Page 94 of Hope After Loss

Pink and white balloons fill the entire floor space. Her desk is wrapped in streamers, and aHappy Birthdaybanner is hanging from the ceiling between her desk and the table where her gifts sit.

“How did you know it was my birthday?” she asks.

“I’m a wizard who can read minds,” I say.

She rolls her eyes. “Seriously, how?”

“Um, you remember filling out all that employment paperwork, don’t you?” I ask.

She nods. “Right. The paperwork.”

“The question is, why haven’t you told anyone it’s your birthday?” Brandee asks.

She shrugs. “I wasn’t hiding it. I just didn’t feel like celebrating it last year and no one here has brought it up.”

“Because they didn’t know,” Brandee insists.

“I’m not really the person who goes around screaming,Celebrate me, around town.”

“Well, lucky for you, I am the person who does just that, so come out, guys,” I call.

The door to my office opens, and everyone comes filing in, singing “Happy Birthday” at the top of their lungs. All of her friends along with her mother, Sandra, and her mother-in-law, Sheila. Mom is carrying Kaela, and Leona is carrying a two-tiered strawberry cake with sparkler candles.

Anna’s hands come to her face, and her eyes fill with tears.

“Oh my God, you guys. Mom! Sheila!” she cries.

Her mother and Mike’s mother hurry to her and throw their arms around her.

“When did you get here?” she asks.

“This morning. Sara-Beth picked us up at the airport,” her mother explains.

Then they move aside, the girls rush her, and they all embrace. It’s one big, bouncing knot of women.

“Come and blow out these candles before they set Leona on fire,” Mom yells.

The girls untangle, and Anna swipes at her eyes as she makes her way over to the cake.

“Don’t forget to make a wish,” Leona whispers.

Anna smiles and closes her eyes. She makes a silent wish before opening them and blowing the candles out in one breath.

We all cheer, and Kaela starts clapping.

Anna plucks one of the sparklers from the cake and lets her daughter lick the frosting off of it.

I pass out plates loaded with pizza that I had delivered for lunch, and Mom fills cups with her sweet, iced tea.

Once we’ve stuffed ourselves with food, Anna sits at the head of the table and opens up the gifts.

“This one is from all us girls,” Erin says as she hands her a box wrapped in pink foil paper.

Anna rips the corners and tears into the white box underneath.

When her eyes fall on what’s inside, she bursts into a fit of laughter.

“What is it?” Leona asks.