“That doesn’t look much like a fishing rod.”
He smirked. “I was saving that for after dinner.”
She laughed, and read the birthday card, then unwrapped the present. “Oh!”
Beautiful earrings sparkled in the apartment’s dim light, a perfect match for her Christmas pendant and engagement ring. “Thank you. They’re so beautiful.”
“You’re so beautiful.”
She kissed him, his passion quickly igniting hers, until she was forced to push him away. “We can’t.”
“We can. You’re the birthday girl. The party can’t start until you’re there.”
She smiled, but shook her head. “I think I’ll wait for that part of my present until later.”
“Your wish is my command.” He held out his arm. “Now, are you ready?”
“Can I guess where we’re going?” she asked, as they descended in the elevator.
“Probably not.”
She snickered. “You’re so mean.”
“Even if we both know I’m so right. You haven’t been able to guess right once in all the times I’ve been taking you out for your birthday dinner.”
“But that can change,” she insisted. “Is it Feretti’s?”
“Nope.”
“360?”
“Guess again.”
“McDonald’s?”
He shot her a look.
“Oh well, looks like I can’t guess. I suppose that means you’re Mr. Right again.”
He placed a hand carefully around her waist, his caress of her stomach nearly imperceptible as they walked to his car. “You know it.”
HewasMr. Right, and she was so blessed in so many ways. And about to celebrate her birthday with friends and Dan’s family when she’d already been given the greatest gift of all.
“Did you have a nice time?”her mother asked on the video call the next day.
“It was great.” Sarah glanced at Dan. “Somebody here booked a private dining room at this amazing French restaurant, and we had so much fun.”
Some of Dan’s teammates had joined Sam, and Helen, and Andrew. Some of her new Muskoka friends had come too. Jackie and Linc, Staci and James, Toni and Matt. It had been nice to chat with them and discuss Musko-cheers progress among other things. The only thing that would’ve made it perfect was seeing her family. She would’velovedto have them there, this ache at missing them growing each day. Still, that was part of the purpose of this birthday call.
“Are you feeling better now?” Bek asked, from her square of video.
“So much better.” She gripped Dan’s hand, and he squeezed gently. It was time to tell her parents and sister. “I went to the doctors again recently, and they told me what the problem is.”
“And…?” Her mother leaned in toward the screen.
“And it seems I’m going to need a few more months until I’m sort of back to normal.”
“What do you mean?”
