Chapter 37 A minute or two after I got back from walking Benjamin, a frantic knock rattled my front door. I was halfway up the stairs, ready to swap my work clothes for pajamas. Benjamin let out a woof and trotted to the door. I followed with significantly less enthusiasm. "Who could that be, Benji-bear? If it's someone trying to convert me to their religion, they're going to be in for it. I'm not in the mood for Bible verses today." He shot me a side-eye before pressing his nose to the door like he could sniff whoever was on the other side. Maybe he could. I'd have to ask Anthony if- Scratch that. Never mind. I'd use a search engine like a normal person. Peering through the peephole, I let out a breath. Lacey and Scarlet stood on the porch. Of course it was them. It was rare I went more than two days without seeing at least one of the Gallo kids. "Bea!" Lacey cried when I opened the door. "We're here to invite you to our house." Scarlet nodded. "Grandpa helped Lacey, Tally, and me cook dinner. If you don't come, you'll scar us for life." I folded my arms and tried to glare, but it was no use. "I feel like I'm being handled." Scarlet had no trouble glaring at me. "I bet you would have said no if I hadn't laid it on a little. I learned the art of Italian guilt from Grandpa. He said Grandma had been an expert at it. I'm carrying on her legacy." "Fine." I sighed dramatically, stepping aside so they could come in while I changed out of my work clothes. "But only because I'm scared of your inherited guilt-wielding powers." Lacey giggled. "We usually only use our powers for good." "Usually?" I huffed. "That's not reassuring." I left them downstairs and ran up to change. Pajamas were off the table, so I settled for a striped off-the-shoulder top and jeans. As I fastened the top button, I paused. Tore would be there. It had been two long, confusing weeks since I'd last seen him. Other than my daily texts through the app, I hadn't heard from him. The constant hum of his attention had vanished like someone had flipped a switch, the silence louder than any words he could have said. He wasn't chasing me anymore. And maybe that was what I'd wanted. Space. Time to think. I'd told myself as much. But now that I was about to walk into his house with Scarlet and Lacey, my stomach twisted. There weren't many instances I was unsure of myself, but this was one of them. What if he didn't want to see me? What if the chasing part was all there had ever been? No. I wasn't going to do this to myself. Scarlet and Lacey had personally invited me to their house. If Tore was finished with me and uncomfortable with my presence, he'd have to suck it up. When I got downstairs, Lacey grabbed my hand and tugged me onto the porch. "Come on. You have to see all the food we made. It's gonna be so good, Bea!" We crossed the street as the light dipped into early evening gold. As soon as we stepped onto their front porch, Talon threw open the door. He was wearing white gloves and holding a silver tray with a plastic wineglass balanced on it. "Good evening, madam. Would you like a glass of sparkling juice?" I pressed my hands to my chest and gasped. "How did you know that's exactly what I want, Jeeves?" Talon dipped into a bow so deep, his glasses nearly slid off his nose. This kid... "I know everything, madam. Now, if you'll kindly proceed to the parlor..." "Parlor?" I echoed, stepping over the threshold with an amused glance at Scarlet and Lacey. They were trying-and failing-not to giggle at their brother. The moment I entered, I stopped cold. How had they known? "Surprise!" three voices shouted in unison. I blinked back tears as I surveyed what they had done. A "Happy Birthday, Bea" banner stretched crookedly along the wall, secured with mounds of blue painter's tape. Flanking the banner were pink, blue, and gold balloons. Streamers were twisted around light fixtures, and more balloons were scattered around the floor. Tore must have hated this. Chaos in his perfectly orderly home. This was my first time actually stepping foot inside, and it was stunning. Polished wood floors, thick cream rugs, and immaculate pale-beige walls were the backdrop to his colorful, vibrant art collection. Everything was new and beautiful, and...I couldn't breathe. That was all there was to it. My lungs were smushed from the crushing emotion of all the balloons and loveliness that had been heaved upon me without a second of warning. "You guys..." I whispered. "What-?" Lacey threw her arms wide. "Do you love it, or do you love it?" "I-I love it." My voice cracked as I looked down at the plastic wineglass in my hand. "Oh my lizards." Tony came out from the kitchen in a "Kiss the Cook" apron, wearing a huge, smug grin. "Buon compleanno, Marilyn," he said warmly. Taking me by the shoulders, he kissed both my cheeks. Talon slid between us, holding his empty tray by his side. "It's Bea, Grandpa." "How did you know it's my birthday?" I rasped. Lacey jumped in. "Me! Your birthday's