Happy Birthday…I Miss You
[AmericaXchild!Reader]
She missed him. She hadn’t seen him in three months, and each day that crawled by became harder for her. She just wanted her Daddy to come back home to her. He went overseas on a long-term business trip, leaving her in the care of Matthew, her uncle. Matthew happily came to his brother’s house to care for his niece, always eager to spend time with her. He was nice and took good care of her, but it was different.
“Uncle Mattie,” She called softly, as she trotted into the kitchen, clutching her stuffed animal close to her. “When is Daddy coming home?”
Matthew looked away from the paper he was reading to turn his attention to his niece. He smiled softly at her, saying in his quiet voice: “Next month, sweetie.”
She felt tears come to her eyes. “But, it’s his birthday! We always go to the beach for his birthday to watch the fireworks off the lake!”
Matthew held out his arms, so she could crawl into his lap- resting her head against his chest. “How about we give him a call?”
The young girl nodded excitedly, wiping her tears away. It had been a week since she last heard her father’s voice. She watched anxiously as Matthew took out his cellphone and dialed his brother’s number.
“Hey dude, what’s up?” She heard her father tiredly ask. “Everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine Al,” Matthew replied. “Happy Birthday!”
Alfred laughed. “Thanks! Hey, where’s my kid?”
“On my lap, giving me the evil eye because she wants to talk to you,” Matthew replied with a chuckle. She pouted, reaching out for the phone. “Here she is.”
[Name] took the phone, a smile spreading across her face. “Daddy?”
“Hey, sweetie!” Alfred cheerfully greeted, his voice losing all traces of sleepiness.
“Happy Birthday, Daddy!” She replied, a grin spreading across her face at the sound of his voice. “I miss you!”
“I miss you too baby girl,” He replied. “I wish I could be with you. When I get back we’ll go to the beach, okay?”
“But there won’t be fireworks…”
“Then we’ll bring our own!”
“Okay!” She then bit her lip, feeling the sudden surge of happiness ware off. She wanted a hug from him. “Daddy…I really miss you. Uncle Mattie said you won’t be home till next month.”
Alfred sighed, “He’s right, but it’ll go by really quick! You can call me when ever want and even if I don’t answer, leave a message so I can at least hear your voice. When I get back, I’ll take two weeks off and we’ll go somewhere fun.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
[Name] smiled, shimmying off her uncle’s lap to mark off the days on the calendar hanging on the refrigerator. “Okay, I’ll be waiting.”
She talked to him for another hour. Telling him all about school, her friends, and the places Matthew had taken her.
“I have to go sweetie,” Alfred sighed, not wanting to hang up, but he needed to get ready for a meeting. “You’ll be a good girl for Mattie, right?”
“Of course I will!”
“Alright. I love you!”
“Love you too Daddy,” She replied. “Happy Birthday, again!”
“Thank you.”
When she hung up the phone, she felt happy that she was able to talk to her father, but suddenly felt like part of her was missing. She turned to her uncle who was cleaning out his mug that had previously been full of coffee. “I want my Daddy to come home…”
Matthew wiped off his hands before lifting the young girl in to his arms, holding her close. “I know…”
She rested her head onto his shoulder, listening to the sound of fireworks going off not too far away. 4th of July wasn’t just Independence Day to her, it was the birthday of someone she cherished the most- her father, Alfred F. Jones.
