Her Purpose | ✓

Chapter Fifteen

The calendar on the kitchen wall seemed to mock me as I stood there, stirring cake batter with more force than necessary. It was Wednesday. June 1st. Five months until... well, until the doctors' predictions came true. But more immediately, it was one day before Meri's seventh birthday.

I tried to push away the dark thoughts threatening to overwhelm me. Today wasn't about me or my illness. It was about making tomorrow special for my little sister.

"Earth to Beth," Nathan's voice broke through my reverie. "I think that batter's thoroughly mixed now. Any more and we'll end up with rubber instead of cake."

I blinked, realising I'd been stirring the same spot for who knows how long. "Sorry," I mumbled, setting down the bowl. "Just got lost in thought for a moment."

Nathan's arm slipped around my waist, and he pressed a gentle kiss to my temple. "Want to talk about it?"

I leaned into him, drawing comfort from his solid presence. It still felt a bit surreal, this shift in our relationship. We'd only been officially "dating" for a few days, but in many ways, it felt like nothing had changed. He was still my Nathan, my best friend, just... more.

"It's nothing," I said, forcing a smile. "Just thinking about Meri's birthday tomorrow."

Nathan's eyes searched mine, clearly not buying my excuse, but he didn't push. Instead, he simply squeezed me a little tighter and said, "She's going to love it. Especially these unicorn cupcakes you've designed."

As if on cue, Dad's voice boomed from the living room, where he was hanging decorations. "Oi, lovebirds! Less canoodling, more baking! These streamers won't hang themselves, you know!"

I felt my cheeks grow warm, but Nathan just laughed. "Coming!" he called back, then turned to me with a wink. "Duty calls. Try not to miss me too much."

I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help the smile tugging at my lips. "I'll try to soldier on somehow," I replied dryly.

As Nathan left to help Dad, Mum came into the kitchen, her arms full of shopping bags. "I've got the party favours," she announced, setting the bags on the counter. "And I picked up some extra icing in case we need it."

I peered into one of the bags, pulling out a small tiara. "Mum, this is gorgeous. Meri's going to go mad for it."

Mum beamed, clearly pleased with her find. "I thought so too. Now, how are those cupcakes coming along?"

We fell into a comfortable rhythm, Mum and I working side by side in the kitchen while Dad and Nathan's voices drifted in from the living room, punctuated by occasional laughter and the sound of balloons being inflated.

As I piped swirls of pastel icing onto cooled cupcakes, I found myself thinking about birthdays that had long gone.

Meri's first birthday, when she'd face-planted into her cake, emerging with a frosting beard and the biggest grin I'd ever seen.