in June, and mine's in August, remember?" My nose tingled as I nodded. "Yes, darling girl. I remember very well. I just can't believe you do." She grabbed my hand, squeezing it tight. "That's the day we became neighbors and friends. You don't forget something like that." "No. Definitely not." Just when I thought things couldn't get worse-or better-Tore appeared at the top of the stairs. He descended slowly, taking in the scene without any discernible expression. His gaze landed on me, staying only briefly before sweeping by. "Uncle Sally, come here," Lacey cried. "Come meet Bea." He approached, stopping beside his niece. For her, he smiled softly. "We've met, Lace. You know that." Her forehead scrunched. "Oh yeah. At the hospital." I didn't know why I'd opened my mouth, but I couldn't hold back. "Actually, we met before that too." Tore went perfectly still, but I continued. "I've been catering Nox's weekly meetings. I just never realized your Uncle Sally was the Tore Gallo who protects all the computers in the whole world." "Not the whole world," he refuted automatically. Tony and the kids glared at him for keeping that information to himself, and I felt a flicker of triumph. It didn't last long, but it was enough to get me through the moment. Scarlet hooked her arm through mine. "Come on, Bea. We decorated the dining room too." Lacey crowded my other side, her fingers wrapping around mine. "And we made you a surprise." "Another surprise?" My eyes bugged out. "I don't know if I can take it." She giggled. "You can. You're gonna love it." She was right. I did love it. The tablescape was a gaudy masterpiece. I couldn't begin to guess where the kids had gotten the ruffly lace tablecloth and scads of massive, fake diamonds they'd scattered between gold vases filled with tropical flowers. They'd turned my chair into a throne, with balloons tied to the back and velvet material woven through the slats. I was even handed a crown, which I happily put on my head once I confirmed everyone else had one too. Even Tore. Watching him let Lacey settle a tiny silver crown on his head hurt for reasons I couldn't quite put into words. Honestly, though, I'd been jabbed in the heart so many times tonight, what was one more? During dinner, Tony remarked, "I bet you've never had a birthday celebration like this, huh?" I shook my head, smiling. "I can honestly say I haven't." "What did you do for your last birthday?" Scarlet asked. I picked up my glass, bringing it to my lips. "Nothing, really." That made Lacey gasp. "What? Why not? Didn't your friends throw you a party?" "They would have, if they knew when my birthday was." Shira had asked me more than once, but I'd told her I was eternal-I didn't age. She hadn't appreciated that answer. "I don't really do birthdays." I could almost hear Ben scoffing. "Like you don't do kids? Come on, Buzz. Everyone's subject to the ravages of time and cute children." "Why not?" Lacey cried. "Birthdays are amazing. You get to be a princess if you want to! Everyone's nice to you 'cause they have to be. You can have cake and ice cream. It's the closest to magic you can get without having special powers." "I'm so happy birthdays have always been like that for you, darling." I put my glass down and dabbed my mouth with my napkin. "When I was little, my mom was busy. She didn't have time to make things magic for me, and we didn't have extra money for cake and presents. So I've just never been into celebrating." I kept my explanation as gentle and sanitized as I could. Tony's deep frown said he understood more than I'd let on, and I glanced at Tore. He was staring into the distance, fidgeting with his ring, stone-faced. Disinterested. "That sucks," Lacey declared. "Our mom always made our birthdays a big deal." Scarlet nodded. "She made everything a big deal. We didn't have to wait until our birthdays to celebrate, you know? We had dance parties just for finishing a really good book." "Mommy took me to the library whenever I wanted," Talon added. Lacey cupped her hands around her mouth. "That's a party for Tally." He scrunched his nose. "I don't like cake, but I do like ice cream. And books. I love books." "I do too," I agreed. "I wish I'd known your mom. She sounds like my kind of lady. Do you think she would have approved of this party?" All the kids agreed their mother would have loved my party, and that made me happy. I didn't have a burning need to celebrate my birthday, but it warmed me to the bone to be the excuse for them to channel her. They got to practice what she'd taught them, keeping her alive and close to them. That was why I'd show up to all the celebrations they threw. If I had to, I would sit through Tore's indifference. Eventually, it wouldn't feel like this. One day, I wouldn't mind how easily he'd accepted we were over. With time, I'd forget we were ever a thing. With time, the ache would fade, and he'd become a story I used to tell. Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!