Page 52 of Since the Day We Wished

Emma held the card to her chest, feeling a rush of emotions. She couldn’t believe that Luke had sent her flowers on her birthday. But how did he know? Her heart fluttered with excitement, and a smile spread across her face. She leaned in toward the bouquet and breathed in the sweet fragrance of the Gerbera daisies, closing her eyes, and relishing the moment.

The other teachers looked at her expectantly. “So, who are they from?” one of them pressed.

Emma quickly thought of a harmless lie, hoping to avoid any further questions. “Oh, they’re from my grandpa.”

The teachers looked disappointed, but Emma didn’t care. She was too happy to care what they thought. She turned back to the flowers and inhaled their sweet scent, grateful for the thoughtful gesture.

As she reached for her wrap from the fridge, Mr. Simmons, the physics teacher, spoke up. “You’re just eating lunch now? It’s the end of the day.”

“I know, but I didn’t have time earlier. I held an impromptu prep session in my classroom during lunch.”

Emma’s colleague sneered before turning away from her. She knew some of the other teachers resented her for being an overachiever, but Emma found immense satisfaction in her job. It was more than a means of earning a living; it was an avenue to help others reach their full potential.

As Emma enjoyed her wrap, she sat down at a table adorned with the stunning vase filled with daisies, which had added a touch of radiance to the otherwise mundane space. The other teachers had already departed from the lounge, leaving Emma to bask in the serene atmosphere. After a few moments of solitude, she pulled out her phone and dialed Luke’s number to express her gratitude for the flowers he had sent her.

Luke’s voice filled Emma’s ear as soon as he picked up the phone. “Hey Emma, how are you? How was school today? Is everything alright?”

Emma chuckled softly as she listened to Luke’s rapid-fire questions. “I’m good, thanks for asking. School was crazy busy, but I survived. And yes, everything’s alright. I wanted to call and thank you for the daisies you sent. They’re beautiful. No one’s ever sent me flowers for my birthday before.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed them,” Luke said, a tinge of relief in his voice. “I was starting to worry they might have gone to the wrong school or something.”

Emma laughed, imagining a bunch of daisies sitting unclaimed in a hallway somewhere. “No, they definitely made it to the right person. And sorry about that, it’s been one of those days. I haven’t even had a chance to eat until now.”

“The flowers are only the beginning,” Luke teased. “You deserve so much more, Emma. That’s why I’m taking you out tonight.”

As Emma contemplated Luke’s kind gesture, the familiar nagging voice of Chad echoed in her head. For years, he had drilled into her the idea that celebrating one’s own birthday was a self-indulgent act, and Emma had taken those words to heart. Despite her friends’ many attempts to convince her otherwise, she had steadfastly declined any birthday celebrations, not wanting to upset Chad. It had been ages since she last marked the occasion.

Emma hesitated for a moment before voicing her concern. “That sounds really nice, Luke, but I’m not sure if I can do anything tonight. Riley gets anxious whenever I leave him alone at night.”

“Well, I’ve got that covered. Lisa will be over at your house at six to stay with him for the evening.”

A surge of warmth rose in Emma’s chest hearing those words. She couldn’t help but compare Luke’s thoughtfulness with Chad’s carelessness, who never bothered to think ahead like Luke had.

Emma tried to come up with another excuse to avoid going out, but she realized she couldn’t find one. “Okay, Luke. If Riley is taken care of, then I guess there’s no reason for me to say no. Of course, I’ll go out with you tonight.”

“Awesome! I think you’re going to like it.”

“Can you give me a hint? I just want to be prepared,” Emma asked with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness.

“Nope. It’s going to be a surprise. Don’t worry. It’ll be worth it.”

Emma took a deep breath and decided to trust him. “What time would you like me to be ready?”

“Six-thirty. I’m going to have a driver pick you up at your house,” Luke said, making her raise her eyebrows in surprise.

“A driver? Well, I’d better go and gather my things so I can leave,” Emma replied, a bit overwhelmed by the grandeur of it all.

“Okay Emma. I’ll see you tonight.”

As soon as Emma ended the call, a wave of excitement washed over her. A driver was going to pick her up? Where was Luke taking her? And more importantly, what was she going to wear? Her mind raced with possibilities.

Quickly finishing her wrap, Emma gathered her things and stood up from the table. Glancing at her phone, she realized it was already 4:00. If she didn’t hurry, she wouldn’t have much time to get ready before the driver arrived.

After Emma walked out to the parking lot and over to her car, she got in and drove over to the rescue. Kara had texted her yesterday letting her know they were out of Barking Orders treats, so she decided to make a quick stop to drop off a box. As soon as she arrived, Emma parked her car, opened the trunk, and grabbed the box.

Upon entering the main door, Emma was greeted by Charlotte, who was busy checking off tasks on her to-do list. When Charlotte noticed Emma, she immediately brightened up.

“Emma! I didn’t know you were stopping by.”

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