Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 53349 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 213(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53349 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 213(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Glancing at the clock, Tamara realized people would be coming over soon. She finished arranging the decorations and made sure she had everyone’s favorite coffees in stock, and then she pulled out a bottle of elderflower wine she knew Kate would love. Nate said they would bring wine and beer. Jenn had delivered the birthday cake that morning, as well as a pull-apart collection of cupcakes with the frosting arranged to form flowers. Tamara set those confections on a table in the center of the café, where it would be instantly obvious to Kate what was going on when she showed up.
Tamara found herself grateful that Jenn and Daniel arrived first. Daniel brought one of his cameras with him so that he could take a few pictures, and he immediately began to snap shots of the flowers and the cake, a broad smile on his face.
“Your place looks fantastic, Tamara,” Jenn said, admiring the decorations. “Just remember to have some fun yourself.”
Jenn helped Tamara set out plates and forks, getting ready for the moment when the others would arrive.
Meg arrived next, and she brought some decorations with her that included offcuts of cloth and ribbons that didn’t look like much until she started to wind them around the flowers, creating a giant net. Trust Meg to think of these small design details that would make all the difference. Lucas couldn’t attend the party because he was playing a gig that night, but Tamara could certainly see the effect he’d had on Meg. There was a softness, a joyousness, to Meg that hadn’t been there before. Meg was obviously deeply in love.
Travis and Amy showed up together, arm in arm. Amy had hand-illustrated a birthday card for Kate with some of the most stunningly lifelike flowers Tamara had ever seen. They looked as though they might leap off the card. Amy had the Married in Malibu team sign the card, and she asked Tamara to add her birthday wishes, as well. Jason came by for a quick break from writing so that he could pass along his birthday wishes to Kate.
Tamara was simultaneously grateful and a little disappointed that Nate was one of the last to arrive. If he’d been the first, they might have had a chance to talk. It still felt a bit awkward with him at the moment, as though the world were holding its breath when it came to the two of them. Tamara would have felt better if he’d just walked over to get coffee, the way he usually did so many times each day.
“Liz will be bringing Kate across any minute,” Nate said. He glanced out the window. “I think I can see them,” he said, sounding excited. “We should probably get ready.”
They all found a hiding spot. Daniel and Jenn pressed in on either side of the door. Meg ducked behind a table. Tamara practically dove behind the counter, and in the absence of anywhere else to hide, Nate did too. There was not a lot of room back there. They were close enough that Tamara could feel Nate’s muscles pressed against her side and hear his soft breathing as they waited.
The door opened, and then there was a faint gasp from Kate.
“Liz, what is this? It’s—”
“Surprise!”
Everyone leaped up in unison, laughing and smiling. Kate was swept up in the middle of a storm of congratulations, and her look of delight made both Tamara and Nate smile at each other, knowing they had helped make this beautiful party happen. The way he gazed into her eyes made Tamara’s heart melt. A few beats passed, and then Nate jumped into gear, acting as bartender, and Tamara opened the elderflower wine for Kate, and just like that, their moment of closeness was broken.
“Happy birthday!” Tamara said, coming forward with a glass of the elderflower wine. Kate took it gratefully.
“Thanks,” she said, looking around at the rest of the room. “This is… This is just amazing, Tamara. Look at all these flowers! Thank you so much.”
She gave Tamara a big hug, which she wasn’t expecting. Kate didn’t normally hug people, but somewhere along the line, that had changed. Kate was opening up.
“I’m glad you like it,” Tamara said, “but everyone helped.”
Liz shook her head. “Some of us did a little bit, but Tamara did most of the work.”
Tamara was a little surprised at how generous Liz was being by sharing the credit. Given that her business was organizing special events, it must have been hard to admit how little she’d done in organizing this smaller one.
“Everything is wonderful,” Kate said as she admired the flowers that filled the room. “How did you even know it was my birthday?”
“We do pay attention occasionally,” Meg said.
Even so, Kate seemed a little stunned by all the attention.
Amy put on some music, and suddenly it seemed more like a party. Everyone was laughing and drinking, eating cake, and having fun. Kate admired her personally illustrated birthday card and said she would have it framed.