Chapter 216 Mr Anthony’s Birthday Banquet

Since Victoria was thirty-nine weeks pregnant, the Anthony siblings decided to hold their father's 50th birthday banquet at the Anthony residence. Dr Cain advised Victoria to give birth naturally and it was an easy pregnancy. Victoria was resting in their bedroom. She was uncomfortable; she visited the bathroom several times to pee. She was cramping and her lower back was painful. She asked her husband to rub her. Mark looked at his wife nervously and asked, "Love, are you having contractions?" Victoria smiled and replied, "I think so, but I will go to the hospital when my water breaks. Please don't tell Dad." Mark was reluctant; he wanted to take her to the hospital. Victoria kissed him passionately and said, "Don't be nervous my handsome husband, it's just an early labor." Mark called Dr Cain and told him that Victoria was in labor but the water hadn't broken yet. Dr Cain said, "Mark, please bring her to the hospital when the contractions are five minutes apart." Mark thanked Dr Cain, and then they hung up. Victoria asked her husband to fetch her grandmother. Mark was reluctant to leave her alone. Then he dialed Tamara's number, "Sis, please ask my grandma-in-law to come to our bedroom. Your sister-in-law is in early labor. Please don't tell Dad." Tamara became nervous. She was reminded of the day when her sister-in-law was giving birth to her nephews. Grandma Fish was in the garden with Grandma White playing with their great grandchildren. They were grinning from ear to ear. They were grateful to the Lord for blessing them with many years and allowing them to see their great grandchildren. Tamara whispered in her ear, then Grandma Fish excused herself, she walked with Tamara. She smiled brightly at her precious granddaughter, and she asked her grandson-in-law to leave. "Sweetheart, are the contractions coming faster?" Victoria smiled and replied, "They are an hour apart and my lower back is so painful, Grandma." Her grandmother checked her and she told her that her great granddaughter would be born later that day. She kept her company rubbing her lower back.

The birthday banquet was to be held in the living room. Aunt Abigail and Aunt Olga decorated the living room lavishly. His Wings restaurant delivered the food. It was a buffet. The luxury cars were seen parked beside the road and on the driveway. Mark invited the members of the board and company management to celebrate his father's birthday with them. Shareholder King was overjoyed to be invited and he came with gifts. He was envious of Mr Anthony because he was blessed with great children, especially his elder son, Mark. Deon and his family were present.

The birthday banquet started at 6 pm. Mark asked his siblings to come with their gifts to their father. Bongiwe started playing the violin. Then Mark stood in front of his father's table and said, "Happy birthday Dad, may the Lord give you all the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May He surprise you with things you have always wanted. I love you Daddy." Then he gave him an exquisite box. Sitting on the box was an engraved Patek Philippe watch. His father thanked him and hugged him tightly. Theodore was the next and said, "Happy birthday Uncle Timothy, may the Lord be your shade at your right hand. May the sun not harm you by day, nor the moon by night." Then he gave him the car keys. He bought him a Porsche Cayenne. Uncle Timothy thanked him and hugged him tightly. Then it was Jonathan's turn and said, "Happy birthday Dad, may the Lord fulfill all your silent prayers and may He lead you to the path of happiness and prosperity." He bought a plot of land, and then he gave him the title deed. His father thanked him and hugged him tightly.

Victoria smiled brightly at her father-in-law and said, "Happy birthday Dad, may the Lord grant you wisdom and favor in all aspects of your life. May our family stay united forever and may He bless you with lots of grandchildren." Then she gave her father-in-law a painting of him and the twins. He was walking in Lory Park holding the twins' hands. The smile on his face was indescribable. It was a beautiful painting. His father-in-law became emotional. He thanked his daughter in love and kissed her on both cheeks. He didn't want to put the painting down. Tamara and Zion smiled and said, "Happy birthday Uncle Timothy, thank you for being there for us. May the Lord add more years of happiness and good health to your life." They gave him a vacation voucher. He could visit any place in Africa. Uncle Timothy thanked them and hugged Zion and kissed Tamara on both cheeks.

Then it was his grandchildren's turn. Rafael walked to the piano and Gabriel was holding the violin in his hands. They started playing a 'Happy birthday song'. Bella was singing on top of her voice. Grandpa Anthony was moved into tears, and then he hugged them and kissed them. He was over the moon. It was the best birthday ever. After that, they danced. Mr Anthony danced with his daughter in love, Victoria, and with Tamara. The guests started leaving around 9:30 pm.

At 10:30 pm, the Anthony family was sitting in the living room chatting and laughing. They didn't want to go to sleep. Mark smiled and said, "My beautiful wife is in labor but we are waiting for the water to break." Her father and father-in-law were so nervous. They looked at Victoria. Before they said anything, her water broke. Victoria smiled at her husband sweetly and said, "My handsome husband, please take me to the hospital." Then the contractions came faster. The baby was coming. Mark was so nervous; his father grabbed his car keys. Mark followed him with his wife in his arms. His father-in-law opened the door, Mark put his wife on the back seat, and then he sat next to her. His father-in-law sat in the passenger seat. His father quickly drove the car to the hospital. On their way, his father-in-law called Dr Cain to let him know that Victoria was in labor. Mark's siblings followed them with the Fish family.

When they arrived at the hospital, Dr Cain was waiting for them with the stretcher. He rushed with her to the emergency room. Mark was with his wife holding her hand. A half an hour later, a baby girl was born. She was peerless beautiful. Her parents were laughing and crying at the same time. They were overjoyed. An hour later, Victoria was wheeled to her private ward. The proud father was carrying his daughter in his arms. He smiled brightly at his father, and then he gave him his granddaughter. When he saw her face, tears streamed into his face. Baby Kimberly was the replica of his late wife. It was the best gift ever. Then he gave the child to Grandpa Patrick. He smiled broadly and blessed his grandchild. Grandma Fish held her arms; her son-in-law placed the baby in her arms. She thanked the Lord for His mercies. The following day, Mark went home to change his clothes. He told his worried sons that they had a baby sister, and then he took them with him. They were over the moon when they saw their beautiful baby sister. They wanted to hold her. Their mother helped them to hold the baby properly. After two days, Victoria was discharged from hospital.