“Tia, you can add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Tana, you’ll add the sugar, cocoa, and vanilla. And I,” she placed the mixing bowl in front of them, “will add the butter, buttermilk, and egg.”
Bethany scooped the dry ingredients, and the girls took turns adding their measuring cups to the bowl and stirring.Soon they were pouring batter into the cake pans and placing them in the hot oven.
“While we wait for the cakes to bake, let’s make the filling. We want it to be nice and airy, so we’ll whip it a lot.”
They had finished mixing the filling and were just beginning to frost the layers when Travis entered the room. “Whatcha baking?”
“We’re making whoopie pie cake,” Tia said.
“It’s Mr. Hank’s birthday,” Tana said.
“Is that right?” Travis asked, grinning at Bethany. “This sounds like you’re getting serious.”
Bethany rolled her eyes and placed a layer of cake on top of the filling. “It sounds like nothing of the sort. Girls, get the sprinkles ready.”
Travis got a spoon. “I think you need a taste tester.” He scooped some of the glistening frosting on to his spoon and popped it into his mouth. “Mmm-mm. Your supernatural filling is the best there is. How’s the contest entry coming along?”
“Well, I submitted it this morning. Be sure to cast your vote starting after midnight and spread the word. Right now, though, I’m more concerned with how we’ll get Hank into the shop to celebrate his birthday.”
“Not to worry on that front,” Rosie said, breezing into the kitchen with a stack of dirty dishes. “Sam’s here for an early dinner, and he mentioned Hank’s challenged him to a game of checkers tonight.”
Joy made her hands light as she opened the top on the tub of sprinkles. “Perfect. Let Sam know what we’re planning and spread the word to all the tenants. I want this to be a birthday celebration he’ll remember.”
Hank massagedthe back of his neck and headed toward Grandma Lou’s. After a full day of physical labor, he looked forward to sitting down and enjoying whatever homemade dish Bethany had cooked up today. He opened the door to its familiar jingle and squinted at the balloons taped to the counter.
“Surprise! Happy Birthday!” A slew of familiar faces came from behind the counter and the kitchen.
Hank stopped moving and paused in the doorway, stunned into silence. A happy birthday banner stretched across the back wall, and balloons in a variety of colors were taped to the walls. Sparkling streamers hung from the ceiling.
Hank nodded at Mitch, Patty, and Angel, and there was Sam, who grinned at him, his gold tooth flashing. Tia and Tana grabbed his hands and tugged him toward the table in the center of the room. Rosie, Travis, and Bethany stood to the side of the table, which held a giant chocolate cake on a white stand. Other guests Hank recognized as frequent customers or those who owned businesses in the building clustered around the table with drinks in their hands. Behind them, steam rose from a pasta bar set in the corner.
Hank looked at Bethany. “You did all this for me?”
Her eyes sparkled. “I had helpers. The girls and I wanted it to be a surprise. Happy birthday, Hank.”
Tia handed him a card. He studied the drawing. On the outside, someone had sketched a picture of a large bumblebee, which had been colored in with a yellow marker. The card read, “Hap-Bee Birthday.” Inside were the signatures of what must have been everyone who’d ever stepped foot in Grandma Lou’s.
“Do you like it?” Tana asked.
Hank couldn’t stop his smile. “I’ve never had a bettercard,” he said, and he meant it. “How’d you know I like bees?”
“Our mom drew it. We colored it,” said Tia.
“Come and make yourself a plate of pasta,” Bethany said, eyes shining. “But first, we have to sing happy birthday.” She lit a single large white candle in the middle of the cake. “C’mon, everyone. One, two, three...”
A chorus of voices rang out—some couldn’t carry a tune, but Hank thought it was the sweetest melody he’d ever heard.
“You must make a wish,” Rosie said.
Hank closed his eyes and wished. He wished Bethany would always look at him this way, her face soft and eyes glowing with affection. He wished all his friendships were honest and true, like the ones he’d made in Tremont. He wished the moment could last forever.
“Aren’t you going to blow out your candle?” Tana asked.
Hank opened his eyes and blew; the candle winked out. Bethany cut a large slice of the cake down the center and handed him the first piece. He forked a cream-filled bite into his mouth. “Wait—is this a giant whoopie pie?”
Bethany giggled and nodded, and the girls squealed, and the entire room erupted into laughter.
Then there were slaps on his back and pasta and cake to eat and presents to open. Angel presented him with a black rose, Paula and Mitch gave him a homemade jar of spaghetti sauce with a bag of pasta, and Rosie had knitted him a pair of socks she said she’d started after he’d saved Tia’s life. Travis and Bethany presented him with a small, narrow wrapped box on behalf of everyone in the restaurant.
