the receptionist [h.s.]

part two: birthday wishes

Before I know it, it's the end of the work day and the office begins to unwind and pack up. I approach the coat hanger and grab my coat, Harry coming from behind me.

"Excited to get home and see what Stiff's cooked up for you?" he says.

I narrow my eyes at him and wrap my scarf around my neck. "Don't call him that. It's stupid."

Harry had been calling Wren 'stiff' for as long as I can remember. I don't even really remember why. He says it's because Wren's 'uptight', but that's Harry's state of mind.

I walk out of the office where Riley Kepner falls into step with me. She's a quirky person who likes to eat her pizza with a fork. But she's kind and decent  so it doesn't really matter.

"I heard that corporate's sending out iPhone's this year for Christmas." she says to me as we pass through the doors.

"That's a total lie," Harry chimes in. "It's probably going to be something lame again like a mug or pencil sharpener."

"Hey, I happened to like that pencil sharpener." Molly West added, making eyes at Harry. It was very clear to me, as well as the whole office that she had a thing for Harry. And he knew it, too. But she wasn't some mousy, quiet girl; she was a former model and had typical blonde hair and good looks. It was incredibly annoying.

We walk out into the cool air and I bid my fellow co-workers a goodbye. As I start walking to my car, I feel a presence behind me and Harry walks alongside me.

"Seriously? You parked your car here?" I say.

"Don't be flattered, Jane. It's the best parking spot." He justifies.

I get to my car and quickly go inside, wanting to get as far away from Harry as I could. I see my bag down in the passenger's seat and begin to start my car. I look to my side for a brief moment when I see Molly West approach Harry's car. They talk for a moment before she gets into the car with him. It didn't surprise me; of course they were together.

...

"Hey," I call out as I enter my apartment. "Wren?"

           I set my bag down and take off my shoes and coat. Wren appears from the foyer and I smile, embracing him in a hug.

"Happy twenty-fourth." he says, kissing me. "We still have two hours until the party so I made dinner." he leads me out to the balcony where a fairy lights hang from the railings and a bottle of champagne sits in a bucket of ice.

Sitting on a cream table cloth is a plate of my favorite food, (lemon pepper shrimp and rice) and my most beloved drink which was pink champagne.

"This is amazing!" I exclaim, beaming. "Will we have time, though?"

"We can be a little late. It's your party, after all." Wren says, smiling.

           I take a seat in my chair and Wren pours each of us a glass of champagne. We clink the glasses together and start the beginning of my birthday celebration.

...

I finally settle on a simple black dress and put on my coat and scarf as Wren starts the car. My coworkers organized the whole party so of course it was at a bar where most of the parties took place. We park in the lot and enter, my hand in Wren's.

My coworkers yell 'surprise' when I enter, streamers and confetti flying through the air. I laugh in delight.

"Thanks guys! This is great!" I say, as a guy named Lin takes my coat.

...

As the party winds down a few hours later, I'm urged to go and open presents. I start with Riley's gift which is a handmade pair of earrings and gloves. I go on to receive cash, gift cards, coffee mugs, clothes and a painting I'd done re-gifted by my coworker Landon. I laughed and pretended like I'd never seen it.

Then Wren gives me his gift and I'm in total awe at the sterling, glittering necklace he's gifted me. I give him a kiss and say that I absolutely adore it.

"Wow guys, thank you so much. This was a great party." I begin to say.

"Wait!" Tamara exclaims, stopping me. She reaches from behind a table and pulls out another gift. "There's another one here."

"Oh," I say, taking it. "Who's this from?" I look around to see who sent the present but everyone looks surprised. I shrug and begin to open the lavender paper. A cream colored card falls out with my name written on it. I slowly open it and reveal the card. It's simple, with pastel ribbons on the front. The inside reads:

Happy birthday, Jane

H

I'm utterly shocked and quickly open the gift. I gasp when I see it.

It's a vintage painting but not just any vintage painting. It's one done by my favorite artist--my grandmother. When she had died, it was so sudden that she hadn't had time to even plan. I'd always admired this one painting she'd done the night I was born but I could never find it let alone afford it.

I put my mouth to my hand in shock and Wren put his hand on my shoulder in comfort. "Are you okay, Jane?"

"Best birthday ever."