Page 119 of Your Soul to Keep

As if he could read my mind, Gabe reached back and squeezed my hand as we stepped inside, Dylan trotting ahead of us to greet her guests.

Birthday streamers and balloons covered the walls.

A flash of memory, one I’d believed lost, played in my mind. My mother smiling, hanging streamers just like those ones.

I froze in place.There was a Barbie cake.

My breath caught in my throat.

My dad laughed and danced my mom around the kitchen.

I struggled to hang onto it, closing my eyes to focus and bring it closer, but it evaporated like the morning dew.

But I felt it.

The happiness that was in my heart on that day, I felt it anew.

I swallowed hard and beat back the tears.

He was here last night, him and your mum.

I want you to know, I won’t be alone when the time comes.

Gabe’s low voice pulled me back to the present. “Shae? You okay?”

“I had a Barbie birthday cake,” I breathed.

Face dark with compassion, he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in tight. “Of course, you did.”

I clung to him, smiling though my eyes stung. It was the last birthday I remembered having.

Stepping back, I wiped my eyes and gave a strangled laugh. “I had a Barbie birthday cake.”

He cupped his hands around my jaw and pulled my face to his. “You’re going to have all the cakes, baby.”

The noise from the family room brought me back to the present. I took a breath and offered him a watery smile. “I’m good.”

“You sure?”

I nodded shortly. “Positive.”

I needed to switch gears and focus on the here and now and the multitude of voices coming from the family room. I raised my eyebrows at Gabe. “Who’s here?”

“The fuck if I know.”

I huffed. “Gabe, really?”

He grinned and slung his arm around my shoulders then cleared his throat. A smirk curved that sinful mouth. “I told you, Big Mama, I don’t do any of the planning for the birthday parties.”

“Gabe, no!” I stabbed his chest with my pointer finger.

“Ow!” He laughed, rubbing the spot on his chest where I poked.

In the living room, Dylan held court with her guests.

A few friends of Maeve and Brian’s, including Harley’s parents, Dan and Lou Bennett, sat around the table.

I straightened with delight at the sight of Wren and Max, Daire with a very pregnant Harley tucked close, Julian, Aaron and Nadine who at five months was beginning to show, and Aaron’s little brother, Isaiah.

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