“Happy Birthday!”
Zac put his hands on his hips and looked around at his friends and family.
“Hey, thanks,” he said cheerfully.
Kelsey sauntered over and kissed his cheek, then gestured to a present off to the side.
“Your brothers sent you that one, with their apologies for not being able to make it.”
“Ah ha! I bet I know what this is,” Zac said smugly, opening the parcel.
With triumph he pulled out: The Birthday Cane!
“I knew it!”
“Like it was a surprise,” Kelsey said, rolling her eyes. “You guys have been giving each other that cane for the past fifteen years.”
“Yes,” Zac nodded. “Tay and I gave this cane to Ike when he turned 30, and then Ike gave it to Tay when he turned 30, and then to me when I turned 30 and -”
“And then you did it for the 40s, and you’ll probably do it for4 the 50s.”
“Yes, yes we will,” Zac agreed cheerfully. “Hey it’s a family tradition.”
“Or at least a Hanson band tradition.”
“Yeah...” Zac looked off sadly for a moment.
“Zac?”
“Oh, sorry, Kel,” he said. “I kinda miss the band, y’know? I mean those were good years.”
“You broke up because of your families.”
“We didn’t break up. We just... went on hiatus.... for a lot of years.”
Kelsey smiled faintly.
“I’m sure you’ll have another opportunity to tour again.”
“Yeah... I hope so.”
Kelsey kissed him again.
“C’mon, it’s like, your fortieth, and you’re not allowed to be sad on your birthday.”
Zac chuckled, and at that moment his eyes feel on Hope and the laughter faded. Kelsey sighed.
“What’s she doing here?”
“Celebrating with her Dad,” Kelsey replied. “Seriously, Zac, this whole thing with Raphael is ridiculous. All this time you’ve been afraid of losing Hope like you lost Cassie, and yet here you are, pushing her away.”
“No, she left.”
“No, you kicked her out and then refused to come to her wedding. She loves you Zac, which I promise you is the only reason why she’s here today. If I were her, I would have left never to return again,” Kelsey paused, then added cynically. “Oh, wait! I did.”
Zac just shook his head.