6. Chapter 6
Caitlin
I wake to soft morning light filtering through the curtains.
My first thought is that I’m twenty-eight years old today.
Stretching my arms above my head and blinking away sleep, I reach for Adam, but the spot next to me is empty, the sheets cool.
He’s been up for a while. I listen for any sounds coming from the kitchen, but the apartment is quiet.
Birthdays were never a big deal in my house growing up. My grandmother Louise would make my favorite dinner and we’d have cake, but there wasn’t much fuss beyond that. Still, there’s something about the day you’re born that makes you want someone to acknowledge it, to say: I’m glad you exist.
I pad to the bathroom and brush my teeth.
When I’m done, I head toward the kitchen.
Adam is sitting at our small table, coffee mug in one hand, scrolling through his phone with the other.
His dark hair is still damp from the shower, and he’s already dressed for the day in khakis and a blue button-down that brings out the warm tones in his tanned skin.
“Morning,” he says without looking up from his phone, taking another sip of coffee.
“Morning,” I reply, hovering in the doorway.
My stomach does an anxious little flip. Did I ever actually tell him when my birthday is?
No, I had to have told him because we celebrated my together last year.
Maybe he just forgot? Things have been really busy for him at work lately, and he’s been working late pretty often.
I open the refrigerator and stare at its contents, not really seeing anything. I close it without taking anything out and move to the cabinet for a mug instead. “So, what are your plans for today?” I ask, trying to sound casual.
Adam glances up from his phone. “Nothing too out of the ordinary. Wanted to hit the gym at some point. How about you?”
“Oh, just the usual,” I say, filling my mug with coffee from the pot he’s already made. I add creamer and a spoonful of sugar, stirring slowly to give myself something to focus on. “Thought I might do some shopping or something.”
“That sounds nice,” Adam says, his eyes back on his phone.
I take a breath, debating whether to just say it. “Hey, it’s my birthday today. Just FYI.” But something stops me. I don’t want to make him feel bad if he’s honestly forgotten. And if he does know and has chosen not to acknowledge it, well, that would make me feel worse.
“I’m going to take this to the living room,” I say, lifting my mug slightly. “Watch the sunrise.”
Adam nods, still scrolling. “I’ll be heading out in about twenty minutes.”
I swallow my disappointment and walk toward the living room, shivering slightly in the cool morning air. It’s fine, I tell myself. I’m an adult; it’s just a day like any other. I’m being silly for wanting—
I stop short in the doorway, my coffee sloshing dangerously close to the rim of my mug.
There, in front of the couch where there used to be a wobbly old coffee table we’d picked up at the thrift store, sits the most beautiful piece of furniture I’ve ever seen. It’s a cherry wood coffee table with gently curved legs and a polished surface that gleams in the early sunlight.
“Oh my God,” I whisper.
Warm arms wrap around me from behind, and Adam’s chin rests on my shoulder. “Happy birthday, Caitlin,” he murmurs in my ear, and I can hear the smile in his voice.
I’m speechless, staring at the table with my mouth ajar. “Where did you…how did you…?” I’m too overwhelmed to even finish the sentence.
“You like it?” Adam asks, giving me a little squeeze. “Dave from work has been letting me use his workshop. I haven’t really been working late these past few months.”
I turn in his arms, careful not to spill my coffee. “You made this for me,” is all I can say, feeling my eyes grow warm with tears.
“Mmhmm,” Adam rubs his cheek against mine. “Just for you.”
“I thought you’d forgotten.”
“How could I forget my favorite person’s birthday?” He kisses me softly, then takes the coffee from my hands and sets it aside.
“Come sit down. I want to tell you about the rest of your day.”
“The rest?” I ask, letting him lead me to the couch. “There’s more?”
Adam grins, those dimples I love appearing in his cheeks.
“Did you really think I was going to give you a coffee table and call it a day?” He pulls out his phone, and I realize he must have been finalizing arrangements when I walked in this morning.
“So, I know you’ve been missing your family lately, and I also wanted you to have some time with your friends. ”
I nod, still too overwhelmed to speak.
“So,” he continues, “I’ve arranged for you to have a spa day with Marissa and Trinity—”
“Really? You’ve been planning this with them?”
“Yes, and they’re really excited about it,” Adam says. “I’ve got you booked for nails, facials, the works. They’ll pick you up in about an hour.”
I blink rapidly, not wanting to cry this early in the morning.
