A Birthday Roadtrip (Birthday Special for @Vast18rose)

Chapter 1

I woke up as the sun rose and shone through my bedroom window. I groaned as I turned in bed to grab my phone off of its wireless charger to check the time. When my phone came on to reveal my lockscreen; which is a picture of Aurora, my best friend and Hermana-En-Cristo and I on the very first day when her cafe first opened. The opening of Cafe Villalta ironically celebrated its grand opening on her twenty-second birthday! Now, the coffee shop -which is also a place of therapy sessions and a bookstore- has been standing for three years! Both the shop and my best friend are celebrating a very blessed and special day!

I got dressed and happily went down the stairs to the kitchen. As I walked into the decent sized kitchen, I witnessed Aurora filling something at the kitchen sink. I smile and hugged my Sister tightly. "Feliz cumpleaños, mi querida mejor amiga y Hermana-En-Cristo! Allow me to make breakfast for you today. My treat!" The birthday girl had a grin on her face that is just contagious, in a good way!

"So sweet of you, Amiga! But, you are not so much of-" I just shushed her, dragged and sat her on the couch. She had a confused look on her face which immediately lit up to a bright smile when she saw her five year old daughter, Annabelle, and my sixteen year old son, John. They both throw themselves to embrace her tightly.

"Happy birthday, Mamma!"

"Feliz cumpleaños, Titi!"

"Thank you! So, besides Sarai making breakfast, what is on the Birthday agenda for me today? Oh!"

I stand in front of her with two plates filled with comidas typicas classicos from El Salvador. Of course, Aurora took the plate and ate. I also ate the food off my plate while saying after each bite, "Well. I was thinking of maybe taking you somewhere for the day. I just-"

John quickly whispered something in my ear, "Mom, you know that both you and Maxwell are already planning a surprise party for her at a restaurant on Long Island, right? You cannot say a word to her or it will not be a surprise!"

I gulped nervously. I am not into keeping secrets from my best friend unless it is crazy important to do so... or when I am being told or something. But, staying quiet about a surprise party...

Oh boy...

Instead, I just whispered to him, "I will have to improvise a bit if it comes to her asking questions about where we are going. Do not worry, hijo. I got this covered."

"If you say so..."
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After finishing breakfast, I told Aurora to get dressed into some nice clothes and pack a bag full of typical necessities plus entertainment for a roadtrip. Well, I did not tell her about the roadtrip part.

She did, however, ask questions.

"Where are we going that it is so important to bring all this stuff? Will we really need all of the stuff?"

I just smiled. "You will have to wait and see, Amiga."