Bikeriders Serenade

A Birthday To Remember

**Surprise Party Plans**

Lucy and Tom had been planning Austin's surprise 40th birthday party for weeks, with Baz's help, of course. They had assured Austin that nothing big was planned, but he knew his wife and Baz too well to believe that. Still, he played along, quietly amused by the secrecy.

Baz had even flown Austin's sister, dad, and stepmom, Vicki, out to Australia a week earlier. It was the perfect cover-they were there for two weeks of much-needed family time. Austin was touched, not suspecting that their visit was only the beginning of his birthday surprise.

**The Setup**

On the day of the party, Baz and Austin's dad, David, took him out to lunch under the pretense of spending some father-son time together. Meanwhile, Lucy, Ashley, Vicki, and Baz's wife Catherine were at the house, transforming it into a festive wonderland.

Lucy's heart raced as she set up the decorations, a mix of excitement and nerves coursing through her. *I hope he loves this,* she thought, stepping back to admire the balloons and banners. The house was buzzing with energy, the sound of laughter and the rustling of decorations filling the air. Vicki's voice broke through Lucy's thoughts, "He's going to be so surprised. You've really outdone yourself this time."

Lucy smiled, but inside, a swirl of emotions bubbled. *I want this to be perfect for him. He deserves it.* She felt a twinge of anxiety but quickly brushed it aside.

Once everything was ready, the women headed upstairs to change into their party outfits. The excitement was palpable-tonight was going to be unforgettable.

**The Surprise**

An hour later, Austin returned home with Baz and David. As they stepped inside, the house was unusually quiet. Austin's brows furrowed in suspicion. "Why are the lights off?" he muttered to himself, a small smile playing on his lips.

He flicked on the light switch-and suddenly, the room exploded with sound.

"Surprise!"

A chorus of voices filled the room as friends and family jumped out from behind furniture, streamers flying in the air. Austin stood there, momentarily stunned. His heart raced, his eyes wide with disbelief. He blinked several times as if trying to process what just happened.

"What... How...?" he stammered, finally turning toward Baz and his dad, who were grinning from ear to ear. "Did you know about this?"

"Yeah, we helped Lucy plan it!" David said, clapping a hand on Austin's shoulder. Baz laughed, a mischievous glint in his eye. "You didn't really think we'd let your 40th slip by without making a big deal, did you?"

Austin couldn't help but laugh, the shock giving way to a rush of warmth. He looked around the room, taking in the familiar faces, the decorations, the love that radiated from every corner. *I can't believe they did this for me,* he thought, his heart swelling with gratitude.

**An Even Bigger Surprise**

As the party settled into a comfortable rhythm, Austin found himself surrounded by his loved ones, sharing stories and laughter. He caught Lucy's eye across the room, and she smiled at him-*that* smile, the one that always made his heart skip a beat. He crossed the room, pulling her into a hug. "I don't know how you pulled this off, but thank you," he whispered into her ear, his voice thick with emotion.

Before Lucy could respond, the doorbell rang. Tom, who had been unusually quiet, stood up with a grin. "I think the night is about to get even better."

Austin looked at him, confused. "What are you up to, Hanks?"

Tom just winked and opened the door. Austin's jaw dropped when he saw who was standing on the other side.

It was Radiohead.

The room fell into stunned silence as the band stepped inside, smiling at Austin like old friends. Baz walked up beside him, clapping him on the back. "Surprise, mate. Turns out, they're just as big of fans of yours as you are of them."

Austin was speechless. His mind raced, trying to comprehend what was happening. *Radiohead. Here. For me?* It felt surreal, like something out of a dream. Finally, he found his voice. "This... this is unbelievable."

Thom Yorke stepped forward, shaking Austin's hand. "Happy birthday, Austin. We heard you're a big fan, so we thought we'd stop by."

Austin chuckled, still in disbelief. "You have no idea... Thank you so much. This is... wow." He turned to Baz and Tom, shaking his head in amazement. "You two really went all out."

As the night went on, the band performed a few of their songs, making the evening even more magical. Austin's heart was full, overwhelmed by the love and effort that had gone into making this day unforgettable. Every detail, every surprise, felt like a testament to the people who cared about him.

**Closing Reflections**

As the party wound down and the last guests trickled out, Austin stood on the back porch, gazing up at the stars. The cool night air brushed against his skin, grounding him in the reality of the day. Lucy came up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. He leaned back into her, feeling her warmth against his back.

"Did you enjoy your birthday?" she asked softly.

Austin smiled, his heart swelling with gratitude. "It was perfect. More than I could've ever imagined. Thank you, baby."

She kissed his cheek. "You're worth it, every bit of it."

Austin sighed contentedly, closing his eyes for a moment. *Forty,* he thought. *Life just keeps getting better.* And with Lucy by his side, he knew that the best was yet to come.