“And then,” Adam says, scrolling through his phone, “at four, you have a video call with your family. Rachel’s setting it up from her end, so Uncle Peter and Aunt Charlene will be there too.”
Now the tears do come, spilling over despite my efforts. “You called them?”
“I emailed Rachel a few weeks ago,” Adam admits. “We’ve been coordinating.”
“And finally,” Adam says, taking my hand, “dinner reservations at Emilio’s at seven. Just us.”
“Emilio’s?” I repeat, stunned. It’s my favorite restaurant in town, an intimate Italian place where everything is made in-house and the tiramisu makes me want to lick the plate clean. We’ve only been there once before, for a special occasion, because it’s definitely not within our regular budget.
“Mmhmm, nothing but the best for you,” Adam says, squeezing my hand.
I laugh, wiping away my tears with my free hand. “This is… Adam, this is all too much. The table alone is—”
“Nothing is too much for you,” he says, his voice suddenly serious. He reaches up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, his eyes soft as they meet mine. “You deserve all of it and more.”
“I love you,” I whisper.
“I love you too,” he says, kissing me again, longer this time. When he pulls back, his dimples have returned. “So, you like your birthday so far?”
“I love it,” I assure him, glancing at the beautiful table. “I still can’t believe you planned all this for me.”
“Why do you sound so surprised?” he asks, brushing his thumb across my cheek. “You’re the most important person in my world, Caitlin. Making you happy makes me happy.”
I lean into his touch, feeling a warmth that has nothing to do with the morning sunlight now streaming through our windows. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt like I truly belong somewhere, with someone. Not since my grandmother died. But here with Adam, I feel like I’ve found home again.
“I should probably get ready,” I say reluctantly, not wanting this moment to end but excited for the day ahead.
“Probably a good idea,” Adam agrees, standing and pulling me up with him. “But first…” He reaches over to one of the side tables and produces a small gift-wrapped package that I hadn’t noticed before.
“Another present?” I ask, taking the box from him. “Adam, you’ve already done so much.”
“Just a little something extra,” he says, watching expectantly as I carefully unwrap it.
Inside is a delicate silver chain with a small pendant — a mountain range with a tiny star suspended above it. It’s beautiful in its simplicity, the mountains reminiscent of the ones visible from our apartment window.
“Adam,” I breathe, lifting it from the box. “It’s perfect.”
“Look on the back,” he says softly.
I turn the pendant over and find a tiny inscription: “Home is where you are.”
The tears return in force now, and I don’t try to stop them. “Will you put it on me?” I ask, holding out the necklace.
He takes it and moves behind me. I lift my hair, and the cool metal settles against my skin as he fastens the clasp. His lips brush the back of my neck once he’s done, sending a shiver down my spine.
“Beautiful,” he murmurs, turning me to face him again. “Happy birthday, Caitlin.”
I hurry to get ready for my spa day before I give in to the temptation to push Adam back on the couch and ravish him. Looking at myself in the bathroom mirror, I see that I’m glowing with happiness, with the certainty that I am loved.
And as I step into the shower, I can’t help but think how lucky I am to have found the person who is the other half of my soul.
* * *
I smooth the skirt of my Princess Buttercup dress, studying my reflection in the mirror.
Fidgeting with the laces at my bodice, I wonder if I’ve made a mistake with this costume.
Maybe I should have gone with something sexier, something that would have kept Adam’s attention firmly on me all night.
But it’s too late now. The guests will be arriving in less than an hour.
The bedroom door opens behind me, and Adam steps in, already dressed in his Dread Pirate Roberts costume. The all-black outfit suits him, highlighting his broad shoulders. With the mask covering the upper half of his face, he looks rather dashing.
“As you wish,” he says, and despite my nervousness, I can’t help but giggle.
“How do I look?” I ask, turning to face him fully.
Adam pulls down his mask, and his eyes soften as he takes me in. “Gorgeous,” he says, crossing the room and taking my hands in his. “Absolutely gorgeous.”
“You really think so?”
“It’s perfect. We’re perfect.” He drops a kiss on my nose.
I can’t shake the knot of anxiety in my stomach. “Your friends aren’t going to think it’s stupid? The whole couples’ costume thing?”
“Who cares what they think?” Adam pulls me close, wrapping his arms around my waist. “Though for the record, they’ll love it. They’ll love you. Tonight’s going to be great.”
I lean into him, breathing in the familiar pine scent of his cologne. “Promise?”