“O-Oh my,” she gushed, feeling herself fall in love with Jack all over again just from everything he was doing and the way he was looking at her. Taking his arm, she led him down the street to the familiar pink building as the wave of nostalgia hit her hard. The smells of the bakery in the distance, the man at her side and the snow on the ground took her back to a more naive time.
Yet she knew that that beginning, she was getting a wonderful future.
As they approached, she smiled as she spotted his birthday cake sitting on the reserved counter in the front where customers could sit and watch the city pass by with ease. One of the worker’s must have just finished lighting the candles because she could see the gentle glow from where she stood.
When they went inside, the manager who had been there a year ago approached the two, smiling happily. “Sir,” she directed towards Jack, nodding off to the cake. “Someone called us anonymously telling us it was your birthday yesterday so happy birthday.”
“Oh!” Katelynn played out a gasp as if it wasn’t her who had planned this out. “It was your birthday?”
Jack couldn’t help it – he gaped. Taking him to the cafe again was one thing, but actually calling ahead, and arranging for him to have a real birthday cake … ?
To hell with keeping in character. He slid his arms around Katelynn and hugged her close with a little sound of happiness. “How did you know? Yes, it’s my birthday.” Well, it had been yesterday, but as far as he was concerned, this occasion was far more important to mark. “Thank you so much. So, will you have some cake with me?”
“Y-Yes,” she squeaked happily, pleasantly surprised by the hug and the warmth it brought from the outside chill. She was hesitant to get out of his arms but noticed several patrons watching the scene play out, some of them with stars in their eyes.
Growing embarrassed, Katelynn pulled away to lead him over to the cake – devil’s food as he had told her his favorite. “Happy birthday Jack,” she told him tenderly in and out of character at the same time, pushing the cake towards him. “I know it’s a day late and all but..I’m sure you weren’t forgotten by any loved one and now I can celebrate it with you properly. Go ahead and make a wish.”
He nodded softly, trying not to drool at the sight of the cake. Jack didn’t usually care for sweets much, but cake (and hot chocolate) was a different matter. There weren’t many bakeries in the city that could make devil’s food the way he liked, but this one looked perfect.
“It was worth waiting for, Katelynn,” he said, reaching over to take her hand. “Just like you."
With that, Jack leaned in, took a deep breath, made his wish, and blew out the candles in a single long puff.
Jack Maple 