I'll Be Seeing You

Party for One Please

The next two weeks passed in a blur. Lydia tried to engage in work while maintaining a healthy distance from Tim. Jamie had put in his two weeks and his desk sat empty. It was only a matter of time before it was filled by someone else. She really tried to focus and to find purpose but she hated what she did. Without Jamie around, there was little joy in going to the office. She felt like it was getting harder and harder to feel any form of motivation for advertising. She needed to find an out. She checked her email but it still lacked responses from any of the schools she applied to. She wrung her hands nervously. She needed a plan B.

By the second Friday night of early November, she happily found herself seated across from Kit at their favorite Italian spot. She had officially turned twenty-two as of seventeen minutes ago.

"Happy Birthday! I love you!" Kit glowed from the bottle of wine they had split. They were currently toasting with espresso martinis, a birthday tradition.

"Love you too! Thank you for celebrating with me." She smiled and fought the alcohol induced sadness threatening to ruin her night.

"Of course, where else would I be? Lydia Barrows turned twenty-two. We obviously have to go out."

"We are out!" Lydia laughed and looked around. For twenty-two this had been a fairly tame birthday party. They had gotten their nails done and went to the spa for a massage. After running home to shower and change they headed down to the village for Italian and maybe a cocktail.

"Well see that's the thing. This is only part one of your party!" Lydia froze mid-sip.

"What are you talking about?" Kit giggled with excitement.

"Surprise! We're going out and I invited everyone! They're waiting for us at The Globe!" Lydia's heart raced with happiness. She had never had a surprise party before.

"Oh my god Kit, thank you! I can't wait."

---

Entering the Globe was like entering a time machine. The bar was packed and she could hear the faint sounds of Mariah Carey coming from the dance floor. She felt like she was back in college. Kit had rented out the back of the bar and when Lydia arrived, she was showered with hugs and kisses from everyone she knew.

As the faint sound of "surprise!" wore down she began to take in faces. Kit really had invited everyone she knew. From her high school girlfriends to her college roommates, she was surrounded by people she loved.

"Are you happy?" Kit screamed into her ear above the music. The espresso martini was beginning to hit her.

"Yes! Thank you so much!" She gave Kit the biggest hug, squeezing her tightly.

"You'll thank me more in a minute." Kit gave her a devilish grin and Lydia's heart raced. She turned around and her heart sank. For a moment there she had fully expected it to be Jamie. When she saw Brendan she actively tried to hide her disappointment.

"Hey missy, Happy Birthday" She accepted Brendan's kiss on the lips. She deliberately ignored Kit's snort of satisfaction.

"Hey! What're you doing here?" She looked around and saw he had come with a few of their mutual friends from school.

"What? You think I'd miss your birthday?" Lydia scowled.

"I think you don't even remember when my birthday is." She retorted. Brendan had missed her birthday every year. She was genuinely surprised he was here at all.