Chapter Five

 

I was still reeling with what to do about Silas. Our midnight phone conversation was sweet, and even though I voiced my concerns about him leaving before we even met, he filled me with the same hopelessly romantic reassurance as Kayla had earlier that day. Why was he so perfect?

“Happy Birthday, dear Lucy, Happy Birthday to you!” my mom and sister sang in unison, although not in tune.

I closed my eyes and blew out the candles, making the only wish I wanted to come true.

“How’s it feel to be half way to fifty?” Kayla teased.

“Don’t know yet. You’ve had two years to deal with it, what does it feel like?” I teased back.

“After you get past the grey hairs sneaking up on ya, it’s not so bad,” she laughed.

My mouth fell open in disbelief. Grey hairs? No, thank you!

“I’m teasing,” Kayla said.

“We have mom’s genes. We’ll never go grey,” she patted our mother’s dyed-blonde hair.

“Yeah, not as long as we color it every month,” I laughed.

Annette rolled her eyes and began slicing the cake. “Next year I can tell you what it’s like to actually be fifty,” she scoffed.

My phone beeped, causing me to jump to check the text. Mom and Kayla laughed at my anxiousness and enthusiasm as I unlocked my phone to read Silas’s message.

Silas: Hope you’re having an amazing day gorgeous…

Me: At mom’s having cake. Wanna know my birthday wish?

Silas: If you tell me, or anyone, it won’t come true….

Me: I’m sure it isn’t anyway

Silas: Enjoy your family. I’ll see ya later 

I stuffed my phone back into my purse. I was excited to see Silas on our scheduled video date, but my heart ached that he couldn’t be here.

Kayla poured me a glass of wine. “Was that Silas?”

My smile widened across my face as I lifted my glass to my lips. The wine was sweet, but not nearly as sweet as Silas.

“You two seem to be hitting it off,” My mother said sweetly.

“Yes. But I don’t know what’ll happen once he leaves,” I sulked.

Mom leaned back in her chair to look toward the front door. She seemed distracted by something. “Are you expecting someone?” I asked.

“Christine said she might stop by,” she said quickly.

Her tone was strangely curious, and filled with an anxiousness I couldn’t quite pinpoint. “So, what’s your big birthday plan?” my mother asked.

“Silas has a video date planned. He said he has a special surprise for me,” I replied.

Kayla was beaming. I couldn’t help but wonder if she’d had a few glasses of wine before I’d arrived.

“I wonder what it is,” Kayla gushed, her eyes batting as fast as my heart beat.

“I don’t have any idea,” I admitted.

I tried pulling it out of him several times that day with no luck. He was closed-lipped, and wasn’t willing to give up any details, not even a single hint.

Mom leaned back again, checking the front door.

“Does Christine want to check up on her love project?” I laughed.

“I guess so,” Mom replied.

Kayla lifted a piece of the sliced cake and placed it on my plate. She proceeded to repeat her actions until she and our mother each had a piece in front of them. “So, what did you wish for?” she asked curiously.

I sighed. “I can’t tell you,” I scoffed.

“Oh, so it’s something you think might come true?” she asked, her eyebrows lifting high on her forehead.

“Maybe,” I said, knowing in my heart it was impossible. I’d wished for Silas to be here, spending my day with me.

“Look at that,” Mom said, leaning back into her chair one more time.

I stood from my chair and looked toward the front door. The rain stopped. It was the first birthday I remembered without rain. “Wow,” I exclaimed, making out the gold shine of Christine’s car coming up the lane.

“Christine made it,” I announced, moving back to my seat.

“Is that what you wished for? No rain?” Kayla teased.

I shrugged my shoulders and shoved a piece of cake into my mouth. “Can’t tell ya.”

Mom got up and rushed toward the door. I heard Christine’s voice, loud and boisterous echoing through the hall. “Where’s my birthday girl?” she called out.

“I’m in here,” I announced, shoving another piece of cake into my mouth.

I washed it down with wine and then was face to face with the woman who set me up with the perfect man whom I’d probably never get to meet.

“Happy birthday!” she screeched, moving past Kayla with her arms wide open.

The strong scent of vanilla perfume took over, quickly filling my mouth with the flavor that mocked the cake I’d just eaten. Her tight squeeze was like a boa constrictor around my neck.

“I have a surprise for you,” she said with a wink.

“You didn’t have to do anything,” I replied.

She backed away, moved back out of the kitchen, and I could hear my mother and her whispering. I looked to Kayla, who was sipping her wine calmly. I knew she had to know what was going on, but she wouldn’t make eye contact with me, even when I kicked her under the table.

Mom entered the kitchen first, and then Christine. I was looking for a box, an envelope, or for whatever this big surprise was, but her hands were empty. “I know I set you up with someone who was too far away. And I know you’re worried that you’ll never meet him once he leaves for Turkey,” she said calmly.

I didn’t speak. I was mortified, fearing that she’d brought me another man as a consolation prize.

“If you’ve brought me a man, you better send him right back away from here,” I groaned.

My mother’s bright-blue eyes were filled with laughter, even though her facial expression was quick to cover her amusement. Christine lifted one eyebrow, then bit her bottom lip into her mouth. “Are you sure?” she asked.

