The morning sun was just beginning to filter through the gauzy curtains in Stevie's home when Lori quietly arrived, a small bag in one hand and a determined sparkle in her eyes. Karen opened the door before she could even knock, grinning.
"You ready?" Karen whispered.
Lori nodded. "Let's do this."
While Karen stayed upstairs to make sure Stevie remained undisturbed, Lori got to work in the kitchen. She made Stevie's favorite: buttery scrambled eggs with herbs, sourdough toast, and a small bowl of ripe strawberries drizzled with honey. The smell of fresh breakfast mingled with the rich aroma of coffee as Lori poured a fresh cup and set everything neatly on the kitchen table.
Next to the plate, she placed a simple note — no signature, no big announcement — just a few neatly written lines:
Happy Birthday. There's coffee and breakfast waiting for you if you want it. When you're ready, come outside to the garden.
She gave Karen a quick signal — two soft knocks on the bannister — and slipped out the back door, ducking into the garden and hiding behind one of the tall hedges with a sly grin on her face.
Upstairs, Karen quietly made her way to Stevie's bedroom. The door, unusually, was wide open — perfect. Stevie was still asleep, wrapped up in the covers, one foot poking out.
Suppressing a laugh, Karen crept over and gently lifted the blanket. She pulled a small feather from her pocket and gave Stevie's bare foot a tickle.
Stevie twitched.
Another tickle.
"Mmmrph—!"
Karen snorted and bolted, trying not to laugh as she disappeared down the hallway.
Stevie sat up, blinking in confusion. "What the hell..."
She rubbed her eyes, tousled her hair, and slowly shuffled out of bed. As she made her way down the stairs, she caught the scent of something mouthwatering.
"Karen must've finally made herself a real breakfast," she mumbled groggily.
But when she reached the kitchen and saw the plate of perfectly made food — and the steaming coffee waiting just for her — she paused. That definitely wasn't Karen's cooking.
She spotted the note.
Reading it once, then twice, her face lit up with a childlike grin. "Wait a minute..."
Excited now, Stevie sat down, scarfed up the breakfast (with proper reverence for the strawberries), and barely waited to finish her coffee before dashing upstairs to throw on something comfortable.
Moments later, she was in the garden, scanning the space curiously. It was quiet. No one in sight.
Just as she turned toward the trees, a familiar voice began to sing — soft at first, then louder:
🎵 "Happy birthday to you..." 🎵
Stevie spun around, eyes wide.
"LORI!"
Lori appeared from behind the hedge, grinning from ear to ear, holding a single sunflower wrapped in a ribbon.
Stevie squealed with joy and ran over, wrapping Lori in a tight hug. "You sneaky, sneaky little thing! This is the best surprise ever!"
"I had a feeling you wouldn't expect it," Lori said, laughing as she hugged her back. "Happy birthday, Stevie."
"I can't believe you did all this. You made breakfast? You sang? You teamed up with Karen?" Stevie placed a hand over her heart dramatically. "I'm touched. Honestly, I might cry."
"Oh please don't," Lori teased. "I only brought one sunflower, not tissues."
The two spent the rest of the morning sitting together in the garden, sharing stories, reminiscing about old tours, and laughing over long-forgotten memories. At one point, Stevie reached over and grabbed Lori's hand.
"You didn't have to do any of this," she said gently. "But I'm really glad you did."
Lori smiled. "You deserve to feel special. Today especially."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the wind rustling through the leaves.
"Can I tell you something cheesy?" Stevie asked.
Lori raised an eyebrow. "Always."
"This might be one of the best birthdays I've had in years."
Lori leaned back in her chair, grinning. "Well then... mission accomplished."
