I nod, and he leans across and kisses me on the forehead. “I’ll always look out for you, Eden.” He returns his eyes to the road. “Now, let’s go get your wrist looked at. I think you really hurt it.”
10
Eden
Age 18
“Happy birthday to you . . . Happy birthday to you . . . Happy birthday, dear Eeeeeeden.”
The Donovans and Lianne all sit around me, singing, with my birthday candles slowly melting onto the strawberry frosting.
I smile as Lianne sways to the beat and belts the last part of the song. She is the only one clapping and cheering as I close my eyes and blow my candles out.
“Did you make a wish?” Lianne stares at me. I nod, and she grins from ear to ear.
“What did you wish for?” Samuel pries.
“She can’t tell you that!” Lianne gasps, hand on her chest, as if Samuel just slapped her across the face. “If shetells you, it won’t come true. Don’t you know how birthday wishes work?” She rolls her eyes, lowering her hands to mine.
The housekeeper cuts the cake into slices and hands me the first one.
Lianne takes the second one from their hand. Shoving a huge bite of strawberry cake in her mouth, she looks me over. “What’s wrong? You’re finally eighteen.”
Her words jumble up as she chews.
“Yeah, yay me! I get to stay home and do my Divine studies! All while I wait for them to announce my husband!” I wave around with a lack of enthusiasm.
She shrugs. “Hey, it could be worse.”
The memories from my foster homes come back to me in clips with each blink. I haven’t thought about those years in a long time. I pressed them to the back of my mind the minute I stepped into this home.
“Yeah, it really could be.” I grimace a smile, knowing how I used to live before the Donovans.
“So, are they gonna let you out tonight or... ?” She nods to Mr. and Mrs. Donovan, who whisper to each other.
“I doubt it.” I sigh, stabbing my cake with my fork.
“Doubt what?” Samuel leans over my shoulder from behind, takes the bite of cake off my fork inches from my mouth, then kisses me on the cheek.
I scrunch my nose at him. “Did you just steal cake from me... on my birthday?”
He nods and chews more dramatically, acting as if it is the best cake he has ever tasted. “What isityou doubt we will let you have?”
“It’s nothing.” I sigh.
I don’t want to open up this can of worms because I know the outcome.
“It’s your birthday. Maybe you’ll get lucky. Ask.”
Ready for this to backfire, I inhale. “Lianne wants to take me out for my birthday.”
I remain calm, like I didn’t just say something my family would find absurd.
Lianne’s mouth parts as she watches my brother lick the frosting off his lips.
Rolling my eyes, I wave my hand in front of her face. “Earth to Lianne.”
She blinks rapidly, licking her own lips as she comes back from whatever dirty daydream she is in.
