. 1 just wanted to help out.”


    Timothy nced at me, his expression earnest. “Evie, don’t sell yourself short. You’re always


    helping people, whether it’s Olive and Scarlett or anyone else in your life. You shouldn’t be so


    modest about it,”


    I shifted ufortably in my seat, feeling a rush of warmth rise to my cheeks. “I just do what feels


    right,” I replied.


    Timothy, however, wasn’t having it. He cast a pointed nce my way, his voice tinged with


    frustration. “Evie, it’s more than just ‘doing what feels right. You make a real difference in people’s


    lives. You’re selfless, kind, and always there for people.”


    I couldn’t help but feel a mixture of emotions swirling within me. Timothy’s words struck a chord


    within me, and I wondered how he could be so open and honest. “Look, Timothy,” I began. “I


    appreciate what you’re saying, but I’m not some saint. I have my ws and my own fair share of


    mistakes.


    Timothy sighed, the frustration in his eyes giving way to understanding. “I get that. I’m not saying


    you’re perfect. No one is. But what I am saying is that you have a beautiful heart.”


    I turned to face him,pletely stunned now. His gaze didn’t wave when he nced over at me,


    his lips forming a smile..


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    “Not everyone would do what you do, Evie,” he continued. “You have a special gift for making


    people feel cared for, and that’s not something I’ll ever take lightly.”


    The weight of the conversation hung heavily in the car, and for a moment, I was lost in my own


    thoughts. I knew Timothy meant well, but his words had touched on something deeper, a difort


    I had carried with me for a long time.


    Finally, I spoke, my voice softer, “I guess it’s just hard for me to ept praise. I’ve always been


    morefortable giving than receiving, and sometimes it feels like people expect more of me than


    I can give.”


    Timothy nodded, apassionate expression on his face. “I definitely understand that, and you’re


    allowed to set boundaries and take care of yourself 100, no matter what people expect from you.”


    I nodded in return, feeling a sense of vulnerability that I rarely allowed myself to experience.


    Timothy’s words had touched on something I had been avoiding for a long time the need to find a


    bnce between giving and self–care. It was a lesson I knew I needed to learn.


    –


    “You know,” I began, ncing at him. My fingers ying with the loose string at the end of my coat.


    “You would make a good self–help coach.”


    He let out a burst ofughter. “Well, I owe my skills from all the team pep talks I have to give.”


    Iughed along, feeling slightly more at ease now. It was something he always managed to do,


    case his way in. It was a vicious cycle. And I feared it would only keep repeating.