By midnight tonight, she would be officially a spinster, on the shelf, tough as leather Who would want to chew this tough beef anyway, when everyone at the supermarket would go for the veal? To say she never had any interaction with the opposite sex was also preposterous because she had.
Growing up, she had always been surrounded by her many nephews, cousins, her male classmates, and now her patients also, but to associate them with the L'Word, now that would be preposterous.
Although she did have many proposals, ranging from eight-year-old boys to eighty-six-year-old men, namely her patients, how could she take any of them seriously? Her biological clock was screaming at her. Her hormones were on a rampage as tears streamed down her face and all those thoughts spun through her mind.
She couldn't suppress them. She hadn't hit menopause yet, but here she was having an emotional breakdown because she was turning thirty and wanted a family of her own. That sudden feeling of wanting another person there at night, lying close to you while you rest.
Yes, that strong yearning suddenly hitting her like a ton of bricks, and she couldn't help but burst out and cry even harder. Evonne's mother, Murphy sensing something was wrong, came to comfort her daughter. "What's wrong, Marina? Why are you crying on your birthday?" she asked, patting her daughter's back.
Rosa and Rina came to her side also. Their singing faltered and they stared dumbfounded when they saw her in this state. How could she tell her mother and the rest of her family and friends that she wanted her own family, that she wanted love? But it was too late now. No man would even look at her. She had passed her prime.
But she couldn't tell them that now, could she? Well, not when they were all smiling before her. To tell them the truth would ruin the whole mood.
So she lied. "I'm just so happy you did all this for me. And you both, coming all the way here from Milton, just for my birthday." There, now the smiles were back, except for her two friends who eyed her, clearly broadcasting, We'll talk to you later about this.
"We wouldn't miss it for the world, darling." Her mother hugged her. Just then, her little five-year-old nephew came and tugged at her skirt, asking in his little high-pitched voice, "Aunty Reed can I open your presents?" Children and their presents, she thought, smiling as another sob erupted.
She tried to hold back but almost choked on it, so she let nature take its course and more waterworks escaped her eyes. "Why are you crying, Aunty Reed?" Sara asked her.
Evonne lifted her nephew to straddle her hips, then hugged him tightly, feeling that warmth emitting from his small body. "Because I'm so happy to be here, celebrating my birthday with you," she replied. "I love you, Aunty," Sara said, wiping away her tears.
"So don't cry anymore." "I love you too, Sara." She hugged him again. Then after she released him, she walked to the present table. "And which one would you like to open first?" "That one!" he said, pointing to the largest on the table with his little wee fingers. So cute, so adorable—her motherly instinct cried out to her.
After she finished cutting the cake and everyone got a piece each, they all said their congratulations, and a little while later, they all left her apartment. Her mother and father were the last to leave.
"Marina, are you sure you're okay?" her mother asked her worriedly. "I'm fine. Just tired from work, I suppose, and then when I came home, I got a full-blown surprise." She laughed dryly, hoping her mother would believe her excuse.
"I didn't want to surprise you too much, but Rina and Rosa suggested it," her mother replied, hugging her warmly. Evonne eyed her friends as they both eyed her from the couch. She knew they were waiting for her to explain what happened before.
"Thank you for today, Mum, Dad." She went to hug them both, then led them out the door. "When are you heading back to Milton?" "Tomorrow.
James will drop us off. You take the day off too. You work too hard." "I don't work too hard. I'll drop you off instead. Speaking of James, where is he?" Evonne suddenly realized her favorite cousin wasn't present during her birthday party. "Not a clue, Marina.
You just make sure you look after that boy, though," her father said, rubbing his temple. Evonne knew her father had a lot to deal with when James was in Milton since both of his parents were away overseas, but now since he was here in Auckland, her father grew even more worried. That little cousin of hers was more robust than a rodent.