My chest tightened. Hope and anger tangled together. He opened the door. The lights snapped on.
“HAPPY,” Jason started, then froze when he saw my expression.
Mark’s face looked guilty so fast it made my stomach twist. Sarah’s expression sharpened into pure alarm. Eliza covered her mouth. Caleb went pale.
“I waited four hours.”
The banner read. “HAPPY 60TH, MOM.” Balloons. Streamers. A cake that looked expensive. And five of my children were standing there like they’d been waiting for the punchline.
I stood very still. Then my voice came out small and sharp. “So you were all here.”
Mark stepped forward fast. “Mom, wait.”
“I waited four hours,” I said. “Four.”
Jason blurted, “We weren’t ignoring you. We wanted to surprise you. Grant was supposed to pick you up. He was busy tonight, so we prepped this place without him.”
