Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Eight: The Birthday
Grace turned twelve on a rainy Tuesday in October.
Lina had been planning the party for months, not because twelve was a particularly important age, but because she wanted to. Because every birthday felt like a miracle. Because every year that passed with her grandchildren healthy and happy was a year she had almost lost.
She thought about the first birthday she had missed—the one that happened while she was in a coma, the one she could not remember, the one that haunted her even now. She thought about the twins' fourth birthday, when she was still learning to remember. Their fifth, when she was still learning to trust. Their sixth, when she was still learning to hope.
And now Grace's twelfth.
She was not ready.
But she was learning.
---
The theme was outer space, just like it had been for the twins' birthdays so many years ago. Grace had insisted on it. She wanted stars and planets and a rocket ship.
The penthouse was transformed. Black tablecloths stood in for the night sky. Glow-in-the-dark stars covered the walls and ceiling. A cardboard rocket ship, which Ethan had spent two weekends building, dominated the living room. The cake was shaped like a moon and covered in silver sprinkles.
Lina stood in the kitchen, frosting the last of the cupcakes, and allowed herself a moment of pure, uncomplicated happiness.
"Grandma! Grandma! The guests are here!"
Grace's voice came from the living room, high and excited. Lina wiped her hands on her apron and went to see.
The guests had arrived. Twenty twelve-year-olds, plus their parents, plus the relatives and friends and the particular chaos of a family that had something to celebrate.
Grace stood in the middle of the chaos, holding court, her smile bright.
Stella and Clara and Samuel ran around with the other children.
Lina watched them and felt her heart swell.
---
The cake was a success.
Grace blew out the candles, her cheeks puffed out, her eyes squeezed shut. She made a wish.
She did not tell anyone what it was.
But Lina saw her look at her family. At her parents. At her cousins. At her grandparents.
And she knew.
---
Lily found Lina in the kitchen.
"Mama," she said. "Thank you."
Lina looked at her daughter. "For what?"
"For everything. For being here. For loving us. For never giving up."
Lina's eyes filled with tears.
"I love you," she said.
Lily hugged her. "I love you too, Mama."
---
Leo found Lina in the garden.
"Mama," he said. "I'm proud of you."
Lina looked at her son. "For what?"
"For surviving. For thriving. For building this family."
Lina pulled him into her arms.
"I love you," she said.
Leo hugged her back. "I love you too, Mama."
---
That night, after the guests had gone home and the grandchildren were asleep, Lina sat on the couch with Ethan.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
"Full," Lina said. "Not from the cake. From... everything. From watching them grow. From seeing them shine."
Ethan put his arm around her. "They get it from you."
"Get what?"
"The shining. The confidence. The ability to dream big dreams."
Lina leaned into him. "They get it from you too."
"Maybe. Or maybe they get it from themselves. Maybe they're just who they're supposed to be."
Lina thought about that.
She thought about Grace, the astronaut. Stella, the scientist. Clara, the dancer. Samuel, the future. All of them perfect, just as they were.
"I can't wait to see who they become," Lina said.
Ethan kissed her forehead.
"Neither can I," he said.
---
End of Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Eight