“Oh my God!” I exclaimed, scooting back from the table, and standing from my chair.

She really did! She brought me a man!

“I’m going home,” I said, working my way toward the back door.

“Wishes do come true,” a deep, sexy voice sounded behind me. It was familiar, one I’d heard many times. One I’d grown to love to hear.

I turned, my heart racing fast in my chest. My palms grew as hot as my cheeks, and my eyes welled with tears of joy, and disbelief.

My arms opened and I rushed toward Silas, who now stood in my kitchen. It was exactly what I wished for, and there he was. “Oh my God!” I screeched as I finally felt the warmth of his embrace.

His lips pushed against my neck as I snuggled my nose into his. The tightness of his squeeze left me feeling safe and secure. His scent was soothing, slightly seductive, and reminded me of a cologne my father used to wear.

“You’re really here?” I questioned, pulling away and staring into his beautiful dark eyes.

“There’s no other place I’d rather be, gorgeous,” he whispered. “Happy birthday.”

My hands reached up to his face, feeling his skin, tracing his lips with my fingers, and convincing me that he was truly here.

He reached behind him, pulling out a beautiful bouquet of roses, very similar to the ones he’d given me on our first date. “You deserve to keep the flowers,” he said sweetly.

Christine was grinning from ear to ear. “I couldn’t believe you were going to run out the back door,” she laughed.

“I thought you were bringing me another man,” I explained. “You knew?” I asked, looking at my mother’s soft and gentle eyes.

“Yes. Silas called me to plan the visit,” she said softly.

Kayla was tearing up from the romance of the situation no doubt. “You too?” I asked my sister who quickly nodded. “You are a very sneaky man,” I said to Silas.

He winked. “When I have to be.”

“Have some wine,” Kayla quickly grabbed a glass and handed it to Silas. She poured the glass, staring at him like a lost puppy that’d just found its owner. Christine started explaining how they’d pulled the heist off without my knowing. Apparently, she’d picked Silas up at the airport, and he would be staying until he was deployed.

“You’ll be here for ninety days?” I asked.

“Give or take,” he said.

I was in awe. I couldn’t believe he was really here, and that he’d be here for three months.

“You’d expressed concerns about not meeting before I deployed. I couldn’t imagine leaving knowing that you were giving up on us,” he said.

“I just didn’t want to spend a year of my life with someone I’d never met,” I explained.

“I understand that,” he said, winking in my direction.

“So, Silas, what are you planning to do while in town?” my mom asked.

I immediately blushed at the question, figuring the answer was me, me, me, do me, Silas.

“I booked a hotel up the road. I figured I’d spend as much time getting to know Lucy as possible… as long as I don’t get in her way, that is,” he said, grinning in my direction.

I felt a sigh lift from my chest and escape my lips. I couldn’t imagine Silas getting in my way.

Christine started asking about his deployment, causing Silas to get excited. He told us how he’d be joining the 2ndAir Force Command, and while there he’d be working on top-secret weaponry. It sounded dangerous, and even though his mood was wildly excited, mine was quickly growing wretched.

“You two must have a million things to talk about,” my mother said, graciously cutting Christine from asking any more questions.

“Yes, ma’am,” Silas said politely, reaching for my hand under the table.

“We’ll clean up in here. You two go, get to know each other,” my mom said, her tone pushy but good-natured.

Kayla’s face was washed with love as she smiled. I leaned over, kissed her cheek, and whispered, “This is a good start.”

I took Silas’s hand and led him toward the front door. We walked out onto the front porch and took a seat on the bench swing. “I still can’t believe you’re here,” I said, staring at him like he was an alien.

“There’s something I’ve been dying to do,” he said, leaning in softly toward me. His lips met mine, causing sparks of electricity to shoot throughout my body.

Instantly, I melted into him, my lips parting, and my tongue entangling with his.

He pulled back slowly, releasing his grip on my mouth. I heard his lips smack as they pulled from mine, but my eyes wouldn’t open. I was melted, absolutely melted into my spot.

His soft laughter brought me out of the trance he’d placed me in. I opened my eyes to see his locked onto me. His lips were curled into a smile while his eyes danced in my direction. “That was nice,” I mumbled, still working on pulling myself together.

“Yes it was,” he said, his voice deep and vibrant.

“I don’t think you should stay in a hotel,” I insisted.

“I couldn’t impose,” he said politely.

“Even if you sleep on the couch,” I said quickly. “I can’t imagine having to give you up after just getting you here. Besides, you’re my birthday present, after all.”

He pulled me close to him, pushing me into his chest as he laughed. “That’s true.”

“Besides, you’ve been drinking,” I teased.

“One glass of wine?” he scoffed. “Yes. You’re right. It would be unsafe for me to be on the roads, even as a passenger,” he laughed.

I snuggled into his chest, feeling the warmth of his body, and listening to the beat of his heart. It was fast. He was nervous, or excited, scared, or all of the above. I loved it. This big tough soldier was nervous sitting next to little me.

“I think we have company,” he said, looking over his shoulder into the window behind us.

I turned to see Kayla, Mom, and Christine, all staring out the window. I laughed.

“Why don’t I get you settled in?” I said.

“Sounds like a brilliant idea,” he agreed, standing and offering his hand to me.