The next few minutes passed in a whirlwind of activity. Everyone bustled about, arranging bouquets of flowers and clusters of balloons as well as life-sized cut outs ofStar Trekcharacters and posters from the TV show. In the corner was a collection ofStar Trekthemed games, which Delilah felt intrigued about, since she’d been a modest fan of the show for most of her life.
“Okay, time to hide!” bellowed Samantha, just as Julia was opening her mouth to announce the same thing, presumably with a gentler tone of voice.
Everyone laughed, and Tom took Delilah’s hand, leading her behind the dessert table. She crouched down next to him.
“Smells great back here,” he said.
“Amazing,” she agreed. “Maybe we could eat some of those chocolate croissants while we wait.”
They did no such thing, of course, not wanting to disrupt the beautiful arrangement of pastries before Faith had a chance to see it. Around them, the other party guests were whispering and laughing, and Julia was stationed at the front door, watching the sidewalk like an owl, her neck craning and moving from side to side.
Tom didn’t let go of Delilah’s hand, and she loved feeling his warm, rough fingers interlocking with hers. After a while, both of their hands got a little sweaty, but neither of them pulled away. There was a feeling of anticipation and joy in the air that made the waiting thrilling.
“They’re coming!” Julia gasped out at last, clapping her hands. “Get ready, everyone!” She hurried to hide behind the doorway that led from behind the counter into the kitchen.
Delilah grinned at Tom, feeling her heart thump with excitement. She held her breath, listening, and heard the sound of the front door opening.
“What on—” came Faith’s voice for a second before Julia yelled out, “Now!”
Everyone sprang up, shouting, “Surprise!” at the top of their voices. Faith’s jaw dropped and she covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes wide. A second later, she started laughing and crying happy tears at the same time. Her boyfriend Ryan laughed, rocking her back and forth in a hug.
“Happy Birthday,” he told her. “We all thought you deserved a special party.”
Faith wiped away a couple of tears and laughed breathlessly. People hurried forward to hug her, congratulating her and telling her how much they loved her. Delilah held back until everyone else had hugged Faith, feeling as though it wasn’t reallyher place to go before a long-time friend or family member. But when it was her turn, Faith gave her a massive bear hug.
“I cannot believe Delilah Bates is at my birthday party,” she said breathlessly. “It’s like the most amazing gift ever.”
Delilah felt touched by her words and squeezed her tightly before pulling out of the embrace. “I’m delighted to be here. Really. You have an amazing community here.”
“Don’t I know it.” Faith wiped away the last remaining traces of happy tears, her smile radiant. “I’ll never forget today as long as I live.”
The party began, and people stood in line for sugary treats and savory items from the smorgasbord. After a few minutes, they started the games, which included a round ofStar Trektrivia that Faith won by a mile.
Hours passed, filled with everyone talking, making jokes, eating the delicious food, playing more games, and watching Faith open her gifts. It was a beautiful evening, and it was clear that every person there had a great deal of love and respect for everyone else.
Delilah sat next to Tom as they shared a plate of food, feeling aglow with contentment and happiness.
What I thought before is definitely true,she thought, sighing with longing.I could get used to this.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Julia took a sip of her raspberry vanilla latte, feeling a little as though she was still waking up but still filled with contentment. The taste of the creamy beverage spread across her tongue, helping wake up her senses further.
She was sitting across from Faith at a table in front of a window in Ocean Breeze Café. The cousins had met there for breakfast, and Julia was dying to know what Faith had thought of her party the night before.
Faith’s eyes were dancing, and her cheeks were rosier than usual.The pink sweater she was wearing made her look like a blooming rose, Julia thought with a smile. She was overjoyed that Faith seemed to have loved her party even more than Julia had hoped she would.
“What should I get for breakfast?” Faith asked, tapping her fingers against the menu. She’d gotten her nails done for her birthday, and they were a darling pale purple that went beautifully with the color of her sweater. “I’m torn between something sweet and something salty.”
“What about the strawberry crepes with whipped cream and bacon and hash browns on the side? I know the crepes usuallycome with eggs, but you’d just need to swap out the sides for an up-charge.”
Faith gasped with delight. “Genius! What are you getting?”
“The pregnancy cravings have decided for me.” Julia laughed. “I’m getting chocolate chip waffles, a yogurt parfait, orange juice, and a side of cheesy hash browns.”
“Yum,” Faith said appreciatively. Just as she set down her menu, a waitress appeared at their table. Julia looked up to smile at who she assumed would be one of the many teenage workers at the café, but instead she saw the face of Sally Lipton, the owner of the café and a very good friend of the Owens family.
“Hey, girls!” Sally said, bending down to give both of them hugs. “Nice to see you this morning. Last night was a blast and a half. When I closed my eyes to go to sleep, I sawStar Trekgames and chocolate eclairs and the look on your face when we jumped out, Faith.”
