80


    Kaleb''s pov


    " Kaleb."


    A soft touch to my face made me twitch away, wiggling my nose when something tickled the tip. I


    swatted it away and let out a loud dragged out yawn. My body was exhausted and my lids were way


    too heavy to bother fluttered open to see who''s trying to wake me up.


    "Honey, wake up." The voice is soft and very close. Mom.


    " Just five more minutes." I whined drowsily. Her next words made my eyes to snap open as though


    I was just bit by a snake.


    " Today is Bailey''s birthday. Aren''t you going to show her what you did for her?"


    As I straightened my spine and blinked to adjust my blurry vision, I looked down at the countertop


    and realize I had fallen asleep in the kitchen. I winced, lifting my hand to the back of my neck,


    rubbing away the ache.


    Shit this is going to hurt for days.


    " What time is it?" I asked, a yawn cutting in halfway through my question. I rubbed my eyes and run


    them over the kitchen space. Everywhere was filthy with ingredients scattered around. Burnt cakes


    were either tossed in the bin or thrown across the counter.


    The floors.....let''s just leave this out.


    " It''s seven fifteen. I figured you''d want to wake up after going through so much trouble to prepare


    for her birthday." Mom smiled and looked around the kitchen. The smile turned into a wince.


    " When did you catch some sleep?" Her brows furrowed as she looked back at me worriedly.


    I shrugged, blocking a yawn with the back of my hand on my lips. " I think I must have fallen asleep


    around four a.m." I narrowed my eyes as I made a quick mental check. " Or maybe it was five?"


    Mom lips part as she peered at me in disbelief. " Did you really stay up sote to bake a cake?" She


    took a step forward and rubbed her thumbs under my eyes, the gleam in hers glint with worry. " You


    even have dark circles under your eyes. "


    I smiled, closing my eyes before she managed to poke my eyes out by ident. " I wanted to make


    sure it came out perfect for her. She deserved the best."


    Bailey deserved the world and though I could not give her a, I could sure as hell show her


    how much she means to me. The thing is, she meant so much that I''d have to show her for the rest


    of my life.


    I had noints and couldn''t wait to show her.


    " She does baby," Mom agreed, removing her fingers away from my eyes. " But I don''t think Bailey


    would''ve wanted you to spend hours baking a cake and catching some sleep around the time you


    did."


    I opened my eyes and shrugged. " Making sure she gets something that would make her smile for


    her big day was worth it."


    Mom looked at the burnt cakes on the countertop and flinched, her lips curling back into a cringe.


    With a fake soft giggle she uttered. " I am sure these will make her smile."


    She turns to me and ce her hand on my arm, looking at me with some pity. " It''s the thought and


    effort that counts son. Even though they look like they were baked by an eight year old, I''m sure


    they at least taste good." She squeezed my arm.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    " And Bailey loves you enough to love anything you give her. Even though the cakes came out


    looking like dog shit."


    I rolled my eyes. " Those were testers mom." I got off the stool, surprised that I hadn''t slipped earlier


    when I fell asleep. I stretched, groaning as my bones cracked. I walked over to the fridge and


    opened it, revealing the red velvet cake.


    I looked over at mom, a proud grin on my face.


    Mom''s mouth part once more, surprise written on her face as she glowered at the cake before her


    eyes shift back to me and she frowned. " It still looks like shit. Did you even follow the recipe


    Kaleb?"


    I whined, sliding down the fridge until I was seated and leaning against it. I pouted. " I tried! Putting


    icing is another task in itself. But this time the cake actually taste good."


    Mom winced. " I''m sure it does." She walked over and patted me on my head. " As I''ve said, it''s the


    thought that counts. It still came out better than the others you''ve baked previously." She winced at


    the burnt cakes, patting my head once more.


    I groaned, hoping that Bailey won''t cringe as bad as mom did. " What time did you say it was?" I


    asked.


    " It was seven fifteen when I woke you up. It''s certainly a bitter than that now." My brows pinched


    as I rose to my feet swiftly, took the cake out of the fridge and looked around in panic. " I need to get


    this to the school before she gets there."


    My heart raced, knowing I would have little time to prepare this for her. I also hadn''t bought the


    flowers yet. Will I have time to?


    I raced out the kitchen, heading for the front door when mom stopped me. " Maybe you should


    bathe, brush your teeth and look more presentable before you head off to school."


    I winced, looking down at the ruined apron and my boxers. I turned around and gave mom a


    sheepish look and started for the stairs.


    " And maybe don''t shower with the cake?" She suggested in amusement.


    Iughed in embarrassment and strut over with a flush of humiliation on my face. " Right." I said and


    gave her the cake. " Can you keep an eye on it please? Everything must be perfect for her."


    Mom smiled and touched my cheek. " You''re already perfect for her Kaleb."