Suddenly second-guessing my plan, I study her, trying to read into her expression and her body language, worried she’s angry or sad or… God, I don’t know what. I just want to make sure she’s okay with this.
“It’s your birthday,” Casen says simply.
“You always make a big deal out of our birthday,” Quinn shrugs a bony shoulder. “We wanted to do the same for you.”
Halle slowly meets my eyes, and immediately, the truthshines there, impossible to miss. She’s not angry or sad. No, all I see there is gratefulness. “Thank you,” she whispers, the hint of tears clinging to her words.
“You’re welcome.”
The three of us follow Halle into the gazebo. I considered inviting Salem and Thayer and the kids. Cynthia and Thelma too. But if I know Halle, she wouldn’t be comfortable with that much attention focused on her. So it’s just the four of us.
“You got cake?” She sucks in a lungful of air and blows it out slowly, doing all she can to keep from crying.
“Your favorite,” Casen says.
“Lemon.” Quinn smiles. “Cynthia made it.”
Halle’s lips tremble, her eyes misting over. “She d-did?”
It astounds me, how little affection this woman has received in her life. It’s been clear since day one, but this makes it all the more heartbreaking—watching the surprise that comes with realizing that the people in her life would do the most basic of things to celebrate her.
“Yeah, and we helped.”
She takes in her brothers, mouth agape. “That’s why you two were over there so late last night?”
“Yep,” Quinn laughs. “And to think you tried to ground us for it.”
Eyes narrowed to slits, she rounds on me. “That’s why you convinced me to let them off the hook. You knew.”
With a nod, I slip my hands into my pockets.
“And gifts.” She sniffles, wiping discreetly beneath her eyes. “You didn’t need to do this. None of you.”
“We wanted to.” Casen sits at the table and leans forward on his elbows.
“Can we eat now?” Quinn asks, taking a seat beside his brother. “I know you’re all emotional and shit, but I’m hungry.”
This at least pulls a laugh from Halle’s chest. “Food too?” She eyes the basket off to the side.
“Yeah,” I say, nerves skittering through me. “But it’s nothing super fancy.”
She lifts the edge of the basket and peers inside, her dark hair spilling over her shoulders. “Sandwiches and… Cheetos.”
Straightening quick, she drops the lid and turns, the dam finally breaking. “Damn you, Thorne,” she says, her throat thick with tears.
I open my arms. “C’mere.”
To my shock, she does so easily. I wrap my arms around her and let her cry into my chest, mouthing “it’s okay” to her brothers, who look on with horror-filled eyes.
They relax quickly. Halle needs a little more time to recover. I hold her until her sniffles subside, and when she gives me a gentle nudge in my stomach, I reluctantly let her go.
She inhales deeply, then lets it out slowly, eyes locked with mine. “This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.” Smile watery, she rounds the table and throws her arms over her brothers’ shoulders, pressing kisses to their heads. “Thank you for thinking of me and making today special. I’m the luckiest sister ever. I love you.”
“Ew,” Casen laughs, pushing her off teasingly. “Don’t go getting all soft on us now.”
“Yeah, Halle. If you’re gonna be so ooey-gooey on the inside, we might try to get away with more shit.”
“Don’t even think about it,” she warns, ruffling their hair.
