Chapter 93: The first "happy" in a lot of birthdays

Diana, usually the most guarded and mature of the three, looked at Selen for a brief moment, seeing no disapproval in her mother’s calm expression.

Diana smiled brightly, leaning across the space to wrap her arms around Clancy’s neck from behind. "Happy birthday, Daddy. The sketchbooks are great." she said as well.

Clancy sat frozen in the center of the triple embrace. The word echoed in his mind, hitting him with a wave of warmth so profound it made his chest ache.

He closed his eyes tightly, his arms sweeping around all three of them, pulling them into the tightest, most fierce hug he had ever given. He buried his face in Diana’s shoulder, swallowing hard against the sudden tightness in his throat.

For years, his birthdays had been spent in the office or quiet hotel rooms across the world, surrounded by expensive gifts and superficial greetings. None of it meant anything. None of it had ever felt like this.

He looked over the children’s shoulders, his eyes locking with Selen’s. Her expression was soft, holding a quiet, respectful understanding of exactly what this moment meant for him. She did not interrupt. She simply nodded, letting him have his moment.

"Thank you," Clancy whispered, his voice thick with an emotion he could not entirely hide, directing the words to the triplets, and to the woman watching over them all. "This is the best birthday I have ever had," he said with a sniffle.

The fierce, four-way embrace held for what felt like an eternity. When the kids finally began to wiggle, laughing as Clancy squeezed them one last collective time, he reluctantly loosened his grip. He sat back, his chest still tight with a profound sense of gratitude, his eyes slightly misted.

Across the room, Selen offered a small, encouraging smile, her eyes warm with an unspoken validation of the bond that had just been cemented. "Well," Selen said, her voice a gentle balm that broke the heavy silence, "a birthday is not complete without a treat. Let’s get this slice handed to him." she said to the kids.

She placed the single, generous slice of birthday cake on the table with a fork.

"I get the first bite!" David shouted, his boyish energy breaking the emotional stillness as he reached for the fork.

"Share it fairly," Daniel chimed in with an eager grin, leaning over the table as the three children gathered tightly around the lone plate, eager to share the sweet moment together.

"Let him make a wish first!" Diana said to the boys. The boys shrugged and turned to Clancy. As they surrounded him while he lit the candle, Diana stayed behind for a fraction of a second, her fingers brushing against the edge of the new sketchbooks had given them.

"Thank you again, Daddy," she whispered, the title coming more naturally this time, before she turned to join her brothers.

Clancy remained on the floor for a moment, the word Daddy echoing in his mind like a beautiful song. He looked up to find Selen walking over to him. Clancy lit his candle and blew it, while the kids clapped and cheered.

"I do not think that I have ever felt this grounded in my entire life." he said with immense joy.

The next hour passed in a chaotic blur of laughter, stray crumbs, and shared stories. Sitting around the table, Clancy listened intently as the triplets took turns showing him their past drawings, explaining the complex worlds and characters they created together.

He treated David’s action scenes and Daniel’s intricate landscapes with the utmost seriousness, asking questions that made their eyes light up with excitement. For the first time, he was entirely, completely present.

As the hands crept closer to late afternoon, a subtle shift colored his mood. The reality that he did not live here, and that it was time to return to his hotel, began to settle over the house. Clancy checked his watch, and the time felt like a cold splash of water.

Selen noticed the change in his posture first. She glanced at the clock and sighed softly. "Kids, it’s getting late. Your father needs to head back to his hotel now." she said.

The lively chatter at the table dropped instantly. Daniel’s smile vanished, and he looked down at his plate, turning a leftover crumb over with his fork.

David slumped against the back of his chair, his bottom lip turning outward in a classic pout. Even Diana’s expressive eyes clouded over with a sudden, mature melancholy.

Clancy felt a pang of intense longing. He hated that he had to leave, hated returning to a quiet, sterile room just when he had finally found where he truly belonged. He pushed his chair back and knelt down on the floor by the table, putting himself at eye level with the three children.

"Hey," he said gently, reaching out to take David and Daniel’s hands. Diana moved closer, leaning against his shoulder. "Look at me, all three of you." he said. They raised their eyes to him, three identical faces wearing the same expression of quiet heartbreak.

"This is not a permanent goodbye," Clancy promised, his voice steady and full of conviction. "I am not going anywhere. From now on, every day is just a countdown until I get to see you again.

I am going to see you tomorrow when I get back from work, and you can show me whatever you’re drawing in those new sketchbooks." He said to them,

"Tomorrow?" David asked, his voice small.

"Tomorrow," Clancy confirmed, smiling. "First thing after I finish with work. I promise." he said.

Daniel stepped forward first, wrapping his arms tightly around his neck. "Get some good rest, Daddy. Don’t forget to pack the drawing I made for you." he said to him.

"It’s going right on the nightstand next to my bed," Clancy whispered, kissing the top of his head. "The very first thing I’ll see in the morning," he said. David squeezed in next, burying his face in his chest. "We will be seeing you soon, right?" he asked him.

Clancy laughed, "Sooner than you think, kiddo. I promise." he said.