Black

Her face lights up. “Oh my gosh, you had a McDonalds birthday party? I forgot those even existed.”

“I take it you were not lucky enough to have a birthday party at the golden arches?”

Her smile fades, and she shakes her head. “No. That’s one party I didn’t have. Among others.”

I tug her hand, slowing her steps. “What do you mean among others?”

Shae clears her throat, and I can see her hesitation. I’m relieved when she starts talking.

“I, uh…after the age of nine, my family stopped celebrating birthdays.”

“What? Really? That seems a little young. I think my last official birthday party wasn’t until I was about thirteen or fourteen.”

She shrugs. “It is what it is. I had some really great ones up until that point.”

“What changed? Did it have to do with your mother’s death?”

I glance between Shae and the sidewalk ahead to make sure I don’t plow into someone. The strain on her face is prevalent, and the last thing I want to do is upset her.

“We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”

She looks up at me, relieved. “It’s not that I don’t want to talk about it. I do. I’ll tell you. Just not today, okay?”

“I can live with that.”

Her relief is palpable. Whatever she’s feeling, it’s raw and painful. I can see it harbored in her eyes. I won’t push her today, but I will find out what happened.

“Tell me more about your skating party,” she says. “That was always on my list, so I’ll live out my childhood birthdays through you.”

“Don’t worry, it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. When you spend more time on your ass than you do upright, it’s not so much fun.”

“Oh, no! You aren’t a good skater?

“Wasn’t. I wasn’t a good skater. I’ve since learned. It was my tenth birthday, and there was this girl in my class—”

“It’s always a girl.”

“It is! Anyway, she loved to skate, so I begged my mom to have my birthday party at the skating rink. I had visions of us skating around the rink holding hands. Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay up long enough for that to happen.”

“That is a great story,” Shae says, smiling. “It’s hard to believe those days are gone. Today it’s all about who has the fanciest dress, or spends the most money.” Her phone rings, but she ignores it. “If I ever have children, I’m going old school. They’re going to get a backyard barbeque with pin the tail on the donkey. And if it’s nice out, a water balloon fight.”

“Or a Slip ‘n Slide.”

“Yes! Do they even make those anymore?”

As soon as Shae’s phone stops ringing, it starts back up, and I pull us to the side of the sidewalk so we don’t get trampled.

“Answer it. I’m in no hurry.”

“It’s probably JJ,” she says, digging her phone out of her bag. “He’s mad because I had to cancel our plans for tonight.” I don’t get a chance to ask her what plans because she swipes her finger across the phone. “Hey, JJ.”

Not wanting to eavesdrop, I pull my phone out and check my email. Shae laughs a couple of times. I hear her promise to reschedule and tell him to stay and have fun, she’s going to go home and veg out for the night. When she tucks her phone in her pocket, I do the same.

“Sorry about that.”

“Don’t be.”

We weave our way back onto the sidewalk. I reach for Shae’s hand, and a spark shoots up my arm. She glances up at me, and I feel like she’s looking straight into my soul, seeing all the secrets I’ve got tucked away, and choosing me regardless.